East or West: when you cruise
in the Caribbean, which is best?
The Eastern and Western
portions of the Caribbean Sea have lots of similarities, but also distinctive
characteristics that might influence your choice of Caribbean cruise itinerary.
Don’t stress over choosing either East or West, because both will deliver a lovely
cruise experience. Still, it’s good to make an informed choice. So, here’s a
quick comparison:
Islands.
First, let’s define the East and the West. Eastern Caribbean itineraries may
include Puerto Rico, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, The Dominican
Republic and the French West Indies, Turks and Caicos, St. Kitts, Nevis,
Antigua and St. Lucia. Western itineraries may include Jamaica, the Cayman
Islands, Cozumel and Roatan, plus coastal ports in Mexico and Belize.
Itineraries.
Seven-day itineraries are common for both Eastern and Western sailings.
However, Eastern itineraries tend to include more ports, because the islands
are closer together. There are usually five ports on a seven-day cruise that
departs from Florida, and six on a cruise from Puerto Rico or St. Thomas.
Islands and ports are farther apart in the West, so even if you leave from New
Orleans or Houston, you’ll visit three or four ports and enjoy a couple of days
at sea.
Beaches. Beaches
are the biggest attraction in the Eastern Caribbean. There are thousands of beaches;
the island of Antigua alone claims to have 365, one for each day of the year. Eastern
beaches range from pristine strips of sand where you won’t see another person
to large beaches that pulse with activity, music and water sports; and, they’re
all lapped by that beautiful turquoise water. The Western Caribbean has
beautiful beaches, too, but if you really love beach hopping, the East may be
for you.
Activities. If
you need diversity in your onshore activities, look to the West. While Eastern cruises
have lots of opportunities for beach time and great shopping, Western cruises tend
to have a greater variety of activities in each port. There are Mayan ruins to
explore, snorkeling and diving excursions around one of the world’s largest
coral reefs, underwater caves and deep cenotes for swimming, eco parks, and
much more. This variety may give the West the edge, especially if you’re
cruising with a group and need lots of activities for different interests and ages.
Anita, your Cruise Holidays personal
cruise expert, will be happy to provide more details on Eastern and Western
Caribbean cruises (remember, you can always do one of each!).
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