Which cruise would you choose and why?

showcat · #1 (**permalink**) August 10th, 2010, 03:37 AM

7 night on Caribbean Princess ports are St.Thomas, Dominica, Grenada, Bon Aire and Aruba with only one sea day,
or Carnival Freedom 8 night ports are San Juan, St Thomas, Antigua, Tortola, and Nassau with 2 sea days? For those who have been to these ports or on these ships I would really like your input on both.

rollerdonna · #2 (**permalink**) August 10th, 2010, 07:54 AM

Boy, that is a tough choice Showcat!
I have sailed both ships, with slightly different itineraries, and although The Freedom was a great ship, the Caribbean Princess is still by far, my favourite of all ships, so much so that we sailed her twice!
I haven't been to Grenada or Bon Aire, and I have nothing nice to say about Dominica, but I do love Aruba. Also, 1 sea day is not enough for me...
Princess's ports, with 2 sea days appeal much more.

If you'd like further opinion, with photos, you can search for Freedom or Caribbean Princess reviews by me here on CM....

donna

Trip · #3 (**permalink**) August 10th, 2010, 08:37 AM

The only 2 ports out of those itins that I have not been to are Bonaire, which is a dream port for scuba and snorkeling, and Antigua, which has has realy bad press this past year.

I would do the Caribbean Princess. Grenada has one ot the top 10 beaches in the world, and is unlike any island I have been to before.

Dominica has waterfalls and is very eco touristy..Not much else to do there. Aruba, I loved...nice beaches...dune buggies & gambling, and, nice people. Add to the mix, St. Thomas for great shopping!

Where do I book

Port intensive, but a better mix of ports inmho

Libragirl · #4 (**permalink**) August 12th, 2010, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by showcat

7 night on Caribbean Princess ports are St.Thomas, Dominica, Grenada, Bon Aire and Aruba with only one sea day,
or Carnival Freedom 8 night ports are San Juan, St Thomas, Antigua, Tortola, and Nassau with 2 sea days? For those who have been to these ports or on these ships I would really like your input on both.

I would do the Caribbean Princess. I love cruising on Princess, and I have never been to three of these ports. I'm sure either cruise would be wonderful, though!

jacdenv24 · #5 (**permalink**) August 12th, 2010, 12:54 PM

An easy choice for me-the 8 day Carnival, although I have never sailed CCC. It's one day longer, has one more sea day and DOESN'T go to Grenada or Dominica. Not too crazy about either one but that's just IMHO. Love Tortola, San Juan and Antigua (in spite of the bad press) Would probably stay on board in Nassau to enjoy an uncrowded ship, kinda like another sea day!

rosetattoo · #6 (**permalink**) August 12th, 2010, 04:04 PM

I have sailed on the 8 day itinerary on the Carnival Freedom and LOVED IT, didn't want to get off. The ship is beautiful, great food and activities, friendly crew.

Tortola and Antigua were beautiful. In Antigua we took an excursion to Prickly Pear Island, a remarkable experience and in Tortola we snorkeled from a catamaran, best snorkeling ever.

nlb1050 · #7 (**permalink**) August 12th, 2010, 08:04 PM

Been on the Princess, been to all but 3 of the ports. Like Carnival very much but have to choose the Caribbean Princess based on the ports. I don't care if I ever go back to Nassau, of the ports we have been at liked it the least, both times we were there it was dirty. I was there a couple of times in the early 70's and it was no where as dirty. Plus we really want to see Bon Aire and Aruba . Number of sea days is not that important.

But I do have a question, where do each cruise start and end?

Donna · #8 (**permalink**) August 12th, 2010, 08:56 PM

I think I'd choose the Princess one, haven't seen a ship go to Bon Aire, just a port I'd love to visit. The Carnival ship goes to all the stops I've been to, so it would depend on what ports you've already been to and if you want to visit some you haven't yet??

balabusta · #9 (**permalink**) August 14th, 2010, 01:53 PM

Give me any repositioning cruise. Not only is it relaxing at sea for a week but you get to go to some ports that you would not normally pick. There is always the excitement of "out of the way places!

showcat · #10 (**permalink**) August 17th, 2010, 11:01 PM

Nancy the Caribbean Princess goes out of San Juan so requires a more expensive flight there, the Freedom goes out of Ft.Lauderdale Fl.

nlb1050 · #11 (**permalink**) August 18th, 2010, 08:23 AM

showcat, I figured as much for the departure ports since some of the Caribbea Princess ports are considered Southern. So for us unless we could get a real good deal on flights then we would pick the Freedom, even though we don't care for Nassau, just stay on board that day.

showcat · #12 (**permalink**) August 19th, 2010, 06:50 AM

Thanks everyone I had a change of plans and booked an entirely different cruise. I couldn't get my friends to join me on the Freedom, and I didn't such a port intensive cruise on the Caribbean Princess, so I have just booked the Carnival Liberty instead. Ports are Half Moon Cay, St Thomas, San Juan, and Grand Turk. Best part is I've got my own cabin for the first time

I'm so excited!