Help! Which Ports are Better?

LoveCruisin · #1 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 03:33 PM

Hey everyone!

I'm having a tough decision on which itinerary to choose from. My fiancé and I are going to be reserving a back-to-back cruise within the next couple days and don't know which boat to go on because of the different ports of call. Here is what we have so far:

It's either between Independence of the Seas or Freedom of the Seas. The only difference between the two is that the IOS is going to Belize and Costa Maya while FOS is going to Grand Cayman and Jamaica. Both ships will be going to Labadee, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and San Juan.

Our main question is this...which would be better ports to visit? I'm thinking Belize and Costa Maya but he likes Grand Cayman and Jamaica. If I could get some feedback on these ports and if anyone would choose one over the other I would appreciate it sooo much!

Thanks for any help!
Samantha

ftroute · #2 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 06:50 PM

I'd go with whichever had the better price. Ships are essentially identical. The FOS will hit ports with substantially less damage from the storms of this summer. Which ever you choose, you're going to want to come back again and see the others anyway.

Either way, have a great cruise.

Jim C. · #3 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 06:48 AM

Its a tough call. I don't personally like Jamaica while Grand Cayman is a great port. And your other choice, Belize is much better than Costa Maya. OF the two, Costa Maya has been completely whiped from the Hurricane, they may not even go there, but the replacement ports won't be much better. I would pick the GC/Jam cruise to be honest.

LoveCruisin · #4 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 08:15 AM

Thanks for the advice so far! Well, we wouldn't be going till early-2009. Would Costa Maya still be bad?

Jim C. · #5 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 09:49 AM

By 2009 it will most likely be mostly back to normal. BUT it was basically wiped from the map from the storm, so they will be rebuilding stuff still. It was that great of a port to begin with.

I liked Belize. They have some fun excursions, but it is a tender port and the tender run takes a good 15- 20 minutes to get from the ship to the dock. So you can't easily go back and forth to the ship for food. Belize is as poor as Jamacia is but the locals are not as agressive with the sales pitch in Belize, so you can wlak about without being assulted by people wanting to braid your hair or sell you pot.

If this is your first cruise, I would still have to do Grand Cayman over Belize. Then you have an excuse to take another cruise to see Belize.

penny3333 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 12:24 PM

Jim's got the right idea. How about doing a b2b2b? Belize is a neat port, Costa Maya-well, it's a good beach day. I like Jamaica, but it is a very poor country and you have to take care there. I've been to Kingston, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, and enjoyed them all. Jamaica is a beautiful island, but it's just too bad that the locals act the way they do, and it's not all of the locals. But the ones that are aggressive ruin it for the ones that aren't. Grand Cayman is a great port. Good snorkeling, 7 mile beach is just beautiful, easy to get around on your own, clean and the locals do not harass you at all. Since you have a good while to decide. Take time to check out the ports on-line and at your local bookstores or libraries. You won't get a complete picture of the locals, but you will get an idea of the scenery. Then take a look at the excursions and see what interests you more. Belize has some good snorkeling, the cave tubing is fun. Grand Cayman has some good snorkeling, StingRay City and 7 Mile Beach, etc. Best wishes and congratulations on your up-coming wedding.

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