Thread: New member here!

I went on my first cruise two years ago, and I am hooked. I am looking for information and any suggestions you can offer while I plan a cruise to celebrate my second child's graduation from high school. We went on the Western Caribbean on the Voyager and LOVED it.

christineann -
Welcome to CLF! It's really a neat place full of nice folks who love cruising.

If your kids loved the Western Caribbean, there's nothing wrong with doing the Western again... maybe on another of the voyager class ships with a slightly different itenerary.
We have enjoyed the Western more than once ourselves...

Hi Christineann to CLF!!! We are a friendly group here with wonderful people. You will get lots of suggestions. Many lines have ships as large as the voyager, but not all have as many activities like the rock climbing wall, skating rink, prominade. If you enjoyed all that, You have other ships with that, that also go eastern to give you a change, to see what you like better. We only do the Caribbean so have done both eastern and western many times!!!

Thanks for your responses! How does the Eastern compare to the Western as far as the excitment of the activities? We love to snorkel and kayak, and shopping is just something we do to pick up a few souveneirs. How about a cruise to the Southern region?


We will have a great time no matter where we go - I just want to do something different. Thanks again for your help!

Welcome Christineann! Glad to have you aboard. I'm sure you will get all your cruise questions answered here. A cruise for graduation is a great present and one that everyone in the family can enoy. Have fun planning!

Originally Posted by christineann

Thanks for your responses! How does the Eastern compare to the Western as far as the excitment of the activities? We love to snorkel and kayak, and shopping is just something we do to pick up a few souveneirs. How about a cruise to the Southern region?

We've done the Eastern and Western, but our first Southern is slated for this fall.

A lot of folks seem to prefer the eastern over the western. Personally, I think there is more to do, and a greater variety of choices on the western.

Not that St. Thomas and St Martin aren't beautiful - they sertainly are. But s ome of the best snorkeling I have done was at our Costa Maya stop... there is a barrier reef just off shore there with some spectacular coral. (We hired a private guide - not through the ship)

I'm not a shopper, either, but folks seem to get very excited about the shopping when they get to St Thomas.

Let me Welcome you aboard CLF as well.

We are Royal Caribbean fans and glad to see you were on the Voyager.........

Jump right in and don't forget to check the RC boards.

Hi Christineann! I saw that you already jumped into posting, but wanted to see your newcomer thread as well.

My first cruise was a Southern Caribbean, because my DH wanted to see San Juan. Our next one was Western, because that's all that's available out of Galveston, and we wanted to stay close to home. I can't answer for the Eastern, but there is some overlap between all 3.

I'd say look at what your family likes to do, find places that have that, and look for a cruise that has as many of your chosen ports as possible.

Welcome onboard Christineann,

I would echo Canary's view and say if the kids enjoyed the western, try it again.

I would even suggest the Mariner of the Seas. As you found out on your 1st cruise this class ship (Voyager) has loads of things to do for everybody, especially active teens and young adults. It also has the bonus of sailing from Cape Canaveral year round. (although the rest of the itinerary appears to be the same.)

Cape Canaveral is close enough to Orlando that if you have the opportunity, you can throw in a couple of days pre or post and enjoy the entertainment of this great city.

Welcome on board the SS CLF! Enjoy your stay...