Why ahoy there Emma, and welcome aboard planDisney!
As someone who's lived and worked at sea for over a decade, I spent several of those years sailing to nearly every island
cruise destination in the Caribbean and have definitely had my share of varied experiences. Now while determining which
Ports of Call are prettier or have a better
selection of Port Adventures can be pretty subjective depending on each traveler's tastes, I'm happy to lend a bit of my own Princely perspectives to help you decide (while excluding
cruises to the Bahamas which are grouped separately by Disney Cruise Lines):
- Sailing the Eastern Caribbean provides you with access to more of the idyllic beaches and tropical spots to lounge under the sun like the beautiful stretches of sand at Disney Castaway Cay, and popular activities like snorkelling or sailing on catamarans. One thing to be aware of is that due to their closer proximity to Florida, these destinations are just as popular for fellow seafaring families on other vessels and can get quite busy throughout the year during school holiday periods.
- The beauty of cruises to the Southern Caribbean is the tendency for longer itineraries and more days at sea - that might see fewer children and more adults looking for diverse locales that may not have quite as many Port Adventures available. This may not always be the quite as easy for the first-time cruiser looking for a more classic Caribbean cruise experience, but definitely the sort of itinerary that might appeal to folks keen on seeking out some different islands. The extra sailing time that usually comes with Southern Caribbean cruises is something I highly value - especially if it's a ship that has a lot to enjoy on board!
I highly recommend comparing the time of year and the ships that sail to these regions, especially as they do switch up a bit over the upcoming year. Depending on whether you're newer to cruising or a seasoned sailor, choosing an itinerary with fewer Sea Days can make a big difference on how much you get to enjoy the ship itself and it all really comes down to what kinds of memories you want to make and the photos you'd want to look back on in the future. I hope to see you back here at planDisney for any other questions once you've decided where you'd like to have your next adventure!
Wishing you all the best on your quest to seek the sailing that suits you best!
Prince