OK, if you haven't cruised since 1993, then you're going to notice a lot of changes in cruising, especially the size of the ships! MSC will attract more Europeans than the mass market lines, and with that, a lot of the European culture that offends many Americans. I personally don't mind that experience, but many do, and you do get quite a few different languages being spoken on board - both, by passengers, and with the announcements. BTW, the sailing that you're looking at is also a Big Band Theme cruise.
well, fiddle sticks, I thought I had avoided the theme cruise dates. We can sail on the 20th (although different ports) or the 13th. I had read about the foreigners, but hoped there may be less on the Caribbean cruises. On to an important question: the food. How does it compare?
Most of what I've read of the food has been pretty good. MSC is one cruise line I haven't sailed, but it's been compared often with Costa, which we loved the food on. I'll check into the other two dates to be sure there aren't any themes, but I don't believe there are.
Follow-up: February 20 is a Country Music Theme. The 13th doesn't have a theme, but that's school vacation week a lot of places (due to Washington's Birthday), I'd expect a LOT of kids on board.
My husband and I went to Couple Tower Isle (name has changed now, I think) for our honeymoon, 4 years ago. It was heavenly. Two seperate friends are getting married August and October and both couples are going to Couple Swept Away. Jamaica is such a poor city, but the resorts are phenominal.
Grand Lido, Negril, JA; Sandals, Antigua;Sandals Whitehouse, JA; Breezes, Runaway Bay, JA. If you have kids Beaches in Jamaica is a great all inclusive to go w/kids
Sandals Whitehouse is going to be closing next Monday for four months for renovations. Grand Lido will become Breezes Grand Negril on November 1 (Super Clubs is eliminating the Grand Lido name). With Sandals Antigua, I'd recommend the newer Mediterranean side, but last time I saw the property, I felt that the Caribbean side had been let go. Breezes & Beaches that you listed are good properties.
I understand this place has just been voted #1 by the travel channel. When we were in St Lucia a few years ago, we saw this resort sailing and it was really awesome! The place we stayed was nice but not this level. St. Lucia was so wonderful and I would highly recommend it to anyone! www.jademountainstlucia.com
I actually saw this on the Travel Channel last night. We watched a show on the 20 best beaches in the Caribbean. I liked this one except it seemed so far from the actual beach. We recorded the show so we could go back and watch it again. I ended up really confused all over again lol! I don't really want to be in total seclusion; I like some activity around.
That and cost were the reasons we stayed at another resort. Please the resort we chose actually had 1, 2, and 3 bedroom units which made it nice traveling with kids. But I felt the people of St. Lucia was what made it so special.
It's weird that I saw this post, I'm actually in the process of trying to find somewhere to surprise my fiance for our honeymoon. We would be leaving March 28, 2010 to go to where ever I choose! I'm still having a hard time deciding, mainly because I have never flown, and I would hate to pay a lot of money to get there and the place not be nice. I really like that Couple's Swept Away and Couple's Tower Isle in Jamaica. I wonder if it is still that nice? For $4000 with airfare included, it's really not THAT bad to go there. Any other recommendations? Definitely want to keep it at that price range or below, which is hard I have realized! We want beautiful white beaches, just like the OP. Thanks for all the info!
Hotwire, of those two resorts, we've gotten better feedback on Swept Away than Tower Isle, and I'd recommend Negril over Ocho Rios, but I don't think you'd go wrong with either one. That week may be a bit more expensive due to Easter falling on April 4.
We enjoyed Ochos Rios, but didn't have anything to compare it to. Couples resorts are beautiful (yes, they look like the pictures!!). My husband and I want to visit another one for our 5 year anniversary. Tower Isle has a nude island (which is why we went....j/k). We never visited but when you take the "booze cruise" the island visitors give you lots of scenery. We loved every minute of our honeymoon. It was as close to paradise as we've ever been. Good luck!
