Obviously, it is the first time for this itinerary (Lookout Cay). I call this one of the unique itineraries. If you are a Disney cruiser, used to the standard Eastern and a Western Caribbean routes, this would be a break. And a longer cruise.
If these are ports that interest you - and you want to sail Disney - and you want to use Port Canaveral as home port (not having to fly to San Juan) - and the price doesn’t scare you, you would sail an itinerary that may not exist again.
(We sailed the 8-night, port intensive Southern Caribbean last year. My sister’s reaction was she didn’t need to pay Disney prices if she was in port most days).
You get four ports: Tortola, St. Kitts, St John’s, San Juan
I have done the activities marked with *
Others will have recommendations or comments on their excursions
Most common options:
Tortola
Island drive to a beach. It is the Virgin Islands; the water is beautiful and the views of neighboring islands is lively. Or
*Jost Van Dyke - ferry ride to outlying island. Time at a different beach. Lunch included or not, depending on tour. Home if the Painkiller cocktail.
The Baths on Virgin Gorda. Another ferry to outlying island. Interesting boulders and caves at the base of a hill, with beautiful water. Up/downhill walking required. Easy /better as DIY excursion.
St Kitts and Nevis
Nevis: boat ride from port to smaller, less developed island. Wealthier people vacation there. Beach. (birthplace of Alexander Hamilton)
*Island tours to include UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS) Brimstone Hill Fortress, batik shop, gardens -
Or hike in the forest - or *visit a beach - or some combination of these. One side of the island is the Caribbean, the other, the Atlantic.
St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda
Island with 365 beaches is their selling pitch
*Island tour with English colonial ruins and UNESCO WHS Nelson’s Dockyard.
Beach visit and related water activities
San Juan
*Old San Juan - second oldest European-established capital in Western Hemisphere. Beautiful architecture. Two fortresses are part of a National Park. It is a functioning city, with shops and restaurants. Home of the Pina Colada. Try mofongo - a National dish of mashed plantains as the base then topped with a savory mixture of meat or vegetables.
Cross the harbor for a tour of the Bacardi Distillery
Take a tour away from the city to visit El Yunque Rain Forest
Of course, there are beaches, too
Food, alcohol, history and beach tours most places. Sometimes zip lines.
These are the excursions that interested me enough to remember them over the years of cruise planning.
My take: don’t rush out to book it at this price. We booked about a month before our May 2023 S Caribbean and got a way better price than this one is offering. Of course, it was a GTY cabin.
Even with adding premium drink package for the 2 adults and zero proof for the kid, Wi-Fi, and some speciality dining we will come out way ahead. After watching numerous videos DD10 said she wanted to do the Beyond instead of Disney—she said she wanted a break from so many kids, wanted a smaller group kids club thought the ship looked “cooler” thought the shows looked “cooler”, and wants to chill at the pool. She doesn’t care about water slides and Disney characters as much and said the kids clubs are too crazy sometimes on Disney.
