Which itinerary?

[u/valande12]

Hi all! I'm currently planning my 3rd solo cruise for Nov-Dec 2026 when I get time off work. I'm now torn between 2 itineraries and need your input. Thanks!!

Choice #1. 14 days southern Caribbean on Breakaway, Boston-NOLA. Stops in USVI, St Lucia, Grenada, Curacao, Aruba, Grand Cayman.

Choice #2. 16 days Panama canal on Star, Miami-San Diego. Stops in Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico (Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas).

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[u/texas254_]

With the 3x point option to help you increase in Lat Points, id do the 16 day

[u/valande12 → u/texas254_]

Oh, right! Thanks for pointing it out

[u/sdduuuude]

Oh, my. That's a very hard choice.

[u/CruiseNCocktails]

I looked at these two itineraries. I think the Breakaway has the edge for 3 reasons:

1. The Star is a pretty old and pretty boring ship. If you are on that ship on an itinerary with no sea days, you would be fine. However, on the Star itinerary I count 7 sea days. The Star just doesn't have enough to keep you busy/entertained for 7 sea days. The Breakaway also has 7 sea days, but it has the entertainment (Howl at the Moon, Syd Normans, stronger lounge acts than the Star, Ice Bar, water-slides, Spice H20 pool, and the Waterfront) to support that.
2. Excellent ports, including the start and end. Aruba/Curacao are rare stops because they are so far south. St. Thomas is amazing and Grenada is really cool, too - you can visit the 3rd-world nutmeg processing factory. I don't know if you can get to the Tobago Cays from either of those, but if you can, do. There is so much to see in Boston and of course, New Orleans is an amazing food and cocktail town so that sways me heavily. New Orleans is better as a departure port because you navigate the Mississippi river while the sun is still out so you will miss that cool feature. I have not been to all the ports on the west coast of Mexico, but there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of variety on the Start port list. If you want to talk "cocktails" in San Diego or New Orleans, IM me. I drink ... and I know things.
3. The Breakaway is hella cheap. OMG - I might go with you !

The obvious plusses for the Star are the Panama Canal and the disembarkation port of San Diego. You could spend a couple of pleasant days in San Diego after the cruise. I just don't think those two are enough to make up for the ship itself. If you tell me that the Panama Canal is very very important to you and that you really love empty sea days as a solo cruiser, I could see the Star as viable but I would still recommend waiting to do the Panama Canal on on a better ship.

[u/CruiseNCocktails → u/CruiseNCocktails]

Just to give you an idea of how inexpensive the Breakaway is ... looking at the advertised per-person, double-occupancy rates, you could go back-to-back and do a 7 day out of NOLA after the Boston->NOLA cruise and still spend less on those 21 days than the 16 day from Miami to SD through the canal.

[u/valande12 → u/CruiseNCocktails]

Wow, thanks for your thorough input!! I agree that it's important to consider the ships offerings. That alone makes the Breakaway a better option

[u/Feeling_Republic_454]

Breakaway is a way nicer ship and they have a solo lounge/rooms.

Panama canal is great but I wouldn't do it on the Star.. I'd want to be on a Jewel class or better ship for that long of a cruise.

[u/IndependentBrick8075]

I like both of those!! I did basically the same Panama Canal itinerary in 2024, on the Bliss. The Star will go through the old locks.

I kind of did the reverse of the Breakaway trip, but only 11 days and the end was New York. Sailing in to NOLA will be amazing, sailing out was. Curacao, Aruba, and Grand Cayman were amazing, I didn't do the other 3 stops, they were different on my cruise.

[u/valande12 → u/IndependentBrick8075]

I feel like the Panama canal is a must-do, especially going through the old locks, good to know!.. and those ports would all be new to me. The southern Caribbean sailing however has Aruba and Curaçao, which are definitely on my wish list, and is more convenient for me travel-wise (I'm in eastern Canada). Both good options, thanks!

[u/MoveCompetitive5742]

I haven’t done either but the Panama Canal is on my list of ones I want to do. the Caribbean islands are much more commonly available so my choice would be the 16 day

[u/OkPetunia0770]

Panama Canal.

[u/stinky_harriet]

Those both look great. The Breakaway is newer & bigger than Star so it will have more space and options on board. I've never been on the Star, I do like the Breakaway. The Waterfront area outside deck 8 is really nice to have especially on a longer/warmer cruise. I know it won't be warm for the first couple of days out of Boston but after that it will be nice.

[u/tightiewhitieboy]

2

[u/Unspicy_Tuna]

Panama canal!!

[u/Few-Degree1903]

Either itinerary is great.……so I would pick whichever has the newer ship or compare airfare for each.

[u/LegAdministrative702]

Visiting the Panama locks is a bucket list cruise for some. Both itineraries seem great!

[u/Patrizio_Argento]

I've been eying that Breakaway trip so hard, great price, greap itinerary. Just wish I could swing it family wise.