What's to do in the Caribbean?

[wakelover]

We've never been so I wondered if folks had any suggestions....

San Juan
Antigua
St Thomas
BVI
Dominica
St Maarten

Thanks

[retep13]

We've never been so I wondered if folks had any suggestions....

San Juan
Antigua
St Thomas
BVI
Dominica
St Maarten

Thanks

the typical american thing is jewelry shopping giggle

[timespliters]

We've never been so I wondered if folks had any suggestions....

San Juan
The pier is a few minutes walk and you see some of the old houses
Go and see the fort
have a very nice beach
If you like caves their are some of the best at Rio Camuy Cave Park
Just a walk around the Old San Juan is nice.

Antigua
Museum in the old Court House
365 Beaches but the best is Dark Wood Beach or Crab Hill is nice
English Harbour is nice it was the British Admiralty base in 18th centure

St Thomas
It is part of the US Virgin Islands (british virgin islands are the best)
just take lots of money and shop till you drop

BVI
If you go to Tortola go to Cane Garden Bay

Dominica
A walk in the Rain Forest is nice and has a water Fall
Pick up some spices from where you get off the ship and the market is nice for a quick visit
will you stop in Roseau the capital or Portsmout which is north east coast.
Botanical Gardens is a nice walk to along the waterfront

St Maarten
been 3 times and will be their 28/10/08
very small island and if you swim the beach near where you leave the ship has a bad undertow some times.
again just lots of shops with big stones in the window.
The best beach is on the French side and it is topless, called Baie Longue also Plum Bay is nice and not topless

so have a good time

.

[wakelover]

Wow thanks TS - here is our exact itinery. happysm

Cape Liberty Cruise Port, New Jersey;

San Juan, Puerto Rico;

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas;

Philipsburg, St. Maarten;

Roseau, Dominica;

Bridgetown, Barbados;

St. John's, Antigua;

Tortola, British Virgin Islands;

Cape Liberty Cruise Port, New Jersey

happysm

[timespliters]

When do you go, will look and tell you more.

[wakelover]

Feb time....looking forward to it...hopefully weather will be okay then????

[yorkshirephil]

Wakie. We stopped in St Maarten on our recent cruise, It is now one of our favourites. A beautiful island. We walked to the water taxi rank and purchased a day ticket for $6 which gives you unlimitted travel around the bay. The shopping is very good, or so I am informed by mrs YP, just a good walk for me. The beach is very nice where you get 2 sunbeds a parasol and 2 beers for $10.

St Thomas is also very nice, we took the taxi truck into town then walked back. We had booked a helicopter ride for the afternoon which although expensive was a fantastic experience. I have posted some piccies with my review.

Antigua was OK, we will book a tour next time.

Barbados is nice, plenty of choice of tours or DIY.

[timespliters]

Re Barbados

On our first time their we did a taxi trip then he droped us off at the beach where I friends were as they have been to Barbados many times, so now we go to the beach and love to swim in the blue water.
Get taxi driver to drop you off at beach carpark next to Grand Barbados Hotel and walk to the beach and turn right and see the guard at the hotel and tell him you want to use sunbeds and have a bit to eat or drinks from the bar, When their are 4 of us we give him $5 and he looks after us and gets you a taxi back cheaper than when you came. Aircrew use this hotel so they are on the beach as well. if you go left its the new Hilton Hotel

http://www.barbados.org/landscap/needhams_pebbles.jpg
part of the hotel

[retromal]

San Juan..

If you like Bacardi,, then I can recommend a tour around the factory (not the tour so much but the very nice bar in the gardens)

Mal

[wakelover]

Thanks everyone for your tips....not one of our party of 8 has been to the Caribbean so we are all very excited!

[timespliters]

Thanks everyone for your tips....not one of our party of 8 has been to the Caribbean so we are all very excited!


you will love it as I am looking forward to going in Oct/Nov this year

[wakelover]

I was wondering TS - the hurricane season. I assume that it is only occasionally that ships get caught out. I note the time you are going so assume you are confident in that...or have I got the dates wrong.munchsm

[timespliters]

I was wondering TS - the hurricane season. I assume that it is only occasionally that ships get caught out. I note the time you are going so assume you are confident in that...or have I got the dates wrong.munchsm


Officially, hurricane season (http://travelwithkids.about.com/od/caribbeanfamilyvacations/qt/hurricane_seaso.htm) stretches from June 1st to November 30th, and hits not only the Caribbean islands but also parts of Mexico, Florida and the Texas coast. Within that time frame, August to October are peak months.
But will take a chancehappysm

[Cruise Fairy]

Well of course you are going to tropical islands, so all the beaches, watersports, sailing,snorkeling you want, or lounging on a lovely beach somewhere.
San Juan- do not miss your arrival into San Juan , the view from the sea is amazing- the old town is lovely, like going back into a time warp. El Morro is the fort that guards the harbor, check out the tours or do a walking tour on your own. Say Photo opportunity!
Old San Juan has lots of good shopping, lots of higgledy piggledy streets with little shops and some designer names also if interested.
St Maarten - you will dock on the Dutch side and cross from the pier to downtown by water taxi- $6 if I remember right (for all day) - there is just shopping there and one beach close to the welcome center.
We go over to the French side, to Orient Beach, (partial clothing optional when you go further down the beach- topless lots of areas - ask taxi fare before you get in, it is $6 per person over there, but they will ask for more if they think you don't know. $6 pp will get you most places on the island, it 's quite small. Marigot the main town on the French side is the shopping/dining place,more expensive though. Lots of people like to go to Maho beach, the jets coming into the airport literally are feet up above your head as they come into land.
The most popular excursion is the America's cup sailing day- wish I could do it- you get to crew on a real sailing ship......mmmm- they say you can be as active or lazy as you want, but it still looks more vigorous than I want to do.
St Thomas- take an island tour, there are numerous offered, we went up to Paradise point, took photos,sat on Nelson's bench, looked out over Magens Bay and the Caribbean - this is reputedly the loveliest beach in the Caribbean but I didn't think so- Orient is nicer- there is a cable car that runs from Havensight where the ship docks, up the side of the hill to Paradise point with of course a shopping opportunity at the top.
If you want good duty free jewelry then St Thomas is your place, also they sell some good stuff at similar prices on the ship.

[Cruise Fairy]

Officially, hurricane season (http://travelwithkids.about.com/od/caribbeanfamilyvacations/qt/hurricane_seaso.htm) stretches from June 1st to November 30th, and hits not only the Caribbean islands but also parts of Mexico, Florida and the Texas coast. Within that time frame, August to October are peak months.
But will take a chancehappysm

The good thing about cruising in Hurricane season ( and that's when most of us have to go) is that if weather threatens they will take you another route well out of the way, so it really only impacts cruisers if it makes landfall at the port of embarkation...

[bonzy]

st Thomas...we did the Nautilus submarine tour where you go down 90 feet in a submarine... i had always wanted to do it!! I think it was $80. Then there is a smallish cable car. Not as high as the one here in Gib.

St. Maarten ...we did some beach but it was a hotel and we didnt like it very much.

I LOVE the Caribbean and hope to return soon but am off to the far East in April and funds do not allow another big one that year as well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[wakelover]

Looking forward to seeing the beaches - are they as blue as they look on tv munchsm

[Cruise Fairy]

Turquoise!

[timespliters]

Looking forward to seeing the beaches - are they as blue as they look on tv munchsm


yes and they look better than you see on TV roll on Oct and I will be their

[Ali B]

Theres lots to do in the Caribbean, depending on what islands you visit, on most islands you can go on taxi trips round the island, but remember to barter first. You can go for walks, snorkel, swim with turtles, swim with dolphins, the tours department of the ship might organise these kind of trips so go along and get a brochure and find out what you can do. Enjoy! I love the caribbean and cant wait to go back in winter.

[timespliters]

Any one been to St Vincent?

[yorkshirephil]

Any one been to St Vincent?

Hey TS. We were there in April. The ship docks at Kingstown, a typical caribbean town. We walked around town and up to the botanical gardens which are very nice. There was the usual assortment of tours, visiting gardens, walking in the rain forest, snorkelling, whale/dolphin watching and various boat trips. It was raining when we got there otherwise we would probably have booked a taxi and got a local knowledge tour. I have posted a few piccies on my Princess review.

[timespliters]

Hey TS. We were there in April. The ship docks at Kingstown, a typical caribbean town. We walked around town and up to the botanical gardens which are very nice. There was the usual assortment of tours, visiting gardens, walking in the rain forest, snorkelling, whale/dolphin watching and various boat trips. It was raining when we got there otherwise we would probably have booked a taxi and got a local knowledge tour. I have posted a few piccies on my Princess review.


Thanks Phil we will be their 30 Oct 08 been in area many times but not to St Vincent.
So you can walk to the gardens from ship? Any taxi tours? cost?
WQe will be on the Sea Princess for 3 weeks.
Thanks
james

[yorkshirephil]

Thanks Phil we will be their 30 Oct 08 been in area many times but not to St Vincent.
So you can walk to the gardens from ship? Any taxi tours? cost?
WQe will be on the Sea Princess for 3 weeks.
Thanks
james

Excellent choice TS, we were on Sea Princess. The walk is about 30 min, quite a bit of uphill walking to the garden. You get the locals waiting for you to show you round, we let a young lad take us up to the garden, although they aren't supposed to. He was quite knowledgable and worth a few dollars. I think it was then $3 into the garden, there are usually guides about if you require. I didn't ask about taxi tours, it is usually negotiable and depends if you can get another couple to go with you.

[Michelle T]

I have been to the caribbean but none of these places! tut

[Ali B]

In Dominica there is a beautiful waterfall that you can go see and even climb, been told its quite a hard climb but well worth it when you get to the top. Also theres a national park and been told thats well worth a visit. Last time I was in Dominica my friend and I went on a taxi tour, and she gave us different options from a half hour to a 2 hour trip. We didnt have a lot of time so we went on the half hour trip and it was still well worth it, we went to the Botanical gardens and the view point. Well worth it, you can see the whole island. Also some nice bars, get a caribbean beer and sit outside in the sunshine! Just beware of the beggars asking for money - just ignore them and theyll go away. St Maartin is beautiful and depends what you want to do, very cheap for electronics! Ive just walked around but love St maartin next time I go and have time Ill be going on a tour. Antigua has beautiful beaches and also quite nice to walk around. The caribbean has got lots going on either going on a tour with the ship or going on an indepedent taxi tour, these are well worth going on just be sure to haggle with the taxi drivers and make sure there is more than one of you, and also make sure you see the drivers ID. Most drivers show you there ID without you asking but make sure you see it. Enjoy your time in the caribbean I love it and hope you do to. Ali xx

[timespliters]

In Dominica there is a beautiful waterfall that you can go see and even climb, been told its quite a hard climb but well worth it when you get to the top. Also theres a national park and been told thats well worth a visit. Last time I was in Dominica my friend and I went on a taxi tour, and she gave us different options from a half hour to a 2 hour trip. We didnt have a lot of time so we went on the half hour trip and it was still well worth it, we went to the Botanical gardens and the view point. Well worth it, you can see the whole island. Also some nice bars, get a caribbean beer and sit outside in the sunshine! Just beware of the beggars asking for money - just ignore them and theyll go away. St Maartin is beautiful and depends what you want to do, very cheap for electronics! Ive just walked around but love St maartin next time I go and have time Ill be going on a tour. Antigua has beautiful beaches and also quite nice to walk around. The caribbean has got lots going on either going on a tour with the ship or going on an indepedent taxi tour, these are well worth going on just be sure to haggle with the taxi drivers and make sure there is more than one of you, and also make sure you see the drivers ID. Most drivers show you there ID without you asking but make sure you see it. Enjoy your time in the caribbean I love it and hope you do to. Ali xx


We love all the islands and the people and the drink. We had a swim at water Falls in April 2000 and been back but no swim.

[Ali B]

If you want to do something special and once in a lifetime in Tortola go and swim with the dolphins! Itll cost around 140 dollars but well worth it! I did it last time I was there and really enjoyed it! We got the dvd and I had to buy my photos! Amazing experience! Ali xx