Hello all! Hoping someone will be able to help answer these questions. We are avid travelers, who have been around the world, and have traveled quite a bit domestically even since the birth of our daughter, but this is our first time being on a cruise with her, she is almost 4-we will be with family, but any specific advice for safety and etc. traveling with a younger passenger?
Just to give you an idea of itinerary, we leave on Princess, June 9th out of Fort Lauderdale. So:
June 8th: Leave from home (near Tampa Bay), and drive to Miami. Marlins vs. Guardians (go Cleveland) at LoanDepot park and some other looking.
June 9th: Maybe some morning time walking around Fort Lauderdale Downtown or Hollywood Broadwalk, then boarding midday.
June 10th: Princess Cays. Just a typical cruise island beach day.
June 11th: Sea Day
June 12th: US Virgin Islands (Charlotte Amalie)-I specifically am doing a snorkeling excursion here, at Trunk Bay. Wife is not interested in water stuff, so just hanging back. We will rejoin after I am back from St. John, and this self-guided walking route: Historic Walking Tour - Virgin Islands This Week
June 13th: St. Maarten (Philipsburg)-Philipsburg itself looks compact and charming to explore. However, we might take an Uber to/from Maho Beach.
June 14th: St. John's (Antigua and Barbuda)-Here, we might just explore the downtown area-go to the museum downtown and other civic buildings, do some shopping, get some good local authentic food in town.
June 15th: Basseterre (Saint Kitts and Nevis)-Here, I am thinking that Brimstone Hill Fortress is the move-it looks really cool and scenic.
June 16th: Road Town (British Virgin Islands)-There is an affordable looking boat ferry excursion I found which takes you to The Baths. So probably that.
June 17th: Sea Day
June 18th: Sea Day
So, I have the following few questions:
1. I see that the Brimstone Hill tour offered from the ship is $100. I do see one from Viator that is $67. I am not sure if anyone else has done Brimstone Hill and has other thoughts on cheaper providers who would drive you up there/tour on island that would be recommendable. Or if this one is worth just doing with the cruise, since it also covers Carabelle Batik and Romney Manor.
2. I personally really enjoy seeing the urbanism, architecture, history of the places we visit, really getting to know them. In Nassau, we even toured the government buildings in 2018. Just curious, which of St. John's in Antigua or Basseterre in St. Kitts have a better overall downtown, in terms of overall: Safety, General Urban Realm/Walkability, Food Places, Attractions/Things to Do, and Shopping?
3. I see there is a bus from St. John's to Shirley Heights-has anyone else taken it? Does doing so feel fairly safe?
Thanks all!
