hammers

Hi, my wife and I visited Dickerson beach in December 2022. I must admit I thought the beach had deteriorated somewhat since our last visit which was before the COVID pandemic. We still had a good day by Tony's bar. I believe we paid twenty dollars for two sunbeds, but it depends who you ask! Some people paid less - us18 dollars for two beds. The taxi price had gone up considerably since our last visit, I believe we paid us7 per person each way, 14 dollars each return.

I hope we don't dock at Kingstown, I really hate St Vincent. If we do Dock there as per our itinerary, the wife and I will be staying on the Explorer 2.

On 12/26/2019 at 10:58 AM, Eade1 said:

We’ve just received an email saying that due to engine issues our cruise in February has had to change meaning we get 2 more days at sea and therefore 2 less days in port. They have offered £100 refund each as compensation. I just wondered if anyone else has experienced this and if £100 is considered acceptable? I know they had an engine fire earlier in December but thought they would have rectified the problem by February. 

Hi, I was on the Discovery when the fire occurred. We were initially given 25 pounds each for missing Koh Samui, we then received an additional 250 pounds per person when the full extent of the damage was assessed and the fact that we would miss two further ports. I'm still fighting to get this compensation increased. 

On 11/3/2019 at 7:19 PM, Majors0620 said:

My wife and I are on  the Marella Discovery Journey to Arabia 1 in April 2020. We are flying into Cochin, India and have a few port stop in India during the first few days. At the end of the cruise we travel to Khasab, Omam and then Port Sultan where we travel to the airport to return to the U K. 

Can anyone help me as to what visa's we require. Best way to apply and when we need to apply for the visa's we require. 

Many thanks

Ralph 

Hi Ralph, I understand you need the 30 day  E visa for India. My wife I were on the Discovery just before Christmas on the Colours of the Far East itinerary. We met a large number of passengers who were turned away from the airport for not having an Indian visa. Tui had them running around to get their visa's, most missing their flights and having to fly out the next day. Some people had purchased a year long visa that cost them a fortune. I understand that the 30 day visa is very reasonable. 

Terry

My wife and I prefer to eat late, then we run to catch the late show at 10:15pm. We then usually go to bar 11 for the late night disco. 

1 hour ago, Bazrat said:

After doing both last year P&O and marella we enjoyed both the only thing onboard explorer 2 was the lack of music in the lounges they would play for half an hour than disappear,would we use either company again yes and yes.

we had the premium drinks package on marella and would have it again

11 hours ago, sagaris said:

Thanks Hammers,

 

The thing that swung it for us was the itinerary, we have been on P&O about 6 times to the Caribbean and so have visited the ports quite a few times. although we did do the Panama canal in 2010 the ports on the Marella cruise are mostly new to us.

I agree about St Vincent, but we loved Dominica as we booked a private tour with Bumping tours and it was a brilliant trip.

The cruise didn't cost anymore than P&O as we have booked an outside cabin, we usually have a balcony on P&O.

We are really looking forward to having a change.

 

Molly

Hi Molly, I'm sure you will enjoy your Marella cruise. Regarding Dominica, we greatly enjoyed our first three trips there. The rain forest+waterfall and the whale watching trips were wonderful. We also done snorkeling at Champagne Bay. The problem was, what do you do on subsequent visits there? There are no beaches and the main town Roseau is not up to much. Now every time the ship docks there, we stay on board. If anything, St Vincent is worst. The local Villa beach is very narrow and poorly equipped with sunbeds etc. We have done the Pirates of the Caribbean tour and the botanical gardens. That's it! I honestly don't know why the cruise lines still stop at these two ports. Our favourite ports are the ABC islands, Barbados, Grand Turk, St Marteen and Antigua. 

Unfortunately St Vincent is on our next itinerary, last year the ship stopped at Bequia, now this is a beautiful island and beats the larger St Vincent hands down. 

Terry

49 minutes ago, sagaris said:

Thanks Hammers,

 

The thing that swung it for us was the itinerary, we have been on P&O about 6 times to the Caribbean and so have visited the ports quite a few times. although we did do the Panama canal in 2010 the ports on the Marella cruise are mostly new to us.

I agree about St Vincent, but we loved Dominica as we booked a private tour with Bumping tours and it was a brilliant trip.

The cruise didn't cost anymore than P&O as we have booked an outside cabin, we usually have a balcony on P&O.

We are really looking forward to having a change.

 

Molly

Hi Molly, I'm sure you will enjoy your Marella cruise. Regarding Dominica, we greatly enjoyed our first three trips there. The rain forest+waterfall and the whale watching trips were wonderful. We also done snorkeling at Champagne Bay. The problem was, what do you do on subsequent visits there? There are no beaches and the main town Roseau is not up to much. Now every time the ship docks there, we stay on board. If anything, St Vincent is worst. The local Villa beach is very narrow and poorly equipped with sunbeds etc. We have done the Pirates of the Caribbean tour and the botanical gardens. That's it! I honestly don't know why the cruise lines still stop at these two ports. Our favourite ports are the ABC islands, Barbados, Grand Turk, St Marteen and Antigua. 

Unfortunately St Vincent is on our next itinerary, last year the ship stopped at Bequia, now this is a beautiful island and beats the larger St Vincent hands down. 

Terry

On 11/6/2019 at 8:58 PM, hammers said:

Hi, you say there are no tours to Pigeon Point beach, why not just take a taxi? I have visited Tobago three times and each time we have shared a taxi to Pigeon beach.

Same here, shared taxi is the way go. 

New one on me, we have been to St Lucia on many occasions and we have never tendered into port. 

On 1/7/2020 at 2:34 PM, sagaris said:

Thanks dronnygirl. We have only cruised with P&O before mainly to the Caribbean, but we have visited all the islands on their itineries a few times, and although we have done the Panama Canal on a cruise, it was over 10 years ago.

Are there any noticeable differences between Marella and P&O?

Hi, I mainly cruise with P&O and Marella. Since Marella have been buying 'newer' ships and have gone all inclusive as standard, I tend to steer towards Marella. I find the cruise experience to be very similar. Another factor to consider is that in the Caribbean, Marella only have 2 sea days as opposed to P&O which as 4 sea days. Also P&O go to Dominica and St Vincent on a regular basis, which I hate. 

I am off to Caribbean next week on Marella Explorer 2. I was considering the Azura but even though the Marella cruise was two hundred pounds per person more expensive, the P&O drink package would have made the Azura eight hundred pounds more!

Hi, we always go to Mambo beach, you have to pay a small entrance fee, US3pp if my memory serves me correctly. The sunbed charges are about 2-3 dollars each. This beach is perfect for snorkeling because it is partally enclosed by a reef type wall there by creating an enclosed lagoon. The sea is very calm as well, which makes it great fot swimming. Getting there is easy, taxis are available from the port. We usually share a cab with other passengers to cut down on the cost. Also, there are usually  loads of taxis waiting to take you back to the ship. 

When in Barbados, we usually go to the Boatyard or Paynes Bay. When going to Paynes Bay beach we walk out of the port gates for approximately 10 minutes to the bus station which is on the left hand side facing the sea. The bus costs 1us dollar per person to Paynes Bay beach. Just ask the bus driver to let you know where to get off. Here you can snorkel with the sea turtles. You will see all the boats gather just off the beach. 

On 10/13/2019 at 11:26 AM, sweby said:

Hi all, we are looking for advice on best beaches or best trips to do when we go to Tobago. We did a trip to Pigeon Point Beach last time, but it doesn't look like it's on this time, although there is a boat trip. Any advice for best trips or DIY  days in Tobago please

Sweby

Hi, you say there are no tours to Pigeon Point beach, why not just take a taxi? I have visited Tobago three times and each time we have shared a taxi to Pigeon beach.

Actually, we haven't paid any National Insurance since 2012 when we retired aged 56. So, in theory, all our medical needs are free, but I get your point. 

On 8/23/2019 at 10:22 PM, hubofhockey said:

I wound up getting the MMR booster.  I had a rubella vaccine in the mid 1960s.

 

Just a heads up to all.  Many health insurance plans do NOT cover typhoid immunizations.

 

My MMR and Hep A were both covered, but not $300 for that typhoid immunization.  I suppose this is a cost of travel, but insurance companies should not want you to risk getting typhoid.  

Wow, 300 dollars for a typhoid injection. My wife and I are off on our far east cruise in December. We recently visited our GP and listed our itinerary, we were asked to visit yesterday to have our booster injections, I needed a typhoid vaccine and my wife needed typhoid and hepatitis. Thank god for our National Health service in the UK, the injections didn't cost us a penny.

I understand that you need to bring your own passport sized pictures with you, which are then added to the visa?

Is there a carry out or liquor store within walking distance of the port? I'd like to fill a collapsible cooler for a day on the beach.

 

Second question, would there be a problem with BYOB to either Harbor Lights or Boatyard?

Hi, I can only speak for the Boatyard, they don't allow you to bring in your own food & drink.

Yes, you are required to buy a marine tag, but you can get them right there when you enter Spice beach. They're good for a year, so hold on to them in case you come back.

I have visited Bonaire many times, the last time was in March when my wife and I went to Klein Bonaire. I have never been asked to buy or seen any mention of marine tags. Usually the ships cruise news and Port information sheets make you aware of any taxes, local charges etc. you need to make while in Port, again, never seen marine tags mentioned.

Does anyone know if you need to pay for/reserve the water taxis to Klein Bonaire in advance or can you just show up and pay for it upon arrival? We have 3 people going. Thank you!

Hi, my wife and myself purchased our water taxi tickets at one of the tented stalls at the port water front. We paid us$20 per person for the return tickets. As already stated, you need to take refreshments etc with you as there is nothing but sand and plants on the Island.

Thanks guys!

Another option is to take $us2 shuttle bus into Bridgetown, the Boatyard is only a short walk away.

Hi. We are aware that vendors at some destinations, particularly islands using ec$ will take US$. Does anyone know if US$ can be used in port towns in Barbados, Martinique, or Guadeloupe?

 

Thanks.

 

Michael

Hi Michael, US$ are widely accepted in Barbados. We were in Martinique in December and found the currency of choice was the Euro. Dollars were accepted in some places but not everywhere. I would assume that Guadalupe would be similar. Where the dollar was accepted, our experience was the price quoted, for example on the ferry from port to the beach,

was the same for US$ and €. Being from England we used dollars because we get a better exchange rate on the dollar verses the euro.

Terry

Is lobster alive the better choice pricewise I if you just need 2 chairs and a umbrella? Thanks

In a word, yes.

Which of the above has the prettiest beach?

Hi, I can only comment on

Anse Miton and Pointe Du Bout. In my opinion Anse Miton is far superior. Pointe du Bout is a small man made beach in front of a hotel, whereas Anse Miton is longer and has more of a 'buzz' about it.

Never had that happen to us in St Luica.

 

Too bad you missed a great port!

Hi Arzeena, that was my point, we have visited St Lucia on many occasions. In the early days it was fine, it's only lately that things have deteriorated.

We are heading to Barbados in June. Was the boatyard as fun as everyone says? Was it expensive? Can you snorkel there and if so do they rent equipment? Sorry for all the questions. Just haven’t seen anything about the boatyard recently. Thanks[emoji16]

 

 

 

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Hi, I specifically went to the Boatyard to swim with the turtles. Unfortunately we didn't see any turtles and were unlikely too due to the boat only going to the shipwreck and not the usual turtle site.

The answer to your questions are, yes, the Boatyard offers good value for money. The cruise ship special price is $us20pp. The entrance fee includes sunbed and umbrell (first come first served), free cocktail, snorkeling trip which includes snorkeling gear and vest. Finally you get a free taxi bus ride back to the cruise port.

If seeing turtles is not for you, then I can recommend the Boatyard.

Hi there this will be our first time visiting Barbados in March on the Reflection... I have been reading about the sewer problem they are having here.... does this effect the beaches that you would visit while stopping at this port??? thk u for any info... :)

Hi, we were in Barbados at the end of December and didn't notice any nasty smells. We spent the day at the Boatyard and the sea looked fine. Hope this helps give you some reassurance.