PORT ROYAL

On 5/7/2024 at 1:13 PM, janetz said:

Hi all

Are there any activities or excursions that could include a 7 year old that would be fun in SJ

Thanks ahead! 😊

Parque de loss Niños - fairly close to the port - but still a cab ride away
Recently informed about - but not close to port - https://www.museodelninocarolina.com

GoKart Racing - not close to port - have a 48 inch height minimum - https://www.k1speed.com/canovanas-location.html

Simple alternative is Kite Flying at the fort - close to the port - Kites for sale by vendors close by.

No doubt others on CC will have additional suggestions 

48 minutes ago, negn said:

We are booking a ship excursion to Orient Beach due to the possibility of delays due to traffic

Wow!  The ship doing COCO?  Know one will have a great beach stay…. Enjoy!

Bulk cruise trips previously used KKO aka “Sardine Central”.  Obviously now a much improved day for all on the tour.

24 minutes ago, geovet said:

It’s been a while since visiting St Maarten and I’m trying to recall the transportation. Do they have govt buses and private bus/vans? Also we have a party of 8 and need to know if they can handle us.

 

Thanks

Private Licensed cabs and minivans are allowed transit to/from inside Port area.

Private “Jintys” not allowed to/from port area (“Jinty central Pick up area along Back Street -Phillipsburg) and can be flagged down roadside (same for Licenced Cabs).  
Jinty fares are a couple of dollars per person, but routes are convoluted with multiple drops and pickups. Mostly used by locals.

Unlicensed cabs are considered bandit territory.

For a party of 8 use Licenced cabs from port.

13 hours ago, LadyFate said:

Hello I just want to know if I can take my mobility scooter on the water taxi? or a wheel chair?

Can I rent a wheel chair in Port?

On last visit a scooter was turned away….. But this may have changed….
Best to ask the Tourist Board direct for all one’s questions… correct answers?
https://www.vacationstmaarten.com/contact/

8 hours ago, mets123 said:

The cruise line (Royal) has none listed in their shore excursions. Can you recomend a tour provider for either of them?

Never used an external tour operator.  Book guided tour direct with the Distillery, taking any “premium” tasting option.

1 hour ago, pattycake08 said:

Been to St Maarten (Dutch side) 4- 5 times, always took water taxi  & then found a beach as others reported, lounge chairs/umbrella/5 beers for $30.00. I've never been to the French side of St. Martin, but would like to try., just looking for a beach day for a few hours. Have a hubby with mobility issues. Can anyone let me know is there a water taxi to get you to French Side or do you take a cab? and what is the Cost.  How far is St. Martin from Port?  Do they have the same type of deals as above, chairs/umbrella/ beer for a set price? or is possibly negotiated once you get there. Also I saw Port Royal mention CoCo beach, looking for the easiest to get to w/out a lot of walking once we land.  

The cab rank from the ship is quite a distance for those with reduced mobility.  Take the free ship arranged golf buggy from ship the taxi rank…. Private taxi is about $30 each way to COCO, about 20 minute journey,  Allow a very safe extra10 minutes for the return to ship, in case of heavy port traffic.   From taxi drop to COCO is a short/comfortable level walk.  No bed/booze deals at COCO it’s an genteel upmarket restaurant venue… with beds etc..  Food (to Michelin standard) drinks, service and ambiance are excellent. 

 https://www.cocobeach.restaurant

https://www.cocobeach.restaurant/gallery

Have no idea as to which venues have a “deal” 

The outward taxi driver will be pleased to be time booked for the return.

PS.. if a fan, COCO Rhum/Rum cabinet is extensive and at all price points.  Yes, the had “La Filbuste”.

1 hour ago, mets123 said:

Looking to go on a brewery or distillery tour that is near the port or one that is not too far away using a cab. Thanks in advance for your help.

Nearest is Mount Gay…. Better tour and rum is Foursquare, but this distillery is further away.  Whatever is the selection, best to book one’s tour in advance as spaces are limted.

To save any future angst, contact links below for tour pricing and duration.  Then compare price with that of ship……

Antours - https://www.avirtualdominica.com/dominica-directory/antours/

Peppers - https://www.avirtualdominica.com/dominica-directory/h-o-t-pepper-tours-its-better-with-pepper/

3 hours ago, D&N said:

Some of today's vlogs from Queen Anne were quite good and very useful.

These were seen in a Britannia Club cabin/stateroom.

The laundry list has a reference at foot, which suggests it was issued in January 2024 and I assume it's valid throughout the fleet.

I don't know if the room service menu is the same on the other queens.

 

 

 

 

So kind to take the time to do this….

16 hours ago, Lorenky said:

Hello. We’ll be taking a cruise with Princess in January 2025 that stops at St Kitts. We’re looking at excursions and are having a hard time deciding which is best for us. There will be 5 cruise ships in port so we know it will be crowded everywhere, but we want to avoid places that will be overrun with crowds. If we snorkel, we prefer snorkeling from shore rather than from a boat as we’ve had some bad experiences snorkeling from a boat, though we would snorkel from the boat if conditions were very easy and calm.   If it’s a beach stop for swimming we do like sandy beaches with calm, warm water.  We do want to take a ship excursion. Your recommendations on which excursion might be best would be greatly appreciated. The excursions that look interesting to us are::

-an excursion to Timothy Hill and Cockleshell beach

-a Souffa Stone hike and beach getaway(Frigate Bay)

-a 4x4 Island safari to rainforest with beach stop at Frigate Bay

-a jeep expedition with a stop at Frigate bay

-a water taxi to Nevis for Pinney Beach

-a coastal kayaking and snorkel at south Friars Bay.

Thank you for any suggestions.

For a tour, then Thenford Grey

or

Beach

Can only recommend a Day Pass at the St Kitts Marriott

or 

Nevis - https://bluewatersafaris.com/tour/nevis-beach-getaway/

Bluewater offer a complete Nevis tour package https://bluewatersafaris.com/tour/nevis-plantation-beach-experience/

3 minutes ago, Victoria2 said:

Even before the non appearance of porters, one's driver had his passenger heft the cases out of the boot for the porters to carry them off to 'the hole'! 😁

 

Now, one's taxi person helps.

 

 

No boot… because of the amount of luggage, we have a flexible People Carrier with the rear seat down.  Driver slides cases along, out and drops them down.

4 hours ago, exlondoner said:

I haven’t seen a porter helping unload since Covid.

Correct.  One’s driver does.

Excellent advice….

9 minutes ago, ex-koelner said:

Could you please elaborate on the Porter method? I'll embark in NYC next week (for the first time) and wondering, what a porter would do that I cannot do myself? And how exactly can a porter help to bypass queues? In my simple-mindedness I thought I could arrive at the terminal by taxi or Uber, find the spot for baggage drop and go inside the terminal for check-in and embarkation.

Apologies….. my bad…. Should have read disembarkation…

Thank you for indirectly raising this issue.

7 minutes ago, Victoria2 said:

No porter magically appeared for us last May or July at the Mayflower terminal.

 

I helped the taxi driver offload the bags and she took them over to the repository and yes, she got a great tip.

 

However, on our return to Southampton, there were loads of porters waiting to help. Our grateful thanks was well received by 'our' porter.

Strange… I all the past decades, we have never had a Porter problem at departures. Could be because we deliberately plan to arrive during the last hour or so.

Agree, the arrival Porters are readily available.  With their assistance, one is sped past/through queues and rapidly through Customs.  

As an aside, the Porter method is advised when embarking in New York…. Long queues do not exist with a Porter.

42 minutes ago, Rodrigo Real said:

Hello lovely folks, this is our first time cruising and we are helping out aged parents. So, my first stupid question: We don't yet have an embarkation time (sailing Sunday 9th June to NY) but I have seen elsewhere that it is possible to drop off luggage. How easy is it to get our taxi to pull up close to the luggage drop off and get help from porters? And the same question for our return from New York!
Many thanks.

Personal experience.

At the vehicle departure designated lines, one’s driver will park/off load, a porter will magically arrive on the scene, load one’s luggage onto a trolly and take away to security.  All one has to do is walk to departure with any hand luggage.  A gratuity to the porter is appreciated, but not expected.

3 hours ago, TTEllis said:

PORT ROYAL I love moonshine😁 I love herbs too!!😁😁😂😂😁😁

I have a question for you I found a cruise for next year it ports in Dominica. Seeing how our friend and pal Levi Baron is no longer doing island tours of some sort.

If you were to go back to Dominica what would you recommend or how would you spend you cruise visit?

 

I was thinking about trying to get a group together and get our own taxi van. I've never been to a beach on Dominica before I was hoping maybe to end up at a beach with a bar for the afternoon. Thanks for any help Todd

 

Okay… Here is my personal favourite close to Roseau … Soufriere (Bubble) Beach…

Have recommended Mero in the past, but that’s sadly now gone commercial (Babylon) and downhill.

Yes, Bubble is ethnic, with a shabby ambience, but it is unspoilt, with great snorkelling, as it’s a protected Marine area.  There are sulphur springs from the seabed, better than Champagne and free.

The bars have Bush Rum (have to ask for it)..  Genuinely welcoming and appreciate one’s custom.  Beach shoes are advised for those being of tender feet, because of pebbles in places (not 100% pristine white sand), but Bush is known to relieve any perceived discomfort.  No S.H.T.

Take it as it is..  It’s not trying to be something it’s not..

6 minutes ago, jsf said:

We had a great meal a few years ago at a place that was owner by a former pitcher for the New York Yankee's. can't remember the name but I'm sure someone will chime in with it.

Think it was Lupi’s Mexican Restaurant that one is trying to recall… 

Also consider…

https://ladisrestaurant.com/san-juan.html

And excellent offerings…

https://www.mariopagan.com/mprestaurants
 

19 minutes ago, Gitana said:

Recommendations for good Puerto Rican restaurants in San Juan.

Gitana

 

Marmalade - Take their wine pairing Dinner - Excellent 

But do book very early - Popular - https://www.marmaladepr.com

16 minutes ago, Motorman23 said:

Hello, I’m hoping someone has some helpful suggestions for a decent hotel with a bar/restaurant in Rome that is kind of mid range price (up to $200 usd per night) in Oct. I’ve looked at the nicer locations like Spanish steps and Trevi fountain areas but they are out of my price range, I see that hotels in the Termini area are less expensive. It also seems that transportation to the sites is easy via bus or metro. I’ve looked over many pages of reviews in CC for hotels but don’t see a lot of reviews for Termini. Is it a safe area? Does anyone have any experience with a mid priced hotel in the Termini area with a bar and breakfast and decent services that they have stayed in and would recommend?

Has one tried to “search” on a well known “Booking” site, which can filter by date/s and price.  One may find a Gem available in a more desirable area.

5 minutes ago, ldubs said:

 

This is interesting.  Is this legal assistance coverage available for any legal issue or for those relating to a covered peril?  Our typical personal liability coverages provide legal defense but only if it is for something that is covered by the policy. 

One has used LA for a botched repair to a one’s property, under the house insurance policy, with all surveyors costs paid by the policy.  Not a penny was spent by oneself.  
One’s Solicitors Legal costs were recovered by the instructed Solicitors.

Again with an injury sustained on a RC ship etc.. No upfront costs, all medical reports, Court Fees etc., recovery of Ship medical bills etc., plus consequential losses, damages and compensation were recovered by Insurers Legal Team.  All without any personal outlay 

One’s Solicitors Legal costs were recovered by the instructed Solicitors.

Think it’s best to speak with one’s insurers regaling any scope and coverage of their policies.  Different Insurers have different policies.

As a thought…

Many insurance policies that cover House, Property, Companies, Life and Car etc., have an additional premium to cover Legal Assistance.  
If having Legal Assistance Cover, immediately contact one’s Insurers, for the potential claim advice, in first instance.  Then, if the advice is that a claim will have plus 51% minimum chance of success, then one will be passed to a Legal team appointed by one’s insurers.

For information, for those considering paying an additional premium, the premium is quite small in relation to the cost of a Solicitor or a KC.  
Would recommend this to all on CC, because one will never know if, or when, Legal Assistance is needed.

8 hours ago, eltigre said:

We want to take the ferry and then a cab to a beach like Anse Dufour or Grande Anse.

Has anyone done this recently? 
A short walk to the ferry, cost in USA or Euro for ferry, cabs easily available on the other side?

Any help would be appreciated 

For the best beach day, do contact Club Med about Les Boucaniers in Martinique, they offered a Day Pass. We paid under €100.00 pp and had a great stay.  
Give Club Med a call for one’s date pricing and availability.

Link to LB - https://www.clubmed.co.uk/r/les-boucaniers/y

Taxi took about 45 minutes there and 1 hour back (heavy traffic) with a price of €50 for the taxi each way.

On return, allow an extra 30 minutes to stock up on some fabulous Rhums (La Filbuste etc.) from the quayside duty free. 10 minutes to browse, if one doesn’t know what to purchase, then up to 20 minutes to queue to pay.

On 4/21/2024 at 12:14 PM, Fletch1 said:

Greetings,

 

We are due to board the Queen Victoria in a couple of weeks at Southampton. We have been allotted at time of 3.15pm boarding time. We have to check out of our hotel by midday and we have nowhere else to go, so we will just go to the port.

 

My question is if we get at the check in before our allotted time, we will be able to board early or will they make us wait until our allotted time of 3.15pm?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

D+ is an error on one’s part.  

(D+ may possibly appear on Cunard in the future)

Should read D, this equates to Diamond level of Cunard World Club.  This attracts the benefit of priority boarding  at embarkation.  Which we don’t use, preferring to arrival later.