satbeachbill

Nada on the Splendor week before last. Not even a bar of soap - had to ask.:rolleyes:

Sorry for the unexpected delay jaspup. Normally I'd suggest Secret Harbor which has a restaurant and also offers good snorkeling. However with your later arrival it is sure to be very crowded being a small bay. Coki will be even worse.

That leaves Sapphire which also offers great snorkeling, a couple food and drink options, a dive center with rentals, restrooms, and rinse off showers. Sapphire is a larger bay with 3 condo properties with more room to spread out.

Taxi is $20pp roundtrip and taxiis are available for your return.

Webcam, drone video -

http://www.sapphireinthesun.com

 

If you try St John and make the 2PM Red Hook ferry you'd have about 2 hrs on the beach so not worth it. Figure an extra 1.5 - 2 hrs to go to St John versus a beach like Sapphire on the East End of St Thomas.

 

Lindbergh is closer to your port and you'd be comfortable there, not as nice a beach as Sapphire and no snorkeling but closer.

Good luck!

 

[EDIT] we've rented a condo at Sapphire and on these busier port days with 21k cruisers in port it never got as busy as the other beaches mentioned. No guarantees but it is beautiful and I think the best choice to meet your requirements.

Kudos on the drone video!!!!!!!!

Sailin' on the Splendor Sunday :D:D

Mine never appeared in my booking documents so I printed out my confirmations. When we boarded, I checked my sign & sail account & they were credited to my account.

Mine too. It's usually posted to yor S&S the first or second day of sailing. I always take a printed confirmation with me just in case. :D

It's the shopping capital of the Caribbean!! Downtown runs the gamit from a Market Place with local wares and trinkets and gifts to shops for electronics, or linens, to any type of jewelry your heart could desire .....and everything in between. As far as bargains, only you can decide that! Have fun :p

We always choose same the category as you.Our last cruise we splurged for a balcony.Now my next cruise is in a balcony cabin. I never thought I would enjoy it as much as I did.Just be aware that once you do a balcony it is hard to go back:)

That's what I'm afraid of............:o

I think I'll call her back :D:D:D

I just now got the "upsell" call. We are in a 4E Upper inside midship cabin #6287 on the Splendor. I usually pick this type. Nice and quiet, no kids running up and down the halls - ever.

We've never had a balcony. The price to upgrade to an Empress deck midship Balcony was offered at $270 total.

What do you think?

9 days and counting :D

You could tuck up under the bimini top on the boat, and hit the Rum Punch :D:D

Yes they are.

Those are my favorite inside cabins. Yes, they are square. No bunks, all kingsize. To me they seem larger than a normal inside. Maybe it's just the feel of the room. Some connect to the next cabin and some don't. They are not part of the main hallways, so no kids running up and down the halls. Choose the location wisely and you will have no problem. The forward 3 cabins in that row are over the Atrium and are very quiet. We have stayed in most others all along that hallway with very little noise from below, even though they are over the casino and casino bar.

We had the same impression with Jacks. We will look elsewhere. Local Village sounds so much better, if it's open. We'll find a spot somewhere. :D

Thanks for the response. I'll have to see what's open. We've been to Jacks, so we are ready for something different.

Are there other beach bars other than Jack's? It's been a few years since we've been to GT. Going back in 2 weeks- Yea!! Seems to me there were a couple beach bars betwen Jack's and M'ville. I've also read that some of those may have closed down. We'd just like to try somewhere other than Jacks.

Does anyone know of other places open along that beach?

I see the French side has problems too. No swimming or "nautical activities" until it clears up....

http://www.thedailyherald.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50946:swimming-prohibited-at-french-side-beaches&catid=1:islands-news&Itemid=54

Has anyone been successful in getting the OBC if NOT booked as ES and within 35 days of sailing?

I'm wondering the same thing.

We have had bad luck with Premier - off 8th also. Is there a website for Premier Cruise Parking on 2nd ave?

Never mind , I found it!

There's plenty of information available. Maybe just scroll down the page. Right now there are three seperate threads about three seperate excursions doing that exact thing on the first page.

So is the problem solely with Carnival or is it will all the cruise lines? Sometimes it's awfully loud.

There is Jetty Park at the far east side of the Port. That's the closest. Nice beach, camp ground atmosphere, nice jetty to walk out on, convience store. I don't think there is a bar there.....could be wrong.

Cape Canveral Pier is just south of there. Niced beach, eats on the pier, bar there.

There is Cocoa Beach, probably the most popular, nice beach, rental stuff, near the popular Ron Jons Surf Shop. That is the "goto" spot for the tourists in Cocoa Beach (if there is such a thing there).

Coconuts on the Beach is a little farther south, nice beach, beach bar right there. You could probably Google these places. :D

Good luck with that. I'm afraid you are in for an uphill battle my friend. Google "Diamonds International Compliants" and read 'em and weep.

It's a sad state of affairs what Carnival allows to happen during the "shopping talks".

There are plenty of highly regarded jewelry stores in the ports, just NOT ANY that the shoppers guide recommend.

I think the VERY BEST way for resolution would be to call the manager of the store where you made the purchase and deal directly with him...........and have patience ...lots of patience. (I'd keep my expectations low).

I am looking forward to the new port. Just make sure there is an excursion to the Citadel please!! I'd love to go back.

Here's a website (under construction) for Amber Cove. We will have to wait and see.

http://www.ambercovecc.com/port-information.aspx

The one advantage about shopping in the islands the huge selection all in one area. At home, other than big cities the selection in very limitied. You will be amazed.

I agree, you really have to do your homework before you hit the stores. Know what the prices are at home, or on the internet, so you can compare "apples to apples". Stick with GIA or AGS graded stones. Steer clear of any EGL graded stone, even if it looks like a good deal.

STAY CLEAR of any store that the ship recommends. This is sentence is worth rereading.

There are some very reliable and highly regarded stores in St Maarten and St Thomas. Most have service centers in the states. There are some real shysters too.

If you visit the islands on a regular basis and get to know a jeweler over the years, I 'd be comfortable with a purchase. If you plan one visit and hope for a great deal, then I'd buy at home.

Good luck!