jean87510

I would save culebra for a time when you are staying in puerto Rico. It's like having a stop in NYC and going for a day trip to the Catskills. It is too much for one day. And the ferries are so unreliable you could be stuck there. I think of it this way...if no tour operator will take you there without a plane then that should tell you something as they don't want to risk their reputation to not get you back to ship.

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People were complaining we were doing it on our transatlantic in April. We were pouring at the breakfast table. Plus this is cruise critic. 😁

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I'm probably going to get slammed for this but I've brought glasses of water to table and filled water bottle 24oz. And we always bring packaged protein bars. This is only for excursions like hiking or snorkeling on our own off a beach. Very helpful in canary islands.

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So I guess you made it to anquilla and read them?

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I'm only comfortable going on tours that I arrange. I will only do ones that accept separate payments from everyone going. I've had nothing but success in Caribbean because it's more laid back. My husband and I did a van tour in gran canaria and it really wasn't for us. Too much driving and visiting a pottery factory an hour out of the way was just dull. We were at maspalomas and due to a long bathroom pit stop we were just driving by the dunes. My husband and I said oh no way. We want to get out and see them. We did get out to experience them. At the end of tour we were given free time to shop for an hour or eat. I thought it was not a good way to see and experience island and if I did it again I would arrange my own tour. Last time I'll do a private roll call van tour.

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That is probably true.

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You guys should just Google snorkeling in st Thomas. I personally think st John is ten times better and I think I told you what I am doing in April. I've done both as have other people but It's sounds like your husband is set on not going to st john.

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Loved tamarindo beach with the turtles on culebra. Also Carlos Rosario (may have name wrong) but great snorkeling.

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I just looked at in on viator. It goes from barcelona to girona 9a to 5p.$118. I wish I could do this. We are landing at 12 noon and leaving the next day on cruise at 5pm. I'd do this in a second being a huge GOT fan. I wouldn't care what reviews were 😁

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If I can jump in here I recommend st John at trunk or cinnamon at far right of beach. Also at grand Turk white sands 3 stop combo tour. One of the best days we had. Snorkeling and sting rays. It was on the same trip as our captain Bob cass in st Martin and my 4 teenagers and my husband and I loved the grand Turk excursion so much better. The guide went in the water with us to show us a nurse shark and so many other things. We've been snorkeling for a long time all over the carribean and that was definitely up there in the top ten.

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I wasn't aware they filmed near barcelona. Where did you see this?

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You don't have to eat there. We also walked around and then tried to uber to airport and ended up getting a taxi (uber driver couldn't find barrachinas) to airport for a 2pm flight.

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Yes

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St Thomas you need drivers license. Don't take passport off ship. I also use zipped waist bag. Always check zipper or Velcro on anything you swim with. Husband lost 3 drivers licenses, $200, visa card, and 5 sea cards by forgetting to zip waist bag in st Martin. Did not realise it until we were paying for lunch 2 hours later.

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Can anyone recommend a tour company that can accommodate a tour that will work within the timeframe we will be in port? I am traveling on Rhapsody of the Seas and we are scheduled to be on La Palma from 7 am to 5 pm on Friday 11/10/2017. Thank you in advance for any advice you can give.

When we went to La palma in the spring we used taxi tours la palma. He had different itienieries for us and we chose to hike Roque Muschachos (sorry, bad spelling). He dropped us off at the top and we hiked down the road, and then he met us down the road. His English is not good but between my husband and I and our abysmal Spanish and hand gestures, we were able to communicate. Really great guide. Look at his website and see what interests you. It was just my husband and I and we had a wonderful day. I see we are on the same cruise as you ;p in November. We are actually going to drive to the south this time. I really loved La Palma. Everyone is very nice who we encountered there. My Spanish is much better for this go around so I won't be as embarrassed this time. Just look at his website. There are other companies that we contacted and they were all easy to deal with. I paid him when I got there in Euros if I remember correctly which was a big selling point to me.

I'd rent a car and drive around island. It's really easy to drive around. Stop at the fortress and other places of interest first then go to a beach for the rest of the day.

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Also dolphin encounter.

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I just noticed the viator ad only picks up at hotels in isla Verde and fajardo I would not do this from cruise port. Go there pre or post cruise. You will miss your ship if you try on a port day.

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I would honestly arrange to go there if staying in San Juan. I stayed there for 3 days prior to my cruise. It is fantastic there. Beautiful beaches. Great snorkeling. Nice people and great food. We few there from San Juan because ferries were so unreliable. If you decide to go use a tour operator and know that you may only have at least 4 hours on island. It is my favorite place in Caribbean.

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Donkey sanctuary or reef riders if you change your mind about snorkeling.

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St Martin is really easy to drive around. I would not rent the jeep. Get something smaller. I rented last October and loved the freedom of zipping around and doing my own thing. We went to orient first then drove around to mullet bay, parked there. Stayed on beach and swam a bit and ate. Walked over to maho and grabbed a drink and appetizers at sunset and watched a couple of big guys fly in. Then walked back to mullet and drove back to drop off rental car and walked around shops until time to board. Very easy and fun. I've been to st Martin 4 times now and it was the first time I went to orient and to maho to see planes believe it or not.

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We have been to multiple sides of the island. We did not have rough seas at the beach. There was some seaweed. The water was clearer here than it was when we were at South Friars last December. The entrance at South Friars' was much more steep. Locals multiple times were trying to sell us stuff or have us take a picture with their monkey. The covered beach structures were much better at the Marriott than the cramped chair / umbrella set-up at Carambolas' (sp). There was the constant buzzing of jet skis the day we were over there. Quite and peaceful at the Marriott beach. Enjoyed having the pools to take a dip. Great bathroom facilities at the Marriott. Cost for the Marriott was more but the chairs were much more comfortable. Kids loved having strong Wi-Fi after not having it for 4 whole days (since St.Thomas, they had to rough it on the ship and in Curacao and Aruba and 2 sea days).

 

I am providing feedback on our visit just like you are on yours. Maybe there is rough waves action at particular times on the Atlantic side (winter time, fronts in the area). We had a perfect day with clear beautiful light green water to enjoy. There was some seaweed on the beach but no different than Daytona Beach in the spring (actually much less). Different strokes for different folks. We have now done South Friars', Cockleshell, and North Frigate @ the Marriott on St.Kitts.......our experience this past week was far superior to the other 2.

 

The most beautiful beaches / water in general terms that we experienced on our most recent cruise was in order: Curacao - visited multiple spots on an 8 hour tour (water shoes are a must), St.Thomas and Aruba close but while the water in Aruba was bluer, prefer the greenery that abounds in St.Thomas with the contrast to the blue water and the many beach choices when you include other islands, makes it better, and St.Kitts (although while we were nervous on people reporting how the water was so rough where we were going, our experience was amazing, just prefer the bluer water over the volcanic light green water).

 

There were several families at the resort with younger kids who were all playing in the water with no ill effects.

I absolutely agree with your review. We rented a room there back in 2015 because it was cheaper to do that with 6 of us. Beach was fine (november) actually were snorkeling in there. Pool was a nice bonus. Quiet also. We got the pizza which wasn't bad. There is a convenience store close to the resort that we got drinks from and snacks. I've also visited other beaches on st kitt and liked them but when you just want a beach day with a pool this place was perfect. Of course being able to take a real shower was nice. ;)

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Is it celebrity st John on your own? You gather in a meeting spot off of cruise ship. Then you get wrist bands for your excursion. Then you walk over to ferry which is close to cruise ship. Ferry over to st John. Then there are cabs lined up to take you to trunk or cinnamon bay. You pay for the cab yourself and for your food. Usually you are there until 330pm when ferry leaves to take you back. Trunk and cinnamon are about 10 to 15 minutes if that. Trunk charges fee to get it. Cinnamon does not. Both have places to eat.

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St Thomas. Get ferry to st John. Best snorkeling out of all those. Martinique is lousy snorkeling. Barbados is ok as is st kitt. In antigua take a boat tour for snorkeling.

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We were at the boatyard in 2014. I think we had wrist bands. We were walking on the beach towards the Radisson and Hilton to find cuz fish shack (best fish sandwiches ever) and were approached by 2 vendors to take us to see turtles. At that time we negotiated $15 a head for 2 hours to see the ship wreck and turtles. We have our own snorkeling gear and there were five of us. It was very nice. Since then I've seen turtles in culebra and st John naturally (vendors use bread to draw them in) but in Barbados it was my first time.

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