richfromhaw

StinkerPR,

Asked elaboration on snorkeling.

At Harbor Lights, it was part of the Turtle Swim boat ride.

Twice during the approximate one hour excursion, you had 10-15 minute opportunities to snorkel ( there was a shipwreck in addition to the turtle/fish snorkel)

Hope this was helpful,

richfromhaw

We'll be cruising on Celebrity Summit and have been to St.Thomas multiple times before (Megans, Sappphire beaches, etc.)

This time have booked the St.John's On Your Own excursion with Celebrity which basically transports you to Cruz Bay on St.John's. Then have 4 hours on the island before returning back to St.Thomas (ship).

Understand that DYI less expensive but have also noticed many have advised using ship's excursion for first timers like us to St.John's.

My questions are:

- have others, on arrival at Cruz Bay, then taken a taxi ( cost, availability) to a beach ( which one).

We'd prefer a beach where you can rent beach chairs, with shade and/or umbrella. We'd snorkel a little but not the entire time on the beach. What facilities ( toilet, drink/food) were at the beach.

Know that Trunk Bay famous for snorkeling and Honeymoon/Maho Beach for calm water but not much info on-line about facilities available at each beach.

Appreciate the good advice of others who have travelled from Cruz Bay to a beach for a day while visiting St.John. Thank you for your help.

We sailed last week on RCL Adventure of the seas and our Friday port of call was St. Martin.

We opted to go to Orient Beach ( had been there previously).

We used Bikini Beach club ( there are many similar facilities all along the beach)

It was $25 for two sun beds plus umbrella.

Shared group taxi if I remember correctly was $7 pp each way.

As you exit security at cruise port, walk through the first street and there were taxi dispatchers assembling groups at the square.

For our return, there was a taxi waiting pulling a group together right outside Bikini Beach.

Just be aware however, last Friday when we were at Orient Beach, it was very very windy with rough (unswimable) surf.

People said it has been like that for the last two weeks or so.

Whatever you chose to do in St. Martin,, please enjoy.

We sailed on RCL Adventure of the Seas last week and our Thursday port of call was St.Kitts.

We opted to go to Carambola Beach Club---$30 USD for two beach chairs + umbrella.

It was my wife & myself but many families with small children were at Carambola.

Beautiful beach, calm water, wonderful day.

We used a group taxi to then from the resort.

At the cruise port, as you exit security, on the right will be taxi dispatchers in orange vests.

Tell them you want to go to Carambola.

They'll put you in a group van ( 10 people) $7 USD (not 4$) pp each way.(shouldn't charge for your children)

When returning, go outside Carambola's front door, there will be taxies looking to assemble a group to return to the cruise port.

Contact e-mail for Carambola: dsharpe@carambolabeachclub.com

Daislyn Sharpe

Director

Carambola Beach Club

South Friar's Bay

St. Kitts

(869)465-9090 http://www.carambolabeachclub.com/Facebook.com/carambolabeachclub

Whatever you chose to do in St.Lucia, please enjoy.

We sailed on RCL Adventure of the Seas last week and our Thursday port of call was St.Kitts.

We opted to go to Carambola Beach Club---$30 USD for two beach chairs + umbrella.

Beautiful beach, calm water, wonderful day.

We used a group taxi to then from the resort.

At the cruise port, as you exit security, on the right will be taxi dispatchers in orange vests.

Tell them you want to go to Carambola.

They'll put you in a group van ( 10 people) $7 USD pp each way.

When returning, go outside Carambola's front door, there will be taxies looking to assemble a group to return to the cruise port.

Contact e-mail for Carambola: dsharpe@carambolabeachclub.com

Daislyn Sharpe

Director

Carambola Beach Club

South Friar's Bay

St. Kitts

(869)465-9090 http://www.carambolabeachclub.com/Facebook.com/carambolabeachclub

Whatever you chose to do in St.Lucia, please enjoy.

We sailed on RCL Adventure of the Seas last week and our Tuesday port of call was St.Lucia.

On a prior cruise stop in St.Lucia we used Cosol for a full day island tour that was very good.

Last week we opted for the Spence Ambrose Beach Tour.

We were picked up right at the cruise port and took a Spencer Ambrose speed boat to the beach that is directly between the two Pitons. Had access to beach chairs + shade for entire day. Spencer provided a full local lunch on the beach.

The beach itself is adjacent to Sugar Beach Resort (a $1000plus a night high end resort )and actually used their beach for our swimming ( water was beautiful). As in most places, beach and waterfront is always public just don't use the resort's sunbeds. There was also snorkeling available, Spencer also had snorkel gear available for your use.

At around 14:15 we reboarded the speed boat and during the return trip ,it made 5 or 6 brief stops for pictures and sightseeing along the coast line.

This Spencer Ambrose beach tour was an excellent choice and a good value ( $90 pp all inclusive).

Also can add a land tour piece to what we did and have both beach+land tour in one day.

We got back to cruise port by 15:30, an hour before our ship departed.

Whatever you chose to do in St.Lucia, please enjoy.

Contact e-mail: spencer7114@gmail.com

Firstly, what is all of this "stuff" that's been posted that has nothing to do with the original question asked?

We sailed on RCL Adventure of the Seas last week and Monday our first port of call was Bridgetown.

We took a group taxi ( walk out of cruise terminal to right, taxi dispatchers in orange/yellow vests) and told them we wanted to go to Harbour Lights.

It was $7 pp each way, we rode with 8 other people in taxi van.

We had pre-booked two beach chairs plus umbrella plus one hour turtle/shipwreck

boat ride for 60 Barbados $ = $30 USD for two people at Harbour lights.

Cicely at contactus@harbourlightsbarbados.com handled our reservation on line.

Harbor Lights nice beach calm clean sea water, relaxing day on beach.

Facility is clean, we had some drinks + light lunch which were all reasonably priced.

For return to cruise ship, groups were assembling on an on-going basis outside Harbour Lights, again shared taxi fare was $7 pp USD.

Whatever you chose to do in Barbados, please enjoy

We sailed on RCL Adventure of the Seas last week and Wednesday our port stop was Antigua.

We opted to go to Dickensen Beach , 10 minute taxi ride from cruise port.

Calm clean water,nice beach.

Taxi fare was $12 + tip ( if you so elect) each way for two people.

We rented 2 beach chairs + umbrella from Tony's beachfront for $22 total.

Whatever you do in Antigua, please enjoy.

We sailed on RCL Adventure of the Seas last week and last Wednesday our port stop was Antigua.

We opted to go to Dickensen Beach ( had been there previously).

Clean calm water, nice beach.

Taxi for two people was $12 each way + tip (if you so desire)

Rented two beach chairs + umbrella from Tony's beachfront for a total of $22.

Whatever you chose to do, please enjoy.

Feelin' Nauti',

Did you prepay for use of the beach chairs (sun beds) & umbrella or just pay when you arrived at property.

When I e-mailed Harbour Lights they sent me back a form to complete with option to prepay

Thanks for your help,

RichFromHaw

Andrea,

We will be there in three weeks.

To get to then enter the "public beach" section of Jolly, did you have the taxi take you to the resort entrance or some other place near the property?

Was the beach chair (sun bed) & umbrella rental for the day through the resort itself or another vendor on the beach?

Thank you for your help

RichFromHaw

Canada Rocks,

May I ask you what the Hilton is charging you for day passes?

I just sent the Hilton an e-mail asking.

We are sailing on Adventure of the Seas and will be docked in Bridgetown Monday January 9.

Thank you

richfromhaw@gmail.com

Misty Que,

We went to Carambola for the day January 2016.

We e-mailed Daislyn Sharpe at Carambola reserved two chairs + umbrella, think it was $30 for the day.

Beach & water there very nice.

Had lunch in restaurant, was OK.

If you go, please enjoy

Thank you for the referral to the new Tom's port guide for Antigua.

Our RCL ship docks in Antigua in January.

We've used Tom's before for reference and his write-ups have always been both accurate & helpful.

In general at the stops, walking was easy on paved surfaces (except for waterfall).

At this and any other stop where mobility is a concern, those individuals can stay with the van.

Hope this helps.

Pile Et Face

We were on Summit January 2 to 9,2016 with Select Dining.

Our experience was to go the Celebrity website before you leave & book the times you think you'll want to eat each day.

We found that even if we were early or late (within reason) on any given day, we were immediately seated versus those without a pre-selected time, often they had to wait at least 20 to 30 minutes for a table.

Last week when we went to Carambola, the beach access opened ( including the rental & sunbeds & umbrellas) starting at 9:30AM.

Yes the restaurant didn't open until 11AM

Ms411

A Disney boat was also docked with us at Havensight, can't say whether or not there was another ship at St.Thomas' other dock Port Royal

atlast95 & LuCruise

You're welcome

To all of you, enjoy your trip & time in St.Thomas, whatever you choose to do

richfromhaw

Barwick,

We each took a banana and apple from the breakfast buffet, put them in a bag then in our backpack, no one will challenge/question leaving boat, bag is not inspected leaving but getting back on board with food is a different story richfromhaw

We sailed on Celebrity Summit last week and on Friday our port of call was St.Thomas.

We decided to spend the day at Megans Bay beach.

Very nice beach, calm water & many trees for protection from the sun.

We joined up with a safari taxi right outside the cruise dock.

For $8pp we were transported with 10 other people to Megans Bay.

Walk a short distance down from the taxi drop off point & there's a concession that rents sun beds (beach chairs).

The cost was $7 USD cash per chair (+$5 refundable deposit on return of the chairs).

Then either you can drag the chairs to your preferred spot on the beach ( or pay the attendant a few dollars and he'll do it for you.

The water & sand at Megans is terrific, facility kept very clean ( you'll also pay a $4pp entry fee on arrival)

There is also a place to buy food at the beach.

In addition there was a nice young lady ( in our case Amy) who walks up & down the sand and for a few dollars tip, will bring your drink order right to you.

For the return journey, just walk back to where you were dropped off & there will be a line of safari buses waiting to assemble a group for the ride back to the cruise port (again $8pp).

Before we got back on board (by 4:30PM) we had time to walk around the large & clean shopping complex at Havensight pier. Lot's of jewelry stores if that's your thing.

We had a nice day in St.Thomas, please enjoy yourself when you're there.

We sailed on Celebrity Summit last week and our Sunday port of call was Tortola.

We had a nice beach day.

For $8pp USD we took a taxi to Cane Garden Beach.

As you first exit the cruise dock there is a tourist bureau.

There you can arrange to join a safari taxi to Cane Garden beach.

When we arrived, there were may sunbeds & umbrellas for rent, all at the same price $15 USD for two chairs + shade.

We had lunch in the beachside restaurant right where we were sitting.

The return journey was just as easy, walk back to where you were dropped off & for another $8pp you're transported back to the cruise port.

For the rest of the time we walked into town ( 10 minute stroll) but unfortunately almost all the stores were closed on Sunday.

There was a spice/souvenir shop directly across the street at the first traffic light.

It was open until around 3:30pm(15:30) and we did make some purchases there.

Tortola is a nice port of call, hope you also enjoy your time there.

We sailed last week on Celebrity Summit.

On Thursday the port of call was St.Kitts.

We decided to spend the day at Carambola Beach Club.

As this thread has mentioned (&others) it's best to e-mail Daislyn Sharpe at the club ahead of time requesting a reservation.

She will respond with a confirming e-mail response.

For two sunbeds + umbrella it was $30 USD.

We also bought lunch (off the menu-fish sandwiches&beers) while we were there.

To get to Carambola, as you get off the cruise ship, right outside the fence, there was a dispatcher for the St. Kitts taxi association.

Tell him you want to go to Carambola and he'll have to wait under a shaded bench until a group assembles.

In our case ( at 9:30AM) there were already eight people waiting and in 5 more minutes another 8 arrived looking to do the same thing.

The dispatcher called for a mini coach bus which seated all of us comfortably.

For $4 per person we took the 15 minute ride to the club.

When you arrive in the lobby on the right there will be a reception desk.

We gave them a copy of our reservation, paid the fee and in 5 minutes we were seated waterfront.

For the return, most of the 20 who made the outbound journey agreed (including us) that 2:30PM (14:30) would be a good return time.

As arranged the bus was there and again for $4USDpp we went back to the cruise port.

Until 4:30PM (16:30 our all aboard time for the boat) we walked around the nearby shopping area.

We enjoyed our day in St.Kitts, hope you do also.

Barwick Cruiser,

Levi provided beer & soft drinks but no food.

Along the way there was a local fruit stand that he stopped at & for a donation, you can get local fruit.

Many on board brought light snacks off the cruise ship, you may want to consider doing that if you decide to book Bumpiing

richfromhaw

Smarks, believe you're spot on about Christelle