You are most welcome.  The beauty of CC is that we help each other!  Not only with the present uncertainty but at the best of times as well.  Travel is an adventure and it is slowly coming back !

8 hours ago, jessed said:

Yeah, don't know what a government approved tour is. I was thinking it might be like in Jamaica where all the licensed drivers are in the gated port area and marked.

I contacted St. Kitts tourism.  It is possible to book a government approved tour at a kiosk in port facility.   The idea of a government approved tour is that they keep passengers in a bubble that are only in contact with locals who have been vaccinated, destinations are limited.    Hope this helps.  

Just found this information from someone recently off a ship in St. Kitts

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2813340-latest-news-on-private-tours/?do=findComment&comment=62200545

Royal Caribbean indicates on their website that you do have to participate in bubble tours.

From what I have been able to find out (present situation) there are two options.

1. A Ship tour.

2.  It sounds like we will have access to the shopping area at the port or at very least a kiosk that also provides government approved bubble tours.  I have heard (directly from ST. Kitts tourism) that they have two offerings related to panoramic tours.   

I am presently attempting to find out what Barbados and St. Lucia are doing as it seems these are bubble ports as well. 

I hope this helps.  

J

Okay.  If I am told where this discussion is going I will post there.

Barbados - This is a port requiring a PCR test.   I contacted Barbados and received conflicting information.

My understanding is you need a recent PCR test to be able to circulate on the island freely.

https://www.visitbarbados.org/covid-19-travel-guidelines-2021

St. Kitts,     This is a port requiring PCR tests.   I contacted St. Kitts and Nevis Tourism and was told yes we will have two options.  Obtain an excursion on the ship or opt for one of two panoramic tours of the Island offered by SKTA *St Kitts Tourism.  These can be obtained at the entrance of the pier.    I’m very careful to post fact that I can support.  This next comment I can not find supporting information but I suspect passengers will be able to shop in the port but not leave the shopping area.  We can verify when we get there or ask passengers that have recently been on the island.

St. Lucia,  This again is a port requiring a PCR test.  I have not contacted the travel authority.  From the information provided by Royal Caribbean my previous post this port is in a bubble as well and seem that passengers require to obtain a shore excursion off the ship.

With all of this it can be changed.  It is noted that the RC notes that the requirements are for November and I am aware they update this as Antigua recently was taken off the list.   All of this is in flux, check back on the RC site before your trip to see the updated information is all that can be suggested.    Let’s hope that the requirements are relaxed, if it is possible to visit without causing added risk. 

15 minutes ago, Bob11Don said:

Does anyone know if you are able to go off the ship if you do not have an excursion booked through Royal?  I had heard awhile ago that it was required to book excursions through them now.  We have been to these islands many times and often just walk off the ship and jump in a taxi to head out where we wish to go.  Our cruise is to the Caribbean Islands

It depends on the ports 

Go here and you can find out.

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/the-healthy-sail-center/getting-ready-to-cruise

Fill in the port that you are leaving from and then scroll down about 10 screens… There will be an area called “Gong Ashore in Ports of Call”

We are going out of San Juan and here is what it says.

Vaccinated Guests
Fully vaccinated parties may book a shore excursion or visit most ports freely — with the exception of those listed below, which will require tours for all guests who wish to go ashore, regardless of their vaccination status.

• St. Lucia (November visits)
• Barbados (November visits)
• St. Kitts (November visits)

Hope it helps

Jonathan

58 minutes ago, indie said:

I am sailing November 21st. I already had a tour booked for several months through shoreexcursioneer. I went ahead and booked a tour just in case through Royal as all of the excursions are almost sold out. It was only about two options left. I will figure out if I can get a definitive answer in the next couple of weeks and decide which one to cancel.

Thanks for posting what you did.   We were going to go on a cruise on November 27th through celebrity but postponed because Grand Cayman was closed and there were questions about Key West so it was down to two ports for a week. 

I took a look at my notes and what I found was only St. Kitts was still in a bubble however you could get two tours on shore.   All four ports were asking for recent PCR tests.  It may be the cruise won’t do PCR tests for ports.   

Your approach of booking ship and private is a good strategy.  We will do the same just to be safe.  You can still likely cancel the private when you find out on board what the situation is on the 21st.  

Would you mind posting when you get back and let us know how things evolved for you?

56 minutes ago, indie said:

Sorry phone wouldn't let me delete the quote above.

 

I am a bit more confused as I have read the protocols but Royal doesn't say the tours must've booked through the cruise line except in the section regarding those with unvaccinated kids. The kids section specifically says you must book at tour through Royal Carribean.

 

Vaccinated Guests
Fully vaccinated parties may book a shore excursion or visit most ports freely — with the exception of those listed below, which will require tours for all guests who wish to go ashore, regardless of their vaccination status.

• St. Lucia (November visits)
• Barbados (November visits)
• St. Kitts (November visits)
• Antigua (November visits)

Tours Required for Families With Unvaccinated Children
Families traveling with unvaccinated kids must purchase a local tour through Royal Caribbean if they wish to go ashore. This applies to all ports of call except Perfect Day at CocoCay, and Port Canaveral, Florida. Vaccinated parents wishing to go ashore freely can visit our youth facilities onboard to learn about drop off program hours and availability, and reserve time for their child on the day they wish to go in port.

 

When is your cruise?  I’m going in January.

All of this is subject to change at any time.

What I provided was posted by Antigua on October 22.  

The notification your referenced also stated the following.

Requirements for Going Ashore

Below are our current tour requirements at ports of call, which are subject to change as we continue to evaluate circumstances around the globe.

If in doubt check when you get on the ship.

https://antiguaobserver.com/cruise-bubble-removed-vendors-and-operators-in-st-johns-stand-to-benefit/

32 minutes ago, waltd said:

Hello everyone.    We will be traveling to Pago Pago in April.    There are not a lot of ship tours listed but that's ok.    I see where they use local buses and wooden seats which is fine.   They also state that they use local students as tour guides and that's perfect.    My question to all of you is   what do we do as far as tipping at the end of the tour.   Is it customary   to tip?    I would think yes as we will probably get a student as a tour guide and I'm sure students can always use some extra money.    Is it the standard tip as most other tours we have been on?   And the big question is really   what type of currency should we give them.   Is it only local or can we give them US dollars or NZ dollars or Australian dollars.   Are the able to easily  cash foreign currency?   So many questions,  Help.

Thank you all for your help. 

Tipping is always a personal thing.  We normally tip for our excursions and ask if the driver and guide share the tips.  Both are equally important.  

In Pago Pago, US currency is the currency of the island as it it a US territory.

I hope that helps.  

Best

J

I found this private tour that provides a full island excursion.

contact tonigh2@yahoo.co.uk ask for Toni

Toni has great reviews!

1. Royal Palace 

2. Royal Tombs 

3. Ancient Royal Tombs of Lapaha 

4. Ha'amonga'a Maui Trilithon 

5. 3 headed Coconut tree 

6. Tsunami Rock 

7. Mapu'a 'a Vaea Blowholes 

8  Abel Tasman Landing Site 

9,  Ha'atafu Beach

A stop for lunch but not included in price.

Typical Itinerary 

          Stop At: Royal Palace, Vaha'Akolo Rd, Nuku'alofa, Tongatapu Island Tonga 

We will stop at the Tongan Royal Palace for a quick photo stop, and hopefully if we are lucky, catch a glimpse of the King! Duration: 10 minutes 

2.          Stop At: Royal Tombs, Laifone Rd, Nuku'alofa, Tongatapu Island Tonga 

The Tongans developed different burial practices depending on class, with one layer for commoners, two for nobles, and three for royalty. At this attraction, you'll get a glimpse of the grandeur with which Tonga's royal family is laid to rest. Please note that this area is fenced and you can only take photos from outside the fenced area. Duration: 10 minutes 

3.          Stop At: Ancient Royal Tombs of Lapaha, Mua, Tongatapu Island Tonga 

Don't underestimate this amazing sight! The langis are platforms of earth with a stepped pyramid effect supported by stone slabs as surrounding walls. The vaults and the construction were enormous and highly engineering feat that the people of Tonga achieved at a time the Tongan empire was at its peak. Duration: 20 minutes 

4.          Stop At: Ha'amonga'a Maui Trilithon, Lapaha, Tongatapu Island Tonga 

See Ha’amonga, Tonga’s very own Stonehenge and learn about its mysterious origins. Constructed from three huge 40 ton coral limestone slabs, why it was built and how it was built - no-one really knows. It sits in front of 3 paths that lead to the beach which act as a Solstice Calendar, depending on which path you see the sun rise through tells you if it's the shortest or longest day of the year! Pretty amazing and pretty mysterious ancient sight! Duration: 30 minutes 

5.          Stop At: 3 Headed Coconut, Loto Rd Matahau, Tongatapu Island Tonga 

Next we will stop at the famously rare 3-headed coconut tree. A freak of nature and not reported to be found anywhere else in the world! Duration: 20 minutes 

6.          Stop At: Mapu'a 'a Vaea Blowholes, Houma Corner Of Salote Rd And One Way Rd., Tongatapu Island Tonga 

Watch Mother Nature show off at the mighty blow holes! As waves crash into the reef, natural channels in the rock allow water to forcefully blow through and create an amazing sound and sight. Watch comfortably from the viewing platform and maybe even get a little ocean spray shower! Duration: 30 minutes 

7.          Stop At: Tsunami Rock, Unnamed Road, Kala'au, Tonga 

Next we visit Tsunami rock, also known as "Maka Sio'ata. With its mysterious and forbidding name, the giant three-story boulder sits just off a tiny and beautiful beach on the western side of Tongatapu - and no one knows exactly how it got there. Researchers believe the ancient wave may have hit the island's shore sometime within the past 7,000 years, after the melting of the most recent ice age brought sea levels to roughly where they are today! Duration: 20 minutes 

8.          Stop At: Abel Tasman Landing Site, Hihifo rd, Kanokupolu, Tongatapu Island Tonga 

Then we are off to the western side of Tongatapu where Abel Tasman came to anchor, thus becoming the first European to meet with the inhabitants of Tongatapu. Duration: 10 minutes 

9.   Stop At: Ha'atafu Beach, Tongatapu Island Tonga 

A sandy slice of paradise, Tonga's best and most gorgeous beach. We will stop here for a quick swim, tide & time permitting. Duration: 30 minutes

33 minutes ago, back to the islands said:

Who is the tour operator, please? I'd really love a snorkeling adventure!

 

Greetings  “Back to the Islands”:

Not sure you would get a snorkelling adventure with the tour we are taking but you would get some swim time in two places.   Geoff was very accommodating and can set up  customized tour so you never know.  He has about 6 different tour offerings.  

The operator is Samoan Highland Adventures 

Ask for Geoff, he is very thorough, safety conscious and easy to work with online.   

Luckily when I emailed him it was through the day there and he emailed me back promptly.   

The operator runs three vans and is owned by three owners.  

They will even customize tours based on limited mobility participants if needed.

He is very accommodating.  As he said, he will change things up if needed (assuming that van agrees)

He even asks about dietary restrictions which impressed me.  

- you might mention that Jonathan sent you 

Email:  Samoanhighlandadventures@gmail.com

website: https://www.samoanhighlandadventures.com/

We are taking the: Jewel of Eastern Upolu

I mapped the itinerary and it impressively covers the east end of the island, north and south coast and then runs through the centre of the island.  

Hope this helps

Jonathan 

23 minutes ago, back to the islands said:

I'm also interested in this port. Thanks!

 

We were going to just rent a car and drive to the major sites on the eastern side of the island and through the centre of the island.   Instead I found an excursion operator that was going to hit almost all the same sites plus give us time at the beach and at To Sua ocean trench for a swim.   It should be a great day. 

1 hour ago, sherifa said:

Thank-you!

You are most welcome,

Sorry for delay.

Toni is a great guy.  Very professional, thorough and helpful.  

Please let us know how it goes as I think you go before us.  

Thank you.

Jonathan

I contacted Dive Tonga in Neiafu.  

Karley who responded within the hour of my first email gave me an excellent first impression and was very helpful.  This was great given I was working on this from the other side of the globe.   I searched feedback on another site and was surprised at first that there were only 28 reviews.  I found out that these were new operators.    

I figured a PADI operator who also taught would be professional and as such that is what I found.  Feedback stated they were professional, took good care of their equipment and that people were having fun. 

It was a very efficient series of emails and within the next  hour I had a deal so that I could take a group of 14 on a snorkelling tour for 5 hours.

Here is the Dive Tonga link. https://divingtonga.com/

I will drop back at the end of April 2020 with an update on our experiences.  

The great thing about cruise critics is that I should have no problem filling all my spots and within a few hours had more than half of them filled. 

Here are my additional posts setting up the excursion on cruise critics.   Try posts 482 and 483 of the Celebrity Solstice Roll Call for 

“1 April 2020: South Pacific, Fiji, & Tonga [Solstice]”

Thank you 

Jonathan

Have read 3 pages of posts based on the search term “Vava’u” I was left a little discouraged.   I reviewed the ship excursions and was left unimpressed.  

As well I did a general search on the internet looking for either a beach resort to use facilities or a snorkel operator.  The tourist site seriously needs to be updated as many operators seem to have gone out of business as their websites were no longer functioning.  Others did not respond to emails again leading us to them having gone out of business.   

I then researched hotels on the main island as I did not think resorts would pick us up for the day by water.   The one resort was already hosting cruise ship passengers as an organized excursion so we passed on that idea as we don’t want the crowds.  

I tried another  smaller hotel who quickly responded  but I struck out.  So I asked if they knew of a reliable snorkelling operation.   As such, we are thinking about a snorkelling excursion. 

I am presently on a search to find a tour for Samoa from the port of Apia.

If anyone has recommendations please let me know.  

I am in the process of reading the 6 pagers of posts that come up for Apia through a Cruise Critics search.

Thank you

Jonathan

1 hour ago, IslandThyme said:

I was there on the same day as Floridiana, and did a very enjoyable local bus tour. You can read about it and see my photos here.

Merci!  Thank you

Jonathan

On 8/17/2019 at 5:26 PM, sherifa said:

Hello!

Would. You mind posting the name and/or contact info of your tour operator? We will be. There early March. Thank-you.

Hi Sherifa

tonigh2@yahoo.co.uk ask for Toni

Jonathan

Ok

3 hours ago, Cathy611 said:

Hi Jonathan 

 

Yes we had a guide, a young lady studying to be a nurse. Very informative and taught you a few local words as well. As we were there on a Saturday, her services were free as Saturday is volunteer day and everyone comes out to do a few things for a few hours for the community. Not once did you get the impression of that I have to be here.

The bus would hold about 30. They are a F350 chassis and the bus is built on top.

Cathy

Cathy

Thank you for the detail.  This is excellent.

Jonathan

Looking for a water based excursion, snorkelling, some beach time and perhaps lunch.

If anyone has a contact that they have used and enjoyed please let me know.

Thank you in advance.  

Hi all...

I have engaged a private guide with an air conditioned van for early April 2020.

It will be a tour of the island.   So I will post some feedback upon my return for the benefit of those planning for the future.

Thank you

J

18 hours ago, Cathy611 said:

We were docked in Nuku’alofa and we took a shore excursion as I couldn’t find a private tour.

The tour guide was great, went to the Kings Palace, Captain Cooks landing, Oholei Beach for a traditional dancing and fire show. 

The bus is a minibus with no air conditioning. But with all the windows open you don’t notice. 

The Tongans proudly say their best export is Tongans to Australia.

We were told that the King only cares about the main island as this is where he lives and not the other islands as you will notice the difference when you get to Vavau.

Souvenirs aren’t cheap. 

 

Thank you Cathy... this is great background information..