Oriena Caribbean cruise help

[summersday]

Hi every body

We are going on a Caribbean cruise in November.

We try to do most things on the cheap so we can have an extra holiday every year.

Are there any drinks packages on board or tips on having cheaper drinks!?

Has any one drunk the tap water rather than buying the bottled water?

Has any one visited the various Islands independently by taxi rather than book the expensive on board tours?

We visit

St Maarten

St Kitts

St Vincent

St Lucia

Grenada

Barbados

Also do you change money to Easter Caribbean Dollars or would US Dollars or Sterling suffice?

Any ideas would be welcome - Thanks take care

;)

[lancashire_cruisers]

Hi every body

We are going on a Caribbean cruise in November.

We try to do most things on the cheap so we can have an extra holiday every year.

Are there any drinks packages on board or tips on having cheaper drinks!?

Has any one drunk the tap water rather than buying the bottled water?

Has any one visited the various Islands independently by taxi rather than book the expensive on board tours?

We visit

St Maarten - There's a water taxi near where you dock that takes you to Phillipsburg and costs $6 for the whole day. Try Bernards Tours if you'd like an island tour and see the planes land at Maho Beach ($35 each I think).

St Kitts - We shared a taxi with some other passengers and went to South Friars Beach which was a lovely quiet beach.

St Vincent

St Lucia - try Rodney Bay for a beach or for island tours Cosol or Spencer Ambrose.

Grenada

Barbados - we just took a taxi to the Boatyard where the wristband includes a drink and a shuttle back to the port - nice beach but gets quite busy. There were also loads of taxi drivers offering island tours as well.

Also do you change money to Easter Caribbean Dollars or would US Dollars or Sterling suffice? US Dollars all the way.

Any ideas would be welcome - Thanks take care

;)

 

Hi

 

We did a Caribbean round trip on Aurora a couple of years ago and had a fantastic time. The ports we visited were slightly different to yours but I've given you an idea of what we got up to.

 

Personally speaking I would never book a P&O tour in the Caribbean (unless it's something special like the helicopter trip to Montserrat) as you can do it yourself much cheaper.

 

Have a great time!

 

Debbie:)

[haggis]

The US$ is king in the caribbean. I wouldnt take any Eastern Carib dollars, the $ is accepted everywhere. Likewise with the £. You'll need £'s if you play the casino on the ship but thats all you'll need them for and your crew tips of course. When you get your currency make sure you get some $1 bills for use on the islands.

I wouldnt drink the water from the taps in the cabin. I'm not saying its not safe but I wouldnt risk it. Theres water fountains in the buffet.

Jimmy

[Janey]

We did the same cruise last month and this is what we did:

St Maarten - we took the waterbus to the town (Dutch side), walked round the town but you can sit on the beach (there are loads of sunbeds and bars on the beach)

St Vincent - missed it this time due to bad weather slowing us down (we have been there before and went to Mustique on a catamaran trip)

St Kitts - went to Nevis for the day

St Lucia - took the P&O beach shuttle to Reduit beach (it wasn't cheaper to do it yourself)

Grenada - took a taxi to Morne Rouge beach, next time I would get a water taxi to Grand Anse beach, AND have a walk round the town

Barbados - took public transport to Mullins beach

 

The only drinks packages are a wine package which we thought was very expensive and we are not experts on wine, just have the odd glass or two. There are daily specials on cocktails and beers.

Never drink the water out of the tap, 6 large bottles of water cost £8.

Only took US dollars but didn't spend many of them!

 

Great cruise but some passengers a bit iffy!

[LEESRE]

P&O do drinks packages in your cabin, Gin, Vodka etc start at about £11 to £13 Pounds for a litre bottle of spirits. You can also buy mixers they do a package for these buy 9 and get 12 (ie 3 free)

We always drink the water not bottled that they offer in the dining rooms and in the buffet they have water machines. Just remember to say to the waiter in the dining room not bottled but just the tap water, it is fine.

 

Do your own thing on the islands it is much much cheaper, just remember to get back to the ship early rather than later, the ship will not wait for you if you are late. We always plan to be back at the ship at least 1 to 1and a half hours before sailing. Most taxi drivers will come back for you just give them a time.

In St. Maarten if you like a beach then we go to a beach which is not far away called Divi Beach Resort in small bay. A taxi here is only a few dollars. The resort has sun beds for hire about 5 dollars each and you can laze on the beach and they have toilets etc that you can use. Great beach bar for frozen cocktails. All far cheaper than P&O excursions.

St. Lucia has a taci stand right where you enter the port and they have fares posted for tours etc. again a good beach is Reduit Beach again has bars etc.

Barbados again has tours etc, ealk through the shopping area and you will come to the taxi stand, just make sure you get a rpice before getting into the taxi.

[keyman1202]

Hum..okay..I've been wondering about this...wifey and I are taking first Carnival Cruise in Dec. it is going to Cozumel... and I have read posts that talk about booking excursions on board on on island... I have read about booking on island..and one site needs to know what time ship is on.... and which pier!!! ok..so I suppose if I am saving enough bucks I can find out all this..just seems like abunch of hassel.. also appears some tours may not be avlb... on island... just for booking on vessel??? that may not be correct.. so I dont know.. we were interested in the jeep,/snorkel tour to south point.. cant seem to find much except for booking onboard... any hints...? thanks,,

[Johnthed0g]

There is NOTHING wrong with ships tapwater, sometimes it doesn't taste too good others it's fine but whatever time it is always PERFECTLY SAFE. Trips...well up to you some P&O trips are brilliant some not, they are safe & guarranteed to get you back to the ship & have a guide but can be abot twice what you would pay a local. TIP.. do your homework & know what YOU want to see not where the taxi guy wants to take you.

[summersday]

Oh thank you all soooooooooooooooo much for your ideas and advice.

All much as I expected except the currency issue - I had ordered some eastern Car; dollars - but I will cancel them and stick with US dollars. Thanks again and take care.:):):) C

[LEESRE]

Hum..okay..I've been wondering about this...wifey and I are taking first Carnival Cruise in Dec. it is going to Cozumel... and I have read posts that talk about booking excursions on board on on island... I have read about booking on island..and one site needs to know what time ship is on.... and which pier!!! ok..so I suppose if I am saving enough bucks I can find out all this..just seems like abunch of hassel.. also appears some tours may not be avlb... on island... just for booking on vessel??? that may not be correct.. so I dont know.. we were interested in the jeep,/snorkel tour to south point.. cant seem to find much except for booking onboard... any hints...? thanks,,

 

One way to find out where the ship will berth on a particular island is when you look on the web site of particular tours you then ask them where the ship will berth. We have done this many times, they will know, they have links to ships times etc and where the berth will be, this is the reputable tour companies.

If you wish to snorkel in Cozumel, one of the great snorkeling sites is Chankanab (sp) park we snorkel alot and this is one of the best sites we have snorkeled in the Caribbean. The other is Coki Beach on St. Thomas.

Again we just got off the ship and asked a taxi driver to take us to Chankanab and they will go and purchase the tickets at the park so you don't have to queue. Also return once you have had your fill.

Enjoy.

[balf]

IMO the tap water is fine to drink, we always drink it without any problems (and where do you think the water in the drinking fountains comes from)

 

Self organised trips are ok but beware that this is the Carrabean. The taxi/Minibus driver will try, (and it can be difficult to talk him out of it) to stop at every roadside stall where you will be urged to get out and look. (he gets a backhander on any sales) Then, usually on the way back you will be taken for what is known all over the islands as "shopin" and directed to the shops run by his relatives.

 

One guy took us to a shopping mall and pleaded with us when we refused to go in. "You don't need to buy anything, just walk through" He said it was his "petrol money".

 

Mind you the organised trips are not much better, there you will end up in a jewelry outlet which is a total waste of time unless you have a load of money and don't mind being ripped off.

 

All good fun though.

 

David.

[keyman1202]

Some water fountains ( I do not know about the ships) have filters to filter out chlorine....

and other dangerous articles..

[Aussie One]

Some water fountains ( I do not know about the ships) have filters to filter out chlorine....

and other dangerous articles..

 

You can buy Brita drink bottles they have a inbuilt filter these are avaliable in most supermarts through out the world i have used this bottle in a lot of differant countys and never had a problem with sickness.

the ships water would have ro be pure. your decision.

[timetravellers]

We always drink the tap water onboard apart from the last cruise, when the water didn't taste too good.

 

We had an ice bucket in our cabin which the room steward refilled twice a day. We simply transferred the ice into glasses and kept them in the fridge so we had a constant supply of iced water as the ice melted!

 

If it is good enough to add to drinks then it must be good enough to drink.