Serenade - Eastern leg - Port berths convenience

[navylark]

We are joining the Serenade for the August 22nd sailing - we are new to RCCL.

Normally we do not bother with shore excursions - they seem expensive in £ sterling - we are UK resident and £25 - £30 for a 2/3 hour excursion seems on the high side - to we Brits anyway with todays £/$ exchange rate.

So can anyone advise if any of the excursions fall into the 'must do before you die' category.

Also where are the berths in relation to the town centres are they all a taxi ride away? Do RCCL provide shuttle buses to the town centre in any ports- I suspect they don't - but would appreciate any advice.

Sorry for such a long question - so many thanks inadvance for any replies.

Cheers

Navylark

PS Not sure if this is Eastern or Western - sorry but it is the Cuaracao Aruba leg

[sparky-elpaso]

One way to see what the port looks like is to look at them in Google Earth. On our Eastern Caribbean in March we decided to take only one shore excursion after seeing what the port area / beach looked like.

[sadie8]

I'm not sure what your other two ports of call are but in Curacao and Aruba you can walk right off the ship and be in town. Clean and safe with plenty of shops for looking around. We always take a taxi and head to the beach.

[Aviator of the Seas]

Aruba - Docks right in town but the sights and the good beaches are a taxi ride away. I would suggest a taxi tour of the island followed by a day pass at the Radisson Palm Beach.

 

Curacao - Docks a walkable distance from town.

 

Dominica - Docks right in town but the good stuff is a tour away in the country. The town seems impoverished but they're working on that.

 

St. Thomas - There's shopping right at the docks but town is a $4.00 per person ride away and the beaches, Magens Bay for example, are a $8.00 per person ride to the other side of the Island.

 

Antigua - Docks right in town. The beaches are a cab ride away.

 

St. Lucia - same as above

 

St. Maarten - Docks a five minute wal and a water taxi ride away from the Dutch town (or if you want to skip the water taxi, it is a 15 minute walk). There's an okay beach there. The better beaches and the French town are a taxi ride away.

 

I have not gotten off at the other ports.

[navylark]

Many thanks for all your replies.

Just the info we wanted.

Great to have access to such an informed group.

Cheers

Navylark

[cb at sea]

Actually, in Aruba, you don't need a "day pass" to go to a beach...they are all public. Unless you want to use a hotel's pool, you can go to any part of the beach you want. there are chair/umbrella/watersport rentals all along the beach, along with restrooms/ food/ drink....no need to pay a hotel for a beach day!

[negc]

Actually, in Aruba, you don't need a "day pass" to go to a beach...they are all public. Unless you want to use a hotel's pool, you can go to any part of the beach you want. there are chair/umbrella/watersport rentals all along the beach, along with restrooms/ food/ drink....no need to pay a hotel for a beach day!

 

That is pretty much true of all the beaches in the Caribbean and is not exclusive to Aruba. However, some of the hotels which offer day passes ($18 per person at the Radisson in Aruba for example) include beach chairs, towels and palapas along with use of the pool as part of the package. Some, for a higher price, include unlimited food and drink. You really need to compare what you are getting for the price before you automatically decide against a day pass.

[MJN]

Navylark,

We are going on that same cruise and you should meet some of the other cruisers for that week on the roll call forum. Be sure and sign up for the meet and mingle while you are there. We have been to Aruba before and it has a very nice shopping area right near the ship and St. Thomas does too. In fact we walked to the tram that goes up the side of the mountain from the ship and it was well within walking distance. The other ports are new ones for us so can't speak from experience but others have. Hope to see you on our roll call and then on the ship. I have heard many, many very possitive reviews about the ship and we are so excited to finally be going just next week. :) MJN