Help with Excursions

[Young&InLove]

I'm looking for RCCL OR Private booked excursions that are great.

I would like price, what it is, and if you would do it again?

Nassau, Bahamas

Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas

Philipsburg, St Maarten

Those are our 3 ports. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

:)

[cb at sea]

What sort of things do you want to do?

[Young&InLove]

I do not want to do any walking tours.. I am interested in all adventure, thrilling, water related, anything besides walking/hiking..

[DonnaK]

We were in St. Thomas in August, and booked a tour with Papa Bear http://www.havefunwithus.net/index.html

 

I give him my strongest endorsement!!! We did an island tour followed by beach time. Now, we've been to St. Thomas many times, yet Papa Bear showed us things and took us places we had never seen before. He is very knowledgeable, very personable, and VERY passionate about St. Thomas and its history. Safety is also very important to him (his wife is a police officer), and we always felt safe and well-taken care of.

 

The price of his tours are very reasonable, and he's flexible too (meaning he will customize the tour if there's something special you want to do).

[Young&InLove]

We were in St. Thomas in August, and booked a tour with Papa Bear http://www.havefunwithus.net/index.html

I give him my strongest endorsement!!!

Thank you very much! I'll have to look him up. We've been to St Thomas 3 times already, and haven't done anything very memorable. Except Magen's Bay.. that was nice.. :)

But I really appreciate it. Safety is a HUGE issue to me with being in a foreign country. Also- worrying about getting back to the ship on time! Glad you give two thumbs up.

Thanks!

[negc]

Absolutely loved the America's Cup excursion in St. Maarten. In St. Thomas we usually just grab a safari vehicle and have the driver take us to one of the beaches or to Red Hook where we take the ferry to St. John's and Cinnamon or Trunk Bay. In Nassau we enjoyed the Blue Lagoon excursion but otherwise we usually just take a cab to Atlantis and make a contribution in the casino. In any and all of those ports it is very easy to make your own arrangements for a tour at the pier when you get off the ship. We did just that on our first trip to St. Maarten where we found a cab driver who took us all over the island including stops in Marigot, Orient Beach, and the beach on the Dutch side which is close to the airport. Prices are usually comparable or better than what you can get through the cruiseline and allow you to tailor the excursion to your particular preferences.:)

[Buckeye State Cruisers]

we will be in st. maarten in 2 weeks and we are going to maho beach. If you go to youtube and search maho beach you will understand why. Good luck and happy cruising.

[Young&InLove]

I just looked up Papa Bear excursions. I'm thinking about Sapphire Beach in St Thomas. $20/person round trip from cruise port to the beach.. NICE! :)

I'll look up those other 2 now!! I always thought Nassau was pretty LAME :) But that's just me. But lately I've been hearing great things about it.

We were in St Maarten this past August and we were supposed to go to the beach break near Orient Beach- but my brother got very sick so we couldn't. Bummer

Thanks for all the help and advice everyone

[Young&InLove]

THAT BEACH LOOKS CRAZY! I'D BE SCARED TO BE HIT BY THE PLANE!!

woww!!

[CINDYSUE]

Bernards Tours was one of the best we have on our 11 day cruise. He is a gentleman and a great guy. I highly recommend him.

[onesphinx2004]

We were in St. Thomas in August, and booked a tour with Papa Bear http://www.havefunwithus.net/index.html

 

I give him my strongest endorsement!!! We did an island tour followed by beach time. Now, we've been to St. Thomas many times, yet Papa Bear showed us things and took us places we had never seen before. He is very knowledgeable, very personable, and VERY passionate about St. Thomas and its history. Safety is also very important to him (his wife is a police officer), and we always felt safe and well-taken care of.

 

The price of his tours are very reasonable, and he's flexible too (meaning he will customize the tour if there's something special you want to do).

 

Just looked at havefunwithus web site. We will be in St. Thomas in November with an 11 month old. We'd like to make a brief beach break with the little one. Problem is, we never know when he's decided that he's had enough fun. Then, it can become "not fun" for everyone. Do you know if it's possible to have the return-to-ship time flexable. In other words - "it's time to go" now. Also, any idea as to which beach would be best?

[catlady27]

I'm looking for RCCL OR Private booked excursions that are great.

I would like price, what it is, and if you would do it again?

 

 

Nassau, Bahamas

Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas

Philipsburg, St Maarten

 

Those are our 3 ports. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

:)

 

Bamahas - Blue Lagoon Sea Lion excursion - $115 pp and AWESOME

St. Thomas - any of the snorkeling excursions are fun but the one that goes to Turtle Cove and Christmas Cove also serves lunch (I believe it was $79ish pp)

St. Maarten - Rhino Riders are a BLAST (can't remember the price off the top of my head) and Lotterie Farms Zip Line excursion if you enjoy something more physical

 

Here is a picture from our Blue Lagoon excursion

[Young&InLove]

@onesphinx: I was searching through the beaches earlier. I want one that's more commercialized because I would feel much safer. One doesn't have lifeguards, security, and its undeveloped. So I'd steer clear of that. The one I'm seriously looking into is Sapphire Beach.. it looks nice, offers food and drinks, play things for the water, and it's the closest (I THINK!)

[onesphinx2004]

I know that we can get transportation from Crown Bay to a beach on St. Thomas. Question: Can one get a cab back to port from beaches in St Thomas? If so, which ones?

[AlanAllyn]

We really liked the ship's excursion to St. John and Trunk Bay.

 

We also enjoyed (on a different trip) the three beach snorkel tour with Homer's - http://www.nightsnorkel.com/

[funfamilyof6]

We were in St. Thomas in August, and booked a tour with Papa Bear http://www.havefunwithus.net/index.html

 

I give him my strongest endorsement!!! We did an island tour followed by beach time. Now, we've been to St. Thomas many times, yet Papa Bear showed us things and took us places we had never seen before. He is very knowledgeable, very personable, and VERY passionate about St. Thomas and its history. Safety is also very important to him (his wife is a police officer), and we always felt safe and well-taken care of.

 

The price of his tours are very reasonable, and he's flexible too (meaning he will customize the tour if there's something special you want to do).

 

Do they have a big sense of humor??? We love the tour guides that add a lot of humor to the tour.

[jackretired]

Has anyone done this one?

 

Seaworld Explorer - SM14

 

Your tour will leave Philipsburg, on the Dutch side of the island, and drive up the eastern side to the second largest town in St. Martin, Grand Case, a quaint, unspoiled fishing village surrounded by an idyllic bay.

 

Here at Grand Case Pier, you will board the Seaworld Explorer, a semi-submarine, which takes you on a 60-minute narrated tour of the coral reefs surrounding Creole Rock. Seaworld Explorer is a state-of-the-art semi-submarine developed in Australia for use on the Great Barrier Reef. The vessel does not submerge; you descend into the hull of the boat and sit in air-conditioned comfort five feet below the surface of the water, exploring sea life through individual, clear glass windows. The highlight of this trip is when a diver is surrounded by schools of feeding fish and green and spotted moray eels. A knowledgeable marine expert will provide you with information on the amazing underwater world around, and will be happy to answer questions. On the return trip to shore you can relax and enjoy the magnificent view of Grand Case Bay and Creole Rock.

[DonnaK]

I know that we can get transportation from Crown Bay to a beach on St. Thomas. Question: Can one get a cab back to port from beaches in St Thomas? If so, which ones?

 

Yes, there are always cabs waiting at the beach to take you back. Plus, the driver who takes you there will be willing to arrange to drive you back. You can go to Emerald Beach (aka Lindberg Bay), which is closest to the pier at Crown Bay, which makes it easiest to get back.

 

Do they have a big sense of humor??? We love the tour guides that add a lot of humor to the tour.

 

Papa Bear was mildly humorous, but more informative/educational.

 

/

@onesphinx: I was searching through the beaches earlier. I want one that's more commercialized because I would feel much safer. One doesn't have lifeguards, security, and its undeveloped. So I'd steer clear of that. The one I'm seriously looking into is Sapphire Beach.. it looks nice, offers food and drinks, play things for the water, and it's the closest (I THINK!)

 

 

 

 

Sapphire is the Beach that Papa Bear took us to. It was LOVELY, and I'm very glad we went there.

[onesphinx2004]

Thanks, Donnak

Looks like Emerald Beach for us. We don't want a long trip back to the dock. When the baby is ready to nap....he's ready.

[lv2BonBoard]

Nassau - segways! booked it online on my own. We had a privated tour, just my family of four and it was a blast.

St Thomas-recomend Sunny Liston as a tour guide

St Martin - This is our favorite place to rent a jeep (reserve online in advance, pick it up right at the pier) and do it on our own. Last time we went to Maho Beach, Orient Beach for parasailing (reasonably priced) a swim and lunch, and some sightseeing on the way back to the ship

[Interrogation Room]

Any recommendation for Aruba?

[April-in-NC]

Bamahas - Blue Lagoon Sea Lion excursion - $115 pp and AWESOME

 

I also vote for Blue Lagoon, but we did the dolphin swim ($185 I think) and it was worth every penny! The island is so quiet and beautiful and the time in the water with the dolphins was so fun! They reminded me of big puppies. :)

[Young&InLove]

I also vote for Blue Lagoon, but we did the dolphin swim ($185 I think) and it was worth every penny! The island is so quiet and beautiful and the time in the water with the dolphins was so fun! They reminded me of big puppies. :)

 

 

 

awe! I'll definitely check these out!

[Interrogation Room]

I also vote for Blue Lagoon, but we did the dolphin swim ($185 I think) and it was worth every penny! The island is so quiet and beautiful and the time in the water with the dolphins was so fun! They reminded me of big puppies. :)

 

 

I think $185 is kinda too much for this excursion.

[BecciBoo]

In St. Maarten, a group of CCers chartered the sailing vessel Lord Sheffield, had a blast and went to Maho and Mullet Bay:

 

But on 3rd trip we rented car and visited almost all the beaches(total cost-$40 for the day. We liked the Dutch side (Lee side of the island) because there are smaller wave action, Orient had too much wave action (Windward side of island) My favorite is still Mullet Bay Beach, but not much in the way of vendors/food, you have to picnic there, but it is very secluded and has nothing but white sand and blue water, idealic!

We did the hotel all inclusives in Nassau and loved them, I think we did Merriot. $60pp.

I think you'd enjoy Coki on St. Thomas if you don't go over to St. John's for Trunk Bay or Caneel Bay. As it has lots happening, an oceanographic park you can tour and check out these two links:

http://www.**********/community/component/content/article/25/42-coki-point.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Mj3iN2JkAg&feature=related