Tours, to pre book or not???

[Lesley52]

Hi, My hubby and I are on the Ventura in Oct/Nov to Caribbean. Does everybody pre book the tours or wait till you get there and use local. We like mooching around nice old towns but would like to see something else too. I am at a loss?? I don't want to arrive at a place and be overwhelmed, I like to be organised. TIA

[jeanlyon]

I much prefer to use local people. However, the only one I can remember is Cosol tours in St Lucia. They were excellent and a lot less than the ship. Just google them if you are going there.

[sagaris]

If you are going to Dominica I can recommend Bumpiing Tours, an excellent day out.

 

I agree with Jeanylon re Cosol tours, we have used them twice brilliant value.

 

Most of the Caribbean ports are easy DIY, you can either get off and just wander round the towns or get a local taxi or bus and do a tour with them.

 

Molly

[kruzseeka]

I much prefer to use local people. However, the only one I can remember is Cosol tours in St Lucia. They were excellent and a lot less than the ship. Just google them if you are going there.

 

 

I would definitely recommend this company too. Excellent trip; went to a beach with time for a swim at the base of the Pitons, visits to the Soufriere Volcano and a small but peaceful and beautiful botanical garden, water taxi ride to the beach, snacks and lunch and beer/water/rum punch included - all with an amusing and interesting commentary. Excellent value - varied experiences and chance to see something of this lovely island.

 

As jeanlyon has said, it's easy to pick up local taxis for island tours or beach transfers at each port. We seldom book ship's trips in the Caribbean.

[Jollysailor93]

On ship they give you the chance to visit port talks about the destinations. They are typically on days at sea or shown on your in cabin tv. Within these they include information about where the ship docks, the local area and the excursions available.

 

We personally enjoy going off on our own and mooching about as we are then not tied by times and limited to the places we can go. Also you may find that some excursions are over priced compared to the actual price of the attraction and that you are really paying for the convenience of having it sorted for you.

 

Hope this helps...

[vizzog]

Hi, My hubby and I are on the Ventura in Oct/Nov to Caribbean. Does everybody pre book the tours or wait till you get there and use local. We like mooching around nice old towns but would like to see something else too. I am at a loss?? I don't want to arrive at a place and be overwhelmed, I like to be organised. TIA

 

Here is a bit about some of the Caribbean Islands and the things we have done I have posted previously

 

A little about some Caribbean ports of call

 

St Maarten

Catch the water ferry ($6 for an all day wristband last year) to the beach from the cruise terminal. Great place usually stay in the bay so can’t comment on the island. It is very American lots of nice bars and the place to buy duty free, jewellery. Sunbeds and brollies on the beach usually in front of the beach bars so someone comes out and you pay them (I think it was $10 for 2 beds last year) then they will run back and forward if you want drinks or snacks!

Ships excursions we have done here are the Golden Eagle catamaran lovely afternoon cruising down to ‘airport’ beach watching the planes land, snorkelling off a lovely beach and loads of rum on the way back! I have also done the America’s cup yachting here a great experience.

 

Antigua

The first time we came here it rained!! So we didn’t go anywhere but walked around the town and had coffee. There are a few nice arty shops if you like that as well as the usual touristy ones quite a nice place for a wander.

We have also been kayaking here out in the mangrove swamps! Also visited one off the small islands on the Atlantic side of Antigua, Bird Island the sea is very rough on that side not for the faint hearted. It is a very beautiful island so probably a good island to go out and about there are the English Harbour and Nelsons Dockyard, which are popular places to visit. If you are a cricket fan there is a cricket tour you and do which visits the test ground and you meet one of the Caribbean cricket stars. We have used the local taxi’s here but do look after your belongings, as this is where our youngest son ‘lost’ or had stolen his iPhone. Please don’t be put off by this, as 99% of the people on the islands are friendly. On our last visit here we went on the Crusoe Island excursion this was fantastic, about 40 people on their own island for the day open bar, music and lunch thoroughly recommend if you are a beach bum.

Dickinson beach break, nice beach can get busy but big and long enough for all

 

Dominica

There is a warehouse where the ship docks, the locals set up a market there so ok for a wander. The town is about a 20-minute walk away not very much there though. We have also docked right in Road Town right in front of the local market depends if there are two ships in port.

 

We have done the Arial Tram in the rain forest here I liked it. Great for seeing the rainforest, plants, trees and I did see hummingbirds don’t think P&O do this one anymore though. We have also been river tubing here three times we loved it but only great for those who love the water and getting wet. Tried the tubing on the Pagua River in the Carib territory but the journey there and back is very long and over very poor roads so if tubing on the Layou river is available this is a much better option.

We have also visited the waterfalls here and then went to a black sand beach (Mero) for a couple of hours. Not an island for beaches it is a very much a tropical rainforest island with small narrow roads, mountains and valleys you do need to get out of the port to experience it but I would probably always do a ship excursion here due to the roads and terrain if you are late back on a ship tour the ship will always wait for you!

 

Barbados

The actual cruise terminal has lots of shops etc. but walk (about 15mins) or taxi it to Bridgetown a lot more here. As far as beach you could get a taxi to Malibu on Brighton Beach it is about 10 mins from the ship and for about $5 you can have a tour of the distillery. There are beds and a bit of shade on the beach it is an absolutely beautiful beach

If you take a taxi anywhere on most islands you only pay the driver when he returns to take you back to the ship just give yourselves plenty of time to get back before the time they want you back on-board. There are lots of things to see and do in Barbados depending on whether you are beach fans, like the fauna and flora things or getting out on the water. My favourite time here was on a catamaran sailing down the coast stopping at Sandy Lane beach then out to a reef to swim with turtles. Most times here though we just walk into Bridgetown then out the other side onto Carlisle Bay for a swim and a beer. (Check it out on Google earth)

 

St Lucia

We have always gone out here, there are two cruise terminals the one on the right side of the bay does not have much, on the left side it is much better with shops and bars. Lots of taxi’s offering trips

We have visited Pitons and the volcano. The last couple of times we have got a taxi to Wharf Bar on Choc beach. There is a small Sandals resort at one end but it is quite quiet there is never that many people there. Unfortunately now this beach is only half as lovely as our first visit as during the rainy season a river flows out into the bay, and a lot of sand and palm trees have been washed away. We have on our last couple of times gone up to Rodney Bay gets very busy if there are a couple of ships in port but it’s a nice beach plenty of bars, shops if you want to wander off the beach. For a first timer in St Lucia I would probably visit the Pitons and the volcano whether you do it in an organised excursion or take one of the local taxi’s maybe share with someone else from the ship.

 

Aruba

On our first visit here our friends got married so our day was spent at their wedding! We did go to a beautiful beach for photos after it is an island much like Barbados of white powder sand beaches and resort hotels. Our last couple of times here we have caught the local bus to Eagle beach its only about 5 US dollars return for both of us! The sunbeds and straw umbrella cost us over $20 on the beach and a couple of beers were expensive at $6 dollars each though.

 

Bonaire

Went to a coral beach (Eden beach) for snorkelling as the reef is very close to the shore amazing for this as this island is one of the top dive sites in the world, beach shoes are a good idea as the sand is crushed coral We walked off the ship in the afternoon, as there is a small market with craft stalls set up on the quayside and few bars we had a couple of drinks in one sharing the table and nearby tree with come of the largest iguanas I have ever seen!

Recently we have taken one of the ‘Chiva’ buses around the island seeing the flamingos, salt lakes and the slave huts then stopping off at a lagoon/beach for a couple of hours.

 

Curacao

First time we visited we docked right inside Willemstad the floating bridge was opened to let us pass through. We took a taxi to Sea Aquarium beach nice sandy beach quite close to Willemstad for a couple of hours, although if there are other ships in port this can get quite busy. Then spent a couple of hours in Willemstad across the floating bridge is a nice shopping area, restaurants and bars. Second time here we docked at the Mega pier just outside Willemstad the cruise terminal area has nice bars and shops and you can walk into Willemstad in about 10 minutes. We did a beach transfer here to a beach just a little further up from the Sea Aquarium beach. There is a highly recommended local bus company called Irie Tours, which have a tour, stop at the Curacao distillery, and an hour or so at the beach admission price included all for $20 (also beer and soft drinks!) .

 

Grenada

The water taxi’s directly next to the ships pier will take you to Grand Anse beach and bring you back again, think the last time we used them it was $5 dollars each way? Might have gone up to $6 now, make sure you get some small $ bills when getting your holiday money. The water taxi’s run all day every 15 minutes or so. Grand Anse beach is huge so if you are looking for a quiet spot don’t take the first sun beds offered walk further along the beach. There is a market area where souvenirs, cold drinks, food and toilets are available. We no longer go to this beach having found our ‘ideal’ beach a bit further a field the name of which I have been asked not to say!! Grenada is the spice island of the Caribbean so a place to taste and buy the wonderful spices available here we usually go home with a few but jerk chicken is probably the only thing we have cooked at home!

 

 

Tortola

We have visited several times here is a brief over view of the excursions we have done as value for money the Tortola excursions are cheaper than the other islands.

Beach transfer – this is usually to Cane Garden Beach a lovely beach but can be crowded if more than one ship is port. This is easily available by local open sided buses and cheaper than the ship excursion costs just allow plenty of time to get there and back. (Once our buses gear box fell out!! Had to wait for his mate to come and pick us up luckily it was on the way there so we had all day)

Virgin Gorda – have done this twice it is about a 45 minute ferry or fast motor boat ride across but it is an amazing place. It does involve quite a bit of walking and if you wish to go to Devils Bay you have to climb up rocks, steps etc., go in water up to your knees and be able to bend down quite low. Again if there is more than one ship docked or a ship tendering off Virgin Gorda it can be busy. The first time we went here we were lucky enough to be the only visitors apart from the yachts and private motor boats, last time it was very busy as two ships were docked in Tortola and a Silversea cruiser was tendering locally.

Jost Van Dyke – a 45 minute motor boat ride through Sir Francis Drake Channel takes you to an island on the other side of Tortola where you have a couple of hours on a fine white sand beach White Bay. There are a couple of bars here and you get a snack and a drink included in the price. Good value and a nice excursion.

Virgin Island Sailaway – did this last time unfortunately we did not have the greatest of weather quite showery and overcast the whole time. A catamaran sails you to Peter Island where you have chance to snorkel. I did enjoy this we saw rays and an abundance of fish. A stop on Norman Island at a beach club for a drink you can also buy lunch here, the beach is not great but then we did not have the weather that day. An ok excursion good for a bit of snorkelling and a sail on a catamaran (obviously the poor weather made it less enjoyable for us)

Views and Cane Garden Beach – great value if you have not been to Tortola you see the island have a great photo opportunity (the view is in fact a restaurant in the middle of the island where you can go on the roof and see for miles on a clear day) then go to Cane Garden Beach for lunch and time on the beach.

 

St Vincent – not a favourite port the town is quite run down and not a great deal to do locally. There is a water taxi on the pier which will take you round to Villa beach a narrow beach with a few bars etc. can become crowded if lots go there.

Have done the Waterfall and Coast excursion which will take you to the film set from pirates of the Caribbean, after about an hour or so in a bus so you see a bit of the island, lunch at a restaurant then a cruise back to the port.

Escape to Bequia – a catamaran across to Bequia where you have some time on the beach and lunch on-board. I loved this as it was very much real sailing as it can be quite gusty and choppy sailing across but those who don’t have very good sea legs did find it a problem as it is quite a long way, (my husband would not do it again).

 

Hope you find this useful whatever you do have an great cruise. :D

Edited October 5, 2014 by vizzog

[annieuk]

We usually pre-book tours. My husband and I often go on different tours - he likes the active ones like river rafting, kayaking etc. and I prefer the scenic tours. We get our Mediterranean level discount when booking and certainly the prices are increased on board. We have just come back from a Baltic cruise and one port had to be missed out due to the weather. As we had already paid pre-cruise for the excursion the money was refunded direct to the credit card we used to pay, not to our On Board Spend. When we got home the money had already appeared on our card as being refunded.

 

Yes you probably do pay more for the ship excursions but we have had some excellent ones - our trips in Tallin and Copenhagen a week or so ago both had excellent guides, among the best we have ever had. We will continue to pre-book excursions as it suits us but I know some people use local tours which are very successful.

 

I think at some ports, especially in the Caribbean you need to book a tour at some places, either with the ship or independently - Dominica is a good example. I have heard some people say after wandering around the port area that Dominica is a dreadful place, not worth getting off the ship. However, if they had bothered to explore the interior of the island they would have discovered how lush and green the island is.

[Britboys]

Agree re Cosol on St Lucia. Would also recommend Bernard's Tours on St Maarten. Willemstad (the Port Town) in Curacao is one of the nicest port towns to wander around imho.

[jan1403]

I'm on Ventura in February and currently researching whats on offer on each of the Islands. I've experienced both pre-booking and waiting till I get off the ship on previous cruises and would prefer to pre-book as you get more for your money and you've got a structure to your day. I try and go for the companies that get good reviews on here and trip advisor.

[NSWP]

Many ports have limited transport infrastructure, limiting what transport is available for the ship's tours. As the ship has prebooked the buses in the area for its shorex, it often leaves little available for private tours.

 

Personally I prebook my ship' shorex to avoid missing out. You only need to get on board and see the lines at the tour desk and see the look of disappointment on passengers faces, having missed out.

 

And remember if you take a ship's tour, the ship will not leave without you. Take a private tour, turn up late and you might see an empty berth.

Edited October 7, 2014 by NSWP

[kruzseeka]

It's worth checking out how many other ships are in port with you as this will affect the pressure on the infrastructure for tourists. But the Caribbean Islands are amongst the best we've been to for tour/taxi/beach transfer availability.

 

These links may help. You can also check out the arrival departure times of other ships - if you are lucky enough to berth first then you get a head start on everyone else.

 

http://www.cruisetimetables.com/

http://ports.cruisett.com/