Southern Caribbean ports of call questions

[exotic lady]

Hi there. I just joined cruise critic (although I'm not sure why I got "exotic lady" as username yet-tried to change it but no luck) and I'm looking for information on the southern caribbean ports, etc. we're cruising on the Adventure of the seas out of San Juan. I have 6 in my group, my husband and I and our 7 year old, my sis and hubby and my mom. I live in Missouri but originally I'm an island girl from PUerto Rico, my husband and mom are from St Lucia. Anyways, I've been reading a lot of posts and forums looking for specific answers and had no luck. So I decided to join so that I can ask questions. I will start here and maybe you guys can point me in the right direction.

I got SJU, St Lucia and St. Croix down since we lived there before. But have questions about the others. Since we're islanders we plan on doing everything on our own. We love to snorkel and sight see.

 

1. Plan to rent a jeep in Barbados and St Marteen. Do you guys know how easy will it be to see the turtles at particular beaches? I read that they will have 6 ships at port that day!! Yikes! We plan on driving to Rockley beach first, try to snorkel by the reef and try our luck since a lot of people don't know about this spot. If we don't see turtles, then head out to Carlise beach or Paynes to pay a local for a boat ride to the turtles. Have any of you done this before? Considering how busy port will be? This is all info I've read on cruise critic. Then, if we still have time drive to wildlife reserve to see the green monkeys. Is it worth it? Maybe swap it for Harrison caves. Undecided there.

 

2. St. Marteen, another jeep day to drive to French and Dutch sides. Particularly Mariggot Bay, for crepes at Serapphine and Maho beach to see planes. Still debating on Orient beach (nude beach) because the 7 year old.

 

3. I particularly have a lot of questions about Antigua,

1. Have anyone been to this port? Is it easy to drive around? Thinking about renting jeep like at other islands but not sure.

2. I read that half moon beach is best to snorkel but hard to get to and it's a hefty fare if we take a taxi. Has anyone been to half moon bay? Is it hard to get to? How much is taxi fare?

3. We independently booked sting ray city at 9 am, but now stuck with transportation issue. Read antigua taxis have fixed fares. It will cost us $30 each way for all according to website. Any insights on this? We dock at 8am and afraid won't have enough time to get rental.

4. Considering all we want to do, Is it easier to rent a taxi for the day to take us there and other points of interests we want to go (taxi would wait for us) or just take individual taxis from point to point.

 

This may be way too much info, but it doesn't hurt to ask!

Thanks in advance!!!

[CruiserBruce]

Welcome to Cruise Critic!

 

Check the ports boards, here:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=587

 

for lots of info.

[exotic lady]

Thank you cruiser Bruce. I've been doing that but haven't been able to get those specific answers. I will try on royal caribbean forum. Thanks!