Advice on excursions

[chelsea157]

We will be traveling on RCCL, Serenade of the Seas 2/26/16. We have been to: St. Kitts and did the usual tour around the island, which we enjoyed. We did the same at St. Maarten. and Antiqua with tours of usual spots.

 

My question is other than the USUAL land tours, what would you suggest

, as most posts are about the very tours we've done for first time on those islands.

 

Next question: we have never been to Tortola or Marinque so we'd like to book a good tour. We are in our late 60s but in great shape. Like to snorkel but we don't usually like to laze in the sun for a long time without activity. We almost always plan ahead after reading reviews. Have almost always used independent operators for their small groups and reasonable costs.

 

Thanks for taking the time to give us suggestions. Happy Cruising!

[CruiserBruce]

If you look on the Ports boards, here:

 

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

 

You will find the most complete info on what to do on each island. Plus, perhaps get a guide book at your library.

 

That being said, the islands aren't huge, with a large list of things to do.

[John Bull]

Most second -(and third and fourth) - time-around islands we've visited we've chosen activities because, as Bruce's comment, few have more than a day's-worth of sights. Catamaran, river-tubing, snorkelling, zip-lining & such.

 

But St Maarten is worth a visit to the French side.

Or to Maho beach around 12.30 when the big aircraft come into the airport, or pit your strength on the fence against the jet-blast when they take off again https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpBmChT4KTs

 

Tortola, consider a ship's excursion to The Baths (rock formations) on the nearby island of Virgin Gorda.

The local ferry is way cheaper than ship's offering, but if the return ferry is too full or cancelled due to weather or mechanical problems, it's a long swim ;) to catch up with the ship. A rare occasion when I'd recommend the safety net of a ship's tour.

 

Martinque is a very attractive and very French island, & probably the most affluent & cultured major island in the Caribbean.

You berth in the heart of Fort-de-France, and can enjoy a lazy and inexpensive day in the cafes & bars & looking (but perhaps not buying) in the shops.

But I'd suggest you consider renting a car (the roads are very good) to explore places like the original capital, St Pierre, buried when Mont Pelee erupted in 1902. You can then drive up Morne Rouge - and walk up to the top of Mt Pelee if you're really fit.

And, unusual for this chain of islands, the east cast is particularly attractive. There's also a church which is a quite accurate small-scale replica of Paris's Sacre Coeur.

Take your plastic - the currency is the euro & its one island where USD aren't so widely accepted.

 

JB :)

Edited April 26, 2015 by John Bull

[cb at sea]

A guidebook is what you need...learn about your ports...what interests you..and THEN you can figure out HOW to do it!

[Bonnie J.]

Yes, go to The Baths on Virgin Gorda from Tortola! Once when we wanted to go back the ship had charterer the ferry for their tour so we had to wait for it to come back but it was too long a wait so we didn't go. There are no rocks there, there are HUGE boulders in the water to snorkel and swim around and walk around on land. Google The Baths and you won't believe the size of the boulders!

[cruiseapril]

We took a very good ship's tour in Martinique. We went to St. Pierre, through the Rain Forest, to Balata Gardens, and then to Balata Church.

 

Our guide was excellent- some may want a French speaking guide rather than doing their own excursion.

[OCruisers]

Even if you normally book tours thru an independent operator, Martinique is a place you might really want to book a ship's excursion.

Our favorite was an excursion that took us by boat to view the island from the water and then to a beach stop.

It's been a while since we've been there so don't know if it's still offered.

Taking the rain forest excursion was all right but viewing from the water suited us better.

It's a lovely island - ENJOY!

 

LuLu

[searoses]

Check the ferry schedules online very carefully in tortola....if you can make the times work for the day you are there rent a car and drive to the baths.....enjoy them for a couple of hours...have the fish of the day platter at the beautiful restaurant at the top.....while you wait have a dip in the pool and a frozen Pina colada....drive back to the other side of Spanish town and go to savanna bay....snorkeling is not down but just under the water ....you swim around not over....a gorgeous beach which is rarely crowded.....no facilities the last time we were there but not a long stop....back to Spanish town in a few minutes and on the ferry....a perfect day if the timing works out....if not just take the ship excursion....2nd choice in paradise is Still pretty darn good!!......don'r be afraid when you see the hills in tortola....much flatter on virgin gorda....a cinch to drive...

[Bonnie J.]

You CANNOT drive to The Baths. They re located on the island of Virgin Gorda. The only way there is by boat-ferry there is no bridge there-its too far away. Again, Google The Baths!

[John Bull]

You CANNOT drive to The Baths. They re located on the island of Virgin Gorda. The only way there is by boat-ferry there is no bridge there-its too far away. Again, Google The Baths!

 

Searoses has clearly been there, done that, & surely isn't that mixed-up. ;)

 

I think searoses means renting a car after arriving on the ferry, and taking in other places on Virgin Gorda as well as the Baths.

I'd rate that as a serious over-commitment on time, but mebbe searoses was on a cruise ship which stopped at Virgin Gorda (a few do) or was on Tortola on a land vacation ?

 

JB :)

Edited April 29, 2015 by John Bull

[chelsea157]

Thanks for your input!

[wwcruisers]

Two more options -- Note: we took the cruiseline's shore excursions, but you might be able to find a private tour to one or both:

 

Tortola -- boat trip to the island of Jost Van Dyke; great beach, and of course, the iconic "Soggy-Dollar Bar" -- famous for its "pain-killers"! :cool:

 

St. Kitts -- boat trip and tour of the island of Nevis; also includes a stop at their most famous beach -- a beautiful island! :)

[GottaKnowWhen]

We will be traveling on RCCL, Serenade of the Seas 2/26/16. We have been to: St. Kitts and did the usual tour around the island, which we enjoyed. We did the same at St. Maarten. and Antiqua with tours of usual spots.

 

 

 

My question is other than the USUAL land tours, what would you suggest

 

, as most posts are about the very tours we've done for first time ...

 

Thanks for taking the time to give us suggestions. Happy Cruising!

 

 

You enjoyed your first time "usual tour". Why? What aspects in particular about e.g. St Kitts were attractive? What we've done is to think about those things we most enjoyed on such tours. Then for our 2nd visit we go on our own or find a tour that allows us time to explore more thoroughly the places we spotted first time around.

[searoses]

Thank you john bull for your support!....I have not been to either island by cruise ship but have ferried from St john to both many times and stayed on both several times......getting to Vg from tortola all depends on when you arrive and leave.....if the times work for you you can do both beaches on the same day....if not choose the baths as they are amazing,...yes you can get a cab but most want theirs full....the more people you involve the slower everything will be....Spanish town is about midway from savanna bay and the baths....maybe 15 min each way.....they are 2 very beautiful places that most cruisers never get to see....if going off tortola makes you uncomfortable ask to go to smugglers cove....no facilities...or long bay east....beautiful beaches.....most cruisers are taken to cane garden bay which ends up very crowded.....if you choose to go there do it early....