Caribbean Advice Please

[rolythecat]

We are going on the Celebration on 13 December for 2 weeks back to back cruise doing Paradise Islands and Caribbean Cocktail. We very very nearly jumped ship and went with P and O for a change having been with Thomson 3 times before although never to the Caribbean. At the last minute we changed our minds due to the extra formal nights and sea days with P and O. So we are now really looking forward to our first time to the Caribbean but are getting very confused with all the islands and what do when we get there. We have done quite a lot of research and found that a lot of people opt for private taxi tours which sound great but I would worry about getting back to the ship on time. Do people tend to meet other people on the ship to do these tours? We have found there are 10 consecutive ports of call on this cruise due to the change of sea day to accommodate Christmas Day! Whilst we prefer ports of call to sea days, 10 together is quite something so we will want some quieter days where we can just wonder off ship. Which would be the best islands for this? We really like walking,parks and gardens and are not really beach people for any length of time. I would really appreciate any advice that can be offered. Many thanks.

[dab1952]

We have done the Carrribean twice with Thomson and have always done a mix of local trips via taxi and mini-bus and Thomson excursions, all without any problems.At most ports local mini-bus drivers will arrange for a full bus as you leave the ship.

We have a great trip via "Cosol" on st Lucis, you can find them on the Internet

On Dominica you can walk from the ship to the botanical gardens (about 20 mins) and whilst there there is a great walk up through the rain forest. Look for the signpost on your right hand side

[geomagot]

its easy to just wander off the ship in most of the ports in caribbean, taxi's and tour guides line up on the dock for beach transfers and island tours much cheaper than thoms offerings

 

tortola: pretty town with bars & shops walkable from the ship or $5pp for safari bus to cane garden beach

 

st martin: water taxi to nearest beach $7pp ret (greatbay) or you can walk takes about 15 mins lots of duty free shopping & bars and a beachfront boardwalk

 

st kitts: duty free shopping in the cruise terminal, pretty town beyond, lots of taxis around all day for beach or island tour (don’t get caught by the monkey photo guys…v expensive)

 

antigua: another pretty town with fruit markets and duty free shopping near the port, 100's of beaches to suit any taste, taxi driver will advise the best beach for your needs, about $20 depending on distance (fares are for the taxi so cheaper to rope someone in to share)

 

st vincent: authentic caribbean town, water taxi (a guy who just happens to have a boat) to beach about $5pp $20 overland, not much in the town

 

barbados: beaches are walkable about 20 minutes, taxi $5pp, pretty town and waterfront, lots of duty free shopping and tour booking office in the terminal

 

grenada, big shopping mall in terminal, pretty town with cathedral, market & fort, very lovely waterfront (careenage) through the sendal tunnel

 

bequia: very lovely relaxed little town with quaint shops & bars, beach is walkable (about 2 miles) water taxis (a guy who just happens to have a boat... may be a row boat?) & taxis near the dock (popular with yachters)

 

castries: lots (i mean lots) of taxis and tour operators near the port gates, good beaches at rodney bay, duty free shops and more tour operators in the (large) terminal (free wifi at the rum shop) large market in castries, pretty walk around the waterfront (thru the fish market);)

 

roseau: quite large town, local shops and a stunning botanical gardens easily walkable, youngs hotel near ships dock with nice terrace for a beer overlooking the ship, nearest beach (black sand) mero beach is a taxi ride away, lots of taxis offering tours of the rain forest & waterfalls (recommended):cool:

 

scarborough, bustling town with traffic, a fort (up a huge hill) and a market, taxies line up at the port gates, pigeon point beach is a private beach with lots of facilities and boat operators offering snorkelling/glass bottom etc ($10pp entrance) nice to walk around the town but its busy, very peacefull botanic gardens with some very old (hurricane battered) tamarind trees, walkable from ship

 

hope this helps

Edited September 23, 2015 by geomagot

[rolythecat]

Thank you so much for all the information. Particularly thanks to geomagot for such detailed information about the ports. I never realised there would be so much we can do walking straight from the ship. I think we will probably book a few trips but then try and diy for the other days walking to places of interest and hopefully enjoying that lovely sunshine. Can't wait now!