Carnival Glory St. Thomas & Maarten

[leruskin]

Hi there I am going on the Carnival Glory March 2006. I had a "few" questions.

*What is the price difference to take a cab to Orient Beach in St. Maarten vs. doing a shore tour through Carnival to the same location?

*Also did anyone use their cell phones in St. Thomas or St. Maarten?

*Were the charges outragous?

*How is the beach weather in March?

*What beaches have the calmest water in ports.

*Is it really worth it to take the Atlantis tour? Can you use the beach afterwards?

*Any good cheap bars on any beaches you can recommend?

*If you get a guarenteed room how do they determine who gets the upgrades available?

Any of these questions answered would be helpful. I want to thank everyone ahead of time for taking the time to respond.

Carnival Fantasy 1997

Carnival Inspiration 2003

<img border="0" src="<A href="http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/4;10731;0/st/20060318/e/Carnival+Glory/k/5c72/event.png"></a">http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/4;10731;0/st/20060318/e/Carnival+Glory/k/5c72/event.png"></a>

[cherylandtk]

-Cab is cheaper than ship excursion

-Check with your cell phone provider to make sure you have international coverage and that your phone is cabable. Rates vary, usually for just a few calls a local phone card is cheaper.

-Have not been in March, sorry

-The most popular beaches are well protected, usually by reefs. The far side of St. Maarten is rough water, the side where the ships dock and Orient is is relatively quiet water. Magen's Bay and Coki are well protected beaches on St. Thomas.

-Did the Atlantis in Barbados, not here, so again UTA; but we did not board on a beach FWIW.

-Favorite bars on St. Maarten were just at the end of the cruise dock, before you hit the main street, really. Lots of palm fronds, tables, chairs and beer/sandwich huts just across the sidewalk.

-Luck of the draw on upgrades. Floss your teeth, take your vitamins and be kind to others.

[Kathy555]

I used AT&T cellular service in St. Thomas at Magens Bay and had no charges.

 

Cheaper by cab than the ship excursion.

[campdaan]

Hi

I went on the Glory last March and am going back to St. Maarten on the Legend this coming March. It was in the 80's and sunny when we were there. The cab was $6 per person and was a clean Chevy van. They dropped us off at Orient Beach where we found chairs and umbrellas to use. The beach was not that crowded.

For St Thomas we used Godfrey. His tour is $20pp. He is awesome.

As for Nassau. In my opinion. The port is the first day after embarkation. The stay is short. If I were to do it again I'd STAY ON THE SHIP. And enjoy it. Hope this helps

[Beach4me]

Nope - can't use the beach or the pools.

 

I have been to Nassau 5 times in the past 16 months (3x on the Glory - including last week). I haven't like Nassau since my second or third visit 25 years ago so I've just stayed on the ship...until last week. I decided to catch a cab over ($4 per person/each way) and I am soooo glad I did. I actually regret having not gone over before. The glass work is stunning. The shopping is excellent at Atlantis and is actually less expensive than I found in St. Thomas or St. Maarten. I did not tour the aquarium because I got caught up shopping and seeing the casino/hotel sights. Part of the aquarium is free. It is my understanding though that you can get your own pass over there for cheaper than the ship offers. I'm going to do that in January.

 

Also, when we were there, the slots were really paying off. A couple people from our ship won big...to the tune of $1200.

 

It's definitely worth the cab fare to go over.

 

You will be in Nassau on a Sunday and 90% of the stores will be closed. The straw market will be open - and a handful of the jewelry shops in town will be open. But other than that, the only action you will see is over at Atlantis.

 

As for St. Thomas, again, I just catch a cab to Magen's Bay. $8 pp/each way plus $3 per person for entrance to the beach. Beach chair rental is $6 each with an additional $5 each deposit that you will get back when you return the chairs. Magen's Bay is one of my favorite beaches in the world. Great sand, calm water...just beautiful. Easy in and out of the water here. I think shopping in St. Thomas has gone downhill and I don't buy there anymore. I save shopping for St. Maarten (although in Jan, I will buy more at Atlantis).

 

In St. Maarten, I catch a cab to Divi Little Bay. The beach can be "shell-y" depending upon the seas but this is another place that I really like to visit. The ship runs a tour but a cab is only $4 pp/each way. The beach is free. Chairs and umbrellas are $5 each and they set them up for you. The water has always been fairly calm when I've been there - last week was the exception because Wilma was stirring things up. Still, it wasn't rough enough to stay out of the water. Be aware that there is a bit of a drop off when you walk into the water from this beach. Not huge but a surprise if you're not expecting it. The ship tour provides a lunch but I just go to the beach in the morning and head back in time to grab something up in the Red Sails grille. Let's me stay at the beach as long as I want too.

 

Been to both beaches in April and the water was pleasantly warm. I'd bet that March isn't that much different.

 

Enjoy!!!

[OCruisers]

leruskin .... The weather in St.Thomas & St.Maarten is ALWAYS warm. As a navite of SC, I like the water warm and have been able to swim in both of theses ports in January/February/March!

 

Now Nassau :confused: Who Knows! Rather like Myrtle Beach in April/May! Sometime wonderful ... other times "very chilly" water!

 

There's a thread on the Ports of Call Board under St.Maarten/St.Martin with a good list of beaches/bars (to rent chairs) at Orient Beach that you would probably enjoy reading! (Just click below)

 

boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=221575

 

Hope this helps a bit! Happy Sailing! OCruisers :)

[nimbex1970]

quick one... if we wanted to do divi with the carnival group and stay longer... what is the ease of getting a cab back?/ and or... any other beaches there where catching a cab back is easy? I love and hate the new island thing... thanks for letting me add on the the OP questions...

 

carol

[shabcruzn]

quick one... if we wanted to do divi with the carnival group and stay longer... what is the ease of getting a cab back?/ and or... any other beaches there where catching a cab back is easy? I love and hate the new island thing... thanks for letting me add on the the OP questions...

 

carol[/quote

 

It was very easy to catch a cab. There are several sitting out front. Also many people catch cabs, and you can catch their cabs leaving.

[shabcruzn]

quick one... if we wanted to do divi with the carnival group and stay longer... what is the ease of getting a cab back?/ and or... any other beaches there where catching a cab back is easy? I love and hate the new island thing... thanks for letting me add on the the OP questions...

 

carol[/quote

 

It was very easy to catch a cab. There are several sitting out front. Also many people catch cabs there and tell them to come back at a certain time, and you can catch their cabs leaving if there is space.

[shabcruzn]

quick one... if we wanted to do divi with the carnival group and stay longer... what is the ease of getting a cab back?/ and or... any other beaches there where catching a cab back is easy? I love and hate the new island thing... thanks for letting me add on the the OP questions...

 

carol[/quote

 

It was very easy to catch a cab. There are several sitting out front. Also many people catch cabs there and tell them to come back at a certain time, and you can catch their cabs leaving if there is space.

[shabcruzn]

quick one... if we wanted to do divi with the carnival group and stay longer... what is the ease of getting a cab back?/ and or... any other beaches there where catching a cab back is easy? I love and hate the new island thing... thanks for letting me add on the the OP questions...

 

carol[/quote

 

It was very easy to catch a cab. There are several sitting out front. Also many people catch cabs there and tell them to come back at a certain time, and you can catch their cabs leaving if there is space.

[MamaParrotHead]

Hi there I am going on the Carnival Glory March 2006. I had a "few" questions.

 

*What is the price difference to take a cab to Orient Beach in St. Maarten vs. doing a shore tour through Carnival to the same location?

*Also did anyone use their cell phones in St. Thomas or St. Maarten?

*Were the charges outragous?

*How is the beach weather in March?

*What beaches have the calmest water in ports.

*Is it really worth it to take the Atlantis tour? Can you use the beach afterwards?

*Any good cheap bars on any beaches you can recommend?

*If you get a guarenteed room how do they determine who gets the upgrades available?

 

 

Any of these questions answered would be helpful. I want to thank everyone ahead of time for taking the time to respond.

 

 

 

Carnival Fantasy 1997

Carnival Inspiration 2003

 

 

<img border="0" src="<A href="http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/4;10731;0/st/20060318/e/Carnival+Glory/k/5c72/event.png"></a">http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/4;10731;0/st/20060318/e/Carnival+Glory/k/5c72/event.png"></a>

 

cab is always cheaper.

 

I think I had cell service in St. Thomas, but there is a long-distance calling center at the pier that costs like $0.20/minute. super easy, clean...it was great.

 

beaches/calm water depends on the recent weather...ask the locals/cabbies for their advice on which to head to.

 

there was a cheap, decent bar in St. Thomas at the Havensight mall, right by the pier, that was nice to sit and rest at after a busy day. nothing fancy, open air, decent prices. The bar at Sapphire Beach was a bit pricey and the "only game in town".

[Floridajames]

Hey,

Like the others said... take the cab to St.Martin. Nice Van.... about 6 bucks each.... drops you off near Pedro's..... sort of the dividing line between the "beach au naturale" and the rest of the beach. Orient was a blast!!!! Pedro's has good cold beer...about 2 bucks and had a swingin' little calypso band that was great. lovely wife and I had a burger and fries from the little grill.... we were starving... it was delicious. There is a reef that runs from the edge of orient beach near Pedro's back towards the front of orient beach.... snorkeled for hours. Many cabs waiting to take you back to ship. Should be a great time. We went in May and they are about 6 to 8 weeks ahead of Florida... weather wise. Enjoy yourself.

[Cuizer2]

1) Upgrades tend to go to those who have been on Carnival in the past and who booked the earliest.

 

2) Okay, everyone says take a cab to Orient Beach. But how about getting back? Do you need to pay the cab to wait, or will one be waitiing when it is time to leave? Also, how long does it take to get back?

[OCruisers]

Okay, everyone says take a cab to Orient Beach. But how about getting back? Do you need to pay the cab to wait, or will one be waitiing when it is time to leave?

 

No Problem! Lots of taxis anxiously awaiting to take cruisers back to the ship!

 

Happy Sailing! OCruisers :)

[glrounds]

I'm a half hour from leaving for LAX to catch a redeye to Orlando and board the GLORY tomorrow. :)

Will try and check in while onboard and answer any questions.

Have cruised the GLORY before (2 years ago when she was only a few months old), but haven't taken the Eastern Caribbean on this cruise yet. Really looking forwar to St Maarten and the Bahamas as have never been there. :)

[molme]

Our cell service worked in St Thomas and no additional charge. We are with Sprint.

[zebster15]

With Sprint you can call from STT for free.

 

What week in March are you cruising?

[leruskin]

With Sprint you can call from STT for free.

 

What week in March are you cruising?

 

 

March 18, 2006!