To do on St Maarten/Nassau

[wcolucci]

Hi All!

 

Looking for any ideas for a way to pass the time on St Maarten and Nassau. We're on the Westerdam 1/22.

 

One caveat: We're traveling w/ a 15 month old, so the casinos, wine or rum tasting, rock climbing, long romantic walks and bungee jumping are probably out of the question.....at least for me...my wife may want all of the above after three days cooped up in a cabin w/me

 

Thank you in advance...

[LolaWiz]

This is purly my opinion....

Nassau is a waste of a port to stop at. I have been there and regret getting off the ship. (Literally, there were dead rats on the ground) It is very dirty and even just walking along the main streets of the city right outside the port, i felt unsafe.

I would use the time while docked at nassau to enjoy the emptiness of the ship. take advantage of a good deal on a massage. use the pools.

 

I LOVE St. Martin though. It really is a bautiful island and there is so much culture on both sides.

We found great deals on jewelry to be had there. Also, you MUST stop and try the world fameous Guavaberry Liquoir(spelling i know :D )

They have a charming little shop with as many free samples as you can handle!

We enjoyed the island drive on St. martin. I believe there is an island drive followed by a cruise around part of the island. The boat you take is very nice and there are refreshments as well. we got to see MANY famous peoples yatchs (bill gates was one) that were docked on the island.

Orient Bay beach is fun, lots of great restaurants and bars, but with a little one, i dont know if that is where i would go!

Feel free to take a look at my photos in my signature for pics of both islands from our Oosterdam cruise last year!

Best wishes. We will be departing the Westerdam as you are arriving! :( ;)

[cruisingagainsoon]

Well the first time we were on St. Martain we got engaged but it sounds like you already did that, ;) the second time we rented a Harley :D and went beach hopping but I guess that won't work with a little one. I would suggest Cupecoy as a great beach and probably even with a little one because of the caves you could certainly get out of the sun and still enjoy the beautiful beach.

 

A nice walk around Phillipsburg is always a good time, especially with all of the wonderful jewelry stores.

[Krazy Kruizers]

The first couple of times we visited St Maarten we did the island tour to get acquainted with the island. Then another time we did a bot and bus tour that included both the French and Dutch parts of the islands.

 

Now we just go to Orient Beach.

 

Nassau - isn't too much there. Unless your cruise is spending a whole day there, it isn't worth going over to Atlantis.

[millercat]

In St. Marteen if you happen to be strolling through town.... stop at Kangaroo Court, it is a nice little coffee shop with a small outdoor courtyard in the back that has the most wonderful apple pie! I would have also recommended Everyt'ing Cool for the beach and drinks but I understand that it is no longer there.

 

At Nassau the only thing we ever did that we really enjoyed was going out to the Blue Lagoon by boat and spending the day in the water there, if it is still the same the lagoon would be great for a 15 month old.

 

HTH, ^..^

[wcolucci]

Thanks everyone

 

I've printed out the responses and will bring them home to "the cruise director"

[Krazy Kruizers]

We also did the Blue Lagoon in Nassau a few years ago - really loved that one as well.

[Lanson5]

This is purly my opinion....

Nassau is a waste of a port to stop at. I have been there and regret getting off the ship. (Literally, there were dead rats on the ground) It is very dirty and even just walking along the main streets of the city right outside the port, i felt unsafe.

I would use the time while docked at nassau to enjoy the emptiness of the ship. take advantage of a good deal on a massage. use the pools.

 

I LOVE St. Martin though. It really is a bautiful island and there is so much culture on both sides.

 

 

Lolawiz,

Just curious as to how long since you had been to Nassau? We were just there and like you were thinking about not even getting off the ship. We had been there about 10 years ago and it was not a pleasant visit. However, we were pleasantly surprised last week. We walked around a couple blocks, stopped in several stores and of course Starbucks, and it was quite pleasant. We then took the water taxi over to paradise Island and it really was a lot different than we remembered.

Also agree with you, we too LOVE St Martin

[ekerr19]

This is purly my opinion....

Nassau is a waste of a port to stop at. I have been there and regret getting off the ship. (Literally, there were dead rats on the ground) It is very dirty and even just walking along the main streets of the city right outside the port, i felt unsafe.

I would use the time while docked at nassau to enjoy the emptiness of the ship. take advantage of a good deal on a massage. use the pools.

 

 

WOW! Very surprising! What exactly (and when were you last there) did you not like???? We have travelled the entire Caribbean rather extensively over the past 10 years and have not found Nassau to be all that bad... I wonder if you may have visited during or immediately after a hurricane?

[wcolucci]

I took home the printed thread from last night and showed it to my wife....she had been on a cruise w/ her brother about 5 yrs ago w/ a stop in Nassau and couldn't agree w/Lolawiz more!

 

Looks like an in port spa day for her while I get to walk our 15 month old around the ship.

 

I've only been on two cruises and I'm lucky in that we both try to avoid crowds...like the time we stopped in St Thomas and saw 8!!! cruise ships already there...including some of the 3,000 + passenger barges.

 

I have no qualms w/ hanging out on board on a less occupied ship

 

So I guess if we are lucky enough to get to dock at the pier instead of using the tenders, I may run out for a recon mission early and go from there, but again, worst case scenario being I have to spend the day at the taco bar.......

 

Always open minded, but a good chaise lounge is a great option 2

[LolaWiz]

WOW! Very surprising! What exactly (and when were you last there) did you not like???? We have travelled the entire Caribbean rather extensively over the past 10 years and have not found Nassau to be all that bad... I wonder if you may have visited during or immediately after a hurricane?

we were just there in Jan 2005. The first time we went, i thought it was just because there were a lot of ships in port or something, but last year, is was just as bad as we remembered.

 

I am not dogging it at all, but i just do not prefer it and i tried to give it a second chance and still...nothin.

No, we didnt visit right after any bad hurricanes or anything.

As i said, i have been several places in the world, and i have seen poverty but as i said, there were literally dead run over rats around (on the pier and downdown too)

 

I am sure if I took a cab to paradise island, it would have been better (thats what we did the first time and went to Atlantis) but even then, i have never been bombarted with so many women asking me to get my hair braided. It was not that bad in any other island i have been to.

 

Again, just MY opinion, but truthfully, i can see why HAL is not stopping there anymore.