Empress of the sea jan 16th cruise

[vlnovak]

I now have some time to finish the review I started. We arrived 3 days early as we wanted to tour the other side of the island. We arrived at the airpot at 3 and drove to Ponce by 5. Stayed at the holiday Inn and it was a good value for $105 a night booked on Hotwire as was the car. Paid $95 for 3 days. Driving is hard to get out of san juan but once you do that the rest of the Island is easy. We left in the morning from Ponce and headed to Dorado. Spent the night then on to san jaun and stayed at the Coral Princess, very nice.

 

Arrived on the ship at 12 and were let in at 12:30. went to lunch as you could not get into room until 1. Rooms are small but fine. not much drawer space, 3 large 3 small. had a js 8686 with a larger balcony but there was some noise when docking and some soot form the ship. also room has no sitting area or couch. this is also true of room 9686 and the 7686 and the other ones on the 7th floor. also the 7th ones had the same size balcony as the side js. which are nicer in that there is a couch and more bedroom room.

 

the first island was St martins. we hired a taxie and went to Oyster pond. nice beach with chairs and bar and good snorkeling.

next day we went to St Kitts. hired Neal nicholls at nealtaxiservie@hotmail.com. Charged $20 pp( we had 12) form 1-4:30. Went to Turtle Cove and then to a beach for snorkeling, we stopped and neal got us a cooler and we filled it with drinks which we took to the beach. nice snorkeling and chairs.

Antigua was the next stop for us and we hired "move over" van. we went to the ship yard and then over to swim at a resort that he knew the owner. nice resturant and beach.

Next day we went to St Lucic. took a cab to St Lucian resort by spinnakers. The ride is $5 each way. spent the day there too many waves for snorkeling but good swimming.

On Barbados we had rented the Silvermoon for the day and we really enjoyed the trutle swim and the swim by Hole town. the water was stired up due to 10 foot waves the preceding days however I would do this again. Cost $85pp including lunch and all you wished to drink.

 

I think we were at sea then over to Isla Margarita. Here we walked off the ship to the beach and spent the day having one of the best massages. go the the booth at the end of the chair area. cost $25 for half hr. also others at differnt prices. you need to go to the beach early, by 11 as chairs are few and far between. the first beach yoy come to is better than the second. more clean and jet skies. second one has a nice bar and is more shollow. this is a good place to buy stuff to take home that is not junky. nice pearls for $10 and coffee also nice jewerly.

Next day to Curacho were we rented a very nice tour bus for $25pp.http://www.Blueangeltours.com. we had 12 people here again. margrita was our guide and she was very good. Went to the north side of the island to the nat park, westpoint. $1.50 to get in and well worth it. next stop was a beautiful beach , then onto palya Puerto Maria. This was a great palce to snorkel or dive. $3 park charge which they gave you a coke with your ticket. Dive shop right there with equipment. nice chairs and food. the park had sunken clay jars to attract the fish and all was clean and clear.

 

Next to Aruba and the Jeep tour. do not do this if you are older or have big boobs or joint pain. very rocky. anyway went to the light house then to the desert then to baby beach where it was rainning. so we did not spend much time here. Then on to palm. the only problem here is that there are few parking places for the jeep. Oh yes, you can rent the jeeps or what ever you need at the pier. about the same price. also bigger vans. driving is easy.

after that we took the jeeps back. Went out to a few bars and casinos. yes Carlos and charlies is open. not too crowded. next day sail day. I may have left out an Island. If you have any questions, email me at vlnovak@hotmail.com pictures are at http://www.community.webshots.com/user/vlnovak