Caribbean Ports on Sea Princess

[Boltonmusicman]

First time cruiser returned from Sea Princess Caribbean 31st Jan to 14 Feb.

Some useful info hopefully.

Firstly get a local map from the Tourist Office, usually close to ship.

Grand Cayman.

Not particularly pretty, a bit flat. 7 mile Beach beautiful. Took taxi $4 one way and walked back to ship. Easy and took about 1 hour strolling.

Aruba.

Oranjestaad very pretty, worth looking round. Some expensive shops. Took independent trip for 1 hour at $10pp . Went to lighthouse and to beautiful Eagle Beach.

Bonaire.

Not as commercial as Aruba. Did independent tour to National Park for 2 hours £25pp. Recommend you book these independent tours as soon as your disembark. We waited until after lunch and there was less choice and you have to wait until the taxi has sufficient clients.. Good trip. Saw flamingos, wild boar, birds, driver very informative. Pretty colourful fish in harbour near ship.

Isla Margarita.

Large Island with green and mountainous interior. Decided on Princess tour here as dock is miles from anywhere. There is a small beach easily reached from ship. Not the best beach but acceptable. 5 hour trip took us to the National Park with a Marine Biologist guide. Very informative. Went to Marine Museum, wildlife park and boat trip on Mangrove Swamps. Did not see independent operators here.

Grenada.

One of our favourite islands. Green and mountainous. Famous a spice island. Lots to buy. Easy water taxi trip to Great Anse Beach only $4pp each way. Regular taxi costs $15pp each way. Great Beach.

Barbados.

Another favourite. Went on independent tour $20 for 2 hours. Informative guide. Saw lots of sugar cane plantations and local history.

Dominica.

Another favourite. Volcanic Island with 365 rivers. Not good for beaches. Mountainous, rain forest interior. Had $20pp 2 hour trip with independent guide to rain forest, hot springs and water falls. Need good shoes here and perhaps a light waterproof as it rains every day in the mountains but does not last long. Also walked to Botanical Gardens just 10 min from ship. Very interesting.

Antigua.

Get a local map from the Tourist Office near port

Another great place. Caught local bus Number 17 from West Bus Station to Nelsons Dockyard. $3 for both of us each way. About a half hour ride. The best bargain of the week. Bus stops outside dockyard about every 15min. Lots of interest here. Spent about 3hr and had a walk to headland. $5 each admission.

St Maarten.

Beach very handy to walk from ship or take water taxi.

St Thomas.

Not keen on this especially as it was not on our original schedule. Had to get out of bed at dawn to go through USA immigration procedures. Not happy about this.

Town mainly about Jewellery and Watches. Cable car at Paradise Peak a rip off at $21 pp. Did not bother as it was only a small hill.

If you go here better to book Cruise Line Tour. No local beach.

Samana(Dominican Republic)

Quite pretty but not much there. Hassled a lot by children selling shells and shoe shine and local taxis.

Went on independent whale watching ride with Amilka Tours. $45 pp for about 2 hours. Given lifejackets and seem a reputable firm. Saw quite a few whales but be prepared for a white knuckle ride to the whale area, the a lot of wallowing about in high seas when the whales are spotted. Don’t eat before this trip.

Montego Bay.

Book a Cruise Line tour here. Not safe to walk about. Guards everywhere round the port.

[davidnsteph]

Boltonmusicman,

 

Thanks for posting your review of these Caribbean ports. We've been to most of these ports, except for Samana and Montego Bay. The whale watching in Samana sounds interesting! We would also be interested in the mangrove boat tour in Isla Margarita.

 

We have looked seriously into taking this cruise on the Sea Princess, but there are very few flights from the US to Barbados. Also, Princess wouldn't sell us the cruise roundtrip from Montego Bay, which is much easier to reach from the US. Hopefully this will change in the future, because we loved the Sea Princess.

 

Thanks again for posting.

 

DavidnSteph

[gooch47]

Nice summary!

 

The only thing that I'd mention is that about half the shops were closed on Grand Cayman since we visited on Sunday.

[Caribbean Sunsets]

Thanks for the information. Great islands!

[vanessa5076]

Hi Boltonmusicman

 

I hope you don't mind that I added you as a friend, but we are due to sail on the Sea Princess this time next year and we are from Bolton too.

 

Thanks for this post, any chance you could let us know which company you used for the whale watching?

[Standfan]

Thanks for the port information. We sail on the Sea Princess on April 4th and visit some of the same places. By any chance did you save your Patters and is it possible for you to post them? There are many of us who would love to read a bit more about the ship and things planned on board before we sail.

[caribill]

any chance you could let us know which company you used for the whale watching?

 

 

Per her posting: Went on independent whale watching ride with Amilka Tours.

[aloisia]

Thanks for posting! We're on the Sea Princess early May.

I'd also love to read the Patters.:)

[cruiser1177]

Hi Boltonmusicman,

 

Great info...

 

I wondered if you could tell me how your flights were from the UK.

We're on the SP later this yr and flying from Gatwick to Barbados. Did you fly with Thomas Cook by any chance? If so how were the flights?

 

Thanks

[Shogun]

Hi Boltonmusicman,

 

Thanks for posting,

 

As to Isla Margarita., have been many times and not thought that much about it,

OK Caribbean Island so can not be bad,

However on last trip took all day jeep tour, wow, nice rain forest saw furry little things, into capital very nice old churchs, then on a bit further and what a great

hotel and beech strip, big wide beech clean sand nice locals not hundreds of folks trying to sell you things.

As to Jamica,

We took a ships tour again nice island and nice people,

however we had police ever where we went. did not feel unsafe just sorry that we ahd to have police with us,

when we went to the shops they were in a closed off area so locals could not get in.

As to Thomas Cook flights better than first Choice not as good as Virgin.

yours Shogun