Southendweather

OK, after I didn't get any responses to my post before our cruise, we went to Grand Turk last week & searched around for the now infamous Island Tram Tours. We were directed to the pier beach by the tourist information desk to a lady with a yellow umbrella. She didn't get there for a while after we did and told us the tram cost was $25. She called over the driver/guide to give us details. He said that because it is slow season, they were probably only going to run one tram & they would give everyone some time at each stop to look around. The last stop was going to be Governor's Beach. If you wanted to stay at the beach for awhile, you would have to find your way back by taxi (at your own expense) or walk. That didn't sound very appealing to us. We checked with the Grand Turk Express tour booth & they described what sounded to us like a true Hop On Hop Off Bus that made four stops (downtown Cockburn, the lighthouse, Salt Museum & Governor's Beach) with another bus coming every 30 minutes for $19. We took it, and it was just what we were hoping it would be. By the time we made it to the Salt Museum, it was closed. But otherwise, we were pleased.

Thanks JW, I've also spent some time trying to get a grip on this one. I've made a note of the 'Grand Turk Express Booth' to look for. I assume they are completely seperate to the Island Trams people?

Many thanks

Keith (Southend, UK)

We took the hop on hop off tour of the island, it stopped at several places on the island, including the light house, and the drivers are really nice and give you some neat information along the way.

 

After that we had lunch and drinks at Jack's Shack and rented some snorkel gear from the hut and chilled on the beach for the afternoon.

 

White beaches with beautiful water!

I'm curious, is this a regualr service "hop on hop off" ? If so where does it go (circuit), how much is it and how reguarly does it run?

Thanks Keith (Southend, UK)

I just checked my map as something rang alarm bells. A couple of years back, again on the Ventura, a couple of English people got muged turning left from the port along an area called 'Cheap side', I seem to recall a knife was involved. Ironically the husband was an ex uk cop, we got talking with them while having afternoon tea on the ship. So I wouldn't advise walking to the Rum place on the H1 road.

It is for this reason I asked about the safety from Carlisle Bay back to the port as my wife isn't keen.

Keith (Southend, UK)

That's sort of answered my question about walking from St Anns Fort back to the cruise terminal along Carlisle Bay. I reckoned about an hour, but would probably have a drink at the Boatyard then leisurely walk through the touristy bit of Bridgetown. From a safety point of view I was just concerned about the bit from the beach back to the town over the waterway. It think along the H7 road. Am I warrying about nothing?

Thanks

Keith (Southend)

That's useful to know as we booked last minute saver fare. We have been with P&O a couple of times before but this is the first time when we gamble on room and dining (freedom or set). Not going to get to stressed about it as we're going for the climate and the locations mainly. The room is just somewhere to get your head down and the food there are many options.

I hope they don't do that to my booking in the White Room as it's my Birthday. That wouldn't be a good start!

I have booked the one that ends up at The Crane Hotel as I particularily wanted to see Crane Bay. Our flight is 8pm so wondered what time we are likely to be dropped at the airport. We will be doing this on January 30th 2015. Don't like to think about ti as it will mean the end of our cruise :-(

I was thinking we could get a taxi from the port to St Anns Fort / Garrison Savanna area to have a good look around there, lighthouse etc. Then head back along Carlisle Bay and back across the Careenage on the H7 road. I reckon it's aboout 2 to 2 1/2 miles. Is this route a safe route to walk? Obviously we are talking about day time hours. This would be Saturday 17th January 2015, my birthday, as we have our first full day in port on the Ventura.

Also any recommendations or good place for a beach stop for a drink etc.

Many thanks

Keith (Southend)

I have previously used my Net Book on Oceana with out any problem from our room. Can you get WiFi in your room on the Ventura, we don't know what room, other than an outside room.

The biggest drawback I found was clock watching, especially when it's running slowly. If it were quicker you could do everything in half the time. I often found myself downloading something then disconnecting from the internet, a lot of faffing of course. The 250+30 minutes for £62.50, although expensive, is still the same cost as it was two years ago. I know finding a hotspot in the port is an option, but to be honest I'd rather spend my time exploring the island(s).

Keith (Southend)

I have trawled a number of the tours available, also waiting for a reply from 'emanueltours' who have a section 'customised island tour'. We did a 1/2 day tour a couple of years back. I guess they also drive on the left like here in the UK :)

I have a good map and have read some of the places I would like to visit, but wonder whether doing all this in one day is a big ask? Also doing it this way round it would get the Bridgetown traffic out the way at the start.

Start Cruise terminal

*St. Ann's Fort (Garrison)

*Crane beach

*Bottom bay beach

*Morgan Lewis Wind Mill

*Cherry tree hill

*North Point

*Harrison’s Cave

*Welchman Hall Gully

Finish Cruise terminal

I guess would need to return to Ventura before 5pm, don't know what time it sails.

Keith (Southend, UK)

It dawned on me another reason for this. It buys P&O time *if* there are delays with all the flights coming in, a 12 hour flight delay would just mean the ship wouldn't leave port until the next morning (18th). Hopefully no problems like this.

Yes, the northern hemisphere winter is the best time for the Caribbean, less rain, less humid, no hurricane risk and lovely sunshine. It's around 30°C (86°f) max, 25°C (77°f) min atm.

They seem to do the trip around the whole island I would like to do, as the P&O excursions are limited in my view. The one I like is:

Beautiful Barbados, Highlights, Sightseeing and Lunch Excursion (S1634)

Basically it goes around the island from top to bottom and includes lunch.

Now Googleling I wonder how reliable they are, although the ones being critisised were not Barbados. Has anyone used them and are they safe to go with? You pay a deposit (15%) and the balance when joining the tour. Total $80 per person.

Any advice would be welcome or if a similar trip is done by another operator that can be recomended.

Thanks

Keith (Southend)

Just looking at the excursions on my Personaliser for January 21st 2015 and windjammer beach club is in the list.. £105 per person, 6 hours. Checking my map it lies just to north of Bois D'Orange. Seems a lot to me for 5 hours on the beach? "Throughout your stay, a buffet lunch and unlimited beverages will be available."

We're easily pleased, you can always find fault if you look for it. We just feel lucky to be able to enjoy the experience and see lots of places, be well wined and dined. If you go in with that spirit it ends to rub off on the people you're with.

Must admit we've just booked for a January cruise, so don't even know what dining we've got, would prefer freedom, but hey ho, not going to lose any sleep over it. What we've saved can be spent on the trips etc. In fact I've booked the White Room for my Birthday - happy days.

I think this will also be the same for the Azura the previous week as I think they do the same ports, but it leaves Barbados on the 17th, I assume in the evening, then a sea day before arriving at St Vincent on the 19th. My question is where does it go as the distance between Barbadod and St Vincent could easily be covered overnight, does it just drift in the ocean for a day saving fuel? :confused: