SpaceCowboy9

Did a Bernard's Tour two weeks ago - they are awesome!  I think I've taken them four times and my DW will take her seventh next week - agree with poster above -- many offerings, reasonable rates - & lots of rum punch (if that's your thing)

Attached is a trail map we received June 22, 2019.  My DW talked to a ranger and they said a lot of the vegetation was knocked down and some invasive species are taking over, they are trying to do what they can.  The place is still beautiful - this was our first time, so I don't know what it looked like before.

We went to Juan Diego Falls and the tower.

If you go on your own, get there early - when the park gets a lot of cars, the rangers gate the park and only let in a car when another car leaves.  If you are part of a tour, you should be OK - they let tour buses in.

Stayed at Hotel Miramar last year and did an AirBNB last month - would recommend both. The AirBNB was two blocks from the cruise port (in Old Town).  The Hotel Miramar has a rooftop deck.

Depends on what you like and you have to look at 4,300 passengers vs. 2,100 on the Fascination - as you can see from my signature, I've sailed the Fascination twice.  Yes, the ship is older, but it has lots to offer and it just had an upgrade.  Plus with the lower passengers, you don't have to wait for much and it has a more intimate feel.  Another plus is the sides and the back of the ship are open air on the Lido deck which is great on both sea and port days - great views, ocean air

I've only been on one Royal Caribbean (RC) cruise, so take this for what it's worth, I think the food is better on Carnival and the employees are much more friendlier on Carnival also.

Another thing to consider is the RC goes out of the Pan American pier - there's nothing there - it was a huge disappointment for us when we took Adventure of the Seas out of San Juan.  The Fascination docks in Old Town, you step off the ship and there's great food, shopping, and history without taking a taxi.

Either way, it will be a great trip!

If you are not beach people, there's a nice museum that talks about the salt production (Salt House), from there, you can walk to Her Majesty's Prison.  At the cruise port, there's "Splashdown Grand Turk" it's an open air museum dedicated to the astronaut John Glenn - he splashed down near Grand Turk on one of the Mercury missions (though shouldn't take more than 15 minutes)

Original poster (CruzerDeb) - how was the trip? - we have that same cabin in a couple weeks.

you could spend three hours at the beach and have time to spare coming back

Back in August 2017, we arrived at 10:30 and they asked us to come back at 11:15.

They really don't have strict check in times, but if you get there first thing, they are usually quick at getting you processed.

Here's our review of that trip:

https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=589177

Thanks all - I thought $25 seemed like a lot. Forgot about the EC/$ difference.

anyone done the walk to Pinneys Beach?

We are looking at taking the ferry over to Nevis and have a couple of questions.

Is it really $25 each way on the ferry?

Anyone done the walk from the Charlestown ferry pier to Pinneys Beach?  (can you cut through to the beach at the Pinneys Beach Hotel?)

I've read there's not much there for snorkeling - anyone confirm that?

We are looking forward to trying the Killer Bees at Sunshines.

Thanks!

I'd limit it to water.  Soda or adult beverages -- put a couple bucks in the local economy.

It's always fun to try a local brew or bottled beverage - not sure that Grand Turk has local stuff, but you can always get Caribbean made.

On 5/3/2019 at 5:40 AM, richmke said:

 

Where do you catch the dollar bus to Red Hook?

It's an easy 10 minute walk from Havensight.

The dollar bus stop is on the opposite side of the street from the Pueblo Super Market:

https://goo.gl/maps/PbL71ziHyM4EFutN6

There was a clothing store there called Rainbow, but it closed (not sure if the signage is still the same).

I don't believe there is anything on that side that says "Bus Stop" -- it just stops there.

In fact, this street view is better, and it shows a bus at the pick-up place (on the left).

https://goo.gl/maps/Eviz8V2cbnnXDnbr6

(There's an actual bus stop on the Pueblo side, but if you pick it up there, it will take you into Charlotte Amalie)

Should cost you $2 per person to get over to Red Hook.  ($1 to Tutu and $1 the rest of the way to Red Hook)

To get off, nothing really says "Red Hook," watch for the signs for the ferry terminal.  You could always look on google street view.

The route is a big loop, so when in Red Hook, remember where you got off.  Pick up the dollar bus at the same place (going in the same direction as before) -- it loops back around to the Rainbow/Pueblo ($2 per person to return) (you can always ask the driver if they are going to Red Hook/Havensight)

Have exact change ready.  OK to tip, but sometimes they don't take it.

It helps to say Good Morning/Afternoon to the locals.

We've done that - see pix in my signature.  We took the dollar bus to Red Hook and caught the ferry to St John, taxi to Trunk Bay.  You could spend a couple of hours and still have time to spare.  We spent about an hour & a half, took a taxi back to Cruz Bay and had lunch before catching the ferry back to Red Hook/St Thomas & dollar bus back to the cruise port.

We were in port from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.  We were the first off the ship and I think we were on the beach before 8:30 am.  I think we were back aboard ship by 1:00ish - would have stayed out longer, but had to meet up with family & you don't want to cut it close.

We stayed one night last spring.  It's older, but clean and has had a face lift.  They have a bar on the ground floor and a rooftop deck with great views.  It's convenient to restaurants and it's on the bus line - costs about 50 cents to get to Old Town.

Good for one night.

I would also recommend Café Manolin - ate there for breakfast

We stayed at the Miramar Hotel San Juan (March 2018), it's older, but clean.  They have a rooftop lounge which has great views.  They are a away from the port, but right on the bus line -- costs about 50 cents to get to Old Town.

We're doing an AirBNB in June for two nights, right in Old Town, a couple blocks from the cruise port

not all cabins had metal walls -- we had that too.  but the ceiling and the door jams are metal, we had more than enough places to hang stuff. 

Love Old San Juan - the Bacardi trip is as described above - you can't beat 50 cents for a ferry ride.

I did it once on another Carnival ship - you can go off any time you want, after your disembark number is called - if you need to get off earlier, you may be able to switch to an earlier number at guest services.

Last time in St. Kitts, we took a tour from Sir Walter - it was $40 pp.  Lots or rum punch, if that's your thing.  They were just hanging around the cruise terminal with a board, like others, and they had a safari bus/truck with 4-5 rows of bench seats.  We made a quick stop at the Central Forest Reserve and then on to Brimstone Hill.  It was an extra fee to get into Brimstone, maybe $10.  Made a couple of other stops as well.  It was a nice tour and would do it again.

Trying to fit in the Mount Gay Run tour.  We'd show up to the Boatyard at around 10:30, what are the odds of getting on a snorkel trip?

how far out is the shipwreck?  could we swim out if we missed the Boatyard trip?

No worries... Thanks - going to the Bahamas next summer - will check it out

We stayed at the Miramar (606 Ponce de Leon Ave) one night before our cruise starting March 31. I took whatever I could when my first hotel was cancelled in November. It is an independent, but what a great place. It's older, but has received a face lift. Everything was clean and electric & elevators worked. They have a rooftop deck, I did not do my homework and only found it the next morning. It would have been great to spend part of the evening up there, but that's on me. They also have a small fitness center. One of the highlights was the hotel is only about 30 yards from a bus stop. For 75¢ each way (exact change), we were able to spend the morning in Old Town. It was surreal in Old Town on a Saturday morning with no cruise passengers, it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. Definitely recommend and we'll be staying there on any trips out of San Juan in the future.

Got back Saturday - did the afternoon and it was great.

Ulf told me that it is their policy that if they miss getting you back on time, they will pay to get you to your next destination.

By far, the best service I've ever had on a snorkel trip. You can always show up for the morning session and see of someone doesn't show up.

just got off Adventure & would agree with most of these posts - wow, it's bad