Snorkeltheworld

I enjoyed seeing your photos and reading your blog. Glad you had such a nice time.

There are really only 2 beaches there and vans and taxis are right when you get off the ship. Tourism is their way of life so they are very assertive about taking you where you want to go and picking you up at the time you ask them to be there. i told them south friars beach and they directed us to an open air vehicle with 4 benches. Yeah, you feel like you are going on an adventure. On the way to the beach they stopped at a very scenic overlook called Timothy's pass and we all got out and took pictures. A little further and they pulled into carambola beach club and they asked people what time they wanted to be picked up. Everyone had different times and that was fine with the driver. When we walked out onto the beach 2 people had just vacated their chairs, so we snatched them up. We got there around noon. There is an umbrella between 2 chairs and if the umbrella is open that means the chairs have been paid for. We were just there at the right time so we didn't have to pay. We were trying to be thrifty with food, so we took a lot of sandwich bags with us and would fill them with food from the breakfast buffet before getting off at the port. We would fill up our bags with fresh fruit, cheese, some trail mix and that was good for us to have in the afternoon. I believe they have food at the carambola beach club, but we didn't go in there except to use bathrooms. The whole island is only about 7 miles, so it is pretty simple. We stayed there until 5, which was 5 hours. I would have loved to be there for a week, but that is not how the cruise works! I was anxious to start snorkeling and did so for a few hours and then had my snack. I hung out on my beach chair the rest of the afternoon just enjoying the beauty. My kids went down to the other side of the beach to see the monkeys. Our driver picked us up at 5 and we headed back to the ship. If I were doing it again I would try to get an earlier start getting there so I could be there longer. That had been my plan but one of my kids disappeared on the cruise ship that morning and we had to wait for her to show up. Yes, I was pissed, but I used the time waiting to have a meaningful conversation with my son. St. Kitts was my favorite port, like a little slice of heaven on earth. Look up some photos online and you will understand. Never found out why our friend got hives at the other beach. Just glad he was ok after getting steroids. Have a wonderful trip. I carried a 32 ounce container of water with me everywhere I went to stay hydrated.

Hi, I was in St. Kitts in December 2017. When we got off the ship there were vans taking people to the beach. Half of us went to South Friars and the other 2 went to Cockleshell. It was $5/person to South Friars, and $7/person to Cockleshell. I chose South Friars because my kids wanted to see the monkeys. Our van was actually an open air vehicle and we had to wait until it filled up to go to the beach. I consider us the lucky ones at South Friars, as the other couple went to Cockleshell to snorkel and he got hives real bad all over his body and had to go to sick bay once back to the ship and be on steroids and iv. In looking at the photos, I think both beaches are pretty. I liked South Friars cuz they drop you off at a beach club and you can use the facilities, chairs, etc. It is a beach club atmosphere or you can walk one way or the other and have more remoteness. Cockleshell photos looked like maybe Nevis Island is closer or something. Either way, you feel like you are in some sort of dreamland.

Hi, I was on the Splendor from Dec. 17 - 26th. There was a huge magnificent midnight buffet on the 23rd that had a dragon ice sculpture and all kinds of arrangements made of fruit. I didn't have my camera with me and would like to know if anyone has photos from that buffet? It was in the Gray Pearl Restaurant.

Yes, this is the lagoon I speak of. You can enter from a little sandy area and stay to the right going out along the rocks. I couldn't believe how beautiful it was! Grand Turks and Antigua paled in comparison.

I snorkeled in Antigua, St. Kitts, and Grand Turk. The very best snorkeling was at St. Kitts. We went to South Friar's beach. The van drops you off at Carambola Beach Club. The views of Nevis are amazing. Now, you need to know where to go to snorkel. You head all the way to the right, past the beach, and there is a rocky lagoon. The waters are calm and I saw glow in the dark fish, luminescent sea life, lobsters, little groups of fish, blue yellow. Rainbow colored fish. I just couldn't get enough of it! Stay along the rocks on the side to see the most sea life. The very best snorkeling, hands down. My kids walked down to the other end of the beach and saw wild monkeys, which made their day.

Hi,

I was in Old San Juan on December 23rd. There are quite a few tourists walking around and it seemed safe to me. I was alone, but trying to walk near other tourists. 2 young adults in my party went on the ATV excursion through Carnival and said it was one of their best days on the cruise. They left at 7:15 a.m. and it took an hour to get to the rainforest. I saw photos from their excursion and it was beautiful and very safe.

my cruise ship will be in Nassau Bahamas on Sunday and looking for prettiest beach to spend the day.

Cruising to San Juan next week. Would like to know if the train is running from there to El Escambron Beach or is it better to take a taxi. I have never been there before and there are 5 of us. Thanks!

Thanks for your reply Pellaz. I will let you know how the snorkeling went when I get back. I hope to do a snorkeling excursion that you can get there on the beach to the left. If not, I will just snorkel off shore and hope for some colorful fish!

Hi, My Carnival cruise ship is stopping at Grand Turks on Dec. 24th and want to know if anyone has snorkeled there since the hurricanes? What is the best snorkel tour? I have heard Bight Reef (Coral Gardens) is good. Any opinions or advice greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Has anyone been to Prickly Pear Island? Would you recommend it? Is it a good place for snorkeling?

Thank you Mela. When did you snorkel Stuart's cove?

Going to Antigua Dec. 21st on Carnival. Looking for best place to snorkel and see colorful coral or pretty fish.

Hi!

We are considering either Cable Beach or going to Paradise Island on the Ferry. The beach there is called Cabbage Beach and is supposed to be beautiful, but there is a bad rip tide in the water.

We are looking at Cockleshell Beach or South Friar's Bay in St. Kitts. Snorkeling is supposed to be good at Cockleshell. There is also a place called Carambola Beach Club that has Shipwreck Beach Bar with hammocks and White House Bay which has sheltered waters which are good for snorkeling.

For Grand Turks I have read that it is cool to see the "wall" where the ocean drops off dramatically. There are excursions that go there, but I think that is more for divers.

Which excursion are you taking in Antigua?

Hi Libbiroed!

Nice to hear from someone who is going to be on the same cruise as us! Perhaps we can combine efforts on finding the best beaches and snorkeling. We are a party of 5 and are into going to the nicest beaches that are free or low cost snorkeling. I am new to cruising and also new to Cruise Critic and not sure how to contact you privately. Perhaps we can connect and share beach and snorkeling info. I have been researching beaches and have an idea of what would be good, but you never know until you get there!

:)

My cruise is dec. 17-26. I will let you know how the full face snorkel works out. I ordered it from Amazon and it has a fold down top for easy travel and you can attach a go pro on it.

Thank you for your helpful reply 2Wheelin. I will plan to go to Old San Juan and spend some money there and donate some to the churches. God bless!

Hi, My ship is going to be in port in Nassau for one day here in December and I am looking for the best beach/area to snorkel. I have my own snorkel mask. Thank you in advance for any advice! :)

Which beach at St. Kitts?

I am new here. How do I do this?

Is Carnival going to San Juan currently and what is good to do there since the hurricanes?:D

cruising on carnival on dec. 17 and looking for best places to snorkel or snorkel excursions at these ports. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Would love to see some colorful coral and fish. I already bought my full face snorkel. :)

Thank you for the tip on St. Kitts. I couldn't find Reggae Beach, but found Reggae Beach Bar on Cockleshell Beach. Is that the beach where you snorkeled? How long ago were you there? I cannot find any info on snorkeling and I even got a full face snorkel and want to use it. If you get any tips on good places to snorkel, please pass them on to me. Good Day!

:)

Cruising on Carnival Splendor this month, Dec. 2017, and want to find best beaches or excursions for snorkeling in these 5 locations: Bahamas, Antigua, St. Kitts, Grand Turks, San Juan. Thank you.