tara1717

On 3/8/2019 at 3:53 PM, juneholaday said:

I'd like to weigh in on this topic for just a moment. We just cruised last week on the NCL Dawn and we booked COSOL tours in St Lucia. I have been cruising for 20 years and this Cosol Tour was absolutely one of the best tours I have ever been on in any country.  Not liking the price gouging by the cruiselines on shore ex, we usually hire a taxi when we arrive in port and have them take us wherever we like. However, this being my first time to St. Lucia I didn't want to miss anything. Cosol offered all the highlights I wanted to hit (as opposed to the cruiseline that offered only some of the sites. 

 

These guys are very organized. Each van holds about 12-15 passengers and we had 3 vans in our "caravan". We were going right from the start at 8:30am. We drove through Castries to get out to the countryside. Our guide YELLOW BIRD (brother of Cosol) was fantastic.  He tells the history of the island as we are driving through the city into the countryside. He answered every question we asked. Stopping for beautiful overlooks, we could get out and take some pix.  Once in the countryside, the real fun begins and the feasting. The food on this tour was amazing. I was never hungry or thirsty. First stop the banana plantation. After a quick history lesson on bananas and how they grow, we sampled banana ketchup and banana bbq sauce on banana chips. Yum. Then we each got a whole banana to try. We washed it all down with a few homemade spiced rum shots - wow 10 am here I come!

 

Then on to see two different fishing villages. In the second village we stop for breakfast. All 3 vans together was less than 50 people and did not feel crowded at all. In fact most of the time we were getting out on the shoulder of the road for photos and we were not a big group. I won't spoil it for you but breakfast was an amazing variety of local foods all cooking right there. One of the vans had the "mobile bar" in the trunk. Water, beer, rum punch, soda, juices. As many as you wanted. I won't detail too much more because you should be surprised and delighted as we were. The water taxi to the beach between the Pitons was quick and the beach is wonderful. Be sure to swim on the hotel side for softer sand. You just cannot use any hotel chairs. We had a full hour there - lovely.

 

Back on the water taxi and on to the volcano. We only had 3 of our van who wanted to go into the mud baths so YellowBird set them up where they needed to go. Then he drove the rest of us up the hill to hear a guide speak about the volcano and sulfur springs. That was not part of it, but he gave us a great tour so we didnt just sit around waiting for the mud pit folks. And he paid all the entrance fees. Then we picked up the mud folks and headed to the waterfall. So beautiful. After working up an appetite we stopped for hot baked bread and cheese. Loving the homemade food on this trip plus of course more  drinks from the mobile bar. 

 

We started to head back to Castries. On the way a car came roaring up beside us honking their horn. Yellow bird got out to meet a woman. He came back into the van with baggies of homemade cookies for the ride back! This tour was absolutely the best bang for your buck and I feel like I got to see the whole island. Oh, and did I mention that it rained for most of the day? Anyone on that tour would agree with me. We were having so much fun that the rain didnt even matter. If you're on the fence, just go for it. You won't forgive yourself if you miss out. Only warning I have, take a dramamine before getting in the van. The hairpin turns are numerous. Ask your driver to show you the one stretch of straight road on the island... it's pretty funny. Have fun!

Thank you for the great review! I booked this tour a couple of weeks ago for our upcoming cruise. I am so excited! A couple of questions:

1) I wear a patch when we cruise. Do you think that would be enough, or should I take something for the driving as well?

2) I am guessing my husband would choose not to the mud pit, but we haven’t actually talked about it. Did you hear any comments from the folks who did do that part?

I have read really great reviews on Trip Advisor and an excursion site for the Perfume tour. Based on those reviews, I booked it! Sorry that I can’t give first hand comments ... yet!

26 minutes ago, LorraineP said:

Yes on Anthem 1/27 cruise then staying on Anthem on 2/7 for B2B. Gail made an arrangement for us to be picked up 2/1 @ 10:00AM by Abbott’s jewelry. What time are you being picked up?

Same location, but at 9:30. I think Gail (or someone on one of the boards) suggested that we arrange with our driver a return pick-up time. Do you, or anyone who has been before, have a suggested time for that?

We are doing the Pay As You Go. Are you doing the All Inclusive?
 

A B2B would be so nice! 

On 1/9/2020 at 3:27 PM, LorraineP said:

Thank you. Booked Beach Limerz for 2/1. Great communication with Gail. Told her you recommended. 

Are you on the Anthem? We are booked there that day too!

Thank you so much twangster!

Hi,

I am going on the 11-day Anthem cruise coming up later this month, and trying to plan out which nights I might like to do specialty dining. I can see the main dining menus for days 1-7 on the app, but I am looking to see them for days 8-11. Anyone have them, or could direct me somewhere to see them?

I would love the walking tour as well. taralowes@ sympatico dot ca

27 minutes ago, blue_water said:

For timing yes you should easily make the 9AM Red Hook ferry, with luck the 8AM ferry, and we would take the 1PM return from Cruz to be safe.

If a busy port day Trunk will be crowded and we'd taxi to Cinnamon...

Thanks blue water! Do you think taking the dinghy to Honeymoon Bay beach from Cruz Bay might be a better alternative? 

Hi,

We will be stopping at St Thomas in November from 7-4. We will be on RC’s Allure, and it sounds  like we will be at the Crown Bay pier. I want to go to St John that day, and I realize it will have to be a short visit.

If we arrive at 7am, what time are we realistically likely to get off the ship? Are we likely able to get a taxi from Crown Bay to Red Hook to catch the 9am ferry?

There is one particular shop I want to visit in Cruz Bay. What time do shops typically open during the week?

I would like to visit one beach (snorkelling is NOT necessary). Is Trunk Bay the best? How long do taxi rides take to the beaches? Are taxis usually available when we go to leave? 

If the ship departs at 4 (all aboard at 3:30?), would you say we should catch the 1pm ferry, or earlier?

With thanks for any help!