HarpHarp

We had an issue with inappropriate language from the crew pool area, during the day, and as we had attended the Cruise Critic Meet and Greet we had the card with all the officers handy phone numbers. One call to the HD, and within 5 minutes, silence, attend the Meet and Greet, get the card, just don't call him/her at 3am lol.

If you don't get any satisfaction from guest services, that may be the perfect time to call:rolleyes:

Security should take care of these problems. It's not like the passengers have to take a vow of silence. They can drink, party, dance until the wee hours at many venues.

At night, it is reasonable to assume that you should be able to sleep in your cabin. It is not the casino or dance club.

I simply don't understand. There are Cruise for the elderly, from what I've heard some of the more expensive lines tend to only attract an older crowd. If you are sensitive about noise why not Cruise those lines? Yes you have the right to Cruise whichever one you want but Norwegian is now purposely attracting that younger crowd so there's going to be a lot more noise and partying on those ships.

There are plenty of places on the ship to party all night long. Your cabin is not one of them. Your neighbor my have small children or an early diving excursion so they picked a cabin that should be relatively quiet. Why should you interfere with what they want to do on THEIR cruise, when you could easily take your partying to a pubic area?

This is pretty much impossible--you run the risk of missing your departure unless you charter a boat to take you to both.

On the contrary, it is very easy.

You should be able to make the 9am ferry to Red Hook & be at Cruz Bay by 9:30 at the latest. There you will find many taxis to take you to Trunk Bay. Maho is less than 2 miles from Trunk Bay Past Cinnamon Bay, yes the one Kenny Chesney sang about, certainly worth a stop. You should be able to get a taxi there from Trunk & be at Maho in less than 10 minutes. Taxi back to the ferry in Cruz Bay so that you get the ferry at least 2 hours before your departure, so if you have a 5pm departure, that would give you 5+ hours on St John. As a former St. Thomas resident, I can tell you the ferries are very reliable.

You don't say how many are in your party, but you also may want to consider renting a jeep, since taxi rates are by the person. It is a very easy drive along North Shore Rd. to both those beaches. Just remember you will be driving on the left. Take your time. The island is very small & 68% national park.

Here is a link for more info:

http://www.visitusvi.com/stjohn/travel_transportation

Just throwing it out there as someone who has probably been one of the loudmouths at one point in time or another...If they are up until 3AM still drinking, they more than likely won't be waking up at 7am no matter how much noise you make.

Oh I don't know, my husband's a bagpiper. They've been known to wake the dead :D

Osheehan's has a great breakfast menu. The omelets and the hash were very good. The coffee is the best.

Also had a breakfast sandwich at the Uptown Grill

Here is what I posted on the other thread bout this. St. Croix is being proactive since they know what can happen if the cruise ships stop coming.

"Baltimore, with a population of about 10 times St Croix has had 227 homicides in 2015 compared to St Croix's 9, or about 1/2 the per capita rate. This took place at night & well away from the pier. You are much more likely to run into crime in Miami before you get on the ship.

St. Croix spent 40 years trying to recover from the shock of the Fountain Valley Massacre in 1972. Cruise ships did not port, except very occasionally, when I was living there, hurting the economy. The crime rate is of great concern because of this, plus this seems to be gang related, so time to get very serious. They don't want another incident like the one in St. Martin.

This is a lovely island with wonderful people. Please get off the ship & find out what this island has to offer"

Very good info. There are 3 of us. One is our mom that's in her 70's. Looking at touring the Island for places like 99 steps, BlackBreaded Castle, Drake's Seat and Mountain Top. We are on RCCL Freedom of the Seas coming into Charlotte Amalie which I believe is Havensight. Maybe with us coming in late in the day at 12:00pm we may be able to fine a taxi driver willing to drive just us to just these spots. Is Biz Rentals a good company?

The regular island tour would cover all those spots, except maybe 99 steps.

These folks have a history tour that does go in town

http://www.islandtoursvi.com/tours.html

Don't know about Biz.

I think we need a godfather! I nominate Jimmy Buffet & I's like him to sing on the inaugural Caribbean cruise:D

A couple of cautions from a former St Thomas resident.

You will be driving on the left with a left hand drive car, driver's shoulder against the road edge instead of the centerline. Roads are generally narrow, steep or curvy or some combination of the three. The driver will see very little while driving.

Where are you intending to go? Parking is at a premium some places, so if you want to shop or see any of the attractions in Charlotte Amalie, get there another way. If you just want to go to one of the beaches on west or north sides, renting a car is fine. it would be cheaper than other options that don't involve a walk.

If you have a group & want to save on taxi fares, consider making arrangements with one of the drivers for a tour.

There are 2 ports in St Thomas. Biz rentals is at Havensight, not Crown Bay

The shade is important for us, what does the cab fare run? Is "group" cab loading available- cheaper? Good availability of cabs for return?

Taxi fare is listed @$10 per person each way. There may be a small discount for more than 1. Plenty of taxis available for return.

Former St Thomas resident here.

I'd head to Sapphire or Coki. Both have chair rental & food. Snorkeling is fine both places & Sapphire has a lot of natural shade. Here's a web cam

http://www.sapphireinthesun.com/

Emerald at Lindbergh bay is also nice. Magens gets very crowded.

Tortola:

If you don't want to go to the Baths on Virgin Gorda, Cane Garden Bay & Brewer's Bay. CGB is more popular with more food & drink choices. Brew's is good for snorkeling.

Coki really is a pretty easy 20 minute drive in St Thomas and Budget at the pier has cars for $42 per day. You do need to remember that you will be driving on the left.

The safari buses are cheap $2 per person, but they require a walk at both ends & time can become a problem.

I lived in St Thomas & would hesitate to suggest that people drive even as far as Magens Bay & certainly don't head up Crown Mt or over to the west end if you feel uncomfortable., but Coki is doable, especially to save over 50% of the cost.

Approx what would the taxi cost be? And is it easy to get a cab back to the ship?

The listed fare is $10 per person each way. Very easy to get a taxi back to the ship.It is also right next to Coral World so the OP will be paying $100 in cab fares for either or both places.

OP you might want to look into renting a car. You may also be able to negotiate a better price ahead of time dealing with the individual drivers through their web sites, not through the taxi association.

You can get guava tarts and turnovers at Daylight Bakery near Memorial Moravian Church behind the courts just north of Main St. You may know it as Diamond Barrel.

Thank you! another stop to add to my list.

Figure 2 hours travel time to/from St. John

You might be able to get the 9am ferry if you dock at 8. The latest ferry you would want to take for a 4:30 all aboard is the 3 pm, but I would prefer to take the 2 pm.

There is also a 10 am ferry very near Havensight.

There are many independent boat tours. These folks do an island tour & then beach. They dock very near Havensight, so a quick trip back to the ship no matter where you dock.

http://independentseatours.com/

I had to Google Progresso. It is evidently in Mexico. The eastern Caribbean, especially the USVI and BVI, are very different from Mexico. You will not find "cheap" and they are a bit more concerned about patent infringement than some other countries.

In addition to the above, obtaining items means much more expensive shipping costs since everything comes by ship or plane. Check out the prices on bulky but cheap items like paper towels at K-Mart.

O2B@Cagain, when I lived there, many locally made items and local foods were available at the marketplace. Is this still the case? I've been dreaming of the guava tarts I used to buy there:)

Yes.

Did you book through a TA or through the cruise line?

I booked direct, before all the free drinks, free dining promotion started & got on board credit. The price went up $700 a cabin & then sold out:eek: so I got a good deal. First stop with this huge ship at the port, so I'm worried about Speedy's being overwhelmed. 4200+ passengers on that little island makes me nervous.

It is very easy, and unless they have a separate ferry you'll probably be on the same ferry and taxis with folks who chose the ship option. But there's nothing wrong with using the ship excursion in a new place...

When I called the excursion desk to inquire about the excursion, she told me that Speedy's is running a separate ferry. She also told me the excursion price will go up on board because I wanted to use my on board credit. We'll see what the situation is when we board.

Love the art work.

I'm a big Peter Max fan & liked the Breakaway even better than I expected and I loved the Pearl.

The Escape hull art by Guy Harvey looks spectacular & I can't wait to see it in person!

[emoji56] Beast Mode all the way.

Just make sure that someone from NE doesn't steal it :D

I see the ncl option lasts 4.5 hrs so I gather you head over on the 8AM and return on a noon ferry which would get you back at 12:30. That's $72pp versus $38 for the round trip ferry and taxi on your own. Is that really the price for the ship excursion??? If so going on your own is the way to go. Can't remember if there is a small fee for the Baths but still no contest...

Yes they raised it twice since I booked. The only reason I might take the ship excursion is we have on board credit. All the freebies: ship excursion credit, beverage & dining packages, free DSC, have just caused prices to go up and up.

Since there isn't enough time available to take advantage of the benefits a self-excursion offers (the utmost freedom and flexibility and often lower prices) either option is fine. It makes sense to many people to go with the ship excursion (unless their price is much higher). It is an easy self-excursion but you have to monitor the time of course...

So not much help, sorry. We stay in the BVI and are used to traveling between the islands and it is very easy. For someone new to that the ship excursion provides a little more security.

The ship excursion, if the current times are correct, will get you back to Tortola a bit earlier. More time at the spice shop & Pussers:D

Hi all,

 

I'm considering a Spa Balcony stateroom on deck 15, but I'm concerned about overhead noise (light and late sleeper) because the deck above has the fitness center, pool, sun deck and Garden Cafe. I fear alot of chair moving noise and footsteps in the mornings.

 

Any perspective from others who have sailed the same class ship?

 

Thanks!

 

Lynne

If you take a look at this site & use the drag feature, you can see what is above the cabin you are considering. Port side has other cabins, starboard, the spa, salon & fitness center forward. Midship, there is the sun deck ,like people have said, very noisy in the AM.

http://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/deckplans/dragdeck.php?ship=Norwegian-Escape&zoom=1

I just hope the plans are accurate, because it shows a cabin above me.:)

Hi all,

 

I'm considering a Spa Balcony stateroom on deck 15, but I'm concerned about overhead noise (light and late sleeper) because the deck above has the fitness center, pool, sun deck and Garden Cafe. I fear alot of chair moving noise and footsteps in the mornings.

 

Any perspective from others who have sailed the same class ship?

 

Thanks!

 

Lynne

We had a room in that location on the Breakaway & have one booked on the Escape. The spa balconies forward of the forward stairs are under cabins or the fitness rooms & very quiet. Toward the aft, there would be deck chair noise, so I wouldn't book those cabins if noise is a concern.

For little ones, I always suggest Coral World & Coki beach. Small ones usually like aquariums like Coral World & there is a coral reef observatory, a turle pond & other attractions. Coki beach is right next door & has plenty of amenities.

Baltimore, with a population of about 10 times St Croix has had 227 homicides in 2015 compared to St Croix's 9, or about 1/2 the per capita rate of Baltimore & even smaller . This took place at night & well away from the pier. You are much more likely to run into crime in Miami before you get on the ship.

The countdown for the Top 30 Murder Capitals of America:

The Top 30 Murder rates in the U.S.

30 Baton Rouge, LA .21/ 1000 compared to St. Croix .18/1000

29 Youngstown, OH

28 San Bernardino, CA

27 Oakland, CA

26 Barberton, OH

25 Poughkeepsie, NY

24 Cincinnati, OH

23 Petersburg, VA

22 Wilmington, DE

21 York, PA

20 East Palo Alto, CA

19 Jackson, MS

18 Wilkes-Barre, PA

17 Birmingham, AL

16 East Point, GA

15 East Chicago, IN

14 Compton, CA

13 Baltimore, MD

12 St. Louis, MO

11 Harvey, IL

10 Newark, NJ

9 New Orleans, LA

8 Trenton, NJ

7 Detroit, MI

6 Flint, MI

5 Saginaw, MI

4 Chester, PA

3 Gary, IN

2 Camden, NJ

1 East St. Louis, IL

St. Croix spent 40 years trying to recover from the shock of the Fountain Valley Massacre in 1972. Cruise ships did not port, except very occasionally, when I was living there, hurting the economy. The crime rate is of great concern because of this, plus this seems to be gang related, so time to get very serious. They don't want another incident like the one in St. Martin.

This is a lovely island with wonderful people. Please get off the ship & find out what this island has to offer