DeckDad

We enjoyed Kontiki Beach Club, next to Bikini Beach. Comfortable chaises, good food. Nice atmosphere. A little less costly than Coco.

Isn't Castaway at Great Bay? We took a taxi to Orient Beach, on the French side. We asked for Coco beach club but he dropped us off in front of Kontiki. Looked very good, so we walked in. Nice lounges and clean facilities. About$10 more for lounges than most places, but a little upscale. Good drinks and food, too. At your lounge or at the restaurant and bar. I think any of the beach clubs on Orient Beach are fine for a day. When we left, there was a taxi right there. Or the bar will call for you. $25 each way from Phillipsburg.. Per car, not per person. Much less crowded than Great Bay, if that's important for you.

Go to Maho to see the planes overhead? You could take the ferry from the port for a quick and fun ride to Phillipsburg. Walk the town before or after you grab a taxi to Maho for an hour or two. Haven't done it. But everyone says it's fun. Taxis are plentiful. Just ask the price before getting in. And don't recommed wasting time jewelry shopping. No bargains there.

We enjoyed St Martin by taking a taxi in Phillipsburg to Orient Beach. Easy to get there and back for $25 each way, per trip, not per person. Took ferry from Port to Phillipsburg for $7 r/t. All the beach clubs were really nice. $25-35 for two lounges and umbrella. Takes about 25 minutes to get there, so don't waste time shopping for jewelry. No bargains anyway.

Maybe access to a concierge would be helpful for first time Celeb cruisers. They can make reservations in MDR for you or last minute tour reservations, answer questions. Not a butler but similar. I agree the robes in regular cabins are embarrassing. Towels are OK, good hotel quality.

Orient Beach has fully recovered. Enjoy--

Enjoyed the beach at Kontiki Club. Sand was very clean. Water had a very little seaweed early but it disappeared around noon when the tide went out. Taxi from Back Street in Phillipsburg was $25 for two people, and same price going back. There was a taxi available as soon as we left the beach. Ignore the jewelry shops and you'll have a perfect day.

Question is for San Juan, not St. Thomas.

Our Celebrity cruise leaves at 10pm. Is it safe to walk around after dark? Any suggestions to do at night not far from cruise port?

OMG. What stats and pics. I am blown away. Thanks for helping me learn that unless cabin is sold as partial view on Deck 6, it isn't.

The infinite veranda, E2, on the Apex.. I saw a comment that lifeboats are underneath the infinite verandas on deck 6, so you see the water straight out but not down. Wondering, since we didn't book a partial view cabin.

Do lifeboats block the view of the ocean under all the verandas in Deck 6?