sunseeker09

Thanks for posting a great review and lots of photos. We did the Victory in Jan. and it's bringing back memories. :)

Well, it sounds like everyone loves this beach. I'm sorry we didn't get to go there, or Antigua at all. (We were on the Victory that dropped Antigua for St. Maarten) Not that we didn't love St. Maarten! We did. I wish Carnival had dropped St. Lucia instead of Antigua. St. Lucia beaches were ugly and the island didn't impress us at all. Looks like no comparison there. :(

I see that Rendezvous is only 5 minutes from pier (that's a plus - saves time and taxi dollars) but literally right behind the airport runway. Can you hear the planes there? Maybe there aren't too many? It's also in a public beach area. Were there many vendors? Since the reviews here seem to be good, I'm guessing neither vendors or planes are an issue? Just curious as I try to tuck away some idea of what to do here if there's a next time on another cruise. (We loved the Victory so much I am thinking there will be a next time)

The big outdoor screen is still there. At least it was Jan 3-10. I can't see why they would remove it.

bathroom

balcony - in front of bed. On other side of door there was a chair that reclined (not a full lounger). Lots of space.

This is a great thread and I found it most useful before out cruise. I thought I'd add to it some pictures of our suite on the empress deck - 7269

dressing area - walk through to get to bathroom

Thanks for the correction. I had thought the driver said Long bay, but maybe I misunderstood. There was a lot to take in on our little tour. What a beautiful island you live on. My fav. stop by far of all the islands. Love the beaches and the rugges coasts and the rolling hills and sugar cane fields and colourful Caribbean homes. :)

my contributions...

Crane

Bottom Bay

Long Bay beach

Well, that is horribly agressive, so it's nice of you to post the warning.

I do have to wonder though why anyone would let a stranger take their camera before they fully understand the consequences and cost. The person could be a potential thief. They are a stranger after all.

I tell you, those guys better not just let their money jump on me without my permission! (which I won't give. I don't agree with this sort of amimal exploitation for profit). I'll say no thank you politely, but if they so much as try to reach for my camera I will scream "thief" and call for the police.

I've often thought about it.

Maybe some day.

 

It would be specifically Photo Tours, though

with coaching and pointers -not general island tours..

.

That's a brilliant idea! :)

Oh yeah that's me! I drive taxis on da islan' :cool:

Great! I didn't know you drove taxi's !!! We'd like to book with you! hehe... j/k... couldn't resist. Seriously though, if you did you'd take people to some perfect sites for great photo ops. :)

Love the photos! Keep 'em coming. We'll be there in less than a month :)

set your watch one hour ahead when you get to san juan and you'll be good for the whole week. san juan is on atlantic time.:)

:confused: Whaaaa??? I am coming from Pacific time, so I will be needing to set my watch forward 4 hours.

So yes, SJ is on Atlantic time... and so are all of our ports. Isn't the Victory on Atlantic time too? Can't someone who has been on the Victory confirm this? If it's not, I do not understand why a ship that leaves and returns from a port in Atlantic time wouldn't be on the same time? That would make NO sense to me whatsoever. :confused:

Just a quick question... People always talk about ship time vs. port time.

Since the Victory leaves out of SJ, which is the same time zone as all the ports, the time stays the same always, right?

NOt sure why it was milky, however it is now on my list at number 1 of my favorite beches. This was the only one we went to on this trip to Antigua :cool:

Do you know if the weather had been poor before you were there? Sometimes the visibility of the water can be effected by wind, rain and/or runoff. Since it's not a mountainous island, I doubt the later, but summer storms can effect visibility, even in places that are usually crystal clear.

Funny though that I've heard the same comments about Jolly beach (which is close, correct?) Maybe smething to do with the bottom, or currents....

Cloudy/milky water isn't great for diving or snorkeling, but for just a beach day with some swimming, it's not a big deal to me.... but we can all "pretend" that it's a horrible thing that ruins the beach (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) so not too many people go there ;) :cool:

This beach looks perfect for us! Beautiful. Not too crowded. Not so far from the ship. Washrooms. A restaurant with good food and cheap beers. Sold! Antigua is decided (I think. LOL)

Now... ssssshhh... stop telling more people how great it is or it'll get too packed! ;)

Cruiseawaits....We are on the Feb 7 2010 sailing. If you are already booked, go to "MY Reservations" click on "manage bookings" go to where you can edit your dinning time. It shows early, late and anytime.

Thanks for the tip. You rock! We had no idea that "your time" dining was now offered on our cruise. It wasn't in July when we booked. But I went and checked, just as you suggested, and voila... there it is. So we have changed from late to anytime. I HATE being told exactly when to eat, and was dreading having to wait until 8:15, but on the other hand 6:00 was too early. Now we can go around 7:00/7:30. Thanks! :)

As always, you have posted some incredible pictures. These last two are just stunning! They make me very anxious to go :)

won la conch hotel is 4 star for 1/16/ 2010 saturday night on priceline for $101

I decided to try the same thing and also got La Concha for $101. woo hoo! We were going to pay about $200 CAD for the Hampton which only comes in as a 2 star, but now we have a 4 star for about $60 less. Yeah! Thank you thank you :)

won la conch hotel is 4 star for 1/16/ 2010 saturday night on priceline for $101

We are also looking for a hotel for Jan. 16 (for our last night :(

We are new to priceline. I got up to $110 for resorts and used the advice listed here to add zones. No luck. Now I think I'd like to try 4 star. There are only 2 listed in the SJU zone - La Conch and Conrad. Can they sneak in any others? If changing star ratings can I go back down again or am I now stuck at $110, or higher? Advice please. Thanks so much.

Aplmac - Love all your pictures all over CC, but these ones of Barbados take my breath away. Bottom Bay looks so gorgeous! Barbados will be a beach day on our Jan. cruise for sure :)

Sunseeker,

 

Our friends did the Treasures while we did the Best. We were the only ship in port. They were caught in a bigger traffic jam than we were when arriving at the Falls because of the hike. They did get it all in BUT ... We were told to be back on board a 5:30 - sailing at 6. Our room was on side where boarding takes place and we were watching ropes being untied. The walk ways were removed and here comes our CC friends at 5:40 running across the dock to get the ship. They caught an ear full when they came on board. They asked Levi about cutting the tour short because of time. He told them not a problem. They could do it all and get back in plenty of time. Didn't happen. They were so scared they would be left without a ship. Almost did. That's cutting it a little close but tour guide is driving. Needless to say the folks were very upset.

 

The sulphur springs do not smell. You aren't there that long anyway. We spent our time fighting for a spot to see the falls. Small platform and some folks won't move to make room for others. The Gardens are a drive through. Only took about 10 min. Not worth the time, but one couple wanted to see it.

 

If you really want the snorkel part I suggest you book with someone else. Our late CC friends barely got in the water. If we ever make it back I plan on doing just that.

 

Mrsosci

Lots of people saying not to worry, (particularly on the Dominica board where they may well not have been on the Victory with a shorter stay) but this one makes we nervous. I'd rather do a couple of things in a relaxed manner than try and race about the island trying to do everything (especially with the risk of traffic jams). You definitely gave me something to think about. Going to consider how important the snorkel is and whether or not to chance not doing it... or just take a cab and do 2 things. Thanks for the warning :)

P.S. Loving all the photos! Keep 'em coming :)

I posted on the Dominica board, but since we'll be on the Victory, and I see you discussing how busy it can get, particularly Trafalgar falls, I'll ask here...

We don't get into port until 10:00, and 2 other ships will be in port that day (which both arrive earlier). So there will be no beating the rush. We'd really like to snorkel Champagne reef, but we'd like to see at least one falls. I emailed Levi at Bumpiing and he suggested the Roseau treasures tour AND snorkeling (the reply was a bit canned - cut and pasted itinerary) I'm worried there just won't be time and we don't get to snorkel. I'll be bummed if it's because we're stuck in traffic at Trafalgar, or going to the Botanical gardens or Sulphur springs that I'm not interested in (I hate the smell of sulphur).

Would you suggest giving the tour, and Trafalgar a miss, and getting a driver to instead take us to one location (maybe Titou?) and then head to the reef? ...or????

I don't think I should ever say never again!! I've been saying for years that I would never go on a cruise... and here we are booked for our first one... and it was MY idea. hehehe. ya, ya... I'm eatin' crow, lol... but whatever. I've always wanted to see the Lesser Antilles islands, so now we will.

That said, I've never had any interest in the middle east, and probably never will.

I never figured I'd set foot in China, but I did a flight through Hong Kong with a long enough layover to be pleasantly surprised.

Only done land based trips so far ...other than liveaboard diving. Australia is an amazing country, but yes, better to see land based and with LOTS of time.

Grand Cayman was a total let down (there for DH's job for awhile). Wouldn't say I'd never go back, but it was more developed and touristy than I expected and the diving wasn't all that. Turks & Caicos was soooo much better in every way (Provo - haven't been to Grand Turk). Hawaii... been there done that. Maui was ok. Oahu not so much. I don't like over developed locations that feel like America with palm trees.

DH would love to do Antartica.... ummm... too cold. No thanks! LOL

Not interested in an Alaska cruise. I know it's warm up North in the summer, and it is beautiful up there (family in the Yukon) but prefer warm clear water for diving and sandy beaches... oh... and bugs up North are crazy big and bad!

I absolutely love Jamaica. Got engaged there first trip and married there second trip. Not the horrible place it's made out to be, IMO. We found the people to be very friendly. Unlike Mexico. In total opposition, I'm not a fan of Mexico and pushy vendors. Been twice to Puerto Vallarta, and considered the Mayan but... no thanks, for too many reasons to list. If we were on a ship that stopped in Cozumel we'd dive though. In fact, same for Roatan. Love Cuba (hey, I am Canadian), but of course that is for land based trips. Costa Rica was an experience, but deserves more time than one has on a cruise.

Still on the list after the Southern Caribbean... South Pacific... maybe even a cruise as opposed to land based... Europe?... Med. cruise maybe? We shall see after this one :)........