Excursion

[4774Papa]

We will be in Grenada in March on the Celebrity Constellation. Has anyone been on this excursion or have any suggestions?

 

Full Day Sighseeing - GD52 - St. George'S, Grenada XXX

Visit Fort Frederick where visitors can have a panoramic view of the picturesque city followed by Grand Etang, a crater lake situated 1900 feet above sea level. Next visit River Antoine Estate to view one of the oldest functioning water wheels, then to Belmont Estate where you can relax & dine.

Journey to Fort Frederick on a ridge 800’ above sea level, the construction of the fort started by the French in 1779 and finished by the English in 1783. A chain of forts adjoining Fort Frederick are said to be connected by a network of underground tunnels. Departing from Fort Frederick the tours continues to Grand Etang which is located in the center of the island. This crater lake is situated 1900 feet above sea level and is an extinct volcano. The journey continues to River Antoine Estate where you will view the oldest functioning water wheel in the western hemisphere, and experience the age old rum making process. Next comes Belmont Estate where you will relax and dine at one of the oldest functioning plantations in Grenada dated back to the 1700's.

From the Estate to Gouyave where a visit will be made at Dougaldston Spice Estate, finally passing through Happy Hill before reaching the pier.

[merky]

any info on this excursion TIA

[IslandStar]

I haven't doen it as a crise ship tour but I can offer tips if that would help - hopefully some that have done the tour with the ship will comment soon.

 

At Fort Frederick - this is the time to take the panoramic shots as you get fabulous views of your ship and the carenage and Grand anse beach. You may get a tour of the fort but not 100% sure.

 

Grand etang - I know you guys aren't supposed to take food off the ship but if you can grab some bananas then you'll have something yummy to hand feed our mona monkeys. They are wild and live in the Grand Etang Forest reserve but are safe to feed. Our two year old has done it and though the monkeys very sweet. Couple of notes though: In cruise season the world heads up there so if you get there later in the day the monkeys may already have full banana tummies and may have gone for a sleep but on the most part they are greedy things and should be there. Please do not (whatever the locals say) feed them sweets as it isn't good for their teeth or their tummies (some tour operators seem to think this is a good photo op to have the monkeys unwrap the sweets but it isn't eco-friendly at all :() The lake is cool to see as it is an old volcanic crater and it is said when Monsserrat erupted the water bubbled and changed colour.

 

The waterwheel driven rum factory is small but interesting as it is super old and shows how we have always done it here - of course the tasting of rum is the best bit. My own personal preference is the red spice rum :p

 

It is a full day tour and you will get a good insight to our island but there will be quite a bit of driving from here to there. Our roads have some potholes but Grenada does have one of the better road systems in the Caribbean so sit back and relax and enjoy your day.

 

Don't forget to buy our yummy Grenada Chocolate :D

[NorthCarolinaBelle]

Thank you for all the great information, IslandStar!

[IslandStar]

You are most welcome! I wish you a wonderful day on our gorgeous island :)

[roothy123]

I am going on a cruise (Celebrity) in early March and was wondering about the prohibition on taking food off of the ship. Is that a Celebrity rule, Grenada rule, or what - does anyone know? Also, does that apply in most of the Caribbean, vary by port, or what?

[NCTribeFan]

This is a rule everywhere. When you return to your homeport and have to fill out the customs form, they ask these things. There are often bins by the ramps where open food items will be taken from you as you depart the ship. There are signs posted and it is often also included in your daily schedule provided by the ship.

 

You can do a Google search. All sorts of bad things can happen when people inadvertently/accidently bring non-native species of anything into another area!

 

Do NOT take fruit off a ship into ANY port. If you must take food (for health reasons), be sure it is something that is sealed (like granola or energy bar; little box of cereal).

 

I just don't understand the fascination with monkeys, personally, but am very opposed to their being used as a tourist attraction unless they are totally in the wild (which would probably mean you wouldn't be feeding them). :mad:

[kurgan]

We will be in Grenada in March on the Celebrity Constellation. Has anyone been on this excursion or have any suggestions?

 

Full Day Sighseeing - GD52 - St. George'S, Grenada XXX

Visit Fort Frederick where visitors can have a panoramic view of the picturesque city followed by Grand Etang, a crater lake situated 1900 feet above sea level. Next visit River Antoine Estate to view one of the oldest functioning water wheels, then to Belmont Estate where you can relax & dine.

Journey to Fort Frederick on a ridge 800’ above sea level, the construction of the fort started by the French in 1779 and finished by the English in 1783. A chain of forts adjoining Fort Frederick are said to be connected by a network of underground tunnels. Departing from Fort Frederick the tours continues to Grand Etang which is located in the center of the island. This crater lake is situated 1900 feet above sea level and is an extinct volcano. The journey continues to River Antoine Estate where you will view the oldest functioning water wheel in the western hemisphere, and experience the age old rum making process. Next comes Belmont Estate where you will relax and dine at one of the oldest functioning plantations in Grenada dated back to the 1700's.

From the Estate to Gouyave where a visit will be made at Dougaldston Spice Estate, finally passing through Happy Hill before reaching the pier.

 

We did almost the same tour with Mandoo, it was 45 $ pp ( I guess ship tour more expensive)

[IslandStar]

In general....

 

Cruise ships do not like you to take food off the ships. This isn't an island rule (certainly not here in Grenada) as we want you to try our local produce. :rolleyes:

 

I hear you on the monkey-feeding aspect but it will happen and if it does I would prefer bananas as their usual diet versus sweets which 'some' locals think is a cute photo op :confused:

 

Cruise ships are generally more expensive for the same tours being offered by the operators as they need to have their profit margin met. They will try to encourage you to buy on board with the: we have insurance insurance , wont leave you behind, better quality of tour reasonings. Overall though the tours you find on the islands are the same ones the ships offer but most of the money goes to the ship instead of the operator. :(

[js cruisers]

Just wondering about the Grenada chocolate--any particular brand or place to buy it? We will be in Grenada next week and don't want to miss out on something good!

[IslandStar]

Just wondering about the Grenada chocolate--any particular brand or place to buy it? We will be in Grenada next week and don't want to miss out on something good!

 

we only have one brand of Grenada Chocolate ant if you are a dark chocolate fan then you are in for a treat as you can buy it in varying % of cocoa content from 60%-82% cocoa content. You can buy it in the supermarkets and also the cruise liner terminal. heres a link for you for info //http://www.grenadachocolate.com/index.html