billroddy Posted December 5, 2012 #1 Share Posted December 5, 2012 There are two 7 day Eastern Caribbean cruises from Ft Lauderdale. One stops at St Thomas, the other at St. Martin. Which would you recommend? Bill Ancient Mariner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaguarstyper Posted December 5, 2012 #2 Share Posted December 5, 2012 I like St Thomas, but I love St Martin. I would choose St Martin every time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted December 5, 2012 #3 Share Posted December 5, 2012 We prefer St Maarten. Much cleaner -- not hard to get to town. Either by the tiny ferry or by van -- some healthy people walk it. There are some shops at the dock. In St Thomas HAL docks 99.99% of the time at Crown Bay -- they signed a 10 year contract to dock there a few years ago. There are very few shops there. It is not safe to walk to town from there. You either have to take a safari bus or a regular cab to get to town. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rucrazy Posted December 5, 2012 #4 Share Posted December 5, 2012 We love st maarteen! Joseph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandbox Posted December 5, 2012 #5 Share Posted December 5, 2012 St Martin any time over St Thomas.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hi2you Posted December 5, 2012 #6 Share Posted December 5, 2012 We prefer St Maarten. Much cleaner -- not hard to get to town. Either by the tiny ferry or by van -- some healthy people walk it. There are some shops at the dock. In St Thomas HAL docks 99.99% of the time at Crown Bay -- they signed a 10 year contract to dock there a few years ago. There are very few shops there. It is not safe to walk to town from there. You either have to take a safari bus or a regular cab to get to town. Are you sure you haven't mixed up the Islands? St. Thomas built that terrific walk-Charlotte Amalie-way to walk into town if you don't want to take a taxi. It is so pleasant. Shopping galore and everything is close-lots to see as well. It would be my first choice. I have been on cruises which usually stopped at both ports. Have fun in your decision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vcdarty Posted December 5, 2012 #7 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Agree in general about a preference for St. Maarten, but it depends on your own interests. We find St. M largely over-developed with a heavy emphasis upon casinos, etc. But grab a cab to the French side, and it's a different story. Marigot has a European flair, and some good French restaurants are available. Our St. Thomas high point was a private charter sail over to St. John for snorkeling and, simply, the pleasure of being under canvas. Wonderful. J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zookiebird Posted December 5, 2012 #8 Share Posted December 5, 2012 My preference would be St Thomas, especially with its close proximity to beautiful St John. Also, Tortola is only a fairly short ferry ride away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George C Posted December 5, 2012 #9 Share Posted December 5, 2012 There are two 7 day Eastern Caribbean cruises from Ft Lauderdale. One stops at St Thomas, the other at St. Martin.Which would you recommend? St Thomas used to our favorite port, my wife loves shopping there and love the beaches in St John, but it takes a couple of hours to get to those beachs, St Martin has great beaches less than a 10 dollar taxi ride away, good resturants and bars. Also only place in Carribbean to buy Cherry Marnier ( cannot buy it in USA do not know why). We like St Martin so much we are thing of doing a resort on the Island, also can get Cuban cigars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtl513 Posted December 5, 2012 #10 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Are you sure you haven't mixed up the Islands? St. Thomas built that terrific walk-Charlotte Amalie-way to walk into town if you don't want to take a taxi. It is so pleasant. Shopping galore and everything is close-lots to see as well.When? Are you sure you aren't mixing up Crown Bay with Havensight? Last time I was in St Thomas 3 years ago the walk to town from C.B. was neither easy nor pleasant! In St Thomas HAL docks 99.99% of the time at Crown Bay That would mean they would not go to C.B. just once every 10,000 visits. :eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted December 5, 2012 #11 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Are you sure you haven't mixed up the Islands? St. Thomas built that terrific walk-Charlotte Amalie-way to walk into town if you don't want to take a taxi. It is so pleasant. Shopping galore and everything is close-lots to see as well. It would be my first choice. I have been on cruises which usually stopped at both ports. Have fun in your decision. We were just in St Thomas -- again -- this past spring. Crown Bay is the old navy area. The road into town is terrible. I think you are mixing up Havensight with the new Yacht club and shopping area. And the new walkway and roads over there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamaofami Posted December 5, 2012 #12 Share Posted December 5, 2012 I much prefer St. Martin. The beaches on the French side are beautiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted December 5, 2012 #13 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Are you sure you haven't mixed up the Islands? St. Thomas built that terrific walk-Charlotte Amalie-way to walk into town if you don't want to take a taxi. It is so pleasant. Shopping galore and everything is close-lots to see as well. It would be my first choice. I have been on cruises which usually stopped at both ports. Have fun in your decision. When? Are you sure you aren't mixing up Crown Bay with Havensight? Last time I was in St Thomas 3 years ago the walk to town from C.B. was neither easy nor pleasant! That would mean they would not go to C.B. just once every 10,000 visits. :eek: I'm with KK and John. The walk from Crown Bay to Charlotte Amalie is neither pleasant nor particularly safe. There are sections where there are no sidewalks. We always used to walk from Havensight but never do from Crown Bay. We prefer St. Maarten these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KirkNC Posted December 5, 2012 #14 Share Posted December 5, 2012 I like St Thomas, but I love St Martin. I would choose St Martin every time. As would we, we rent a car an visit the French side for lunch and then usually stop by one of the less busy beaches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJPacer Posted December 5, 2012 #15 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Both islands have good shopping. We love the beaches in St. Martin. We'd choose St. Martin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richjoxyz Posted December 5, 2012 #16 Share Posted December 5, 2012 St Thomas and St Martin are both very nice. They both have nice shopping areas, nice scenery and nice beaches. I would look at the entire itinerary. Look at the other ports. What are the other ports on these cruises? What is the difference in ships? What is the difference in price? That is how I would decide. On the scale of things both St Thomas and St Martin are in many ways equally good, but the other ports might make or break the deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richjoxyz Posted December 5, 2012 #17 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Also look at the time in port. We prefer longer times in port over shorter times. Some cruises leave as early as 3:00 PM but others stay until 5 or 6. We prefer a full day in port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkazmer Posted December 5, 2012 #18 Share Posted December 5, 2012 There are two 7 day Eastern Caribbean cruises from Ft Lauderdale. One stops at St Thomas, the other at St. Martin.Which would you recommend? Bill Ancient Mariner St. Maarten every time-have been to both many times - no contest LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted December 6, 2012 #19 Share Posted December 6, 2012 If you intend to do some serious shopping, keep in mind you have double the duty free exemption for purchases made in USVI. Also much larger liquor allowance if you are one who totes liquor home..... mostly those who drive to the port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momatibm Posted December 6, 2012 #20 Share Posted December 6, 2012 what are the different ports for the cruises -- it is hard to determine which would be better just asking about 2 ports are they on the same cruise or different ones? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
innlady1 Posted December 6, 2012 #21 Share Posted December 6, 2012 For me, it's a toss up...I think they're pretty equal. I'd base it on the other ports on the itinerary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gentlemancruiser Posted December 6, 2012 #22 Share Posted December 6, 2012 have been to both islands about 7 times now, I would suggest St. Maarten is much better for beaches, shopping, touring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twinkletoes4445 Posted December 6, 2012 #23 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Another vote for St. Maarten. If you end up going to St. Thomas, I'd do an excursion to St. John. St. Maarten has a nice shopping area next to the docks. It's also an easy boat ride over to town. We also like the French side. Docking at Crown Bay on St. Thomas is a negative for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shandryl Posted December 6, 2012 #24 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Both St Martin and St Thomas are great ports!! both many things to offer. Do both!! that way you dont miss anything!! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare JamesEM Posted December 6, 2012 #25 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Unless you are going over to St. John, I would opt for St. Maarten, especially the French side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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