Starting to plan trips for Latin Gems cruise in December

[Manxmoggy]

Hi all, only 121 days til my cruise lol so starting to look at trips to do on the shore days. :)

 

First stop is Bonaire, has anyone done the Palm Beach Reef Snorkel trip? Or the Catamaran one? Love snorkeling and believe Bonaire is one of the best places in the world to do it...

 

Any advice on any of the island trips would be lovely thanks!! Or whether to do any unorganised? (Aruba , Curaco and Grenada the other stops)

 

Thanks again!!

[so,ton saint]

hi manx moggy doing the same cruise march 9th with a stay in barbados first sorry cannot help i think we are in thesame boat have a loverly cruise

[CRUISIN LINDA]

You can do your own trips on most Caribbean islands, but being your first time there, you might prefer to do ship's trips. We were lucky the first time we went, as we went with a friend who had been loads of times and she gave us confidence to do our own thing.

 

We usually book a couple of ship's tours though.

 

Curacao is lovely. We have only visited the town of Willemstad, but it is a beautiful place with colourful houses along the waterfront and good shopping. If we go again, we will definitely do an island tour.

 

In Bonaire, we did an island trip. I'm afraid I can't help with snorkeling, as I can't swim :o

 

We went to Aruba on the Braemar and again we did a ship's island tour. We went to a beautiful church and he told us about the history of the island, especially during WW2. We were supposed to visit a lighthouse, but due to blocked roads, we went, instead, to a very posh resort where lots of stars have holiday homes. It was a gorgeous place. I think we stopped at a beach on the way back.

 

These are nicknames the ABC islands - the Dutch Antilles and kept beautifully and among my favourites :)

 

Grenada - we first visited in 2010 and I think we just explored the town, but I can't remember it being very exciting :rolleyes: We visited it again on the Dream in 2012 and did a ship's tour, Discover Grenada, where you visit a Spice Estate, the rainforest (and it was raining very heavily when we were there :eek:) a volcano and the Annandale Falls. Very good, but we didn't get to see the volcano as the weather was so bad that day. Still, it was a very good trip.

 

Kruzseeka is the expert on the Caribbean, so I expect she will be able to help you more than me :)

[kruzseeka]

Well I'll do my best, Linda - but not really able to help with snorkel trips - or Bonaire but have found a link to the review I did last year which covers all the ports - at least a description of what we got up to:

 

http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1789340&highlight=aruba

 

You will notice that I was complaining about the cost of beach furniture in Aruba but this link includes a tip for the Holiday Inn further along the beach with more reasonable prices (post #16)

 

http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1795896&highlight=holiday+inn+aruba

 

The Caribbean ports are generally very good for DiY with taxis/mini buses dockside whcih you can pick up for various beach transfers or tours. Sorry can't help with the snorkeling bit thoigh.

 

Happy planning - hope you have a great time. :)

[geomagot]

cant help with bonaire

 

curacao

 

you can snorkel at mambo beach or sea aquarium beach next door (near the sea aquarium, easy to get there by taxi or local bus) there is a shallow reef that you can swim out to with a platform you can climb up onto....very safe for snorkelling

 

if you are more experienced snorkeller then port marie is probably the best for snorkelling/diving but that is about a 30min taxi ride away

 

most beaches on curacau are attached to resorts and you have to pay a small admission

 

aruba

 

I havnt been there? but catalina cove is the beach most often recommended for snorkelling/diving

 

easy to get a local bus in aruba the bus station is opposite the port gates....most people head for the resort area on aruba where there is a long stretch of beach (palm beach/eagle beach) backed by shops & resorts/hard rock cafes/signor frogs/casinos etc

 

de palm island is also good for snorkelling (they also do snuba there) its an all inclusive day resort that includes a boat ride over to the island and has a small water park an all day buffet and bar (I cant remember how much day/half day tickets cost?...its been a few years since I was there)

 

hope this helps

[Manxmoggy]

Wow! Thanks to all the great replies! I have just scan read them at the moment but will read them all properly later today!!!

 

So,ton Saint, I will post a review when I get back!! We are staying at the Coconut Court, where are you staying?

 

I am sooooo excited!!!!

[so,ton saint]

hi manx moggy we are staying at the couple,s hotel for second time last year it was called almond casuarina. you will love barbados and there very lovely people they will make you most welcome trip,s to do swimming with turtle,s riding on the reggae bus with the local,s cost 3bajan dollar,s any where round the island, and round the island tour also it has twelve church,s have a smashing cruise and stay PS if you luv cricket go to the kennsington oval

howard

[marylizcat]

We did the De Palm island trip on Aruba and my husband and son did the included snorkelling there. We really enjoyed this place. Uncrowded and good free food and drink! Attractive beaches. Even banana boat rides!

 

On Bonaire, we took one of the local minibus tours waiting at the dock to see the island in the morning and then in the afternoon took a taxi to a sandy beach with a snorkelling area on the other side of the island. Name of beach escapes me, I'm afraid.

 

 

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