Sailing on Carnival Legend/8 day E.Caribbean

[susquehannaretriever]

Ok guys, wife and I and family members booked our first cruise to sail out of NY on board the Carnival Legend. We are going to dock in San Juan, St. Thomas and Tortolla. Anyone ever do this trip? Any suggestions for first timers? What are your experiences and "must haves" when you sail? If you have done this trip any favorite places in these ports or definite shore excursions? :confused:

 

ANY info. is appreciated.... we are very excited and can't wait altho' we aren't going til next June. :D

[LANDLADY]

We were scheduled for same trip. Never made it to any of our ports last year because of hurricane. Hope you aren't going in August! You will absolutely love the Legend. Great ship, great crew. Try the Golden Fleece supper club. Certainly worth the $25 extra cost.

 

Check into Godfrey tours for excursions....we had some great things planned...just never got to do them!

 

Have a great time...

[socoblue]

Landlady: Where did you go when the ports were changed?

[MamaParrotHead]

they have a bunch of posts with his contact info on the "Ports of Call" boards for St. Thomas. His was the best excursion we went on during our entire cruise. the best tour AND the best value. inspite of the MILES of packing lists you'll stumble across here on CC, and I took a LOT of what is listed on them, the only things I'd take again were 1.) a lanyard (for S&S cards), 2.) insulated mug (anything cold with ice gets melted and/or watery in minutes up on deck), 3.) lots of $1 bills for tips, 4.) travel alarm clock, 5.) 2 way radios, 6.) natural water pills (my friend and I had BIG TIME swollen feet from the sodium used in the cooking), 7.) the big 2-Gallon hefty storage bags for packing. everything else was a waste of suitcase space for me.

 

hope you have a blast!:)

[aftmdne]

My DW and I are eyeing this trip for next September.

 

If you have any info to share we will greatly appreciate it....

[Dee88]

The Legend out of NY was my first cruise too!! What a great time we had and we have been hooked ever since.

 

I agree with Mama - if you can, book Godfrey Tours for St. Thomas. The man is amazing and does a great tour. You go on a shopping spree then he takes you around the island with a stop at "MountainTop" and then he let's you off at a beach of your choice for a couple of hours. He does this all for $20. The website is http://www.godfreytoursvi.com/

 

In San Juan, we just took a cab to the shopping area and walked around.

However, on the way back down to the ship, we found a carriage ride that would highly recommend. If you come off the ship and make a left, they are at the end of the pier. It's a historic ride on a horse drawn carriage. Very reasonable.

 

Tortola - I have heard people say the Baths are amazing. We didn't do that. We just took a cab to the beach and hung out there. Your not in port that long.

 

Hope this helps alittle. You'll love this cruise.

Have fun!!! ;)

[sea witch]

Hi! we did the Legend last year, and will be on it again Sept.2nd. Great ship with plenty to do. Always reccomend carnival for 1st time cruisers. My brother lives in San Juan, so it's a great way to visit him. St. Thomas we hang out at Bolongo Beach resort- owned by a friend of my brothers. In tortola, we just walked around. Not much time to go to the Baths, which are suppose to be spectacular. Just remember to take Dramamine or Bonine(which I like better), even before you get on the ship. We take it for the 1st 2 days and it works like a charm. No sense taking the risk. Also, be sure you bring plenty as it is hurricane season. You never know. Have a great trip!

[DaisyL]

We have been on the Legend with this same itinerary twice, and been to the same ports 3 times. We love the ship and Carnival and going to the Caribbean is great. Be sure to take Bonine (prefer this -non-drowsy), just in case. Personally we like going to the dining room for dinner since we don't mind dressing and the food and service is very good. If you like muscal-type shows don't miss the big production shows. We especially like these as opposed to the other shows (magicians, comedians, jugglers...) but everyone's tastes will vary.

 

Our 1st time to San Juan we took the Fort/tour/Old SanJuan excusion through the ship. We really enjoyed this and found it very informative. We were escorted in a small bus (AC in July-yeah) and given a tour of the SanJuan area, taken to the Fort to wander and take beautiful pictures (be back on the bus at X time), then dropped off in Old San Juan (told to meet back on bus) for some shopping. Our next 2 trips we just walked around Old San Juan ourselves and stopped in Senor Frogs for a drink, we wereable to show off with friends who have not been there before. This can be done easily if you are walkers.

 

In St. Thomas we always go to Magen's Bay Beach in the morning (taxi on our own), come back to the ship to eat and change, then go shopping in the afternoon. Sometimes have gotten good deals on jewelry and liquor. Check the prices at home first though. The last 2 times upon returning home I have been asked if we went to St Johns and I understand it's absolutely beautiful. Maybe next time !!

 

In Tortola, went to the Baths on the ship excursion and although it was beautiful it was really a lot of travelling(45 mins each way on the ferry, then a very bumpy ride on an open-air taxi, then a walk down and back up, and not much time at the beach); glad we did it though. This last time we went on the ship tour/Cane Garden Bay excursion and really enjoyed it. The open-air taxi rides was quite harrowing with all the twists, turns, hills... but really had some very nice views and great pix. Stayed at the beach 1-1/4 hrs (good for us) then the taxi took the short-cut back to the ship.

 

Hope this helps, but if you have any specific questions just ask... I won't get mad even if they have been addressed before ... Just love cruising ...