eastern/southern caribbean SHORE EXCURSIONS...Royal princess vs Adventure of the seas

[DisneyPrincess16]

Ok, so im getting a little closer to narrowing this down!

 

royal - princess cay, st Thomas, Antigua, Barbados, st lucia, st kitts

adventure b2b - st Thomas, st Croix, Antigua, st lucia, grenada, st kitts, st marten, Martinique, Barbados.

 

differences - st Croix, grenada, st marten, Martinique.....downfall, leaves from san juan rather than ft Lauderdale.

 

Firstly, opinions on the ships, royal princess vs adventure of the seas?

My only concern is there is only one main pool on royal, seems rather lacking compared to the grand class. im assuming the plunge pool is very small.

 

secondly, I started comparing shore excursions to see if this help, mainly looking at minimum ages as our youngest will be 6.

it seems RCI is less for minimum age. they do horse riding in Antigua from 6yo, but princess in st lucia is 12yo!

 

Does anyone know if there is any horse riding in any ports for 6 yo? I have an infinity brochure from the TA that says st lucia from 5 yo?

 

dolphin swim in tortola from st Thomas is 3 yrs RC vs 7 yrs with princess???

 

does anyone know if there is a minimum age on princess cays for the paddle boat, banana boat, aqua bike or kayaks?

I couldn't find anything on their website.

 

Although princess still seems the easier choice flight wise, im still considering san juan depart so we can see many other ports. if we choose princess we will go to WDW after, but if we have to fly to san juan, we will probably skip florida and head straight back to LA.

 

TIA, ive been so confused, but love hearing everyones thoughts! I just want to get it right because we are coming such a long way!

[Essiesmom]

I would ask these questions on the Ports of Call boards for those islands, and also on the Family Cruising board, as some there can tell you what their experience wa son those islands with those lines. EM

[zookiebird]

JMO but I'd do the Princess cruise. 9 ports in I assume 14 days on RCI seems like an awful lot for a 6 yr old. That and your idea of visiting WDW post-cruise seems like a great plan for everybody.

[DisneyPrincess16]

Thankyou, we have decided on princess

[searoses]

St croix has riding on the beach...google for it....just a cool guy with a couple of horses....they actually go in the water!

[DisneyPrincess16]

Thank you, but as we picked princess, we aren't going to st croix. We are doing Barbados, Antigua, st lucia, st kitts, st Thomas.

Would appreciate any sites that do beach riding for minimum of 6 years old for these ports:)

[MSN-Travelers]

Thank you, but as we picked princess, we aren't going to st croix. We are doing Barbados, Antigua, st lucia, st kitts, st Thomas.

Would appreciate any sites that do beach riding for minimum of 6 years old for these ports:)

 

I think you will find that the cruise lines tend to impose higher age limits than the excursion operators they contract with.

 

You are headed to locations where the parents decide if a child is too young and you will also be responsible for your child's safety.

 

We are "experienced" people and have been out of the little people activity business for a couple decades. I can point you toward beach activities but can't offer any personal recommendations for most.

 

Antigua - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destination/antiguaandbarbuda/50780/Antigua-beaches.html -- http://www.tonyswatersports.com/ Have done Nelson's Dockyard and a Segway tour along the NW coastal area

 

Barbados - http://barbadosdaypass.com/ -- http://www.accessbarbados.com/barbados_excursions.php -- http://www.theboatyard.com/home.html Have done pre & post cruise stays as well as cruise ship stops here.

 

St. Thomas - http://godfreytoursvi.com/ -- http://www.**********/stthomas/beaches_stt/ -- http://www.visitusvi.com/stthomas/water_activities We have spent multiple days at Coki beach

 

St. Kitts - http://www.stkittstourism.kn/explore-st-kitts-activities-beaches.php -- http://www.discover-stkitts-nevis-beaches.com/caribbean-beaches-in-st-kitts-nevis.html We have taken the sugar train and spent days at South Friar beach & Cockleshell beach

 

St. Lucia - Have nothing to offer here for the beach. We have done an island tour and beach day at an AI resort.

 

 

Enjoy!

[DisneyPrincess16]

Thanks for the info :)