Inexpensive Caribbean Port Ideas

[lenny45]

Hi all

 

I have finally booked a cruise for my family (husband, 14, 18 and 20 year old) on the Oasis of the Seas for December 7 Day Eastern Caribbean Cruise.

 

I would love any advice on inexpensive/free activities that we can do in the ports e.g beaches, bars, shops etc. We never book through the ship as they are always way too expensive. We will be happy to catch a taxi to a destination. We are travelling from Australia and we need to save every cent! Looking forward to your ideas! Thanks.

[Bonnie J.]

You don't say what ports you are going to but all have beaches you can get to by cab. There really aren't any beaches in San Juan though. That is a city but there are two free local buses you can get on & off where ever you want. If you go there you MUST go to El Moro. This is the fort built in the 1500's to protect the port. You can Google this.

If you post the ports you'll get more answers.

[dorisis]

The Oasis is a destination in it's self. There is so much to do and see right on the ship without ever getting off.

 

All the beaches can be reached by cab and if you do some research on the ports you can find other places easily reached by walking or by cab.

 

If you sign on to the roll call for your ship and sailing date you can see what other passengers will be doing.

[tomko2]

Hi all

 

I have finally booked a cruise for my family (husband, 14, 18 and 20 year old) on the Oasis of the Seas for December 7 Day Eastern Caribbean Cruise.

 

I would love any advice on inexpensive/free activities that we can do in the ports e.g beaches, bars, shops etc. We never book through the ship as they are always way too expensive. We will be happy to catch a taxi to a destination. We are travelling from Australia and we need to save every cent! Looking forward to your ideas! Thanks.

 

In St. Maarten you can get day passes for the water ferry which transfers you from the ship to the center of town dock (8 minutes). The whole area is beach in both directions from the dock with the main street just a block away. You could have a great beach day there, lounge chairs can be booked for two for the price of a bucket of beer/soda, e.g. around $20. Spend some time walking around the town and some time at the beach - makes for a great day.

If you do decide to leave the town for an excursion please let lots of time for getting back to the pier at the end of the day -- the traffic can be horrendous in the afternoons. Using the water taxi passes you could spend some time on the beach in the morning, boat back to the ship for lunch and then back to town for shopping etc.

St. Thomas, take a taxi to Emerald Beach -- it is lovely and sandy. Again watch your time in the afternoon to be sure you are back onboard on time.

Nassau, we just walk around the town. Not sure what to suggest there.

We are on the Oasis in December as well only we are doing the Western Caribbean (wish we were doing Eastern).

Have you been on the ship before?

Happy Cruising.

[ozarkmama]

You would probably get better answers on the Ports of call forum:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=587

[marco]

We've been to the Caribbean many times, so that makes a difference, but for us, the best time to be on the ship is when it's in port and everyone else is off! Especially true considering the ship you're going to be on.

[Hlitner]

The key to keeping shore-based costs to a minimum is to simply avoid booking tour, whether they are overpriced cruise line excursions, or even private excursions. The ports that are visited by the Oasis are all very developed places where you can simply do things on your own at a substantial savings. For example, in St Thomas we will often just grab a cheap taxi (or even walk) over the Lindbergh Bay where there is a beach (near the airport) that has a couple of beach bars/restaurants and chair rentals. In St Maarten you can easily walk from the port right into Phillpsburg or spend a few dollars on the water taxi. There is shopping, restaurants, and even a beach (Great Bay) right in town. If you want to go to a place like Orient Bay you can grab a taxi (the rates are fixed) and once on the beach you simply walk along the beach and negotiate the best possible deal to rent a few chairs. We have even gotten chairs for free at some places by simply agreeing to buy lunch and drinks at that particular place.

 

You can look at the Port forums here on CC to get some detailed info about doing your own thing. I should add that on St Maarten (where we have spent significant time in a condo), if you want to see multiple parts of the island you could consider just renting a car. A rental car can be quite inexpensive (often no more then $50)) and it gives you the freedom to go where you please. Our only warning about driving on this island is to do your distant exploration early in the day and work your way back towards Phiillipsburg and the Port so you are not too far away when in is time to get back to the ship. You do not want to get stuck in a traffic jam on the French side when trying to get back. A little planning can make driving the island fun.

 

Hank

[cb at sea]

Research! Get a guidebook! There is NOTHING that requires an "excursion"...we always do our own thing...but we DO know something about where we're going...research is KEY!

[lenny45]

In St. Maarten you can get day passes for the water ferry which transfers you from the ship to the center of town dock (8 minutes). The whole area is beach in both directions from the dock with the main street just a block away. You could have a great beach day there, lounge chairs can be booked for two for the price of a bucket of beer/soda, e.g. around $20. Spend some time walking around the town and some time at the beach - makes for a great day.

If you do decide to leave the town for an excursion please let lots of time for getting back to the pier at the end of the day -- the traffic can be horrendous in the afternoons. Using the water taxi passes you could spend some time on the beach in the morning, boat back to the ship for lunch and then back to town for shopping etc.

St. Thomas, take a taxi to Emerald Beach -- it is lovely and sandy. Again watch your time in the afternoon to be sure you are back onboard on time.

Nassau, we just walk around the town. Not sure what to suggest there.

We are on the Oasis in December as well only we are doing the Western Caribbean (wish we were doing Eastern).

Have you been on the ship before?

Happy Cruising.

 

Thanks for your advice....first time on Oasis and first time visiting Caribbean! Really looking forward to it. Hoping my 'big' kids enjoy it too!

Edited February 26, 2015 by lenny45
Grammar

[cruiseapril]

In Nassau, we sometimes take a cab to Paradise Island to the Atlantis Casino and the Marina Village where the yachts are.

 

Also, in Nassau we have walked to the British Colonial Hilton for a drink (or there's Senior Frogs) and have shopped on Bay St. and gone to the Pirate's Museum (a fee there.)

 

There are good walking maps of Nassau and Paradise Island online.

[tomko2]

Thanks for your advice....first time on Oasis and first time visiting Caribbean! Really looking forward to it. Hoping my 'big' kids enjoy it too!

 

Here is a link to a review (very long but very good) of a cruise on the Allure (sister ship to Oasis). By just scrolling thru Harry's review you are likely to pick up some great ideas which would suit your family. On a ship of this size, the more you know the better you can enjoy the ship and the cruise.

 

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2146596