Live from Sea Dream 2 ... Part 3

[DisneyJen]

Glad to hear that the Kaliks and the wulicnys had a great trip!

 

I told you when we said bon voyage that you would have an incredible week:p

 

Thanks for the reports!

[Champagne Lady]

As I read through the previous postings, my excitement has kept increasing. Bob and I just can't wait to leave on December 11. We sent an email to SeaDream asking a few questions about the number of bookings they have for this cruise and the percentage of people under 18. As yet we have not gotten a response and this was a week ago. Typically is the crew pretty responsive to special requests?

 

How is the shopping?

 

Do any of the islands have casinos?

 

 

 

 

Just counting the days!!!!! :) :p

[zqvol]

Hi Champagne Lady

 

I just looked at your itinerary. You are going to have a great time. If you go to Phillipsburg on St. Martin you will find both casinos and lots of shopping. St Barths has some shopping, and of course St. Thomas is known for its shopping. The other islands are wonderful but not for casinos or shopping. Iles des Saintes, Jost van Dyke and Virgin Gorda are just wonderful places.

 

If the weather is good I would bet that you have your champagne splash on Jost van Dyke. Be sure to go to Foxy’s if you get a chance. It is one of those places that you have to be able to say that you have been to visit. On Iles des Saintes you can expect a shore side casual where the cruise director will take you across the island to a wonderful bay to swim and snorkel, or you can explore the small island on your own. If you haven’t been to the baths on Virgin Gorda it is also a place to visit, especially if you are a swimmer or snorkel.

[frequent traveler]

Dear Champagne Lady

 

The crew on board the ship is always responsive - I suppose it is sometimes impossible to fulfill a guest's request, but I've never experienced.

 

When it comes to Miami, sometimes it takes a follow up call -- try Andrew Cohen specifically and if he doesn't respond, I've found Bob Lepisto, e-mail address: Blepisto@Seadreamyachtclub.com - to give you a very quick reply.

 

With regard to shopping -- while I'm not a big "name" shopper - Gucci, etc, St.Bart's has them all. But St. Bart's also has some small boutiques that sell beautiful items made of local materials and local artisans. I bought a handwoven purse and a backpack-type purse for my daughter (idiot here didn't recognize the cannabis embroidered on the backpack!!). I loved the French style drugstores with all the wonderful skin products.

 

If you choose to go to the Baths at Virgin Gorda - the store at the top of the path down has some lovely jewelry, again made on the islands with island semi-precious stones.

 

I'm rather skeptical of all of the shopping on St. Martin and St.Thomas but my husband absolutely loves the stores. After scoping out a digital camera here he bought the camera in St.Thomas and got a great deal. At the same shop we also bought my son a water resistant watch (to 30+ feet) and it rusted after a week at Grace Bay, with no dives whatsoever . . . so my motto is buyer beware. However, we live in North Carolina where any hard alcohol is more than 3X the price on an island, so a really good bottle of rum just about always returns with us. As well as a pair or two of sunglasses to replace the ones I lost (duty-free helps).:rolleyes:

 

Don't forget the small casino on the ship. There is black jack and poker - but unfortunately no slots.:( I lose money much faster even via $1.00 blackjack than I do on the slots.

 

You'll have a blast.

 

FT

[Champagne Lady]

Thank you very much. We are also in N.C. in Charlotte. Looking forward to the cheap bottles of rum!!! I will try Andrew again.

[DisneyJen]

FT and zqvol have covered it all:p

 

We have found that liqour prices are about the same on St. Thomas and St. Martin. We usually pick it up in St. Thomas, right at Havensight dock, after the cruise.

 

Have a wonderful trip!!

[kupkab]

wulicny

Just read your trip report. We are on the Dec. 11 SD2 cruise. This is our first SD cruise. It sounds wonderful, and we are very excited. You mentioned that you had to get to the beach early on Just Van Dyke to secure a shady chair. We were surprised when you said that the beach got crowded. Do they not have enough beach chairs for everyone? My husband expects to get off the ship when he wants to and be able to get a shady spot. Is he expecting too much?

[zqvol]

Hi Kupkab

 

On Jost van Dyke there will be plenty of chairs (SD has a reserved area with more than enough chairs, but it is not a "private" area since it is on a public beach, and there is a finite amount of shade with lounge chairs. There are plenty of shady spots just maybe not shady spot with lounge chair.

[Jim Avery]

Hi Kupkab:

I have to second zqvol, on both our SDII and SDI beach parties there were plenty of chairs though not all in shade. You can go ashore or back to the ship as you desire but you do want to be in the water at the noon whistle when the caviar and champagne starts. Not to be missed. Plus, you will wan to be in the water some and if at White Bay Jost van dyke, there are several shady (take the pun) beach bars a few steps away. Wish we were going.

All the best,

Jim.

[ctbjr1309]

For what it's worth, I've never had a problem finding a shady spot and a lounge chair at the beach party on Jost.

[DisneyJen]

But on Prickly Pear you did have your own advance party set up the office in the shade didn't you ctbjr:p

 

There was less shade on Prickly Pear than there was on Jost ... You will find most folks spend the majority of their time in the water ... especially once the champagne starts flowing ... or spraying:D

[ctbjr1309]

But on Prickly Pear you did have your own advance party set up the office in the shade didn't you ctbjr:p

 

Indeed, I did, DJ. I find that it is always helpful to travel with an advance party who can attend to all of those important details.

[wulicny]

There was plenty of shade. And, they didn't seem to mind that some of our friends moved chairs into the shaded area. There are plenty of chairs for everyone, and most wanted to be in the sun. There was plenty of shade to be enjoyed as well. When I say "crowded". I meant that there were more than 5 passengers and 3 Thai spa girls on the beach. :D

 

And we did head down to the Soggy Dollar for a Painkiller, the sunny drink for shady people. ;)

 

By the way, a more detailed trip report will be forthcoming (perhaps with a few pictures?) once "real life" recedes to a more normal pace.

[kupkab]

Thanks everyone for the replies to the shade and beach chair question. My husband is feeling very reassured!

 

wulicny, thanks for the clarification of "crowded". I'll be looking for your forthcoming report.