Orient Beach update...

[jhsocal]

Thank you for your response. Also good to know about chair and umbrella rentals.

[sjb317]

We had a great day at Orient yesterday. Had no problem getting a taxi to or from the beach. Bikini Beach has completely rebuilt and is really nice, lots of chairs & umbrellas, bar & restaurant. Jet skis and parasailing available.

 

It was very sad to see Club Orient so completely devastated but the beach is still beautiful. Chairs and umbrella rental was $18 dollars. Perch Lite serving mixed drinks, beer, and grilled items, hot dogs, hamburgers, ribs, etc. Maybe 20 people at Club O. Bikini Beach was not very busy either.

 

Lots of building going on in the square area and a few places on the beach. Our taxi driver said they need more more hotels to open up. Our ship, Allure, was the only ship in port, our driver said they need more cruise ships to come back.

 

Sherri:)

[idahospud]

We had a great day at Orient yesterday. Had no problem getting a taxi to or from the beach. Bikini Beach has completely rebuilt and is really nice, lots of chairs & umbrellas, bar & restaurant. Jet skis and parasailing available.

 

It was very sad to see Club Orient so completely devastated but the beach is still beautiful. Chairs and umbrella rental was $18 dollars. Perch Lite serving mixed drinks, beer, and grilled items, hot dogs, hamburgers, ribs, etc. Maybe 20 people at Club O. Bikini Beach was not very busy either.

 

Lots of building going on in the square area and a few places on the beach. Our taxi driver said they need more more hotels to open up. Our ship, Allure, was the only ship in port, our driver said they need more cruise ships to come back.

 

Sherri:)

Thanks for the report. We've been to Bikini Bar a couple times over the last month and loved their comfy new lounge chairs. What kind of lounge chairs did they have at Perch Lite? Trying to decide if we will head there next time.

[NBliving]

Are there any bakeries in between the cruise port and Orient Beach? Or is there a bakery open near the cruse port? I've searched the boards and the ones that are recommended are either in Marigot or near Simpson Bay. TIA

[WestTexasCruiser]

We had a great day at Orient yesterday. Had no problem getting a taxi to or from the beach. Bikini Beach has completely rebuilt and is really nice, lots of chairs & umbrellas, bar & restaurant. Jet skis and parasailing available.

 

It was very sad to see Club Orient so completely devastated but the beach is still beautiful. Chairs and umbrella rental was $18 dollars. Perch Lite serving mixed drinks, beer, and grilled items, hot dogs, hamburgers, ribs, etc. Maybe 20 people at Club O. Bikini Beach was not very busy either.

 

Lots of building going on in the square area and a few places on the beach. Our taxi driver said they need more more hotels to open up. Our ship, Allure, was the only ship in port, our driver said they need more cruise ships to come back.

 

Sherri:)

So glad to hear Orient is open for business. We will be there October 30th, and were really bummed about the previous photos/reports of the beach. Thanks so much for the updates!

[sjb317]

Thanks for the report. We've been to Bikini Bar a couple times over the last month and loved their comfy new lounge chairs. What kind of lounge chairs did they have at Perch Lite? Trying to decide if we will head there next time.

 

They had the ones they’ve had forever, the orange and white plastic strap chairs:') The chairs at Bikini did look comfy!

 

Sherri:)

[jhsocal]

Did you see any ship tour buses, or was everyone going by taxi?

On French side did they accept U.S. dollars or do you need euros?

[idahospud]

Did you see any ship tour buses, or was everyone going by taxi?

On French side did they accept U.S. dollars or do you need euros?

No tour buses, just taxis. Made it nice and quiet there. US dollars work just fine.

[jhsocal]

Thank you for that information.Interesting, no tour buses, , cruise lines do not think things have returned enough to normal to justify them.

[idahospud]

Thank you for that information.Interesting, no tour buses, , cruise lines do not think things have returned enough to normal to justify them.

Orient Beach hasn't returned to normal yet and couldn't support tour buses of people. There aren't enough places open.

[idahospud]

Did you see any ship tour buses, or was everyone going by taxi?

On French side did they accept U.S. dollars or do you need euros?

Just a clarification- To get to Orient Beach you need a taxi. There are smaller buses used for tours elsewhere on the Island.

[idahospud]

Thank you for that information.Interesting, no tour buses, , cruise lines do not think things have returned enough to normal to justify them.

A clarification- To get to Orient Beach you need a taxi. There are smaller buses used for tours elsewhere on the Island.

[sjb317]

Thank you for that information.Interesting, no tour buses, , cruise lines do not think things have returned enough to normal to justify them.

 

A family of five shared our taxi to the beach. They only stayed about 20 min as they did not like the area, said there was not enough action. Too be fair, we arrived about 9 am and there was not much going on but it did pick up around 11. I think the wife wanted shops, etc, not a day at the beach.

 

Sherri🙂

[Chillidog]

We had a great day at Orient yesterday. Had no problem getting a taxi to or from the beach. Bikini Beach has completely rebuilt and is really nice, lots of chairs & umbrellas, bar & restaurant. Jet skis and parasailing available.

 

It was very sad to see Club Orient so completely devastated but the beach is still beautiful. Chairs and umbrella rental was $18 dollars. Perch Lite serving mixed drinks, beer, and grilled items, hot dogs, hamburgers, ribs, etc. Maybe 20 people at Club O. Bikini Beach was not very busy either.

 

Lots of building going on in the square area and a few places on the beach. Our taxi driver said they need more more hotels to open up. Our ship, Allure, was the only ship in port, our driver said they need more cruise ships to come back.

 

Sherri:)

How much was the taxi for 2 to Orient? Thx

[sjb317]

How much was the taxi for 2 to Orient? Thx

 

Price depends on number of passengers. Seven of us shared a cab so it was $7 per person.

 

Sherri:)

[GomezAddams]

We were at Orient beach last week. It looks very different from the pictures I've seen pre-huricane. There's not much there - just a restaurant (Bikini Beach) with a stretch of beach in front of it with several beach chairs and umbrellas. There was an outfit renting jet skis and doing parasail rides.

 

I think the taxi ride was $7 per person, but be sure to tell the port transportation helpers that you only want one way - the lines are MUCH shorter, and there are a ton of taxis at the beach waiting to take you back to the cruise line.

 

The stretch of beach that used to be the nude beach is deserted. It looks like they are building condos in that area.

 

It appears that the nude beach is now about 1/2 mile down the beach just past a pile of rocks. The buildings at that stretch of beach (Club Orient?) are pretty much destroyed.

[jhsocal]

idahospud, confirms what you indicated, rep. from Holland America tour group, there are no HAL tours going to the French beaches.at this time.

[Cruisini]

We will be there in November and can't wait to go to our favorite Orient Beach! We used to love to eat at a little open air restaurant (shack) on the beach with the best pork ribs ever. I don't remember the name, but I'm sure it is gone. Hopefully, they will rebuild. Thank you for all the information. We will try to get there early and get chairs!