EeyoreRN Posted October 19, 2018 #1 Share Posted October 19, 2018 Hi! We are sailing on Freedom of the Seas out of San Juan next May. This is a port-intensive sailing with only one sea day, and we are planning mostly beaching/snorkeling on our own. We would like to choose one (or two) special excursions with a real WOW factor. I am 51, travelling with my 20-something kids. We love adventure, outdoors, scenery, history, wild life, etc. Budget is not too much a factor if it's really a worthwhile experience. Please tell me about your favorite, really special or unique, not-to-be missed excursion in any of the following ports: St. Thomas St. Kitt's St. Lucia Antigua Barbados I also should add that we are leaning towards NOT doing excursions in St. Thomas or Antigua, since they both have so many amazing, easily accessible beaches. If you suggest one on one of those islands, please really sell it :)! Thanks! Eeyore Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mduffy1834 Posted October 19, 2018 #2 Share Posted October 19, 2018 On St. Kitts, we have used Blue Water Safari twice. Great catamaran ride to snorkel spots then onto Nevis for time at the beach and to have one (and only one) bee sting - think that's the name of the drink. Great tour both times, fantastic crew. On St. Lucia, we used Cosol Tours for a full day island tour, which was fantastic. There is so much to see here, especially the Pitons. We ended up at a beach for a couple of hours - tour was part land, part sea and was so memorable. On Barbados, we used Silver Moon Tour to swim with turtles and snorkel - another great adventure 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisen Elf Posted October 19, 2018 #3 Share Posted October 19, 2018 Another vote for Consol Tours on St. Lucia. We saw most of the island, sampled the food, saw the Pitons, and had beach time. As the previous poster said it was part land and sea. We enjoyed the tour very much! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starrcards Posted October 19, 2018 #4 Share Posted October 19, 2018 Loved Boatyard in Barbados. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happymanitee Posted October 19, 2018 #5 Share Posted October 19, 2018 Calabaza sailing in Barbados! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiseguy1016 Posted October 20, 2018 #6 Share Posted October 20, 2018 We did a catamaran excursion with Cool Runnings in Barbados. It was one of our all-time favorite excursions. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare bobmacliberty Posted October 20, 2018 #7 Share Posted October 20, 2018 (edited) +1 Cosol Tours on St. Lucia Edit: Check my Adventure of the Seas review in my signature for lots of pics from Cosol Tours Edited October 20, 2018 by bobmacliberty 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handbellplayer Posted October 20, 2018 #8 Share Posted October 20, 2018 18 hours ago, happymanitee said: Calabaza sailing in Barbados! A second vote for Calabaza - one of our favorite excursions! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggiemom11 Posted October 20, 2018 #9 Share Posted October 20, 2018 We enjoyed The Elegance catamaran in Barbados 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dani negreanu Posted October 20, 2018 #10 Share Posted October 20, 2018 (edited) St. Kitts - Thenford Grey "Island highlights" Antigua - Luxury Safari Antigua (with Elmo) St. Lucia - DON'T use James Touring Service Edited October 20, 2018 by dani negreanu forgot one item 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick2000 Posted October 20, 2018 #11 Share Posted October 20, 2018 Will be watchin this tread. I’m on the same cruise 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brookie848 Posted October 20, 2018 #12 Share Posted October 20, 2018 We are cruising a southern itinerary at the end of February and have rented a monohull boat for the day in St. Lucia. We didn't want to risk driving on the island because we have a tendency to get car sick. I'll definitely post a review on the St. Lucia board when we return because I haven't been able to find a lot of information for there beyond Cosol and Spencer Ambrose. In Antigua, we visited Beachlimerz for the best beach day we've ever had. We plan on going there again on this cruise. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acruisingcouple Posted October 21, 2018 #13 Share Posted October 21, 2018 Another vote for Cosol tour in St. Lucia! It was the best shore excursion we have done. You see and do so much- well worth the cost. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruising Latitude Posted October 21, 2018 #14 Share Posted October 21, 2018 (edited) I learned Cosol Tours no longer does the return trip by the sea. Instead they now use a van both ways. Anyone who have used Cosol Tours very recently (within the past one year) can confirm that? Edited October 21, 2018 by ms Eden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voyager70 Posted October 21, 2018 #15 Share Posted October 21, 2018 Excellence Catamaran in Antigua remains our favorite Caribbean excursion ever. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dani negreanu Posted October 22, 2018 #16 Share Posted October 22, 2018 On 10/21/2018 at 12:21 AM, brookie848 said: We are cruising a southern itinerary at the end of February and have rented a monohull boat for the day in St. Lucia. We didn't want to risk driving on the island because we have a tendency to get car sick. 22 hours ago, ms Eden said: I learned Cosol Tours no longer does the return trip by the sea. Instead they now use a van both ways. I'm also getting car sick, that's why I've looked into the option of doing one way (to the Pitons) by car, and returning by sea, and that's almost 2 years ago. Cosol wasn't offering this option even then. Cosol was highly recommended, but I wasn't ready for 4 hours in a car... The only one offering the option of one way by car and back by sea was James Touring Services (at least on paper). Turns out he just left us on the pier, promising that soon we'll be on our way, but in the end it was a boat catering to land vacationers, who stopped at different locations, and we barely made the "all aboard" by several minutes.... The "all aboard" was at 4.30PM, and James promised us several times (according to our agreement) that we'll be back on ship by 2PM.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisinfromtampa Posted October 22, 2018 #17 Share Posted October 22, 2018 If you end up deciding you want to do something in St. Thomas, we did the BOSS underwater adventure, and it was AMAZING! We'd totally do it again. Had a blast. The views were great, and it was just plain fun. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northumberland Posted October 23, 2018 #18 Share Posted October 23, 2018 My vote is for Boss Underwater adventures in St.Thomas as well. We did that one in April and found it to be one of the best excursions we've ever done. Lot's of different types of sea life that the divers encourage to interact with customers, a ship wreck and the fun of operating an underwater scooter. Afterward, there is time to go snorkelling if you choose. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrivesLikeMario Posted October 23, 2018 #19 Share Posted October 23, 2018 Best thing we've done is ride ATVs in St. Kitts. LOTS of fun for novices and experts! https://www.viator.com/tours/St-Kitts/ATV-Tour-of-St-Kitts/d930-6461ATV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCruisers Posted October 23, 2018 #20 Share Posted October 23, 2018 On 10/19/2018 at 4:23 PM, EeyoreRN said: Hi! We are sailing on Freedom of the Seas out of San Juan next May. This is a port-intensive sailing with only one sea day, and we are planning mostly beaching/snorkeling on our own. We would like to choose one (or two) special excursions with a real WOW factor. I am 51, travelling with my 20-something kids. We love adventure, outdoors, scenery, history, wild life, etc. Budget is not too much a factor if it's really a worthwhile experience. Please tell me about your favorite, really special or unique, not-to-be missed excursion in any of the following ports: St. Thomas St. Kitt's St. Lucia Antigua Barbados I also should add that we are leaning towards NOT doing excursions in St. Thomas or Antigua, since they both have so many amazing, easily accessible beaches. If you suggest one on one of those islands, please really sell it :)! Thanks! Eeyore On 10/19/2018 at 4:23 PM, EeyoreRN said: In reply: St. Kitts -- Catamaran Sail to Nevis Barbados -- Swimming with the turtles on a long catamaran excurson ... not a quicky. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EeyoreRN Posted November 1, 2018 Author #21 Share Posted November 1, 2018 On 10/21/2018 at 6:53 PM, ms Eden said: I learned Cosol Tours no longer does the return trip by the sea. Instead they now use a van both ways. Anyone who have used Cosol Tours very recently (within the past one year) can confirm that? On 10/22/2018 at 5:30 PM, dani negreanu said: I'm also getting car sick, that's why I've looked into the option of doing one way (to the Pitons) by car, and returning by sea, and that's almost 2 years ago. Cosol wasn't offering this option even then. Cosol was highly recommended, but I wasn't ready for 4 hours in a car... The only one offering the option of one way by car and back by sea was James Touring Services (at least on paper). Turns out he just left us on the pier, promising that soon we'll be on our way, but in the end it was a boat catering to land vacationers, who stopped at different locations, and we barely made the "all aboard" by several minutes.... The "all aboard" was at 4.30PM, and James promised us several times (according to our agreement) that we'll be back on ship by 2PM.... Such a bummer about this! I was leaning toward booking Cosol. Still might, as we really want to experience the volcanic mud baths! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EeyoreRN Posted November 1, 2018 Author #22 Share Posted November 1, 2018 On 10/22/2018 at 10:23 PM, DrivesLikeMario said: Best thing we've done is ride ATVs in St. Kitts. LOTS of fun for novices and experts! https://www.viator.com/tours/St-Kitts/ATV-Tour-of-St-Kitts/d930-6461ATV Looks like a blast, but I'm chicken when it comes to ATVs. I know so many who have been badly hurt or killed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EeyoreRN Posted November 1, 2018 Author #23 Share Posted November 1, 2018 LOL folks, I'm not any closer to a decision...in fact, I think I'm more confused than ever! Now considering doing 3 instead of 2. 1. Definitely something that involves the Pitons and volcanic mud baths in St. Lucia, hope I can find a sail so we can see Pitons from the water. 2. St. Kitts - sail to Nevis? Full Island Tour? ATV's (yikes)? 3. Barbados - catamaran sail with lunch? (ship offers one that looks identical to Calabaza on sale now for $2 less.) Or just Boatyard beach with snorkel? What to do?! 4. Now that BOSS thing in St. Thomas is in contention but I had pretty much decided on either Water Island (Honeymoon Beach) or Magens Bay. Easy/cheap awesome beach day. Any more feedback? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrivesLikeMario Posted November 1, 2018 #24 Share Posted November 1, 2018 1 hour ago, EeyoreRN said: Looks like a blast, but I'm chicken when it comes to ATVs. I know so many who have been badly hurt or killed! I get that. I was a little intimidated too since it was my first time. The guide put me right behind him at first then moved me later. It was much easier than I expected and we didn't take any chances. If you're good at driving anything, it comes pretty naturally I think and with the guide there, there was no opportunity for stupid hot shot moves and speed was limited to about 60-65 mph. (I know you're not up for this, but in case anyone else is reading.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrivesLikeMario Posted November 1, 2018 #25 Share Posted November 1, 2018 58 minutes ago, EeyoreRN said: LOL folks, I'm not any closer to a decision...in fact, I think I'm more confused than ever! Now considering doing 3 instead of 2. 1. Definitely something that involves the Pitons and volcanic mud baths in St. Lucia, hope I can find a sail so we can see Pitons from the water. 2. St. Kitts - sail to Nevis? Full Island Tour? ATV's (yikes)? 3. Barbados - catamaran sail with lunch? (ship offers one that looks identical to Calabaza on sale now for $2 less.) Or just Boatyard beach with snorkel? What to do?! 4. Now that BOSS thing in St. Thomas is in contention but I had pretty much decided on either Water Island (Honeymoon Beach) or Magens Bay. Easy/cheap awesome beach day. Any more feedback? These private tours come very highly recommended by fellow CCers: 1. Best tour in St. Lucia 2. Sailing may be more to your taste 3. Sailing and snorkeling in Barbados is good once. Here are some other options for you:Barbados Glory Tours 4. Last two times we were in St. Thomas, the people at Water Island looked like they were having a really peaceful, nice time! I'd do that. Avoid the chaos of traffic that is St. Thomas and get away to a quiet beach. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now