Caribbean Ports to D.I.Y.

[oxygenbanditnot]

Hi everyone, Fly/cruise On Explorer from 3rd feb for 2 weeks.

We do the following ports from , which one's can be D.I.Y.?

We are more interested in the sights and sounds around the main area/town of each port.    Not so bothered by beaches, especially overcrowded one's.

Bridgetown Barbados,  ST.Johns Antigua,  Philipsburg ST.Martin,  Road Town British Virgin Islands, Basseterre St.Kitts,  Bequia ST.Vincent,  

(Bridgetown) Oranjestad Aruba,  Willemstad Curacao,  Kralendijk Bonaire,  St.Georges Granada,  Castries ST.Lucia.

We are OK on mobility, but no objection to Taxi into town.      Will take a few tours, which one's do you recommend?

Thank's in advance.

 

 

[dronnygirl]

Hi, lucky you - all that sun and warmth😎

The Caribbean is the easiest place for DIY trips.  There are taxis and mini buses waiting at every port, the drivers will hold up boards showing maps and info on the places they can take you to.  Its usually $20-25 for a few hours and you usually get time to wander around the port town. We always ensure we are off the ship early as there are often several ships in port and we like to be ahead of the crowds.

Bridgetown - you can walk into the town, it takes around 20 minutes.  There are some interesting markets and places to get a drink. Sundays everywhere closes to you can take a taxi to the beach, a good place is Harbour Lights where they chage for entry but there are sunbeds and parasols as well as a bar and food

Antigua - definitely worth taking a trip which includes Nelson's Dockyard - very interesting and a lovely place. The port is great for shopping and a drink before boarding the ship

Philipsburg - we took a bus to Maho beach to watch the planes landing. The taxis were well organised and they give you a wrist band to cover the journey back. A VERY busy beach but good fun for a 'different' day out

Road Town BVI - there is a bus at the dock that takes you to Cane Garden Beach whici is lovely but gets very busy. We were there before the hurricane and you could walk to the botanical gardens which was pleasant but not sure how that is now

St Kitts - a small port which is pleasant to walk round - otherwise take a trip. There are plenty of interesting places to see including a fort - could recommend Rose & Jim Tours

Bequia - this is a tender port. You get off the tender boat and you are there...it's so small but beautiful. It's like going back in time, there are a few bars and shops.  You can turn to the right and walk to a nice beach

Aruba - again worth taking a trip on one of the buses that leaves the port. Aruba is quite different in that it is very dry and arid with lots of cacti. The bus will bring you back to the port or drop you at Eagle beach which is quite busy but with lots of hotels and facilities, from there you can get the local bus back to the port

Bonaire - again a pleasant litte port to walk round with market stalls. We shared a taxi to Eden beach which is sand and shingle but has a small reef for great snorkelling ( we took some cheap snorkelling equipment with us)

Graneda - love this island.  Worth taking a shared taxi up into the Grand Etang rain forest where we were lucky enough to see monkeys. They also take you to a waterfall where local boys are jumping off high rocks and ladies are walking round in national costume with baskets of fruit on their heads - all for show of course, take some $1 bills for tips. There's a big market worth looking round in the port when you return

St Lucia - beautiful island. Again worth a tour round , can recommend Cosol Tours for a full day with local foods for you to try and plenty of rum included! Otherwise take a taxi to Vigie beach which is quite near and not busy, arrange a time for them to pick you up later

Enjoy your cruise!

 

 

[Vitalsign]

I can recommend the St Kitts railway trip - done it twice. You have to do it from the ships tours as you won't be able to get tickets DIY

IN Castries there is a catamaran trip to the pitons which you book from the ship however we have done it twice booking in the port entrance hall DIY at the booking office You get a fast boat to Soufries and then a coach through the pitons to the sulphur springs, the mud baths and a lovely garden with a waterfall pool Drinks included on the boat You then return to the speed boat and are taken to either Marigot bay where doctor Doolittle was filmed or to a beach below the Pitons No more than 20 on the boat and you decide which to go to

Edited January 24, 2019 by Vitalsign