Carnival Cruise-Southern Caribbean in May

[Jordan475]

Hello all,

 

My partner and I are taking our first cruise in late May.  It is the Carnival Fascination, leaving San Juan (with a night at a hotel in Old San Juan) with stops in St. Thomas, Sint Maarten, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, and Barbados.  We have usually done independent travel in the past, so this will be a new experience.  We're in our mid-late 30's.   We've never been to any of these islands before (though I have been to San Juan) and would like a nice variety of excursions (whether ship based or otherwise).  I'd like to have some combination of beaches, snorkeling, historical sites, hikes, maybe rum distilleries, but not sure what would be best  on which island to get a nice variety.  Basically something unique to each island, to get a good experience.  I would appreciate any thoughts!

 

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[happycrafter207]

We have cruised before but never been to most of these islands. We are trying to decide which islands we need to do shore excursions and which we can just hang around port. We enjoy going to distilleries and seeing historical sites. My hubby isn't a huge fan of beach days so I can only probably talk him into one day of that. 

Anyone have any suggestions?

[Aplmac]

39 minutes ago, happycrafter207 said:

We have cruised before but never been to most of these islands.

We are trying to decide which islands we need to do shore excursions

and which we can just hang around port. ===> Ugh!

We enjoy going to distilleries and seeing historical sites.

My hubby isn't a huge fan of beach days

so I can only probably talk him into one day of that. ===> The poor man...

 

Hanging around ports is never a good idea,

unless you're so "urban" you can't help yourself.

 

Beach time is largely over-rated,

unless you've never/rarely done the ocean.

Your hubby and I can agree on that one!!

If your husband must endure one beach day,

St. Lucia or Barbados might be that day,

but at the expense of seeing all our island sights, instead!

 

As first-timers on these islands, the best use of time and money

is to engage an island tour and get to see the place.
Taxis abound at all these stops so you'll have no problem finding one.
Just GO sight-seeing! You'll encounter all sorts of stuff.

 

If you can get together 3 or 4 couples in a group

you  might hire one of those larger 10-seater vans

and maybe keep individual costs a bit lower.

 

DON'T forget your camera

if you're getting out to Cockleshell Bay in St. Kitts...
where you might also do some beach-time, in between things.

 

[reedprincess]

On 2/17/2020 at 12:38 PM, Jordan475 said:

Hello all,

 

My partner and I are taking our first cruise in late May.  It is the Carnival Fascination, leaving San Juan (with a night at a hotel in Old San Juan) with stops in St. Thomas, Sint Maarten, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, and Barbados.  We have usually done independent travel in the past, so this will be a new experience.  We're in our mid-late 30's.   We've never been to any of these islands before (though I have been to San Juan) and would like a nice variety of excursions (whether ship based or otherwise).  I'd like to have some combination of beaches, snorkeling, historical sites, hikes, maybe rum distilleries, but not sure what would be best  on which island to get a nice variety.  Basically something unique to each island, to get a good experience.  I would appreciate any thoughts!

 

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For St Lucia, definitely an island your - visit the iconic Pitons, volcano, waterfall, and so on.  

Cosol, Spencer Ambrose, Joy's Ocean Adventure, Joe Knows, Real St Lucia Experience, and so on all offer an excellent day tour overview.  

 

[beshears]

I have not read anyone's posting, but we plan to do the same (provided the ships are MOVING) ship in March. I would highly recommend Cosol Tours for St. Lucia, if you don't find something else to do.  I have used them twice, and plan to take 6 people with me in St. Lucia on the Cosol tours.