Carambola Beach Break - RCCL Tour Review

[ugagal07]

Just off the Harmony last week and took the Carambola Beach Break tour to the Carambola Beach Club.  There were several departure times for this excursion, Royal swapped them around from what people signed up for, so check your tickets on board.  We were able to get it to the time we wanted after 30  minutes with the Shore Excursion team.  

We traveled with 2 unvaxed kids, so we had to take a ship tour.  All unvaxed families met in the comedy club to be escorted off the ship to meet the tour operator where the vaxed guests met up.  We then all stood in a line together and were put on busses.  Our bus broke down, multiple times, on the way back. It was a little nerve-wracking.  You drive over Timothy Hill and will get to stop on the way back for pictures.  It is a beautiful sight.

 

Once we got to Carambola Beach Club, you walked through the main building and got a bottle of water on the way out to the beach.  Inside you could rent an umbrella for $10, but could only put 2 chairs with it and couldn't move them.  There was also a bar there.  People near us ordered food and drinks and the common theme was really slow.  There were far more guests than the servers could handle.

 

The beach was honestly really disappointing.  It wasn't a true beach. We were on the far end, only place left open, and there was grass growing up through the sand and standing funky water. Further down the beach could have been better, but those chairs were full when we arrived. The beach is on the Caribbean side, so there are no waves. There was a starfish near the rocks and some small fish swimming around the kids liked to chase. 

 

We paid for an umbrella, but couldn't move another chair over, so the kids sat on the sand. Overall, we wouldn't go back. We typically do independent tours, but covid rules don't allow that for kids right now. 

[bonship]

We went on the Princess excursion to Carambola yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed it. The drive there was beautiful and informative. Umbrella rental was 10$ but we moved 4 chairs closeby and no one said anything about it. Princess tours were the only people there, so there were probably 100 empty spots. There is pretty good snorkeling around the rocks. My husband saw 4 squid in a line, which was very cool. Also speckled sting ray and many fish. Everyone on our bus seemed very happy with the three hours we spent at Carambola This was our third trip to St Kitts. Love the island. 

[kjenaz]

We went on this tour last month.  While we enjoyed it, we agree it was WAY OVER CROWDED.  I was surprised we were able to walk down to the Discovery Beach Bar and order very affordable drinks there.  Prior to Covid we would take a cab to Carambola and walk down to Discover Bar (Rough, but we like it).  The the excursion thru RCCL was 5 times more expensive and I agree that the chair situation was much less than optimal.  We did see great things snorkeling, but you must go out to the very narrow reef.  (We were constantly stopping people from WALKIN ON IT - Clueless).  We did find out AFTER THE FACT that we could have gotten off the ship and done  cab "Tour" arranged at the tour booth, on our own to Carmabola, but the cruise line did not share that prior to our day.  Note we were all vaccinated.

[cementhands]

On 12/1/2021 at 3:38 PM, ugagal07 said:

Just off the Harmony last week and took the Carambola Beach Break tour to the Carambola Beach Club.  There were several departure times for this excursion, Royal swapped them around from what people signed up for, so check your tickets on board.  We were able to get it to the time we wanted after 30  minutes with the Shore Excursion team.  

We traveled with 2 unvaxed kids, so we had to take a ship tour.  All unvaxed families met in the comedy club to be escorted off the ship to meet the tour operator where the vaxed guests met up.  We then all stood in a line together and were put on busses.  Our bus broke down, multiple times, on the way back. It was a little nerve-wracking.  You drive over Timothy Hill and will get to stop on the way back for pictures.  It is a beautiful sight.

 

Once we got to Carambola Beach Club, you walked through the main building and got a bottle of water on the way out to the beach.  Inside you could rent an umbrella for $10, but could only put 2 chairs with it and couldn't move them.  There was also a bar there.  People near us ordered food and drinks and the common theme was really slow.  There were far more guests than the servers could handle.

 

The beach was honestly really disappointing.  It wasn't a true beach. We were on the far end, only place left open, and there was grass growing up through the sand and standing funky water. Further down the beach could have been better, but those chairs were full when we arrived. The beach is on the Caribbean side, so there are no waves. There was a starfish near the rocks and some small fish swimming around the kids liked to chase. 

 

We paid for an umbrella, but couldn't move another chair over, so the kids sat on the sand. Overall, we wouldn't go back. We typically do independent tours, but covid rules don't allow that for kids right now. 

We love Carambola beach club and just get off ship, grab some others to share cab and enjoy the place. Great snorkeling 🤿 from shore. We got our own gear. Usually walk down to the Shipwreck bar for old time sake!

 

[PORT ROYAL]

On 12/1/2021 at 8:38 PM, ugagal07 said:

Just off the Harmony last week and took the Carambola Beach Break tour to the Carambola Beach Club.  There were several departure times for this excursion, Royal swapped them around from what people signed up for, so check your tickets on board.  We were able to get it to the time we wanted after 30  minutes with the Shore Excursion team.  

We traveled with 2 unvaxed kids, so we had to take a ship tour.  All unvaxed families met in the comedy club to be escorted off the ship to meet the tour operator where the vaxed guests met up.  We then all stood in a line together and were put on busses.  Our bus broke down, multiple times, on the way back. It was a little nerve-wracking.  You drive over Timothy Hill and will get to stop on the way back for pictures.  It is a beautiful sight.

 

Once we got to Carambola Beach Club, you walked through the main building and got a bottle of water on the way out to the beach.  Inside you could rent an umbrella for $10, but could only put 2 chairs with it and couldn't move them.  There was also a bar there.  People near us ordered food and drinks and the common theme was really slow.  There were far more guests than the servers could handle.

 

The beach was honestly really disappointing.  It wasn't a true beach. We were on the far end, only place left open, and there was grass growing up through the sand and standing funky water. Further down the beach could have been better, but those chairs were full when we arrived. The beach is on the Caribbean side, so there are no waves. There was a starfish near the rocks and some small fish swimming around the kids liked to chase. 

 

We paid for an umbrella, but couldn't move another chair over, so the kids sat on the sand. Overall, we wouldn't go back. We typically do independent tours, but covid rules don't allow that for kids right now. 

 Make note to self…. Next visit go to Marriott with the TTE Protocol 

[Jim and Monika]

I would make the Marriott decision closer to time of arrival. When we were last there, we called in advance about a day pass and the seaweed on the beach as it has been a problem in the past. They assured us that the beach was free and clear. When we got there, we asked to see the beach area before paying. It had seaweed everywhere and they were piling it up on the beach for removal. The smell was awful. We ended up going to Carambola Beach and had a very relaxing time. The area was busy and the water was calm and had a sandy bottom. Keep in mind that the Marriott is on the ocean side and Carambola in on the Caribbeans side. Our visit was over 3 years ago, maybe things have changed since for both areas.

[cruisinglady65]

Does cramboka Beach Resort accept credit card for balance of excursion