Carribean Excursions.... Why???

[AnthonyF]

Youngish family and I am wondering why? I want some shopping and a beach with crystal blue warm waters within 20 minutes of the dock. St. Maartin enjoyed the shopping and though the beach by the port was so-so, it had the requisite sand, water and people. Reading some of these tours that include 2-3 hours travel and are pricey when multiplied by 4. Tell me an excursion that is a can't miss (full days in Dominican, St. Thomas & San Juan, 5 Hours in Nassau).

 

Thanks,

[Pisti]

When in St. Thomas, the St John Island Beach Escape or whatever they're calling it. Not the tour, the beach package. You can get there on your own but it's a hassle esp with kids. The ship's excursion is easy and it is the best day at the beach you'll have. People will tell you Megan's Bay etc and they're ok but Trunk Bay on St. John is just something out of a movie even if it is full of tourists! JMHO:cool: There is shopping right at the dock in St Thomas and no rush to get to town and back. The major stores are all there.

PS It's not within 20 minutes of the dock. You are picked up at the dock but it's about 40 minutes to get there by boat.

PPS We don't even get off the ship in the Dominican Republic. Unless it's changed in the past year or so , it was not worthy of Celebrity stopping.

[AnthonyF]

Thanks and sounds very enticing...

[HurricaneSally]

In St. Maartin hop on a cab and go to Orient Beach, its gorgeous and much cheaper than what the ship offers. In fact, on most islands just ask the cabbie where the nicest beach is, and they'll be happy to take you.

 

I say on most, because Jamaica is the one island you need to take a tour. To travel around by yourself is iffy at best. We never take cruise excursions and always spend much less on our own. After you have cruised awhile you too will learn this.

[espmass]

We never take excursions unless there is something we want to do that we can't do on our own. About the only excursion we take (and we try to do this at one island on each cruise) is one of the catamaran snorkeling excursions. If we want to sightsee or just go to a beach or a shopping area, we grab a cab. Most cabbies will be happy to give you a quick sightseeing tour on the way to the beach for just a little extra money and they are usually very informative. I wouldn't do this in Jamaica or the Dominican Republic though.

[osiebosie]

We don't take excursions either. We did once, in Costa Rica. We took a volcano excursion, with a couple of side stops. The volcano was fantastic, but you can look at a volcano only so long. We stayed for a couple of hours. It rained, and we got chilled and wanted to leave. But, we were stuck on the timetable of the bus driver. So, we wasted time at a port doing something we didn't want to do. Just sitting around.

 

Afterward, we did some checking, and found out that if we had hired our own taxi, it would have been less expensive, and we most assuredly would have had more fun.

 

Lesson learned, for us, anyway. Never have done another excursion. We find that the taxi drivers know their islands, and have good advice. We tell them what we want: swimming at a good beach, snorkeling, privacy, whatever. Alot of times we just rent a car and go off on our own.

 

Have fun,

 

Shay

[Lsimon]

When in St. Thomas, the St John Island Beach Escape or whatever they're calling it. Not the tour, the beach package. You can get there on your own but it's a hassle esp with kids. The ship's excursion is easy and it is the best day at the beach you'll have. People will tell you Megan's Bay etc and they're ok but Trunk Bay on St. John is just something out of a movie even if it is full of tourists! JMHO:cool: There is shopping right at the dock in St Thomas and no rush to get to town and back. The major stores are all there...

 

To each their own I guess - as we've always traveled to Trunk Bay on our own. Don't remember the exact cost but its about $20 or $25PP for taxi to Red Hook, Ferry to St. John, Taxi to trunk bay and park admission (if they even charged). We prefer to be on our own and our own schedule - well at least only subject to the schedule of the ferry and the ship. We've always had plenty of time at the beach and made it back in time to drop our stuff and get into town for a little shopping. Only time we had an issue was once when we traveled all the way to Trunk Bay only to find beach was closed due to high waves - while alternate beaches such as Megan's Bay would have been open. Next time we thought we were smart by getting phone number for park to check conditions before traveling, but they didn't have conditions to report until we were already on the ferry over.

 

And it does take a little over an hour to travel on your own. We usually leave around 15 to 20 past the hour to easily make the ferry (on the hour). Also, be prepared for the large taxi's to wait until they are full - sometimes with passengers to be dropped at other points along the way (i.e. slightly out of the way). One taxi driver told us they were required to do this to minimize traffic - not sure if this is true but it seems pretty standard and unavoidable - at least when going to/from beaches and Red Hook.

[Pisti]

Youngish family and I am wondering why? I want some shopping and a beach with crystal blue warm waters within 20 minutes of the dock. St. Maartin enjoyed the shopping and though the beach by the port was so-so, it had the requisite sand, water and people. Reading some of these tours that include 2-3 hours travel and are pricey when multiplied by 4. Tell me an excursion that is a can't miss (full days in Dominican, St. Thomas & San Juan, 5 Hours in Nassau).

 

Thanks,

 

A) I read children in this post...grabbing cabs, on and off the ferry on and off the 2nd cab = hassle

B) Sounds like these people haven't been to St Thomas before, after you've been there a couple of times and if you're only 2 adults, I agree go on your own time

IMHO much better off on the ship's excursion. The charge is reduced for kids and no worry about catching the next ferry.

[HappyCruiser]

When first cruising I stuck with the ships' excursions just for the safety factor. Traveling alone I was anxious about being on my own. Over the years I've done some on my own, but usually take the 'easy' road and stick with the ship's excursions. You learn which ports have easier access and take the excursions in the ports which better lend themselves to escorted tours. I even worry about getting in a cab - if I don't arrive at my destination - who would know? I guess I just figure safety in numbers.