Guadeloupe?

[Snorkel Dawg]

There were a few posters that ships stopped in Guadeloupe last month. Do anyone have some update info?

Anything would help

Happy sailing!!

Second time around and my 40th birthday cruise on the

MAASDAM!!!

10/24/08-11/07/08

 

 

Yo Airlink happy b-day shout out

 

Seems theres no info bout this ilse, are we the first of the big boart cruise ship p[assengers to visit? Seems the same bout Martiunuque...

 

What are your plans there? We were thinkin of trying to see "Roucher Du Dimante? Visiting Cousteaus underwater park

[airlink diva]

Yo Airlink happy b-day shout out

 

Seems theres no info bout this ilse, are we the first of the big boart cruise ship p[assengers to visit? Seems the same bout Martiunuque...

 

What are your plans there? We were thinkin of trying to see "Roucher Du Dimante? Visiting Cousteaus underwater park

Hello!!

I really don't have any firm plans for Guadeloupe right now. I'm going to check out some things about the island on the web and I hope by the time my cruise gets around, more info is on this site.

You are right about Martinique, last year I was running into the same problem finding out info. There was a good review about a month prior to my sailing and there was someone from Martinique who e-mail me with some info.

It was the one port that I played it by whim.

I end up having a great time walking the cobblestone streets, visiting the farmer's and craft's market. Ordering pastries in my very weak French. I also went to a local supermarket and enjoyed the local vibe.

When I returned to the port area, I sat outside near the ship entrance,eating my last pastry and enjoying the moment. It's the times like that when I truly enjoy myself and crusing to other parts.

Please write back on this thread with info! I can't wait!

Thanks about my birthday!! I only turn 40 once!!

Happy sailing!!

Second time around and my 40th birthday cruise on the

MAASDSAM

10/24/08-11/7/08

[Snorkel Dawg]

Yo Diva,

 

Only 12 days& we'll be in Guadaloupe. We plan on visiting Grand anse du Diamant beach. Has a great view of the rock formation/lsland "Roucher Du Diamant". I've read there's a couple of small beach bars. Neither my wife or I speak any French. lol Might be interesting! Plan on picking up some Euros

 

I'll tell you how goes it...

Dawg

[airlink diva]

Yo Diva,

 

Only 12 days& we'll be in Guadaloupe. We plan on visiting Grand anse du Diamant beach. Has a great view of the rock formation/lsland "Roucher Du Diamant". I've read there's a couple of small beach bars. Neither my wife or I speak any French. lol Might be interesting! Plan on picking up some Euros

 

I'll tell you how goes it...

 

Dawg

Happy sailing!!

I look forward to hearing about your stop there!!

Second time around and my 40th birthday cruise on the

MAASDAM

10/24/08-11/07/08

[cruisingnurse99]

I'm also wondering if it's best to take the ship tour in port ?

 

Chris209 are you back from the Costa Atlantica, it would be great to hear about your experience .

[Snorkel Dawg]

Hey Diva,

 

 

I can share some info w/you...Just Returned from our cruise yesterday. While visiting Guadaloupe we took a 30 minute taxi to St. Anne beach. We were offered rides for as much as $70.00 for the 4 of us but walked around the pier a bit asking a few other cabbies how much? Don't accept the 1st offers you get, you'll get better offers! We settled on $40.00 US ($10.00) each with a local French woman. This was quite a difficult negotiation. Us not speaking any French & they don't really speak much English. The ride was about 1/2 hour each way. The beach was absolutly wonderful, picture perfect, walk in snorkeling (best spots were straight out from Club Med building) saw an red/pink octopus there, lots of fish, awesome multi blue hued water, palm tree lined beach. There's nowhere that I saw to buy anything except the beach bar/grill at the Club Med Resort. I went inside and asked the guest relations lady to change some $ into euros. A customer at the bar told me they had done this for him. As the beach bar wouldn't accept US $. I did the same & she was kinda rude to me but eventually did it. The exchange rate was 1 Us $ = .60 Euro. For 50 US I got 30 Euro & some change. Then I was promptly escorted (by a very large man) out to the beach bar & told not to enter the hotel area. But that I could stay at the beach bar. We bought some local beers walked back to our spot on the beach. Note that there are topless women here & there on the beach. Didn't bother me or my family & I have two daughters. Different maybe.

 

Note that I had asked at the ships pursers desk to exchange dollars but they had none. I also asked her where in town was the bank or exchange & she didn't know

 

My opinion only...Is is beautiful, yes. but it's also kind of difficult due to the lauguage, the $, & the people are not as friendly as other islands.

I enjoyed our time there lounging/snorkeling, but right now I don't see myself ever going there again

Dawg

[airlink diva]

Hey Diva,

 

 

I can share some info w/you...Just Returned from our cruise yesterday. While visiting Guadaloupe we took a 30 minute taxi to St. Anne beach. We were offered rides for as much as $70.00 for the 4 of us but walked around the pier a bit asking a few other cabbies how much? Don't accept the 1st offers you get, you'll get better offers! We settled on $40.00 US ($10.00) each with a local French woman. This was quite a difficult negotiation. Us not speaking any French & they don't really speak much English. The ride was about 1/2 hour each way. The beach was absolutly wonderful, picture perfect, walk in snorkeling (best spots were straight out from Club Med building) saw an red/pink octopus there, lots of fish, awesome multi blue hued water, palm tree lined beach. There's nowhere that I saw to buy anything except the beach bar/grill at the Club Med Resort. I went inside and asked the guest relations lady to change some $ into euros. A customer at the bar told me they had done this for him. As the beach bar wouldn't accept US $. I did the same & she was kinda rude to me but eventually did it. The exchange rate was 1 Us $ = .60 Euro. For 50 US I got 30 Euro & some change. Then I was promptly escorted (by a very large man) out to the beach bar & told not to enter the hotel area. But that I could stay at the beach bar. We bought some local beers walked back to our spot on the beach. Note that there are topless women here & there on the beach. Didn't bother me or my family & I have two daughters. Different maybe.

 

Note that I had asked at the ships pursers desk to exchange dollars but they had none. I also asked her where in town was the bank or exchange & she didn't know

 

My opinion only...Is is beautiful, yes. but it's also kind of difficult due to the lauguage, the $, & the people are not as friendly as other islands.

I enjoyed our time there lounging/snorkeling, but right now I don't see myself ever going there again

Dawg

First of all, I hope you had a great trip! I was thinking about you this weekend!

That was kind of rude concerning the "escort". So what that you weren't staying there, you wanted to spend money and for that the should be glad!

The only thing about traveling somewhere with the Euro as the main currency is the US dollar is very weak against it and you really have to budget.

I noticed in Martinque that they are more formal with tourist. But it didn't bother me. I guess that I need to start working on my French again.

Thanks for the info!

Are you doing a full review on your cruise? If so tell us where you are posting it.

Happy sailing!!

Second time around and my 40th birthday cruise on the

MAASDAM!!

10/24/08-11/07/08

[Snorkel Dawg]

I can highly reccomend getting a taxi ($10.00 PP for the 4 of my family each way) to the wonderful St. Annes beach. The snorkeling is very good straight out from the Club Med hotel. You may purchase food & drink at their beach side bar but be advised they will not take US dollars. There was a local Rastafarian cracking fresh coconuts, & chopping up frsh pineapple for $2.00 each (& he did accept US $) had a great time at this "picture postard" beach...

[Snorkel Dawg]

getting together w/a group of 10 total in the van taxi. It's a much better deal. We were offered $75.00 ride each way! Way too much. Here's my tip, don't accept the 1st taxi offer you recieve. Just be patient, you'll get better offers!

 

Try & get some Euros before getting on the island as not to waste time.

 

Dawg

[ski2cruise]

Just wondered what AirLinkDiva did in Guadeloupe from the Maasdam. We are taking the Maasdam on Dec 5 and also stopping in Point-A-Pitre, Guadeloupe. It will be on a Sunday, of coarse.... We were in Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe on the Azamara Quest in January, also on a Sunday, and never left the town, unfortunately. The shops were closed all morning , the taxis were very pricey, the public buses were not running, and there was nowhere to exchange our dollars to Euros. We don't speak French. It ended up being a good day to relax, check out the sleepy town, hang out on our balcony, and watch the native dance show that performed most of the day outside the gang plank. In our upcoming trip we are hoping to see some of the interesting sights around the island without spending a fortune. We would like to see the volcano, some beaches, possibly snorkel, and curious about the Cousteau marine center.

[airlink diva]

Good morning!!

I did a tour with shoretrips in Guadeloupe. It was one of the best tours that I ever taken!! I can say that I did more and experience more that 99% of the people on my cruise!!

Stroll down to "Guadeloupe on Sunday" on this port of call board (it's about seven or eight down from this one) for a detail about my tour.

I know two of my tablemates went on a small tour of the island, a tour to the rum factory and a beach for $30 each. I want to say that it was six other people with them. Cruisecritic member Deep68 rented a car on the island.

I think Holland America need to work with the tourist board in Guadeloupe to offer more options to it's guest. The tourist board in Guadeloupe also need to meet them half way. Every other week, you have a ship with 1,200 people to spend money and tell others about your island. While there was a small tourist booth set up when you get off the ship and the people working the booth can speak English are friendly, none of the pamplets or tour guide books are in English. Also, an ATM needs to be set up in the secure area near the ship so people can get Euros. Also, they need security people that can speak English working. If they won't provide an ATM, have the vendors place their pricing in dollars also. The tourist board need to weed out those drivers who want to change their pricing when you are half way on your tour (I was told this happen to a few people). These drivers should be ban from the port area.

Outside the city, it's a wonderful island. It's not like some island that's very touristy. The people were not rude and I was greeted with smiles and warmth even with my very limited French.

Don't miss out on the wonderful fruit rums. I regret only buying one bottle of passion fruit rum in Deshaies :(!! The coffee is also wonderful.

If you want more detail infomation, email me at tamairlink@yahoo.com

[printingchick]

We'll be in Guadeloupe April 6, on the Azamara Quest. I take it you're on the same cruise as we are? I got the following from a man who was there on the Quest in January. Based on this, my wife and I are thinking of hiring a taxi for a tour around the Basse-Terre island, by La Soufriere volcano, through the national park, stop at a couple of the waterfalls that aren't too far from the road (maybe take a dip in the pool under the falls) and snorkel off one of the black sand beaches at the north end of the island. Have no idea how much this will cost, though. Are you interested in joining us?

 

we too were in Guadeloupe on Sunday. Nothing was open. There are quite a few persons who are willing to be hired for tours. The biggest problem is that they do not speak English. There is an agent who will negotiate with you and he speaks excellent English but once the deal is consummated he turns you over to the driver. We were able to pay for the tour in US currency but that is something you should get straight at the time of hire. Make sure your driver can speak English! Our driver did not speak English but one of our group spoke French so we did okay. Also be forewarned that there are beautiful falls that they will take you to, I think the name is Cabrit Falls. The entrance to the park requires Euros and they do not take credit cards. Lots of people hike to the falls. The hike is long and strenuous. I didn't finish it but those in our group who did said it was not worth the effort. The views from the distance are more than sufficient. As an aside, Guadeloupe has the finest roads of any island in the Caribbean.

 

John,

Don't know if you'll come back here and see this, but this is exactly the sort of trip I was considering and was wondering how it worked out for you and how expensive it was. I may try to track you down on another thread, where you are more likely to see my comments. Thanks!!