CB St. Maarten Excursions - Horses and/or Snorkel

[robertsc1966]

OK so has anyone here done (a) the Trail and Ocean Hoseback Ride and/or (b) New Waves Snorkel at Shipwreck Cove in St. Maarten through Princess? What did you think of these excursions? Do you think that's doing too much in one day? I don't ride (or snorkel) on a regular basis but I enjoy it on vacation. Never done both in one day though!

 

I'm very nervous to do a non-Princess excursion as this pretty much eats up my whole day (not that I mind, I'm not a shopper *or* a jewelry person to begin with and have been there before - if you've been to Diamonds International once that's enough for a lifetime IMHO) and I don't want to be stranded at the pier watching the ship leave!

 

Right now I'm set to do the horseback ride in the AM and my boyfriend and I are doing the snorkel trip that afternoon. I'll be good and hungry for dinner that night!

 

I'd appreciate your review of those excursions. Thanks!! :)

[sunluva7]

We didn't do a ship excursion with Princess, but we rented a car and did a horseback ride on our own in St. Martin. It was very easy. It's been two years since we've been, and if things are still the same, there are plenty of car rentals at the pier. Driving in St. Martin is very easy. We had a ride scheduled at 9:00 a.m. and were off the ship and to Bayside Stables in plenty of time. I don't know what the ship's excursion schedule is like, but we were done with the stables by noon, and went to Orient Beach. I've never done two ship excursions in one day - that sounds a bit exhausting. Maybe you could do the horseback ride, and then get a cab to a beach for snorkeling.