Don't Miss Souvenirs or Gifts from Western Caribbean

[academicdeluge]

Hi All,

I was wondering if anybody had suggestions for gifts or souvenirs on a western Caribbean itinerary. We'll be stopping in Ocho Rios, Grand Caymen, Cozumel and Nassau (likely). Since I have excursions planned, I was hoping to have ideas ahead of time to maximize shopping time.


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[bobbie0253]

You can get huge conch shells in Nassau for $5.00 along the straw market area.

Cozumel had good prices on silver. And we bought two shark jaws for $25. Mexican blankets can be bought for $2- $5 depending on when and where you buy them. They also have $1 Coronas....not a souvenier, but a good deal!

In Grand Caymen we just went to the Harley store for a t-shirt.

Never been to Ocho Rios [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Bobbie

Voyager of the Seas in....
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Adventure of the Seas 2-03
Enchantment of the Seas 3-03
Majesty of the Seas 5-03
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Sovereign of the Seas 1-04
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[LLM]

In Cozumel we bought some of their vanilla for baking. It is aged or something like that. It is really tasty!

Lisa

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Until Mariner of the Seas


Voyager of the Seas - Oct. 2003

[Daydrmr]

We bought some coffee in Jamaica and it was awesome. My sis-in-law is a coffee nut and she just loved it. I wish I would have brought more home. I can't remember what the name of it was, but I'm sure someone knows I got the idea from ppl on these boards also.

[cmoglesby]

You are refering to Blue Mountain Coffee [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
Good stuff. There are all kinds of producers though, I can't tell you who is the best.

Matt & Caroline

DCL Magic 2000
DCL Magic 2001
RCI Voyager 2003
RCI Mariner 2004

[LKitt82566]

Cozume has onyx chess sets--lots of sizes at cheap prixes small--Maybe $6 medium $12 and large sets $15-20. Onyx wind chimes. Go to the side street stores off the Main street and prices can be a dollar or two cheaper. The shoping down by the cruise piers have them also if you don't get into town.

Cruiser4Life
RC Majesty 10/1999
Pride 2002 "Kirbi and the Cruiser"
RC Grandeur of Seas 12/02
Destiny 01/25/04
RC SOS 02/23/04 Bahama Mama Sister Cruise

[academicdeluge]

Those all sound like good ideas. I saw some posts about rum cakes on one of the islands and that made me wonder what other things I should look far. I love getting a few things, both for others and myself, that are unique to the areas I visit. It makes for great memories. Thank you all!


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[Liztoybiz]

My suggestions would be to buy Mango Rum in Nassau...I'd consider a return visit just to pick up some more...yum! The other is kinda silly, but they have the most wonderful product in Mexico called Maximo (sp?) and its a white grooved soap that will rub any stain out. We still have 4 left from a visit in the late '80s...
Hope you have fun!
Liz

[judie43]

The Tortuga Rum Cakes in Grand Cayman are a "must".Just go into the store and sample them...I always hope the clerk is a little slow so that I can stand there and sample all of them.They are expensive but so-o-o- worth it!

[jnwilson]

I agree the rum cakes are very good, all sealed up in a good box ready to slip in your suitcase for the ride home. Also be sure to get some vanilla for those in your family who do baking. They will love you for it. As for the conch shells, we brought a pair home years ago and they are still beautiful BUT boy oh boy did they smell. We did not have a balcony cabin so we could not put them out there. We left them in the floor of the shower until the cruise was over then we packed them in our beach bag for the trip home on the plane. You had to really want them to keep from just pitching them because of the smell!

[academicdeluge]

Tortuga Rum Cakes in Grand Cayman - That's what I was talking about. I hope they sell them close to the peir. i have two excursions booked for Grand Caymen.

Thanks!!


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[bobbie0253]

About the shells....we brought extra gallon and a half size zip-lock bags and it took care of the smell [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] You are right they do reek!
LOL

Bobbie

Voyager of the Seas in....
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Adventure of the Seas 2-03
Enchantment of the Seas 3-03
Majesty of the Seas 5-03
Adventure of the Seas 9-03
Sovereign of the Seas 11-03
Sovereign of the Seas 1-04
Grandeur of the Seas 3-04

My albums can be viewed with this link...
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[davidaperryman]

Tortuga rum cakes are for sale in shops right across the street from the terminal in the Caymans. Just ask anyone. They also had the 6 pack of small rum cakes for sale on the Rhapsody. We brought back several of the tall margarita glasses from Senior Frogs in Cozumel. Way too many.

CELEBRATION 11/00
RHAPSODY 11/01
RHAPSODY 04/02
SPLENDOUR 11/02
RHAPSODY 04/03
RHAPSODY 09/03
ELATION 05/04

[academicdeluge]

Too many glasses, ot too many margaritas? [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

My DW wanted a shell real bad from our eastern Caribbean cruise. We had to keep it outside because it smelled so bad. She even soaked it in bleach, but it didn't work. I heard you had to look for a hole where they extract the critter out from. Doing that keeps it from smelling.


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[cruise'n]

does anyone have info on vanilla. Is some brand better than the next or are they all good there?

Lynn

A smile is the closest distance between two people

[Nancyquilts]

Belize has a National Handicraft Center just a few blocks from where the tenders dock. We walked too far towards town, and had to come back, but bought quite a bit as we figured the money would go directly to the people who made the goods. Nancy

[bobbie0253]

Hi again,

About conch shells......

We did the stingrays in Grand Cayman with Nativeway. There was a young family on the excursion with us. They had 4 or 5 kids. A couple of the kids wanted a conch shell. The tour operators were nice enough to find them some. Well, seeing as they were in the ocean still, they had conch in them. I have never before seen a conch out of it's shell. It was pretty cool. The tour operators took the conch home to eat and we all got to pick a shell.

Mine still is a bit smelly. Now I know excatly how that "hole" gets in the top of the shell and why. I have pictures online, but I need to send fotki (the web site I use) a check for my dues. I should have that done by Friday.

That is one of the best things I have brought home [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Bobbie

Voyager of the Seas in....
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=006400&cdt=2004;5;16;22;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]


Adventure of the Seas 2-03
Enchantment of the Seas 3-03
Majesty of the Seas 5-03
Adventure of the Seas 9-03
Sovereign of the Seas 11-03
Sovereign of the Seas 1-04
Grandeur of the Seas 3-04

My albums can be viewed with this link...
[url="http://public.fotki.com/bobbie0253/"]http://public.fotki.com/bobbie0253/[/url]

[w&k]

To keep the stink down in shells try the old diver's trick: shaving cream! (gel does not work as well)

If the shell contains it's original owner, drop it over the rail NOW...it's just not worth it! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img] If it contains a hermit crab, leave the shell in the bottom of the shower, and the crab will usually eventually crawl out trying to find water. When it comes out, get rid of it FAST. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img]

Step 1: When your shell is clear of creatures, rinse the shell out until you no longer get any sand or gunk out of it.

Step 2: Take one of your PLASTIC trash cans, put it in the shower, fill it with cool/warm water, drop the shells in, and let them soak for a few hours or overnight. Don't bother taking it out when you shower - the soap and shampoo will do the shell nothing but good.

Step 3: Hold your nose, dump the water out and rinse the shells again. Fill and cover the shells with shaving cream and let sit in the sink for an hour & rinse.

Repeat Steps 2 & 3 until stink is under control or cruise is over. Then double or triple ziploc bag and take home in your carry-on.

***VERY IMPORTANT*** Remember to tell your room steward that you are soaking shells, and not to disturb that trashcan in the shower.

Happy collecting!

Wendy
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[academicdeluge]

W&K,
I didn't realize until the end that you do all of that on the ship. I may try that. Thanks for the step-by-step instructions.

Bobbie,
I'd love to see the pics.


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