academicdeluge Posted April 11, 2004 #1 Share Posted April 11, 2004 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. [B]<blink><font color=#33CCCC size=5>On my way to the Caribbean in May [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] </font></blink>[/B] [url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=1683059817&m=6293048067"]Talk with others on my cruise[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbie0253 Posted April 11, 2004 #2 Share Posted April 11, 2004 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.... [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] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LLM Posted April 11, 2004 #3 Share Posted April 11, 2004 In Cozumel we bought some of their vanilla for baking. It is aged or something like that. It is really tasty! Lisa [img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=9400d3&cdt=2004;10;3;17;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img] Until Mariner of the Seas Voyager of the Seas - Oct. 2003 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daydrmr Posted April 11, 2004 #4 Share Posted April 11, 2004 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmoglesby Posted April 11, 2004 #5 Share Posted April 11, 2004 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LKitt82566 Posted April 11, 2004 #6 Share Posted April 11, 2004 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
academicdeluge Posted April 12, 2004 Author #7 Share Posted April 12, 2004 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! [B]<blink><font color=#33CCCC size=5>On my way to the Caribbean in May [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] </font></blink>[/B] [url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=1683059817&m=6293048067"]Talk with others on my cruise[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liztoybiz Posted April 12, 2004 #8 Share Posted April 12, 2004 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judie43 Posted April 12, 2004 #9 Share Posted April 12, 2004 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! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jnwilson Posted April 12, 2004 #10 Share Posted April 12, 2004 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! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
academicdeluge Posted April 12, 2004 Author #11 Share Posted April 12, 2004 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!! [B]<blink><font color=#33CCCC size=5>On my way to the Caribbean in May [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] </font></blink>[/B] [url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=1683059817&m=6293048067"]Talk with others on my cruise[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbie0253 Posted April 12, 2004 #12 Share Posted April 12, 2004 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.... [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] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidaperryman Posted April 12, 2004 #13 Share Posted April 12, 2004 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
academicdeluge Posted April 12, 2004 Author #14 Share Posted April 12, 2004 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. [B]<blink><font color=#33CCCC size=5>On my way to the Caribbean in May [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] </font></blink>[/B] [url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=1683059817&m=6293048067"]Talk with others on my cruise[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruise'n Posted April 12, 2004 #15 Share Posted April 12, 2004 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nancyquilts Posted April 12, 2004 #16 Share Posted April 12, 2004 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbie0253 Posted April 13, 2004 #17 Share Posted April 13, 2004 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] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
w&k Posted April 13, 2004 #18 Share Posted April 13, 2004 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 next up RCCL Sovereign of the Seas May 10 '04 [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img] X Zenith Nov 21 '04 [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
academicdeluge Posted April 14, 2004 Author #19 Share Posted April 14, 2004 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. [B]<blink><font color=#33CCCC size=5>On my way to the Caribbean in May [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] </font></blink>[/B] [url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=1683059817&m=6293048067"]Talk with others on my cruise[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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