Suggestion Needed: Southern Caribbean Excursions

[Joey888]

I am planning my first cruise in January. I want to take excursions with my 23-month-old baby and have narrowed down my choices:

 

===================================================

San Juan, Puerto Rico: El Yunque Rain Forest Tour

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/shoreExcursions/product/detail/view.do;jsessionid=00008h57KS2urqtvdSXWIuQ1jLP:12hdhu6tq?ProductCode=SJ02

 

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas: Magens Bay & Coral World

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/shoreExcursions/product/detail/view.do;jsessionid=0000MWlNGRBrJGzhjOYJtX7YCpf:12hdhu6tq?ProductCode=STC2

 

Philipsburg, St. Maarten: St. Maarten Island Tour

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/shoreExcursions/product/detail/view.do;jsessionid=0000oOnmoM0uElsNmAqxnt9zaQ9:12hdhu6tq?ProductCode=SM86

 

St. John's, Antigua: Antigua Highlights Tour

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/shoreExcursions/product/detail/view.do;jsessionid=0000oOnmoM0uElsNmAqxnt9zaQ9:12hdhu6tq?ProductCode=AN42

 

Castries, St. Lucia: South Island Waterfall and Plantation

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/shoreExcursions/product/detail/view.do;jsessionid=00008h57KS2urqtvdSXWIuQ1jLP:12hdhu6tq?ProductCode=SL81

 

Bridgetown, Barbados: 4 x 4 Island Safari and Harrisons Cave Expedition

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/shoreExcursions/product/detail/view.do;jsessionid=00008h57KS2urqtvdSXWIuQ1jLP:12hdhu6tq?ProductCode=BB90

===================================================

 

Are these good tours? I appreciate your comments and suggestions!

[138east]

These excursions are lovely - I've been on all of them except for the St.Lucia one and an official St. Martin tour. However, I don't think I would want to go on any of them with a 2 year old, but that's just my personal preference. Most of these are several hours and run on a schedule that is not your child's. You are trapped for the duration. This type of excursion attracts an older group that is used to traveling with folks of their own age. Here are some alternatives I would consider. I wouldn't hesitate to go on my own as long as you get off in the morning and come back well before the ship's sailing time.

 

San Juan, Puerto Rico: El Yunque Rain Forest Tour

This is good if you have to kill a day in PR before flying out. Your luggage goes with you on the bus. The ride to the rain forest is about 45 minutes to an hour. Once there the bus drives through the forest making 2 or three stops. At one stop you can take a short walk on a path through the forest downhill to meet the bus. This would be OK if it isn't raining - it can get a bit slippery. Another stop is a tower which you can climb and look out. Another stop is a souvenir stop. However, all in all it's a lot of time in the bus and not much activity time for a 2 year old.

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas: Magens Bay & Coral World

St. Thomas is one island where you really don't need a tour. There are taxis all over the place to take you and bring you back from the tourist spots. I'd either go to Magen's Bay or to Coki Beach/Coral world at my own pace with a 2 year old. If you go to Coral world, you can rent lockers and go between the beach and Coral world.

Philipsburg, St. Maarten: St. Maarten Island Tour

Again - 2 1/2 hours riding around in a bus with one stop.

This is one of the only islands where I would recommend renting a car and driving yourselves around. Other options are cab to Orient Beach or Divi Beach. Water shuttle to downtown Philipsburg - walk around and use the downtown beach.

 

St. John's, Antigua: Antigua Highlights Tour

Once again a lot of driving around. You will go to Shirley Heights and see a spectacular view. Then to Nelson's Dockyard, which is historically interesting but not for a 2 year old. I might try to find a private tour that would take me to Shirley Heights and then to the beach with a pickup later.

 

Castries, St. Lucia: South Island Waterfall and Plantation

No suggestions. However, I would go on a tour on St. Lucia and not wander around myself.

 

Bridgetown, Barbados: 4 x 4 Island Safari and Harrisons Cave Expedition

The 4x4 is a rough ride - probably not for a 2 year old. Harrison's Cave is nice, but you sit in a tram and ride around. When you get off to look at something, it's dark and slippery. Could be spooky for a 2 year old. There are no shortage of cabs on Barbados and they are more than anxious to get your fare. If you want to see some of the island, I would hire a taxi to take you on a quick tour (I'm looking at Orchid World next time) ending up at Folkestone Underwater Park. This is a low-key public beach with restrooms/changing facilities, chair rental, small store and snack shack. Small beach, but lots of filtered light shade. You can also snorkel here. And best of all it has a children's playground and is not overrun by cruise ship people.

[MIcruiser99]

Go the Port of Calls area and select each island...then read about different excursions. That is how we chose our tours by reading what others had already done and whether they liked it or did not.

[RI cruiser]

We did Magen's Bay in St. Thomas...... go there.... it's beautiful. There wasn't a crowd; so quiet. After seeing St. Thomas and Magen's Bay, that's where I want to get married. We didn't do Coral World. ENJOY!!!

[lovemylab]

I've been to Magen's Bay as well and agree with the previous poster who said it is beautiful. It could easily be done with a baby and if you are looking to save some money you can easily take a cab there on your own.

 

In St. Lucia we did a tour with Cosol. Highly recommended - it was easily the best excursion we have done on both our cruises.

[cb at sea]

Unless you really want to do the Coral World, the beach is easily done on your own. The plus to doing it on your own is that you can stay as long (or short) as you want--you aren't stuck there until the "excursion" is over. With a baby/toddler, that may be a consideration!

[nanfromatlanta]

I am planning my first cruise in January. I want to take excursions with my 23-month-old baby and have narrowed down my choices:

 

===================================================

San Juan, Puerto Rico: El Yunque Rain Forest Tour

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/shoreExcursions/product/detail/view.do;jsessionid=00008h57KS2urqtvdSXWIuQ1jLP:12hdhu6tq?ProductCode=SJ02

 

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas: Magens Bay & Coral World

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/shoreExcursions/product/detail/view.do;jsessionid=0000MWlNGRBrJGzhjOYJtX7YCpf:12hdhu6tq?ProductCode=STC2

 

Philipsburg, St. Maarten: St. Maarten Island Tour

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/shoreExcursions/product/detail/view.do;jsessionid=0000oOnmoM0uElsNmAqxnt9zaQ9:12hdhu6tq?ProductCode=SM86

 

St. John's, Antigua: Antigua Highlights Tour

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/shoreExcursions/product/detail/view.do;jsessionid=0000oOnmoM0uElsNmAqxnt9zaQ9:12hdhu6tq?ProductCode=AN42

 

Castries, St. Lucia: South Island Waterfall and Plantation

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/shoreExcursions/product/detail/view.do;jsessionid=00008h57KS2urqtvdSXWIuQ1jLP:12hdhu6tq?ProductCode=SL81

 

Bridgetown, Barbados: 4 x 4 Island Safari and Harrisons Cave Expedition

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/shoreExcursions/product/detail/view.do;jsessionid=00008h57KS2urqtvdSXWIuQ1jLP:12hdhu6tq?ProductCode=BB90

===================================================

 

Are these good tours? I appreciate your comments and suggestions!

 

Personally, we preferred the "Land and Sea to Soufriere" tour in St Lucia.

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/shoreExcursions/product/detail/view.do;jsessionid=00001NxK2k89jHuHJg5D_JC7lm7:13hldil87?sourcePage=shorexByPort&ProductCode=SL72&DestinationCode=CARIB

 

The same tour is also available through a local gentleman, and is a bit less expensive.

http://www.cosoltours.com

 

It is our all-time favorite after swimming with the stingrays in Grand Cayman.

[Minoushka]

I did Coral World with my kids when they were quite young ...feeding sting rays. Looking at Reef in underwater aquarium and seing sharks .My kids were 6 & 9 and really enjoyed it .I'm not sure about a 2 year old .Take cereal from Breakfast after visiting Coral world go next door to Coki Beach .Sprinkle your cereal along the edge of water watch the fish come over -great fun for little kid .

WE still go to Coki beach ...now we snorkel there -great fish!!!

[kyriecat]

Personally, we preferred the "Land and Sea to Soufriere" tour in St Lucia.

We did that tour through RC several years ago and loved it. It was long but a great way to see a good overview of the island. We're going back to St. Lucia in April and are planning to take the Cosol tour.

[138east]

Never heard back from the OP. Perhaps we can get her more responses.

[Joey888]

Thanks everyone for the information!!!

 

My travel agent told me not to worry about carseat for my 2 year old if we take only RC tours: RC operates buses, not vans or cars. With your responses, I am considering options of renting cars, taking cabs, and checking out Cosol tour. I don't mind taking a carseat if it is required.

 

The "Land and Sea to Soufriere" tour in St Lucia sounds great but there is an age participating limitation preventing us to take it.

 

Again, thanks for the great suggestions! Sorry for not being able to thank you earlier because I have very limited Internet access.

[aqhacruiser]

Thanks everyone for the information!!!

 

My travel agent told me not to worry about carseat for my 2 year old if we take only RC tours: RC operates buses, not vans or cars. With your responses, I am considering options of renting cars, taking cabs, and checking out Cosol tour. I don't mind taking a carseat if it is required.

 

The "Land and Sea to Soufriere" tour in St Lucia sounds great but there is an age participating limitation preventing us to take it.

 

Again, thanks for the great suggestions! Sorry for not being able to thank you earlier because I have very limited Internet access.

 

I've been on RCCL tours that use vans also so it can happen so your TA is mistaken about that. This is a Cruise Critic thread just for family cruising and you will find a wealth of info about cruising with small children here and great tips and different things that they can do. If you do not see what you're looking for just ask your question. :)

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=49

[nanfromatlanta]

 

The "Land and Sea to Soufriere" tour in St Lucia sounds great but there is an age participating limitation preventing us to take it.

 

According to the Royal Caribbean web site, the minimum age is 4 years.