What are the best Excursions for Nassau, San Juan, St . Thomas, Antiqua, & St Maartin

[tambling]

We are going on a 8 day cruise on the Jewel with 4 teenagers 13-19, and are looking for input on excursions. What did you like or didn't like? why? Did you book them thru RCI or on your own? If book on own where?
Any and all comment suggestions are welcomed [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]
Thanks,
Renee

4/18/04 Mariner of the Seas
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=228b22&cdt=2004;04;18;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

11/20/04 Thanksgiving on Jewel of the Seas
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff00ff&cdt=2004;11;20;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

[TheWog]

ON St. Thomas we did the Atlantis underwater submarine excursion. It was a lot of fun and really cool to be almost 100 feet underwater and we were able to see sharks and a shipwreck and baracudda. We booked through Disney and it was great. We did however see the Screamin' Eagle Jet Boat rides run by the same company that looked like a blast and my 7 y.o. son says he wants to do that when we go back. Look into that it is offered by Atlantis and they have a shop right at the pier.

St. Maarten just be aware that Orient Beach is clothing optional and they sometimes walk the length of the beach. The teenagers may like that, but mom and dad may not.

Disney Magic 01/10/04
Enchantment of the Seas 01/22/05
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff0000&cdt=2005;01;22;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

[Tra4]

Golden eagle catamaran in St. Maarten is wonderful!!

Until we cruise again. . . . . .

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=228b22&cdt=2004;6;13;17;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Premier Oceanic-Bahamas, 2/89
Rhapsody-East. Carib. 12/97
Grand Princess-East. Car. 5/00
Radiance-Hawaii,10/2001
Adventure-South. Car. 7/2002
Brilliance-Panama Canal 12/2003 "Happy New Year!"
Mariner-East. Carib. 6/2004

[erniesband]

Did the Screamin' Eagle in St Thomas in Jan. Lots of fun. You'll get soaked! It's a short excursion so you'll have time to do other things as well. In Antigua - the BEST excusion is Eli's Adventure Antigua Eco Tour ( go to the Antigua ports of call board, you'll find more written about Eli's tour than anything else ) It's an all day tour including lunch, snorkling , hiking, rock climbing and the best rum punch in the Caribbean. Good for all ages.

Rhapsody 3/'99
Soveriegn 3/'00
Monarch 1/'01
Enchantment 8/'01
Radiance 1/'02
Monarch 8/'02
Radiance 1/'03
Serenade 1/'04
Empress 1/'05

[39august]

Here's another vote for Eli's tour. Yes, check out the Antiqua board. I just wrote a review last week.

[Guest NBestafka]

One more vote for Eli in Antigua!!!!! Best excursion we have ever had!!!!!

Trunk Bay in St Thomas was also nice. Took a taxi, then ferry on our own so we could dictate how much time we spent there. It was nice. About $30/person overall I think.

Nancy

[SUZCRUZ]

Just got back.
In St. Thomas we did the Screamin Eagle. Gotta do it once. Wet and Fun! Afterwards, we took a cab to Magans Bay. BEAUTIFUL!
St. John, Antigua, we did Bird Island and snorkeling. Really fun guys that ran the boat, nice snorkeling and neat little Island. Then they served lunch on the sail back. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]

[momofteens]

We did the Rhino riders in St. Maartin. They are like jet skiis only slower. The teens and old folks liked it .

[ilinda]

rent a car in St.Maarten and go to Orient beach,there they have everything you can imagine. It is one of the worlds best beaches. Rent from Hertz or Avis. Site [url="http://www.stmartincars.com"]www.stmartincars.com[/url] you can get a car or a van. cheapest way to go. Go to the beach Kakao beach at Orient, best seat cushions for the chairs and cabana boys for food service, also have a massage on beach and plenty for the kids, jet skis, snorkeling, parasailing. Not to far from the boat,20minutes, can see rest of island on your own. Rental cars are right at the pier when you getoff the boat. Plenty of info guides to show you. Good shopping right on the main street,but don't waste your vacation shopping, go see the island.

Linda

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff0000&cdt=2004;5;29;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Enchantment of the Seas May 29


RCL ADVENTURE OF THE SEAS 2003
PRINCESS REGAL 2002
NCL SEAWARD 1993
NCL SOUTHWARD 1992

[Hlitner]

I agree with Linda that renting a car on St Maarten is economical if you want to drive all the way round the island. I also noticed that Linda suggested you take your teens to Orient Beach! Your teens will love Orient Beach and it will give them something to tell their friends when they get home! Its not every day that teens get to see nudists on a beach (smile).

Hank

[lisajoy]

DO NOT do the Afternoon Beach bash in St Martin. It was horrible. Not one moment of peace once you stepped foot on the property. There were to many people trying to sell you stuff. I know people say ignore them but that does not work. They will stand and block your sun until you say something. That was at Orient Beach. When in St Thomas we did the Turtle Cove snorkling and loved every minute of it. It was so beautiful.

[Sheffie]

St. Maarten - We did the America's Cup Regatta. It was amazing! It is a pricier excursion, but both age kids would love it, as would you. You really do "crew" the racing yachts. We got to sail the Stars and Stripes. My hubby was a back grinder and I was a winch wench! There are jobs for all activity levels and everyone has a great time. I was so excited to be able to sail her back into the harbor. It is really something to know that you got to sail on the boat that won the biggest race in the whole world!

You would still have time to take a taxi and do some beach time after the excursion is over.

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
Mark Twain

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff0000&cdt=2005;3;26;16;30;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Till we sail Splendour of the Seas 3/26/05!


Century 3/20/04
Horizon 4/03
Golden Princess 3/30/02
Grandeur 4/01
Holiday 3/92

[Candleonwater]

Another vote for the Golden Eagle in St Maarten. It was great!

<MARQUEE>Navigator of the Seas March 26, 2005</MARQUEE>
Mariner of the Seas 4/11/04
Disney Magic 12/01/01

[cruzinpsycharnp]

Sheffie, can you use the head (bathroom) on the America's Cup? Do you dive after the race?

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00ffff&cdt=2004;6;13;16;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img] till Mariner
Queen Elizabeth 1963
Florida 1966
Mardi Gras 1980
Holiday 1982
Tropicale 1999
Pride 2002
Grand Princess 2003
Mariner 2004

[Sheffie]

There is NO head on the sailing yachts. They tell you this before you get on so that you can use the restrooms there on the pier. No one seemed to have a problem w/ needing to go during the race, but it is good to know before so that you don't drink too much before the excursion.

We were back before lunch time.

We had enough time after the race that we went to Dawn Beach for a few hours. It all depends on your ship's schedule as to how long you have to dive. We snorkeled and it was great. I have heard good and bad things about that beach, but when we were there the waves were minimal. We saw a lot of different fish and lots of sea urchins. They rented us 2 chaiars and an umbrella for $10. (If I remember correctly.) You have to take a taxi there, of course, and we had one scheduled to come and pick us up about 1 1/2 hours before our ship's departure. The guy didn't show up on time, but there were other taxis there, so we took a different one back to the ship.

[tambling]

Thanks for all the input. It gives me a place to start to sort out what our group would like to do and what to stay away from [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

4/18/04 Mariner of the Seas
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=228b22&cdt=2004;04;18;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

11/20/04 Thanksgiving on Jewel of the Seas
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff00ff&cdt=2004;11;20;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

[Valerie]

Thanks for the great ideas.


Valerie

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;7;18;21;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Until Adventure of the Seas (St Lucia/Antigua.......


Grandeur of the Seas 6/00
Voyager of the Seas 6/02
Adventure of the Seas 7/18/2004

[img]http://www.gifs.net/animate/cat3.gif[/img]

[OCruisers]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by SUZCRUZ:
Just got back.
St. John, Antigua, we did Bird Island and snorkeling. Really fun guys that ran the boat, nice snorkeling and neat little Island. Then they served lunch on the sail back. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Have to agree with SUZCRUZ that the crew was absolutely great! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]

The post below [I]in the Ports of Call section under Antigua[/I] has several reviews of this excursion -- some liked it better than others. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]

[url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=568097554&m=6433082696"](or just click here) Bird Island Catamaran/Snorkel[/url]

Antigua is wonderful ... whatever you do!

Happy Sailing! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]