The planning... any suggestions? - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

shargurl · 11-12-2007, 04:30 PM

We have a port intensive cruise coming up in March. 7 islands in 8 days, I'll need another vacation after this one!

Here's what I have planned so far:
Saturday - Arrive in San Juan
Sunday - Embark on the Destiny
Monday - St. Thomas with Sunny Liston 25/pp
Tuesday - Dominica - levi baron with bumpiingtours.com 44/pp
Wednesday - Barbados I want to swim with sea turtles (no plans yet)
Thursday - antigua ???
Friday - St. Kitts ????
Saturday - St.Maarten ???
Sunday - San Juan - with Victor countryside tours and transfer to airport

We planned this trip with Michael's co-worker and his wife and son (whom I've yet to meet). I am the coordinator of the trip. they picked the itinerary, I do everything else...

In Barbados, I think I am looking at caribsurf.com(??). They offer a snorkel/boat/swim with turtle for 75/pp. pricey

This cruise is going to costs lots of $$$ (and yes, I know about the fuel surcharge, grr). I need suggestions for companies, I like to do everything directly instead of going with the cruiseline. maybe even taking taxi's to a specific beach? Help me plan please? What makes it harder is i don't know the other family or what they like to do. I know she doesn't like to get in the water, but she is fine with watching her DH and DS in the water. thanks for your help!

LuLu · 11-12-2007, 05:40 PM

Hi Shar & David!

Since you like to do things OnYourOwn, you might consider going to Orient Beach in St.Maarten. Here's our thread which is posted here on CLF:

http://cruiselinefans.com/st-martin/9411-st-maarten-st-marin-orient-beach-great.html

Have FUN planning!

shargurl · 11-12-2007, 09:10 PM

Sounds like a great beach, but the thing is, we will be with 2 boys, ages 12 and 13. I don't think the nudity would go over well. Any other beach? I think I would love to go hang at a beach, sounds like fun to me!

LuLu · 11-13-2007, 08:58 PM

Well .... you could go to Orient BAY ... rather than Orent BEACH. (Just tell the taxi driver). Quite unlikely you'd see any TOTALLY nude there ... a slight possibility of a bit of topless.... It's a beautiful place to be!

shargurl · 11-14-2007, 04:51 PM

I would be totally fine the European style, but I don't know how the others feel about it. I think what I'll do for St. Maarten is book with bernardtour.com and they have a 2 hour stop at Orient Beach. If they want to leave early, then we'll leave

hanna · 11-14-2007, 04:58 PM

see you have a stop in Antigua. My suggestion there...stay on the ship.

canarymoon · 11-14-2007, 04:58 PM

You might check our individual port forums to see what others have done in these ports . . .

LuLu · 11-15-2007, 01:31 PM

ANTIGUA is best for those who enjoy the beach and water activities! (Just my opinion)

We've had some wonderful catamaran excursions there with beach stops. What soft sugar-white sand! Some of the prettiest sand I've ever seen. As they say: "365 Beaches -- One for Each Day of the Year!"

Note: The only excursion we've taken there that we would NOT do again is the one to Bird Island ... not a very pretty beach area....

shargurl · 11-16-2007, 09:43 AM

Update:
Here's what I have planned so far:
Saturday - Arrive in San Juan
Sunday - Embark on the Destiny
Monday - St. Thomas with Sunny Liston 25/pp
Tuesday - Dominica - levi baron with bumpiingtours.com 44/pp
Wednesday - Barbados Silvermoon or Thriller tours (still waiting for replies from them) 75/pp
Thursday - antigua shoretrips.com 60/pp
Friday - St. Kitts hail a taxi to visit Romney Manor and Brimstone Hill
Saturday - St.Maarten Tour with Victor Bryan 30/pp
Sunday - San Juan - with Victor countryside tours and transfer to airport 25/pp

Total cost for all these is over 1500. WOW! That's alot. I am going to go over these with the others and see if we may want to keep all of them or not. Since we've never been to any of these places, it would be nice to sightsee, but since it does seem like a lot to do and since we don't have any sea days, we may just chose to do nothing a couple of those days.

shargurl · 11-17-2007, 11:19 PM

The planning stage is complete (finally). I know we have a long ways to go, but now that everything is planned on my part, all I have is sit back and wait 4 agonizing more months!

Saturday - Arrive in San Juan
Sunday - Embark on the Destiny
Monday - St. Thomas with Sunny Liston 25/pp
Tuesday - Dominica - levi baron with bumpiingtours.com 44/pp
Wednesday - Thriller Tours (snorkle w/turtles) 50/adults 35/children
Thursday - Taxi to Runaway Beach
Friday - St. Kitts hail a taxi to visit Romney Manor and Brimstone Hill
Saturday - St.Maarten Tour with Victor Bryan 30/pp
Sunday - San Juan - with Victor countryside tours and transfer to airport 25/pp

I found some great reviews on portreviews.com that helped me make some decisions, and thanks to all of you for your input too!. Silvermoon charters in Barbados sounded fun, but they were too pricey for us.