Thread: Best Caribbean Island Beaches

We are going on the Sea Princess next April and, we want to spend our time on beautiful tropical beaches with palm trees, coral sand, crystal clear waters, excluding snorkle and scuba diving. I want to plan this type activity on my own, not with a tour group. We are going to Tortola, Antigua, Dominica, Martinique, Barbados, Granada, Isla Margarita, Aruba, & Grand Cayman. In the past two years we have been to Antiqua, Barbados, and Aruba. We sailed past Grand Cayman this year, but due to rough seas we were unable to dock. I have the Foder's Caribbean book but am looking for
actual experiences from cruise traveler who have actually been there,
Would appreciate your help with this.

Bob

Where is the help. We need to know where the best beaches are.


Bob

Any word on beaches from this group. Things are awfully quiet.

Bob-

We will be porting at Barbados and Antiga in November, so I hope to be able to give you a report on those two on our return.

Originally Posted by Bob & Joyce

Where is the help. We nned to know where the best beaches are.


Bob

The best beach I've been on so far was the private island of Cocoa Cay with RCL. But, we've been to so few beaches, that each one I've been on has been better than the last.

We don't do the beach scene while in port, so I can't help too much. I loved almost every beach on St. John, so I imagine that Tortola will have some great ones as well. I have friends who have used Aruba as a beach day, so I will find out from them if they remember which beach they went to.

BTW, your cruise has a FANTASTIC itinerary - lots of places I still need to see.

Thanks MC. We have been to Aruba but did not make it to the beach. The downtown Hotel with the water entry under the highway kept our attention with all the other places to see. We watched the mortor launch make repeated trips. I have a picture on this forum of Adventure of the Seas from the second floor of this Hotel. Can't remember it's name. Hard to shop and do the beach thing. On our return to Antigua, Barbados, & Aruba, I plan visit a beach.

Happy Cruising

Have been to Grand Cayman-did the sting ray swim. I heard that Seven Mile Beach is nice scenery but not too much snorkeling.
Aruba we just snorkeled off the South side of the island.
Barbados-the best beach we swam from was right behind the Malibu rum factory. We did a tour and they let you have a couple hours free time to sunbathe. Also took the pirate boat. they took us to a beach down the coast. OK swimming but not much snorkeling.
Martinique is beautiful-one of our favorite islands. We went to the rain forest with a private driver-he showed us a wonderful waterfall hidden away down a slippery staircase. We were the only ones there. Beaches are far from the port.

Eagle beach in Aruba is great. Crystal clear azure blue water and pristine beaches. In January we did a tour to DePalm Island @$29.00 pp (through Princess) which included the ferry and all you could eat buffet lunch and all you could drink beer, soda and mixed drinks. Snorkeling was included and there were other water sports at a fee. I believe we were there for 4 hours. It was a nice change to a regular beach day. Cococay & Princess Cay are probably 2 of the most beautiful private island beaches in the Caribbean. Isla de Margarita was a bust for us. We were only there for 3 hours for refueling. There is a small beach area right off the pier in the straw market area, but some of the other passengers said there was a fee (I'm not sure) and it was very small so we didn't bother. In Barbados, we did the Malibu rum distillery tour which included a beach break at a lovely beach not far from the distillery (sorry I don't remember the name). We were waited on hand and foot by beach attendants, provided with a voucher for 1 drink and had lounge chairs and umbrellas if desired. There were many local vendors there hawking hand woven straw hats, carved animals and various other souviniers. That was a bit annoying. Just as one would leave, another would show up. Grenada was fresh out of the hurricane, so all we really saw was the destruction, no beaches and in Grand Caymen, we went to Hell and the Turtle Farm, no beaches. I hope this helps you somewhat. Feel free to ask if you need more info.

Negril, Jamaica has the most beautiful stretch of 7-mile white-sand beaches located in Bloody Bay!!!!