Thread: The St Lucia we saw and learned about

Originally Posted by canarymoon

Did you end up using a private atour company?

It really is a beautiful place!

We booked with the ships tours. We are more comfortable using their tours just in case we get back late, if it is with the ship they will wait for us.

We did the same in St Lucia - that 'Land and Sea' excursion is a LONG one, and it's best not to take the chance! We had a party of four ALMOST not make it back to our ship when we were there...

It CAN happen! So, it's wise to know when to book through the ship and when it's safe to use a private excursion.

My family just returned from our Southern Caribbean cruise aboard the Galaxy. Here is the mini-review of our day in St. Lucia.

I had never been to St. Lucia and was not sure what to expect. Everyone beforehand kept "warning" me that the people here were very very poor. Well, aren't just about all the Caribbean islands like that? So I went with an open mind, it could not be poorer than the Dominican Republic and as a matter of fact, I thought it was better.

For this day, for our family of 10, we had booked a private tour with Cosol Tours. Excellent value for the money and a tour delivering everything which was promised. Cosol is young and lively and showed us all the highlights: a drive through the capital Castries, a view of the Governor's House and stop for pictures of the harbor, a Banana Plantation, Marigot Bay, and the fishing villages of Anse La Raye and Canaries. We also drove through the rain forest and on to Soufrière and a view of the Pitons, as well as a stop at Toraille Water Fall and Botanical Garden.

Cosol stopped for sample of local island favorites: fish cakes, Johnny cakes, bananas direct from the tree in front of you, and cassava bread. He was also generous in stopping for photo opportunities and they are many. The island was not entirely great mountain peaks as I had pictured in my mind. Spots such as the Pitons and Anse La Raye are some of the most picturesque I have seen in the entire Caribbean.

None of us "kids" have ever been to Hawaii nor seen an active volcano before so taking a tour of the "drive in" Volcano, Soufrière, was quite impressive for us novices. There are hot springs, fumaroles and mud pots. The only thing missing is lava and pyroclastic flows. This was fine by me. The kids of course whined about the ever present smell of sulphur. Gee, guess that is why this area is also considered a "sulphur spring".

Oh and did I mention that Cosol also keeps a cooler in the back of the bus/mini-van filled with refreshments?

Fishing Village of Anse La Raye

Really enjoyed reading your account of thr time in St Lucia, Arubalisa.
Beautiful picture, too - thank you!

Thank you frus to you.

I recently found a web page about diving opportunities in St Lucia. While I noticed the water there is quite as crystal clear as some of the western isiald waters (a point made on this web site, too), it is stil quite clear.

Here's the link to the post about St Lucia diving on the Scuba and Snorkeling forum:
http://www.cruiselinefans.com/scuba-...-st-lucia.html (Scuba Diving in St Lucia)

Thanks for all the info here about St Lucia.
We are sailing on the Carnival Miracle in December and one of our ports is St. Lucia.

I had no idea what to do there. I want it all!! Love to snorkel and "beach it" but I like to do the island tours too....see what the island is like.

Having a very difficult time making up my mind what to do. This really helps.

Thank you so much!

Yes, I second the thanks. We are on the Miracle in March, so I am anxious to see St. Lucia.

St. Lucia sounds beautiful. I'd be interested in hearing if anyone else used a private tour group and how it went. I can't wait to be there in April!

Stephanie

Originally Posted by lnew1gd1

Thanks for all the info here about St Lucia.
We are sailing on the Carnival Miracle in December and one of our ports is St. Lucia.

. . .
This really helps.

Thank you so much!

Originally Posted by jemingway

Yes, I second the thanks. We are on the Miracle in March, so I am anxious to see St. Lucia.

Originally Posted by 2tallkids

St. Lucia sounds beautiful. I'd be interested in hearing if anyone else used a private tour group and how it went. I can't wait to be there in April!

Stephanie

So . . .

Have any of you decided what you'll do in St Lucia?

Thank You so much for the wonderful details of your trips. I will be there in December 2008 on the Princess Emerald and already can't wait. Only 400 days to go