Semi-submarine (Seaworld Explorer) & Rhino Rider in St. Maartin, Best or Views of St. Thomas?

[Captain Hook]

Hi,

Need your help. Has anyone experienced the Seaworld Explorer or Rhino Rider in St. Maartin? There are two different tours with the Seaworld Explorer (St. Maarten See & Sea and Semi-Submarine & Lunch in Grand Case). If you opted for the one with lunch, did you have enough time to do any shopping?

Also, anyone experienced Best of Thomas Island Tour or Views of St. Thomas? I would really like to just hire a van (5 people) and get them to take us for the day in St. Thomas. Has anyone done this? How much $$$ would this approximately cost? If you have some experience in this area - what did you see on St. Thomas? Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. Would like to book the excursions later today.....so I'm waiting for you to answer....please http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Your Canadian Friends

[scottish]

Hello Captain Hook

Just back from the Sun Princess. Did the Rhino Rider with my husband in St Maarten.

What an experience!!! I was the passenger and I still have the scars to prove it. Sorry I exaggerate but I did get blisters from holding on so tightly. Another lady passenger partially pulled a nail from her toe. The sea was not completely flat and as the rhino rider is flat bottomed you hit each wave like a brick wall. Hence the reason for me holding on - the alternative was something I did not really want to consider.

I speak from the passenger point of view. My husband has a completely different opinion because he felt more secure.

Our tour started around 10.30 am and we did not return until after 2.00 pm. Believe me you will get very, very wet. We were sailing at 4.00 so did not have time to change and shop.

This is a very exillerating tour and one I will not forget - glad I did it.

[Captain Hook]

Anyone else, really...really...need your help!

Thanks

[cowtec]

Just back from Dawn Princess. We booked our St. Thomas tour through Godfrey and can't recommend it highly enough. He picked us up at the ship and took us into town to shop, picked us up at a pre-arranged time and took us on a tour of the island - basically up to Mountain Top and down but you can see everything - and then took us to Coki Beach for a couple of hours. We got hit with a cloudburst, so opted to go back to the ship. All this for $20 per person. His van holds about 12 - 15 people. If you choose to go with him, tell him Sue Foster says Hi! I think his email address is godfrey@godfreytoursvi.com . Have a great trip!

Sue

Dawn Princess - Panama Canal
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[coalesm]

I've been on a Seaword Explorer Semi-Submarine before but it was in the Bahamas. If you get sea sick or do not like to see others sick do not go on this! It may not be as bad in St. Maartin. I noticed when we went underneath that it had a very strong smell of Pine Sol. After a few minutes people started throwing up. I asked them if this always happened and they said it did. It was a very bad experience. I would never recommend it to anyone. Like I said maybe it was just the Bahamas.

[Captain Hook]

http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gifWow, comments on Seaworld Explorer are kind of scaring me a bit - since I was planning on taking my parents on this. Anybody else? What about Atlantis - did anyone experience this on that excursion?

[Paula_MacFan]

I too am curious about people's experiences on the Atlantis or semi-sub vessels. I posted a query over on the Cozumel board, and got limited response. I hate to waste my time and money on an excursion that may be a disappointment.

Any other cruisers have personal experience??

Thanks

[NightOne]

I just got back from the last Golden Eastern Caribbean and did the the Rhinos in St. Maarten and the Views of St. Thomas (in St. Thomas of course).

The Rhinos are pure fun. They are not as fast or squirelly (sp?) as a jetski/waverunner but remain fun. Our onshore instructor kept warning us that we would get soaked, but I didn't get very wet at all. The only way you will get beat up a little is if you are going too fast for certain areas and/or hitting the wakes/waves at a perpindicular angle. Secret is to take cross the wakes at a 45 degree angle and slow down if it gets too choppy. My wife is pretty wimpy at this kind of stuff and she had no problem. Basically the tour takes you from Simpson Bay to a small beach farther down the island. Once you get there you can swim or hang out on the beach before returning. I felt it was well worth it and would do it again in a minute. Finally, you don't have to double up if you prefer to have your own boat, but you then have to pay double. It's booked by the boat.

Views of St. Thomas was ok. Frankly, there really isn't a lot to see in St. Thomas itself (my opinion). The real views are when you go up to the high ground and look out at the Caribbean, the other islands, and the beaches of St. Thomas. I went on a ship tour and although there were like 20 people on the tour, you didn't feel crowded or otherwise uncomfortable. The Banana Daquiris at the bar on Mountain Top are really good!!! Overall, I would recommend it. Basically it's a series of photo ops and nature views. If you are looking for activities then you should try something else. There is plenty of time afterwards to shop if you take this tour in the morning.

Hope this helps.

Also, I'm very interested in hearing more about the semi-sub. They have that in Cozumel and Grand Cayman (our next cruise) and was considering it since my wofe won't go in a real sub and doesn't swim.

Time until Sailing
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[AmyinGA]

We did the Rhino Rider and enjoyed it. It was a bit rough for me as the passenger, but my DH loved it. I did take some pictures to see the contrast of both sides of the Island, but there really wasn't a lot to see. I did get some great underwater shots when were snorkeling. I would do this again if I was the one driving.