Open air safari bus - OK for non sun-worshipers?

[Joanandjoe]

We're looking into HAL tours for our 11/25 Noordam cruise, and have noticed that many of the tours use open air safari buses. We have a lot of concerns about these buses, both safety (they are, after all, converted trucks) and a feeling that there may be too much heat and sun for us if we take the buses. Caribbean weather is a bit of a stretch for us (we like it cool), and one of us is a redhead with fair skin, no sun tolerance, and extremely sensitive, dry eyes. Should we risk taking the buses, or should we pass on all tours that involve the buses. (On Tortola, that would wipe out all but the tamest tours.) Your thoughts would be appreciated.

[elmorejj]

Most if not all of these type of buses are covered with just the sides open. I don`t care for them either and make sure I always sit in the middle of the row of seats so the sun doesn`t get me. I also feel safer there especially going round those hairpin bends in the Caribbean.......jean:cool:

[LolaWiz]

they are great for even non-sun people. it is a great way to see the islands and lets the air in as well. Being in a motorcoach is not the way i want to explore if i am on an excursion.
With these, you do not feel claustrophobic at all.

[kryos]

Most if not all of these type of buses are covered with just the sides open. I don`t care for them either and make sure I always sit in the middle of the row of seats so the sun doesn`t get me. I also feel safer there especially going round those hairpin bends in the Caribbean.......jean:cool:
Also, better make sure these are standard type buses ... and not converted school buses. We took a tour in an open air-type safari bus in one of the South Pacific islands. Worst experience of my life. Paid $79 for a four-hour tour in what were normally the island's school buses. Two hard bench seats running along each side, along with another bench seat (offering no back support) in the middle. Of course, no air conditioning (which wasn't expected), as the "windows" ... just a piece of plexiglass sheeting ... were pushed all the way down, and even actually missing in some sections. As we would ride too closely to the side of the road, we would get slapped on the side of the head by various leaves and branches. If you moved to the center bench to avoid this, you had a sore back after a few minutes because there is absolutely no back support.

Never again ... that's all I say. In the future, I'm gonna be real careful as to what type of bus is being used before I book any tour such as this. Everyone ... to a person ... on our bus was complaining. It's not that the tour was necessarily bad, it's just that no one could believe they paid $79 for what we got.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[BumperII]

Never again ... that's all I say. In the future, I'm gonna be real careful as to what type of bus is being used before I book any tour such as this. Everyone ... to a person ... on our bus was complaining. It's not that the tour was necessarily bad, it's just that no one could believe they paid $79 for what we got.

Blue skies ...

--rita

I couldn't agree more. The outfits we were on were actually converted flatbed pickup trucks with four or five metal benchs in the cargo area you had to climb up in order to board. Not much in the way of safety, no seat belts, and no crash protection around you. It had a top on it that did allow some protection from the sun, but that was about it. The driver was inside the air conditioned cab.

The tour was OK, but I don't ever intend to ride on one of those contraptions again.:mad:

[MercedMike]

It sounds like you are talking about the Caribbean, such as St. Thomas and Tortola. Here are some pics of those buses:

Aunt Ruth's Cruise (http://www.elite.net/~thehalls/ruth.html)

I am very sun sensitive. On any Caribbean island I slather myself with SPF45, put on a wide brimmed hat, and stay under cover as much as possible. I don't have any trouble with the safari buses on most islands. They are pretty well covered and shaded.

Have a GREAT cruise!

Mike

[Joanandjoe]

It sounds like you are talking about the Caribbean, such as St. Thomas and Tortola. Here are some pics of those buses:

Aunt Ruth's Cruise (http://www.elite.net/~thehalls/ruth.html)

I am very sun sensitive. On any Caribbean island I slather myself with SPF45, put on a wide brimmed hat, and stay under cover as much as possible. I don't have any trouble with the safari buses on most islands. They are pretty well covered and shaded.

Have a GREAT cruise!

Mike

Interesting Pix, Mike. Thanks. We are, indeed, talking about Tortola and St. Thomas. The bus seems to have metal backs to the seats, and no sides or seatbelts. so that a curve would be scary. Is that correct, or do they close the sides before the bus starts moving?

[MercedMike]

Yeah, that is pretty much it!! The sides of the seats do cover the end of the seat, so you can't really fall out. And they go at a pretty reasonable speed. I don't really remember it being very scary! That is pretty much standard transportation in many Caribbean ports.

Mike

[MercedMike]

Also, better make sure these are standard type buses ... and not converted school buses. We took a tour in an open air-type safari bus in one of the South Pacific islands. Worst experience of my life.

UMMM -- you went to the South Pacific, and expected nice air conditioned tour buses with padded seats and probably a toilet in the back?? Sort of seems to defeat the purpose of going to an unspoiled exotic area, doesn't it??

OTOH, the best buses we ever had for a tour were the school buses in the Orkney Islands. Apparently the number of ships calling there in the summer allows the school district to buy magnificent buses and rent them to tourists all summer and then use them for the school kids in the winter when the tourists leave!

;o)

Mike

[kryos]

UMMM -- you went to the South Pacific, and expected nice air conditioned tour buses with padded seats and probably a toilet in the back?? Sort of seems to defeat the purpose of going to an unspoiled exotic area, doesn't it??

LOL ... no, I most certainly didn't expect padded seats, nor a toilet in the back. In fact, I certainly didn't expect air conditioning ... after all, the tour description did state "open air" bus. But, what I did expect was seating along the lines of a mass transit bus in any major metropolitan city ... non-padded seats ... two across ... similar to what you would find on just about any bus anywhere.

I did not expect to be riding on a slab of wood, wedged in with absolutely as many people as could possibly fit on that bench. And, believe me ... we were wedged in. No one wanted to sit on that center bench without the back support ... so everyone had to scoot and make room until everyone's butt fit along the benches on the two sides. Believe me, we were very, very cozy on that four-hour ride ... very cozy.

Like I said ... never again.

Blue skies ...

--rita