blue_water

Depends on your vantage point really… We and other couples on our cruise have arranged for a nice, private cat sail for a small group (at a great price), just to avoid the congested spots like the Springs and Waterfalls. Nothing wrong with those as they are probably the biggest draw for new visitors… We do want to view the Pitons and other areas of the coastline from the cat, and we may decide on some beach time, depending on the vibe at that time…But if too busy not a biggie 😉

We don’t have a favorite driver anymore. But I would just grab a taxi when you arrive. A driver should confirm he/she will return at a time you choose. I’d probably look for another couple on our Roll Call to share the taxi. one note - I’m seeing that cruise lines (not sure how many) offer a Jeep tour to Smuggler’s now. I don’t know how long they stay there. But it’s really a shame as Smuggler’s is one of the last remaining beaches not overtaken by crowds on cruise ship days…

Not our idea of a great excursion, just because of the typical tourist stops. But happily you enjoyed it!

Yes I don’t see the HC perks in the Premium Vista wraparound cabin descriptions…These corner cabins on the Vista are a separate category… I’ve read that grand suite guests also have HC pool access..

Update - We currently have 5 couples booked, with two other couples interested.

Yes we’ve stayed in aft cabins on Carnival, and privacy on the balcony is nonexistent…We like the idea of having access to the HC pool and outside bar, even though it looks like it can still get pretty crowded…

So all passengers have access to the inside bar area, and only HC and Premium Vista corner cabin guests have access to the outside bar/pool area…

Aah, I didn’t realizes you had access to the pool and bar from the corner Premium Vista cabins… And are you saying any guest on the ship can go to the bar? Not just the HC and corner vista cabin guests?

Yes the wrap balcony or Premium Vista cabin is great! Especially on a Panama Canal cruise. I was looking at them, but my wife likes the idea of the Havana pool and bar on a Carnival cruise… Thanks much for your insight! 🙏

My mistake, looking at the HC AFT balconies on decks 6 & 7. Ok, I see the pool and bar are on deck 5 (Promenade). So I was wondering about noise on deck 6 aft cabins coming from the pool and bar, day or night? And there must be a stairway for HC guests from decks 7 & 6 to the pool…? Thanks for the details!

Looking at images for these deck 6 cabins, there is a “patio” for each cabin, and there is a gate that opens to a walkway. Do all passengers have access the this walkway? Or only those staying in the Havana Cabana cabins? And how do guests in HC cabins get to the HC bar and pool? Are these on deck 5? If so are the patios noisy at night? TIA!

It’s certainly understandable you would feel safer on a cruise line excursion, no question. For others, Nassau is one of those ports where folks wanting to try something other than a cruise line excursion can do so with little concern…with common sense, of course! 😉

I don’t think you have anything to worry about as far as the water being deep, and how long it takes really depends on how big the crowd is that is with you. Maybe plan 1 hour in the boulders + the hike down and back up to the Top of the Baths, or 1.5 hrs? The ferry is ~30 minutes each way, and a taxi between the ferry dock and Top of the Baths is 10 - 15 minutes each way… The Baths is a unique experience and very popular with cruise ship passengers, and there’s no easy way to avoid your fellow cruisers wanting the same experience. Having said that, with longer port times you can often avoid the biggest crowd by going on your own, versus the cruise line excursions, and use the services of a taxi driver to guide you while on Virgin Gorda. But with your 9AM arrival your ferry options are limited to the Speedy’s 10:40AM over, and 3:30PM return, giving you ~3.5 hours of useable time on the island. Definitely enough time to experience the Baths and get back to port well before BOB time. I don’t know if the cruise line charters an earlier ferry, or if those folks will be going with you…An answer to that would help guide your decision… But you would be fine if you choose to go over. If you decide on a beach day, Tortola would be our choice between Tortola and St Kitt’s, especially with your port times. Smuggler’s Cove would be our first choice, Brewers Bay our second… [EDIT] I would read @pyropoodle’s post from March, 2023, very informative post on the Baths!

Sorry, meant to add that swimming between Spring Bay and the Baths is not recommended. There are often strong currents as well,as top tides reported. We’ve seen strong swimmers coming into shore from a moored cat totally exhausted once they reached the beach at the Baths…