weliketocruise2017

1 hour ago, Ms411 said:

If you mean One Love Charters they dock at Compass Point Marina which is in the Red Hook area. The marina isn't a popular stop for cruise passengers so there may not be many cruise passengers who have taken a taxi there.

 

Based on my understanding of the taxi rate sheet the fare may be between $17-20 per person each way. Compass Point isn't listed on the rate sheet so taxi drivers have some flexibility.

 

I think Compass Point is near Food Center but check Google Maps. The drivers may not know the marina by name but they'll know where Food Center is.

Hm.  Thank you!!  I see why she said what she said.... thank you!!!  Compass Point Marina 😉 I'll edit my post!! If it is $35-$40 round trip per person (whew!!!!) seems consistent with my quote! Thank you

Anybody take that trip and able to give me RT pricing that you paid? Thanks! 

We sail next month.  I dont know what we are going to do yet.  😞

21 hours ago, Cruisin1996 said:

Wondering what charter company you used... looking to do the same this March. 

Us too, on Thursday March 30. If we don’t find one that’s reasonable, we may just taxi to the West end ferry from the ship. 

2 hours ago, wcook said:

Don’t know. But you can always order a “vodka and soda” if that’s what you want. 

Thanks. I could.  Appreciate it.  I'm just wondering what I could get in a can, with the flavors such as pineapple, or cherry, or lime. That's what can't be replicated with vodka sodas, which is what I drank pre-High Noons. 

I see on that Truly Hard Seltzer is listed on the alcohol list.  It isn't my favorite High Noons, but, I might be able to make due!  (Never had a Truly)  For those who have sailed on Encore, is it the 'regular' Truly (malt beverage) only, or, do they also have the Truly vodka seltzers (blue cans) too?   We sail in March, just mentally mapping out what I'm going to drink on the ship.  Thanks!!

Wondering for those who hit up the excursion desk upon boarding to be put on a waitlist for an excursion, how frequently do people get on their desired excursion?  Looking for in general, but sailing on an eastern Caribbean cruise myself and hoping to not have to book private - thanks!!

Looking for cruisers who have arrived into Tortola at 6 am and departed at 2 pm!!  (Norwegian Encore cruisers, I'm looking at you!!)

The ship doesn't show an excursion, perhaps it's sold out. I think this is feasible, but looking for people who have done this! What do you say?  Totally feasible, a noon ferry from Jost Van Dyke will get us back on the ship in plenty of time to sail away at 2 pm?   {How strict is the 'be back one hour before' rule? If we get there at 1:10, would that be a problem?}   Thanks in advance!!

Ferry runs at 8 am from West End to Jost Van Dyke.  Get in taxi at cruise pier around 7 am, to get to West End ferry, buy tickets, get situated

·       Taxi to West End (ferry) (25-30 minute taxi drive)

·       West End (ferry) to Jost Van Dyke (Great Harbour) (ferry) (25 minute ferry ride)

·       Great Harbour (ferry) to Soggy Bottom Bar / White Bay (5 minute taxi drive)

·       TOTAL TRAVEL TIME: 60 MINUTES

·       Taxi to Great Harbour (ferry) (5 minute taxi drive)

·       Great Harbour (ferry) to West End (ferry) (25 minute ferry ride)

·       Taxi to Road Town Cruise Pier (25-30 minute taxi drive)

·       TOTAL TRAVEL TIME: 60 MINUTES

Ferry runs at 12 pm from Jost Van Dyke / Great Harbour

Get in taxi at Soggy Bottom Bar / White Bay around 11:35 am, to get to Jost Van Dyke ferry for a 12 pm departure.

o   7-7:30 taxi ride to ferry

o   8-8:25 ferry ride

o   8:30-8:35 taxi ride to beach

SPEND THREE HOURS AT THE BEACH AND OR SOGGY BOTTOM BAR (don't judge! we didn't pick these times 😉 ) 

o   11:35-11:40 taxi ride to ferry

o   12-12:25 ferry ride

o   12:30-1 pm taxi ride

o   BACK ON SHIP

*Posted also in the St. Kitts forum*

When on vacation, we like beaches, snorkeling, swimming and sun!  I don't enjoy sitting in a tour bus, touring islands, etc; coming from a cold weather state with snow, give us the outdoors and allow us to bask in the warm rays of sunshine!  While we enjoy the casual snorkel, we don't want to spend hours and hours in the water chasing Nemo and Dory. We enjoy it, and then, would like to spend time with our toes in the sand. 

If we were to book the Catamaran Fan-Ta-Sea to Nevis with snorkel, when we visit St Kitts AND we book the Caribbean Sail to Christmas & Honeymoon Coves, when we are in St. Thomas, does this allow us enough on the beaches?  We don't want to spend both days on smaller boats, with only minimal time on the beach and wading in shallow waters. 

I also had my eyes on St Kitts Catamaran Sail & Nevis Beach Getaway when we visit St. Kitts and the St. John Trunk Bay Beach & Snorkel when we are in St. Thomas - but those are both sold out at the time - but I am hopeful perhaps they'll open up before we said in April. Am I right in assuming those two would offer less time on a smaller boat, and more time on the beaches? 
 

Any insight would be appreciated!!   

When on vacation, we like beaches, snorkeling, swimming and sun!  I don't enjoy sitting in a tour bus, touring islands, etc; coming from a cold weather state with snow, give us the outdoors and allow us to bask in the warm rays of sunshine!  While we enjoy the casual snorkel, we don't want to spend hours and hours in the water chasing Nemo and Dory. We enjoy it, and then, would like to spend time with our toes in the sand. 

If we were to book the Catamaran Fan-Ta-Sea to Nevis with snorkel, when we visit St Kitts AND we book the Caribbean Sail to Christmas & Honeymoon Coves, when we are in St. Thomas, does this allow us enough on the beaches?  We don't want to spend both days on smaller boats, with only minimal time on the beach and wading in shallow waters. 

I also had my eyes on St Kitts Catamaran Sail & Nevis Beach Getaway when we visit St. Kitts and the St. John Trunk Bay Beach & Snorkel when we are in St. Thomas - but those are both sold out at the time - but I am hopeful perhaps they'll open up before we said in April. Am I right in assuming those two would offer less time on a smaller boat, and more time on the beaches? 
 

Any insight would be appreciated!!   

6 hours ago, papaflamingo said:

On St. Kitts, We have done this excursion through Royal Caribbean twice and had a great time both times.   It's very highly recommended on tripadvisor and is exclusive to Royal Caribbean when ship is in port so you must book through the cruise line.  But beautiful snorkeling and a fun relaxing hour or so on Nevis at beach. Drinks are included.  Check it out in your cruise planner. 

 

Catamaran Fan-ta-sea to Nevis with Snorkel

The website says this one is sold out; sadly.  What are the chances i could book it once onboard? Does anybody know?

3 hours ago, Sobro said:

Have you considered ziplining on St Thomas? Also, a snorkeling and beach excursion to Trunk Bay on  St John from St Thomas will fill all of your needs.

I haven't - i'll google a snorkeling and beach excursion to Trunk Bay - thank you!!

2 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

For st Kitts. I highly recommend a beach day at South Friars Beach and carambola beach club.  It's a 20 to 30 minute taxi ride that cost us $20 round trip for 2.  

It is very relaxing and one side has great area to snorkel.  

We got a lounge chair for free but if you want umbrella or cushion for lounge chair then you pay rental fee. 

They have waiters serve drinks right on the beach or you can go the club and have lunch snacks or drinks under roof to cool off 

We got our taxi at the clock tower square and told our driver what time to pick us up and she was there waiting for us.  

Cococay  there is so much you can do for free or pay for waterslide etc. Beautiful island that is constantly evolving.  We loved doing the jet skis. I think we paid $75 for each ski.

Have fun!!

Thanks!! I appreciate it.  Most of the beach excursions via the RCI website say "sold out" so I'm looking for good alternatives. This is helpful.

Evening!!  My son and I will be cruising in April and we are looking for great excursions to take - open to both Royal Caribbean excursions, but also, to reputable off ship excursions, that can be trusted to get us back on time!  I am looking for St Kitts, St Thomas and CoCo Cay recommendations.  We are looking for places we can sit on a beach, perhaps snorkel, and enjoy a beach chair, grab a bite, and perhaps a nice frozen drink for me!!  We just booked;  a lot of the ship excursions are booked. Any and all recommendations welcome!! Thanks

Beg to differ. I drink bottled water almost exclusively but never bottled spring water. It all depends on the brand and type you drink

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I just tapped a tag on a case of water and got it in the room

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They sent out case of Aquafina to the room!

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So many board Police on here [emoji849] Thanks to those who responded about the tours. As to the board police, relax. Life is too short to get exercised about a new person to this whole site not even realizing there was a section for ports of call. I'll go back to the don't like it move along. It's an internet site. It isn't the end of the world, trust me. There's a lot of other people in this world with much bigger problems than worrying about a new poster "clogging" up a section of a cruising website with the "wrong" question. [emoji3] Bon Voyage peeps! I'm off to enjoy a good time.

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Sadly my son and I were the outliers who didn't like the tour. :(

 

I had read a million good reviews of them (over on the Sint Maarten port forum, where this should be), and was incredibly disappointed that we ended up disappointed

 

]

Not to be rude, but that's pretty bold. Didn't realize there were forum police. People need to relax. This is an Internet forum; don't like it? Don't read it. Move on. [emoji849] Thanks for your words of wisdom though. Definitely appreciate your snark.

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Thanks everyone! I heard back and understand today ship time is the same as island time!! So I'm all set thank you all for your positive responses! We are looking forward to it!

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St. Maarten is on Atlantic Standard Time year round and does not observe Daylight Savings Time. So from March 12 to November 5, 2017, ship time and island time are one and the same.

We head a great time with Bernard. There were only four people on our tour so it was great and private. Remember that they go by island time not ship time so verify what time it is or you will be an hour late. That is what happened when we went. There were only four of us because the others ended up there an hour later. So keep the time in mind.

Oh great! I was starting to worry as I haven't seen much, if anything, on them - so this helps tremendously!!! Thank you!!

We booked the SXM Island Rout II - 9 am to 2:30 pm. It says that we'll go to Iguana farm, the french and dutch border, Oyster pond over looking the island of St. Barths, Orient beach to swim and eat, Marigot to shop, Maho beach to see the planes, drive t hrough Simpson Bay Marina and to Harold Jack HIll for a view of Simpson Marina, Airport and Anguilla.

Has anybody done a tourn with Bernard's tours? If so, is it worth it? I put $20pp deposit down, but i just wanted to make sure not to waste a day vs $80. ;p

Thank you in advance!!!

We just got off the Harmony yesterday morning and we ate at both Chops and 150 CP. Hands down, 150 CP was the better meal. The atmosphere in Chops is much more chaotic and the food was much better in 150 CP. If you are a beef eater, get the 18oz Beef Tenderloin for two that is carved tableside at 150 CP. It was amazingly delicious!!! Have fun!!