PORT ROYAL

Parque de loss Niños - fairly close to the port - but still a cab ride away Recently informed about - but not close to port - https://www.museodelninocarolina.com GoKart Racing - not close to port - have a 48 inch height minimum - https://www.k1speed.com/canovanas-location.html Simple alternative is Kite Flying at the fort - close to the port - Kites for sale by vendors close by. No doubt others on CC will have additional suggestions

Wow! The ship doing COCO? Know one will have a great beach stay…. Enjoy! Bulk cruise trips previously used KKO aka “Sardine Central”. Obviously now a much improved day for all on the tour.

Private Licensed cabs and minivans are allowed transit to/from inside Port area. Private “Jintys” not allowed to/from port area (“Jinty central Pick up area along Back Street -Phillipsburg) and can be flagged down roadside (same for Licenced Cabs). Jinty fares are a couple of dollars per person, but routes are convoluted with multiple drops and pickups. Mostly used by locals. Unlicensed cabs are considered bandit territory. For a party of 8 use Licenced cabs from port.

On last visit a scooter was turned away….. But this may have changed…. Best to ask the Tourist Board direct for all one’s questions… correct answers? https://www.vacationstmaarten.com/contact/

Never used an external tour operator. Book guided tour direct with the Distillery, taking any “premium” tasting option.

The cab rank from the ship is quite a distance for those with reduced mobility. Take the free ship arranged golf buggy from ship the taxi rank…. Private taxi is about $30 each way to COCO, about 20 minute journey, Allow a very safe extra10 minutes for the return to ship, in case of heavy port traffic. From taxi drop to COCO is a short/comfortable level walk. No bed/booze deals at COCO it’s an genteel upmarket restaurant venue… with beds etc.. Food (to Michelin standard) drinks, service and ambiance are excellent. https://www.cocobeach.restaurant https://www.cocobeach.restaurant/gallery Have no idea as to which venues have a “deal” The outward taxi driver will be pleased to be time booked for the return. PS.. if a fan, COCO Rhum/Rum cabinet is extensive and at all price points. Yes, the had “La Filbuste”.

Nearest is Mount Gay…. Better tour and rum is Foursquare, but this distillery is further away. Whatever is the selection, best to book one’s tour in advance as spaces are limted.

To save any future angst, contact links below for tour pricing and duration. Then compare price with that of ship…… Antours - https://www.avirtualdominica.com/dominica-directory/antours/ Peppers - https://www.avirtualdominica.com/dominica-directory/h-o-t-pepper-tours-its-better-with-pepper/

So kind to take the time to do this….

For a tour, then Thenford Grey or Beach Can only recommend a Day Pass at the St Kitts Marriott or Nevis - https://bluewatersafaris.com/tour/nevis-beach-getaway/ Bluewater offer a complete Nevis tour package https://bluewatersafaris.com/tour/nevis-plantation-beach-experience/

No boot… because of the amount of luggage, we have a flexible People Carrier with the rear seat down. Driver slides cases along, out and drops them down.

Correct. One’s driver does.

Excellent advice….

Apologies….. my bad…. Should have read disembarkation… Thank you for indirectly raising this issue.

Strange… I all the past decades, we have never had a Porter problem at departures. Could be because we deliberately plan to arrive during the last hour or so. Agree, the arrival Porters are readily available. With their assistance, one is sped past/through queues and rapidly through Customs. As an aside, the Porter method is advised when embarking in New York…. Long queues do not exist with a Porter.

Personal experience. At the vehicle departure designated lines, one’s driver will park/off load, a porter will magically arrive on the scene, load one’s luggage onto a trolly and take away to security. All one has to do is walk to departure with any hand luggage. A gratuity to the porter is appreciated, but not expected.

Okay… Here is my personal favourite close to Roseau … Soufriere (Bubble) Beach… Have recommended Mero in the past, but that’s sadly now gone commercial (Babylon) and downhill. Yes, Bubble is ethnic, with a shabby ambience, but it is unspoilt, with great snorkelling, as it’s a protected Marine area. There are sulphur springs from the seabed, better than Champagne and free. The bars have Bush Rum (have to ask for it).. Genuinely welcoming and appreciate one’s custom. Beach shoes are advised for those being of tender feet, because of pebbles in places (not 100% pristine white sand), but Bush is known to relieve any perceived discomfort. No S.H.T. Take it as it is.. It’s not trying to be something it’s not..

Think it was Lupi’s Mexican Restaurant that one is trying to recall…

Also consider… https://ladisrestaurant.com/san-juan.html And excellent offerings… https://www.mariopagan.com/mprestaurants

Marmalade - Take their wine pairing Dinner - Excellent But do book very early - Popular - https://www.marmaladepr.com

Has one tried to “search” on a well known “Booking” site, which can filter by date/s and price. One may find a Gem available in a more desirable area.

One has used LA for a botched repair to a one’s property, under the house insurance policy, with all surveyors costs paid by the policy. Not a penny was spent by oneself. One’s Solicitors Legal costs were recovered by the instructed Solicitors. Again with an injury sustained on a RC ship etc.. No upfront costs, all medical reports, Court Fees etc., recovery of Ship medical bills etc., plus consequential losses, damages and compensation were recovered by Insurers Legal Team. All without any personal outlay One’s Solicitors Legal costs were recovered by the instructed Solicitors. Think it’s best to speak with one’s insurers regaling any scope and coverage of their policies. Different Insurers have different policies.

As a thought… Many insurance policies that cover House, Property, Companies, Life and Car etc., have an additional premium to cover Legal Assistance. If having Legal Assistance Cover, immediately contact one’s Insurers, for the potential claim advice, in first instance. Then, if the advice is that a claim will have plus 51% minimum chance of success, then one will be passed to a Legal team appointed by one’s insurers. For information, for those considering paying an additional premium, the premium is quite small in relation to the cost of a Solicitor or a KC. Would recommend this to all on CC, because one will never know if, or when, Legal Assistance is needed.

For the best beach day, do contact Club Med about Les Boucaniers in Martinique, they offered a Day Pass. We paid under €100.00 pp and had a great stay. Give Club Med a call for one’s date pricing and availability. Link to LB - https://www.clubmed.co.uk/r/les-boucaniers/y Taxi took about 45 minutes there and 1 hour back (heavy traffic) with a price of €50 for the taxi each way. On return, allow an extra 30 minutes to stock up on some fabulous Rhums (La Filbuste etc.) from the quayside duty free. 10 minutes to browse, if one doesn’t know what to purchase, then up to 20 minutes to queue to pay.

D+ is an error on one’s part. (D+ may possibly appear on Cunard in the future) Should read D, this equates to Diamond level of Cunard World Club. This attracts the benefit of priority boarding at embarkation. Which we don’t use, preferring to arrival later.