mn_isla_girl

There was a series earlier this year called Below Deck, it was about the lives of the crew on board a charter yacht. I think it was on Bravo, if I remember correctly.

That was so fun to watch! Thank you for sharing it. :D

Loved, loved, loved, having the locals welcome you to their island!! Then you get to hear a little of the awesome caribbean accent, ya mon!!

Does anyone know if you have to pay to get onto Eagle Beach? Is there a charge for chairs and palapas?

The beach is public and free.

You must pay to rent loungers.

Not that you asked but the public bus is only $2.30 per person each way. :D

Hi folks,

I'm looking for information on Pigeon Island. Anyone been there who would recommend it (or not)?

Thanks

I went to Pigeon Island National Park on my first visit to St. Lucia. Great day!! I would recommmend for sure. Here's some picturess:

We kayaked into the bay, you can snorkel here too

This is looking from the top of Fort Rodney, beautiful views of the Atlantic side and the caribbean side!

Here's the hill we climbed, it's not huge but it gets pretty steep at the top. Don't wear flip-flops! :)

We bought some banana ketchup here too. At least try it :eek:

: just how common is it for solo cruisers to get the third degree at Customs?

I haven't noticed it so much for cruising solo but definately feel I get the third degree when traveling to Central America alone, which I do about 3 times a year. My backpack is always searched either coming or going. When leaving Costa Rica I got pulled aside at the gate (after the initial TSA security checkpoint) before I boarded the plane and they went thru my back pack. Last time I left Mexico I was pulled aside at the gate for the white cloth swab, they went thru every single pocket in my backpack and purse, and ran the cloth thru the 'drug detector' after each pocket!

I can only assume this happens to me because I'm traveling solo. It would be interesting to hear from someone that works for border patrol. I don't feel like I look like a drug smuggler but then, what does a drug smuggler look like?? Actually a drug smuggler would probably dressed nicer than me, since I'm usually wearing old flip flops and t-shirts. :confused:

my father as told you have to wait until 2 weeks before cruising.

Definately not. It will most likely be sold out by that time. I've heard others saying it sold out for their cruise 2 months before sailing. If it is showing as an available excursion then buy it.

I thought it was per cabin?

Yes, it is per cabin. Only one of you has to purchase it and it will be good for everyone.

How many days out can you buy FTTF? And is it something you can do online or do you have to go through the PVP?

You can do it online, it will be listed in 'Manage my cruise' with excursions.

I also highly recommend Calabaza! The food was excellent, hot breakfast snacks & full lunch, the drinks were generous, and Gina and her crew were instantly friends! Of course snorkeling with the sea turtles was the highlight. One problem, this excursion will spoil you for all those overcrowded ship tours! :eek:

Gina even e-mails you the recipes for food and drinks afterwards. :D

- is there a specific place to ask to go

 

to get AWAY from hoards of passengers, or are all turtle swimming experiences in the same bay/area?

 

Thanks!

I highly recommend Calabaza Sailing in Barbados to snorkel with the sea turtles. They only take 12 guests though so you must make reservations ahead. We got to our spot before other groups and had the turtles all to ourselves. They also served a hot breakfast snack, full lunch, and open bar all day.

The turtles are not captive, they are just out in the ocean.

Sadly, no. I walked all around OSJ without finding him. Sigh.

You probably didn't look enough like a tourist. You should have worn your hawaiian shirt, fanny pack, and white socks with new tennis shoes!

I've used this for 2 years (about 9 trips) and LOVE it. It's Lewis&Clark, bought it on ebags dot com. It's light but not flimsy, hangs anywhere so you can see everything and folds nicely into a compact size. It was less than $20. It shows no signs of wear and tear yet.

I see that the bus is $2.30, is that round trip? If so, what do they give you for he trip back to show you paid?

No it's not round trip, they don't sell round trip. Each fare is paid when boarding the bus. Easiest thing is to have a $5 bill pp and you'll get local currency in change, keep that change for the fare back and you'll be left with a few souvenier coins. :D

I booked with island marketing. It's $40 for snorkel rum punch and round trip from port. I will come back with info for you when we get home.

I did this trip with Island Marketing....excellent day!!!

Thank You How did you like the Hotel?

The hotel was great for the price (cheaper than most) it has a great rooftop patio. Have you read the reviews on TripAdvisor? If you go with expectations of the Marriot you will be disappointed but it's clean and has everything you need.

I actually booked it more than once but the second time I got bumped because they overbooked. No big deal to me I was traveling alone and I'm always open to try something new, they paid for my cab and had already booked me a room somewhere else, so I wasn't left stranded or anything.

I love sailing from Puerto Rico but the hotels there really are expensive, and traveling alone I can't justify over $200 a night, it's just too much. Last month I stayed at The San Juan Plaza Hotel, that was really nice and just a block from the beach, same price as Hotel Miramar. Had a little pool and hot tub in the back too. Just another idea....Good luck.

Has anyone ate at the Casita Miramar Rest? Im looking for a good restaurant close to the Hotel Miramar for dinner pre cruise. Thanks Larry

I had dinner at Casita Miramar when I stayed at Hotel Miramar. I had a pork dish, it was lovely!! It was a short walk from the hotel.

My friend had shrimps

Where do you catch the bus? What route number? It took me a alf hour to find the Cable Beach jitney n Nassau....thanks...

The downtown bus terminal is literally a 5 minute walk straight in front of the ship. I don't know what route I took, I just stepped in and asked the driver if he was going to Eagle Beach and he said yes. Then when I went back to town I just waited at the bus stop I had been dropped at initially. Less than 5 minutes and a bus picked me up. :)

Just a tip, if you walk for more than 5 minutes and don't find the terminal just ASK someone. Don't be that guy! :eek:

they are not new or air conditioned but for the cost you can't beat it.

The bus I took to Eagle beach last month was air conditioned. Fare was $2.30. It was easy and quick.

Anyone have experience with Leeward Islands Charters and their sail / snorkel / lunch tour?

 

Crowded catamaran?

Good snorkeling?

Decent lunch?

Cost?

 

Any help appreciated! :)

I e-mailed them prior to my last cruise and at first they said I was too early for a schedule so I waited and then they said I could only book thru the cruiseline. I was sailing Royal Caribbean. As much as I love to snorkel my experience with any ship excursions is always dissappointment due to the number of people they jam into the trips. I booked with Blue Water Safaris and had a great day! I wrote about it on the other St Kitts snorkel thread.

The reservations/excursions "open" about 3 months before the cruise I think - maybe somebody here knows exactly how far ahead they open.(

Because this is my first Royal Caribbean cruise I sent an e-mail to customer service asking this specific question and the reply I got stated that excursions are available for booking 6 months in advance.

Well I'm less than 6 months out and they are not available for my sailing yet. I bet if I sent another e-mail I would get a different answer. Just one of those things I guess....:( Carnival does the same thing, I wish they'd just give you a range and say 'keep checking' instead of giving you info that is just wrong.