lots of questions from a newbie here.

[built]

We are going on a eastern Caribbean cruise first week of april and I have a few questions, I appreciate all the help i can get.

 

On the ship is it very hard to get lounge chairs for sunning or are they all "saved". any tips?

 

How about buying drinks on board ,are the drinks of the day a rip off with weak liquor ? I have read alot here on rum runners but I am not sure i want to sneak booze on and have the stress of that or maybe its nothing to worry about I don't know, what is everyone's comments on this subject .

 

On the private beach cocoa cay ,is it pronounced K or key ?

Should we avoid the straw market there or are they good deals and fun? is it expected to haggle on prices or just pay the price?

 

Also where is the best beach there, I have heard about a very nice one thats a couple minutes walk from the drop off point that isn't crowded and is beautiful ,any tips?

 

At St. Thomas where is the best beach and how do we get there and for that matter how do we get to any where once the ship drops us off,whats to do and see there? tips?

 

same questions for St. Marrten ,Tips ?

 

I don't want to get set off at the docks and not have a clue of how to get around and go to places, we are 54 yrs old and we don't need a bunch of hiking,worrying, or stress,lol

 

Please give me any advice you have to make this cruise a once in a lifetime celebration and a memory to cherish, I want to make this a great cruise for my wife.

thanks.

[dln929]

Congratulations on booking your cruise! After the Midwest winter we've been having I bet you're looking forward to this twice as much. ;) I can't answer all your questions but I hope this will be helpful.

 

I'd take some time and look at Royal Caribbean's website. There's a lot of information there on the ship (which ship are you on?) and the ports you'll be going to. What my husband and I do when we're new to a port is take the path of least resistance and book the shore excursions. Maybe we've been very lucky, but I honestly can't say that we've ever been on a bomb. In St. Thomas we booked the excursion to Sapphire Beach and it's just lovely. In St. Martin we simply walked into town and went sightseeing and did some swimming but maybe you'd like a shore excursion of the island (we did that once and it was fun). There's a Ports forum here on Cruise Critic for each of the Caribbean islands; tons of good info there. Have you joined the Roll Call for your sailing? That's another good place to talk to people and get a feel of what your cruise is going to be like.

[G85 SS]

We are going on a eastern Caribbean cruise first week of april and I have a few questions, I appreciate all the help i can get.

 

On the ship is it very hard to get lounge chairs for sunning or are they all "saved". any tips?

 

Loungers are harder and harder to come by as the day goes on. The easiest for you is to get to an area you like early. As for saving them, you cannot do that, at least near the pool as Pool Attendants watch over the chairs like a hawk and will remove your items if left unattended for 30 minutes. This excludes you enjoying time in the pool or going to grab a drink from the bar.

 

How about buying drinks on board ,are the drinks of the day a rip off with weak liquor ? I have read alot here on rum runners but I am not sure i want to sneak booze on and have the stress of that or maybe its nothing to worry about I don't know, what is everyone's comments on this subject .

 

I don't think the drinks are "rip off's" so to speak. But I suppose it's all in the eye of the beholder. I typically don't get too many drinks as the bar tab at the end of the week can reach a hefty price if not careful.

 

On the private beach cocoa cay ,is it pronounced K or key ?

Should we avoid the straw market there or are they good deals and fun? is it expected to haggle on prices or just pay the price?

 

It's technically called "Coco'key' " An island that is part of the Berry Islands in the Bahama's. My absolute favorite Caribbean island. The straw market is not pushy here at all. And it's not a very big market. I usually enjoy walking around and seeing what is available for purchase.

 

Also where is the best beach there, I have heard about a very nice one thats a couple minutes walk from the drop off point that isn't crowded and is beautiful ,any tips?

 

The whole island is surrounded by a beach. However, if you want loungers near where the BBQ is going to be at, as soon as you get off of your tender, you will see a sign that says "CocoCay" at the exit of the tenders. Just continue to walk in the direction you are facing and you will see part of the island where chairs are available.

 

At St. Thomas where is the best beach and how do we get there and for that matter how do we get to any where once the ship drops us off,whats to do and see there? tips?

 

In St. Thomas I did the "St. Thomas Island tour while on my Oasis cruise. At the pier we found our tour group and followed the guide to the open air vehicles that gave us a tour of the island. We went to mountain top, overlooked Magen's Bay and all kinds of neat places. The tour ended in Downtown where there is plenty of shopping and places to get lunch. I would strongly suggest this tour as it is cheap and you go around the whole island and stop at several lookouts so there are some great pictures to take and moments to be had. And speaking of lunch. The Greenhouse is a fun place to eat. Then it's a short taxi ride back to the ship for a few bucks. And U.S. Currency is accepted throughout. No beach day was done here but some of my other family did a Snorkel and beach day excursion and they said it was fantastic.

 

same questions for St. Marrten ,Tips ?

 

We also did an island tour here as well. Went to the French side of the island as well. Plenty of shopping and downtown Phillipsburg is about a mile walk from the port if you don't want to take a taxi. Did not do a beach day here so no info on that.

 

I don't want to get set off at the docks and not have a clue of how to get around and go to places, we are 54 yrs old and we don't need a bunch of hiking,worrying, or stress,lol

 

Please give me any advice you have to make this cruise a once in a lifetime celebration and a memory to cherish, I want to make this a great cruise for my wife.

thanks.

 

As for the last two questions/statements. There is nothing at all to be worried about at any of these ports of calls. You will have port shopping maps and all of the taxi drivers available at the port are more than happy to help you. I assume you are going on Freedom of the Seas given the itinerary? If so, that is a spectacular ship in and of itself. Why don't you plan on taking her to a specialty restaurant one of the days at sea while on board the ship? There is a small cover charge depending on the place you go, but from everybody I have spoke with, they are all worth it.

 

Not sure of your budget while on board but the two of you could also do a couples spa deal while on board the ship. They come in all different price ranges and options available.

 

Finally, I am not a huge person for photographs, but on a cruise I ALWAYS get dressed up for the formal nights on board the ships and walk around to each of the photography booths they have set up to get pictures taken. These are view-able throughout your cruise and are great memories to keep.

 

Here's CocoCay for you. I could post pictures all day long but won't do that. Just to give you an idea of what the beach is like you are hearing about. Just remember to keep the ship on your left hand side.

 

This is the sign I mentioned:

 

Here's the more popular beach:

 

Edited February 17, 2014 by G85 SS

[ryansmith18]

For your questions regarding each of the destinations, definitely check out the forum for each port of call here at Cruise Critic. Lots of good info for each of them including which beaches are a waste of time, which ones are worth the money (if access costs anything), how to get to any excursions you're interested in, etc. etc.

 

As for the lounge chairs on board the ship - on days at sea the lido deck will fill up fast. The earlier you get up to the lido deck in the mornings, the better. If you sleep in you'll probably still be able to find a couple of chairs, but your choices will be limited.

[houstoncruisers2001]

 

At St. Thomas where is the best beach and how do we get there and for that matter how do we get to any where once the ship drops us off,whats to do and see there? tips?

 

I'm answering one question. Been to Magen's Bay and been to Sapphire Beach. There are "shuttles" near the ship that wait until they are full and they'll take you to either place. Coming back from Sapphire the shuttles stop at a look-out point for some great photo opportunities.

 

I liked Sapphire better, but others liked Magen's Bay better. The water at Sapphire is amazing.

 

 

[OttoCal]

I liked Bernard's Tours in St. Maarten. Nice escorted island tour, with a couple of beach stops, and you get a good feel for the island, also stops at Maho Beach so you can watch a few planes arrive, which is much more fun than it sounds like :D. We did the Butterfly Farm instead of the Orient Beach stop, as we aren't too much into beaches, and this was a nice option. Also at St. Maarten, you can buy a day pass for the water taxi that goes from the cruise ship terminal area over to the downtown area, saves a walk, cheaper than a taxi, and there is both beach and shopping there.

 

Drink of the Day- watch the morning show on your TV, they will tell you what's in the drink. If you like it, try it! And you get to keep the glass- you get 'Glass' inside or 'plastic' out on the pool decks, but I think you can switch, OR ask for it in a regular glass and get a discount since you aren't keeping the glass.

 

You can bring 2 bottles of wine on legally, (don't forget a corkscrew), we do that and have stopped bothering with the liquor smuggling.

 

Straw markets are for haggling a bit, and stores are typically set prices. But I usually go with the idea that if something seems like a fair price to me, I just pay it and not worry about it. Unless you are an experienced price negotiator I find that the whole haggling bit can just be frustrating.

 

There are lots of places with chairs besides right by the main pool areas, so wander around- if you are looking for a quiet spot you will find lots of choices throughout the day.

[cb at sea]

Unless you must have a lounger right next to the pool, there are plenty up a deck! And, being up a level is much less crowded and you have some space to move the loungers. Right near the pool, they are so closed, you can barely get into the chair!

 

We usually hit the pool area around 10am or so...and have always been able to find somewhere to get some sun. If we want to take a dip, simply walk over to the pool!

 

Coco KAY.

 

If you bring wine, your cabin attendant can get you a corkscrew....you don't need to bring one!

 

As far as your other ports...get a guidebook from your library! You are right, if you don't know ANYTHING about where you're going, you won't get much out of your time ashore! The travel section in the library has guidebooks on the Caribbean! Or, buy one! It's the best investment you can make!

Edited February 17, 2014 by cb at sea

[dacsmom]

We are going on a eastern Caribbean cruise first week of april and I have a few questions, I appreciate all the help i can get.

 

On the ship is it very hard to get lounge chairs for sunning or are they all "saved". any tips? If you want to sit right by the pool it may be hard to find a seat. I like a bit farther away and usually have no trouble.

 

How about buying drinks on board ,are the drinks of the day a rip off with weak liquor ? I have read alot here on rum runners but I am not sure i want to sneak booze on and have the stress of that or maybe its nothing to worry about I don't know, what is everyone's comments on this subject . Love the Drink of the Day (DoD), it is not watered down at all. You can get one without the souvenir glass and it is a bit cheaper if you do not want to keep the glasses. They do have some nice glasses though. Take a look at the drink packages too. Love the after dinner shooters too.

 

On the private beach cocoa cay ,is it pronounced K or key ?

Should we avoid the straw market there or are they good deals and fun? is it expected to haggle on prices or just pay the price? Technically the correct pronunciation is "Key" but more people pronounce it "K"

 

Also where is the best beach there, I have heard about a very nice one thats a couple minutes walk from the drop off point that isn't crowded and is beautiful ,any tips? CoCo Cay is my favorite port. It is such a relaxing day. There is very quiet beach, "Barefoot" just keep walking to the right and you will run into it. There is also a nice walking trail through the wooded area. I like the snorkel area best because it is close to everything but it is not secluded. There are also hammocks and chairs tucked away in many parts of the island. Lunch time gets a bit crowded, get there early or later or prepare to stand in line unless you rent a cabana. I have gotten some nice trinkets at the straw market, yes you can haggle and the prices seem fair. Vendors are not pushy like some places

 

At St. Thomas where is the best beach and how do we get there and for that matter how do we get to any where once the ship drops us off,whats to do and see there? tips? I usually do a snorkeling trip here so I cannot comment on the beaches

 

same questions for St. Marrten ,Tips ? I like Bernard's Tours. Very inexpensive ($45) for a tour of both the Dutch and French side. You can choose a beach or shopping option. Google Bernard's Tours and you can see all the options. They also supply you with rum punch all day.

 

I don't want to get set off at the docks and not have a clue of how to get around and go to places, we are 54 yrs old and we don't need a bunch of hiking,worrying, or stress,lol I am also in my 50's and the Eastern Itinerary is my favorite.

 

Please give me any advice you have to make this cruise a once in a lifetime celebration and a memory to cherish, I want to make this a great cruise for my wife. Relax and enjoy, there is so much to do and you can drive yourself crazy trying to take it all in. Have a great cruise, there is no better vacation, in my opinion

thanks.

 

See above

[cindyscruise]

Depending on how much you are going to drink - take a look at the drink package. You do not get souvenir glasses with the package. same for the after dinner drink -you don't get to keep the glass. Look at the port forums or book with the cruise line. We did this for our first few cruises. Now we feel comfortable going on our own. I have never had a problem finding a deck chair but then again we don't usually want to sit right by the pool. Relax and have a great time. Is this a special occassion? - but I have surprised my hubby with room decorations for our anniversary.

[built]

thanks for the advice, yes this is for a anniversary.

[summersigh]

At the top of this page is a tab that says "Destinations" use it to navigate to find the ports you'll be stopping at. We find the CC port of call pages are great for a starting point to learn about a new port.

 

At St Maarten we went to watch the low flying planes at Moho Beach - specifically at the Sunset Bar and Grill. (you can google all this)

We didn't want to worry about securing a taxi so we a couple of months ahead we booked with Bernards Tours. They're reputable and were prompt. We had lunch, a couple of Caribe beers and had a totally great day. There was enough time when we got back to shop for souvenirs right there at the port.:)

 

Have a grand trip!!

[lovesthebeach2]

Note that if you want a pool chair in the shade you will have no problem getting one. I never sit in the sun and I have never had a problem any time of the day finding shade :cool:

Enjoy!

[Dajbman22]

We are going on a eastern Caribbean cruise first week of april and I have a few questions, I appreciate all the help i can get.

 

On the ship is it very hard to get lounge chairs for sunning or are they all "saved". any tips?

 

On sea days, it will get a bit crowded and harder to find a lounge char. Trying the upper decks or Solarium may help (near the pool deck would be the most crowded). Getting there early in the morning (before 10) would give you the pick of the litter, with availability diminishing as you get closer to noon. Just be patient and look around, it is a vacation after all.

 

How about buying drinks on board ,are the drinks of the day a rip off with weak liquor ? I have read alot here on rum runners but I am not sure i want to sneak booze on and have the stress of that or maybe its nothing to worry about I don't know, what is everyone's comments on this subject .

 

The price of alcohol on the ships is comprable to bars in large cities (on average, $5-7 for beer, $6-10 for mixed drinks, $8-20 for wine). The drink of the day is usually of average strength and comes in a suvenier glass (can be ordered without the glass for a few bucks cheaper. The drink strength will vary from bartender to bartender, but my experience is that its rarely disappointly weak (average strength usually, unless the bartender is feeling really friendly/you tip cash). I'm not in the vehemently anti-rum-runner camp, but unless you're really going to be drinking a lot of premium liquor, it is a needless risk (only risk is losing the runner and alcohol inside or a huge mess if you improperly packed it). You can bring 2 bottles of wine on board per state room at no fee (if you open and pour it in your room - just ask any bartender for two fresh wine glasses).

 

On the private beach cocoa cay ,is it pronounced K or key ?

Should we avoid the straw market there or are they good deals and fun? is it expected to haggle on prices or just pay the price?

 

It's Kay. I found the straw market on Cocoa Kay fun, but not as good a deal and not as open to haggling as ones on the non-private islands. It's worth checking out, but don't forgo a deal at another stop expecting to do better there. Those locals pay a high premium to have the captive cruise ship audience on a private island, so they need to make that up and still turn a profit. Keep that in mind.

 

Also where is the best beach there, I have heard about a very nice one thats a couple minutes walk from the drop off point that isn't crowded and is beautiful ,any tips?

 

Haven't been in 11 years, so I am sure it's been redone a bunch since then. I do remember an awesome hiking trail along the water that was worth the 30 or so minutes to complete.

 

See my above answers to the questions I could adequately respond to.

[LMaxwell]

Coco KAY.

 

Both pronunciations are acceptable, but only one is technically correct to a Bahamian and that is KEY, not Kay.

 

OP, a tip for St. Thomas; take the sky ride that overlooks the harbor if you have time.

[G85 SS]

Both pronunciations are acceptable, but only one is technically correct to a Bahamian and that is KEY, not Kay.

 

OP, a tip for St. Thomas; take the sky ride that overlooks the harbor if you have time.

 

It's sort of like Tomato Tomahto, potato potahto. lol.

 

For years I called it Coco "Kay" as well. Started to pay attention to crew members and the presentations on tv about the island and learned it is pronounced "Key". Disney is the exact same with Castaway Cay and other lines as well.

 

But hey, if someone says Key, that's fine with me. If someone says Kay, as I still catch myself doing from time to time, that's fine as well. lol.

[papaflamingo]

So many great answers, and different ideas. I'll just add a bit. No problem getting from either port to where you want to go. In St. Thomas, if you are not on Allure or Oasis, you will be at Havensight. There are shuttles that run all day for around $4 per person each way. If you want to see the island, really the shore tour is a pretty good way to go. We go to St. Thomas a lot so we usually go to town, wander the shops, have lunch and drinks, then go back. If you go somewhere and still want to shop, Havensight has many of the shops that are in town, so you can shop right at the pier. One idea that we did not do, but looked into for my son and daughter-in-law, was "fly boarding." You can do it in St. Thomas. I emailed the people and they are very nice. You can cab over to their place, just on the other side of town, very short ride. It's called St. Thomas Flyboarding. Google it. Looks like a total blast. If only I was younger.

As for St. Maarten, one of my personal favorites. If you just want to go to the beach, you can catch a ride at the pier. Lot's of beach options, and the price is posted. Orient is by far the most popular, therefore most crowded. If you go there, just walk a way down the beach and the crowds will thin somewhat. If you go the wrong way (or right way depending), you'll end up on the nude beach.

Another option to the tour is to rent a car. You can do this on line with no obligation. The pickup and drop off is at the port, and it's an easy island to drive around. The optional insurance is only $12 so well worth it. You can go to any beach, go to Maho and see the planes (google St. Maarten Airport and watch the video). The Sunset Beach Bar is a great place to watch the action. You can also continue to Marigot, the capital of the French side, and a beautiful town and harbor. Then you can go to any beach you want. I have done this more than once, most recently in Jan. Anyway, just a thought. But I would definitely hit one of the beaches in St. Maarten. They are really beautiful.

Have a great cruise.

[kdpatte]

My favorite in St Maarten is Sunset Bar at Maho beach. Google MAHO beach and you will see why its awesome to go here. We have been there to see the planes twice and would absolutely do it again if we go back. Taxi to get there is $8 per person and takes about 20-30 minutes depending on traffic. We were on the Independence a few weeks back and went there from about 10-2pm. Afterwards we went to the downtown shopping area where there is a very nice beach if you just want to get a chair and hang out.