lmb1988 Posted February 20, 2018 #1 Share Posted February 20, 2018 Hi all, Firstly thanks for taking the time to read, and/or comment with any tips! DH and I are doing a 14 night Southern Caribbean cruise on Celebrity in December 2018. We have never visited any of the ports on the itinerary, and I am hoping that you more experienced cruisers might be able to help! What we are trying to do is work out which islands have must do excursions, or must have places to see and which other ports are good for just beach days, or a stroll around town. I am using both the cruise critic forums and trip advisor to try and establish what there is to see etc at present, but recommendations and suggestions are a valuable help! We have picked a couple of excursions so far, which I have detailed below. Our ports of call are: Bridgetown, Barbados Casteries, St Lucia - Spencer Ambrose Land, Sea/Beach tour booked St George’s, Grenada St John’s, Antigua Aruba (overnight) Curaçao Bonaire - Woodwind snorkel trip booked I appreciate that “must do/see” for one person might not be for another, so to word it a different way, we are traveling from the UK, if you were coming from several thousand miles away, what would you not want to miss seeing? We will be 30 and 43 at time of cruise, aren’t particularly into museums, like a bit of history, nature, adventure, love food and enjoy a few rum punches along the way [emoji484] Thanks again! And happy cruising :) x Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzmund Posted February 20, 2018 #2 Share Posted February 20, 2018 For Barbados we have enjoyed the catamaran/snorkeling on either Calabazas or Silver Moon. If you crave a beach day, Harbour Lights or Boatyard are a good time. We enjoyed the Spice Tour on Grenada, not sure if it is back up and running. Good luck in your planning. We have done Spencer Ambrose and Woodwind before, you will not be disappointed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmberCascades Posted February 20, 2018 #3 Share Posted February 20, 2018 In Grenada we did the spice tour with Mandoo. I don't recall that we had any rum punches, but there was info on spices and an opportunity to buy fresh spices, plus a tour around the island, scenic photo stops, etc. Mandoo was a great guide and I'd highly recommend his tour. I'm not sure if it's offered through the ship. We just booked it on our own. There were lots of cruise people on that tour though. http://www.grenadatours.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerelmx Posted February 20, 2018 #4 Share Posted February 20, 2018 Search a Caribbean port of call https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=587 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OtherFigment Posted February 20, 2018 #5 Share Posted February 20, 2018 There is a walking food tour we've done in Barbados that was really fun. A little bit of history, lots of good food. I believe it's was called Bajan Walking Food tour -should be able to Google it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmb1988 Posted February 20, 2018 Author #6 Share Posted February 20, 2018 Thank you @ozzmund and @ambercascaded I will have a look at spice tour options for Grenada! @gerelmx thanks for the tip, I am already trawling them every lunch hour! :) Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaudiaB Posted February 20, 2018 #7 Share Posted February 20, 2018 Are you golfers? Sandy Lane is world class on Barbados. There is a country club in Curacao that isn't too bad, either. You already have the best snorkeling trip planned (Bonaire). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmb1988 Posted February 20, 2018 Author #8 Share Posted February 20, 2018 There is a walking food tour we've done in Barbados that was really fun. A little bit of history, lots of good food. I believe it's was called Bajan Walking Food tour -should be able to Google it. Thank you for this, just found it on google! Sounds right up our street and a little different Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmb1988 Posted February 20, 2018 Author #9 Share Posted February 20, 2018 Are you golfers? Sandy Lane is world class on Barbados. There is a country club in Curacao that isn't too bad, either. You already have the best snorkeling trip planned (Bonaire). Unfortunately not! Re Bonaire, yes I did a lot of forum reading to try and pick the best snorkel stop to do out of all the ports Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eandj Posted February 21, 2018 #10 Share Posted February 21, 2018 (edited) Aruba Trikes. Sells fast, book early. Curacao... atvbuggy tours.com Both of these are so fun and great ways to see the islands. Book online. Reviews and pictures on tripadvisor.com Antigua....Stingray city booked onboard. Not sure if you can do this on your own. Barbados...cat/snorkel with the turtles. As mentioned book with Calabaza for best experience. ( or Silver Moon) Edited February 21, 2018 by eandj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCruisers Posted February 21, 2018 #11 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Barbados: Agree with others with their suggestions to take a Catamaran excursion to swim with the sea turtles. Also, having your catamaran tour including a beach stop is a plus. Be sure to eat some "Flying Fish" -- the National Dish of Barbados. The flying fish sandwich is called a "Cutter" and not to be missed. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GottaKnowWhen Posted February 21, 2018 #12 Share Posted February 21, 2018 We had Aruba overnights twice this last year. Each time we rented a Jeep for one or two days. However, we had done a guided off-road drive a few years earlier so had some idea of where to go and how to get there. So, rent a Jeep and find an experienced couple on your roll call who can help navigate... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpodds Posted February 21, 2018 #13 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Calabaza Catamaran on Barbados was one of the best excursions that we have ever done. Great boat, great crew, great rum punch (a little too great!), great food for lunch, great snorkeling...book it early. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amitje Posted February 21, 2018 #14 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Aruba: We really enjoyed Eagle Beach. Bonaire: we went snorkelling with the Seacow but snorkel spots will be the same as Woodwind - you'll love it. Barbados:we snorkeled with Calabaza last month - just amazing! small group, nice people, open bar. So you have already some snorkeling planned but Barbados is different from Bonaire, in my opnion. Bonaire has nice coral, lots of tropical fish - but the turtles you see in Barbados (they feed them) are just amazing. The catamaran is really nice, check the pictures. Antigua: Valley Church beach is really pretty (I'm 36 years and from Belgium :-)) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanger727 Posted February 21, 2018 #15 Share Posted February 21, 2018 In Antigua we took the xtreme circumnavigation tour with adventure Antigua https://adventureantigua.com/the-xtreme-circumnav/ Absolutely wonderful Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharon2U Posted February 21, 2018 #16 Share Posted February 21, 2018 We loved the Irie Tour in Curacao, we did the East End Tour. We rented a Jeep in Antiqua Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneputt18 Posted February 21, 2018 #17 Share Posted February 21, 2018 In Barbados we did Harrison's Cave: http://www.harrisonscave.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noah53 Posted February 21, 2018 #18 Share Posted February 21, 2018 We will also be on this cruise Dec 2018, enjoying reading about all the excursions (all new ports for us too). We are birders and just got off Reflection 11 day cruise, birding with group of Carefree Birding in west Caribbean. Had great time on Reflection and booked while onboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Texed Posted February 22, 2018 #19 Share Posted February 22, 2018 In Antigua we took the xtreme circumnavigation tour with adventure Antiguahttps://adventureantigua.com/the-xtreme-circumnav/ Absolutely wonderful Ditto! In fact Adventure Antigua offers 3 different excursions. All of them are great. We have been with Eli and his crews 5 times. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted February 22, 2018 #20 Share Posted February 22, 2018 You really should get a guidebook on the Caribbean, and read up on your ports! Every bit of info you need to know is in the guidebook...from points of interest, to activities, beaches, bars/restaurants, shopping, transportation, safety, etc......the more your research, the better time you'll have...and you'll be able to do it much cheaper than if you just book excursions without knowing anything! Research is KEY! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FamilyMooner Posted February 22, 2018 #21 Share Posted February 22, 2018 Another vote for Calabaza in Barbados. Best excursion of any cruise we have done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted February 22, 2018 #22 Share Posted February 22, 2018 As mentioned I would check out the ports of call board and take advantage of google as sites such as http://www.frommers.com will offer a lot of useful information. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmb1988 Posted February 22, 2018 Author #23 Share Posted February 22, 2018 You really should get a guidebook on the Caribbean, and read up on your ports! Every bit of info you need to know is in the guidebook...from points of interest, to activities, beaches, bars/restaurants, shopping, transportation, safety, etc......the more your research, the better time you'll have...and you'll be able to do it much cheaper than if you just book excursions without knowing anything! Research is KEY! You know when something is so glaringly obvious that you didn’t even think about it?! This is one of those times!!! Excellent idea, thank you - going book shopping at the weekend! I spend all my time researching on here/TA/internet didn’t even think of a guidebook 🤦🏼*♀️ Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmb1988 Posted February 22, 2018 Author #24 Share Posted February 22, 2018 As mentioned I would check out the ports of call board and take advantage of google as sites such as http://www.frommers.comwill offer a lot of useful information. Keith Haven’t come across that site before, so thank you for that Keith! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmb1988 Posted February 22, 2018 Author #25 Share Posted February 22, 2018 Thank you for all the replies and suggestions - going to look at all of them in depth, definitely Calabaza for Barbados - I briefly looked at their website yesterday and it looks amazing [emoji41] Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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