Southern Caribbean Shore Excursions Help Needed

[PIR8LUVR]

19 hours ago, pezgirlroy said:

Hi all, thank you in advance for reading. My husband and I will be on the Freedom of the Seas leaving San Juan on July 28th for a kid free vacation. The stops are Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire and St. Maarten.  I am having a very hard time figuring out what we should do in each port. We do want to get off the boat at each port. We are willing to do shore excursions either through RCL or not. We like sight seeing but wouldn't mind some time on the beach. What I do not want is something super expensive and full day. Really looking for half day adventures.  I am not even sure where to start.  Anyone done any excursions they loved? or can you just explore on your own?  Thank you so much. 

My husband and I will be on the same cruise. I read through the excursions on the Cruise a Planner to find ones that combined sightseeing and time at the beach. We still haven’t booked anything for St. Maarten. We book through the ship more often than not. In Bermuda two years ago we cut it too close getting back to the ship!

[LeeW]

Can't believe anyone would book a Southern cruise out of San Juan and not research the ports.  Definitely check the port boards on Cruise Critic. 

 

You must fly in at least a day early - flights can be delayed getting there.  Many cruisers stay in the Condado area or Old San Juan but we prefer places like Embassy (just north of airport in Carolina area) - better beach but more touristy.  Taxi service is good - dispatcher will fill out form for driver.  Roughly $23 between port and airport or Carolina with luggage.

 

Aruba we prefer to take the 10 bus to anywhere on the beach, walk and then take bus back.  Lots of casinos to cool off in before return.  The 4x4 tour is good for this desert island.  Bonaire is snorkeling - pretty much anywhere.  Curacao has many good tours and town is fun to walk around after crossing the floating bridge.  Hot, though.  St Maarten look and see if you can book Out Islands power rafting tour.  Combo of boat tour through Simpson Lagoon, snorkeling, beach and high speed return.  This tour can usually only be booked through the cruise line and goes by several names, so look for picture of large inflatable boat with awning.

 

Flying back can be a pain.  Agricultural xray of luggage can have huge lines.  Then you can't check bags until 4 hours before flight.  Nowhere to sit before security in airport.

Edited June 29, 2019 by LeeW
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[Judyrem]

1 hour ago, BNBR said:

 

Just a thought, but have you considered extending your stay in Florida by a day and snorkeling Key Largo as well? 

I used to live in FLL on Bayview drive.🙂  A group of us went to Key West last year and Marathon the year before.

 

My husband and I went diving in Key Largo and liked it very much.

 

My friend and I snorkeled Key West, rough conditions but doable.

[Sobro]

Trikes Aruba is the best! 

 

In Curacao we enjoyed just walking around. We checked out the Maritime museum as well as the floating market, then ducked into a local eatery for lunch.

 

Woodwind in Bonaire was a great tour.

[OACEIS]

We purchased day passes to Barcelo in aruba through shore excursioner since we had a long day there, it was a great day and was able to watch the sun set since the hotel faces west. Great beach and pool and the food wasn't bad. St Maarten has a lot of good options, but when we were there it was right after the hurricanes. Took a catamaran to the French side, best water I have ever seen. 

 

edit- Also went to Zeerovers for lunch, off the beaten trail but excellent fresh caught seafood!

Edited June 29, 2019 by OACEIS

[Snit13]

14 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Laura is afraid of missing the ship. Based on past experiences 

Laura appears to be a smart lady.  Got back 1 1/2 hours late on a Celebrity excursion and ship was waiting for us.  Might do a morning tour with non ship guide if ship was leaving late afternoon.  Have no interest in finding my way on my own to next port.

[John&LaLa]

1 minute ago, Snit13 said:

Laura appears to be a smart lady.  Got back 1 1/2 hours late on a Celebrity excursion and ship was waiting for us.  Might do a morning tour with non ship guide if ship was leaving late afternoon.  Have no interest in finding my way on my own to next port.

 

She may not be that smart. She's signed up for SkyPad this afternoon on Mariner😱

[Snit13]

Just now, John&LaLa said:

 

She may not be that smart. She's signed up for SkyPad this afternoon on Mariner😱

But she married you, didn't she?

[flamingos]

We have not yet been, but when we do, Flamingo Beach in Aruba is a must-see.  We have a thing for flamingos.......  

[janetz]

Trikes-Aruba!!

 

[shipgeeks]

In St. Maarten you can walk or water taxi to the beach and town, without doing an excursion.  It's about a 20-minute walk; it and the port are on the Dutch side of the island.  You can see it from the ship, and you can see the ship from the beach and town. Very pleasant.

[pezgirlroy]

9 hours ago, LeeW said:

Can't believe anyone would book a Southern cruise out of San Juan and not research the ports.  Definitely check the port boards on Cruise Critic. 

 

You must fly in at least a day early - flights can be delayed getting there.  Many cruisers stay in the Condado area or Old San Juan but we prefer places like Embassy (just north of airport in Carolina area) - better beach but more touristy.  Taxi service is good - dispatcher will fill out form for driver.  Roughly $23 between port and airport or Carolina with luggage.

 

Aruba we prefer to take the 10 bus to anywhere on the beach, walk and then take bus back.  Lots of casinos to cool off in before return.  The 4x4 tour is good for this desert island.  Bonaire is snorkeling - pretty much anywhere.  Curacao has many good tours and town is fun to walk around after crossing the floating bridge.  Hot, though.  St Maarten look and see if you can book Out Islands power rafting tour.  Combo of boat tour through Simpson Lagoon, snorkeling, beach and high speed return.  This tour can usually only be booked through the cruise line and goes by several names, so look for picture of large inflatable boat with awning.

 

Flying back can be a pain.  Agricultural xray of luggage can have huge lines.  Then you can't check bags until 4 hours before flight.  Nowhere to sit before security in airport.

Thank you lee. I did do a great deal of research but I am looking for personal experience. This was helpful. 

[Johnamac123]

6 hours ago, janetz said:

Trikes-Aruba!!

 

That looks like a great tour and I may do it when I get tired of snorkeling.😁

[BEENSAILING]

We have happily  been to ABCs several times - going again in March.

Aruba our first time we did Kukukunookoo (sp?)  thru Royal. it was fun. We also have done a sunset cruise thru Royal. Very nice. Now we walk around in port or take taxi to the Marriott and enjoy pool and beach area.

Curacao first time we did a bus and walk tour of Curacao. For several times now we walk around on our own. (Fish market gone...) Fun to watch and be on the swinging bridge. I though about going to Hilton but a few weeks ago they sold it...

Bonaire - have done Woodwind (try to get a morning snorkel reservation) and Bonaire Cruisers Golf cart rental. We are going to do golf cart rental again.

Been to St Maarten many times. Walking from ship to beach area is nice, or take the watertaxi. This time we are planning to rent a car. 

[pezgirlroy]

Thanks everyone. This is very helpful. This was a last minute cruise as we were supposed to go to Punta Cana. We are staying at an air bnb the night before in Old San Juan. Curacao we are just going to walk around. St Maarten we are going to kayak to pinel island. Still trying to figure out Aruba. In Bonaire my husband is going to go scuba diving. I am trying to decide on one of the sightseeing tours offered by rcl in the morning. 

Edited June 30, 2019 by pezgirlroy

[janetz]

21 hours ago, Cruiser24 said:

We rented a golf cart from Bonaire Cruisers when we were there in May.  It is a great way to see the island at your own pace.  They also rent snorkel and mask for $5.00.  We stopped along the road at one of the marked spots and saw the most beautiful and unusual fish we’ve ever seen.  Highly recommend. 

I second this! 

We stopped all over and snorkeled different spots 

 

[janetz]

11 hours ago, Johnamac123 said:

That looks like a great tour and I may do it when I get tired of snorkeling.😁

Trikes is best in the am before it gets to hot

Such a blast !