Anyone been on a 10 Day sailing the Sky?

[Mikiejag]

Fri	Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas	7:00 AM	4:00 PM	0
Sun	San Juan, Puerto Rico	10:00 AM	8:00 PM	1
Mon	Philipsburg, St. Maarten	8:00 AM	8:00 PM	0
Tue	St. John's, Antigua	8:00 AM	8:00 PM	1
Wed	Basseterre, St. Kitts	8:00 AM	8:00 PM	0
Thu	St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands	7:00 AM	3:30 PM	0
Fri	Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic	11:00 AM	6:00 PM	0

 

June 8th to the 18th, I prefer NCL excursions and there doesn't seem to be too many, maybe 2 or 3 at each stop.

Anyone been to these spots and can offer any advice?  Easy enough to just get off and walk?

 

Would have gone to the Ports forums but was looking at an overview first.

 

Thanks for any opinions.

[LloydJr]

We did the beach excursion in St. Maarten that takes you to where the airplanes land.  I wouldn't recommend it.  The beach is CRAP (crowded, rocky, hard to even get down to if you're not a young healthy person).  OTOH, if others in your group insist, there is a really nice casino across the parking lot.  I put a buck in a Planet Moola penny slot and walked out with a cool $7!  That easily covered my tips for beer.

[ggTexasGal]

DH & I were on a 9-day on the Sky in December 2022.  Our itinerary was similar to yours, but in a different order. 

We stopped at Puerto Plata first, and unlike many of the larger ships, we did dock at Taino Bay.(Lots of work was being done at that port!)  We took the Ocean World Day Pass & Dominican Adventure.  We enjoyed a nice, easy beach and ocean-life shows.  Food and drink were not included, but not crazy expensive either...okay!  I would not repeat this excursion in the future, but we did enjoy the day!!!

In St Thomas, we took the Panoramic St Thomas Island & Overlooks. (We have been to St Thomas many times, so we were looking for a quiet and easy day).  Scenery is nice, but it turns out we stopped at too many "shops" and not enough great "scenes."   In St John's Antigua was, sadly, even less impressive than St Thomas. (Don't go on their scenic drive!!!)  In Phillipsburg, St Martin, we took the Aerial Sky Explorer & 360 Views, which we enjoyed immensely.  Of note, they offer Zip-Line (FAST!!! which we did not take, but others enjoyed it thoroughly!  In San Juan, PR we took the El Yunque Rainforest drive.  The drive does take a fairly long time (might be times of day business traffic), but we enjoyed the fresh mountain air w/a "threat" of rain showers.  Some of the areas were under re-construction, so we had some limitations, but overall, we did enjoy the day.  Our final stop was GSC, which we had missed on two previous cruises last year.  We've also been there a half-dozen times or more, but not for quite a few times.  It's a tender ride from the ship, which take longer to load/unload than to actually get from the ship to the island (you can see the ship from the island all day long).  We were impressed with many improvements and additions from over the years.  We had booked a Villa at Silver Cove.  Which is great!  But honestly, unless you want a totally quietly resting atmosphere, and being spoiled by servers, it is not a necessity.

I enjoyed being in the water snorkeling.  It was not awesome, but is decent. The bars are good, the food mostly okay for it's purpose, and there's plenty of music and activities available if you want to join in.

If you have not been to St Thomas before, I recommend the Sky lift.  We walked from the ship to the lift loading area.  (Many people think that it is too far to walk, and also hate the stairs up to the lift loading area. (We are late 60's-70 and don't find it difficult. We've done that several times!)

[GeroWA]

Thanks Mikiejag for your question - We are on the cruise the week before you and was also wondering what tours we should take. I think ggTexasGal has answered all my queries - thank you TxG

[happytotravel]

Hi All,

I'm on the May 29th cruise.  I'm sure there will be more options to be listed by NCL shortly.  There are so few listed now but hang in there and check everyday.

 

I don't why NCL seems to be taking so long in posting more of their excursions for this particular itinerary.

Enjoy planning your cruise,

happytotravel

[Jerseygich]

On the same cruise and appreciate the info.

[kikipug]

Following, as we are on the 6/8 itinerary as well.

 

So far, we've booked a rainforest/volcano hike in St. Kitts, and a day-long small group eco-tour in Antigua, (but not through NCL) and will download a waking tour guide for San Juan.  Not sure what else we'll do yet. We live near beautiful beaches 24/7/365, so we'd rather get out and explore.  

[Laszlo]

20 hours ago, Mikiejag said:

Fri	Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas	7:00 AM	4:00 PM	0
Sun	San Juan, Puerto Rico	10:00 AM	8:00 PM	1
Mon	Philipsburg, St. Maarten	8:00 AM	8:00 PM	0
Tue	St. John's, Antigua	8:00 AM	8:00 PM	1
Wed	Basseterre, St. Kitts	8:00 AM	8:00 PM	0
Thu	St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands	7:00 AM	3:30 PM	0
Fri	Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic	11:00 AM	6:00 PM	0

 

June 8th to the 18th, I prefer NCL excursions and there doesn't seem to be too many, maybe 2 or 3 at each stop.

Anyone been to these spots and can offer any advice?  Easy enough to just get off and walk?

 

Would have gone to the Ports forums but was looking at an overview first.

 

Thanks for any opinions.

Wow, if nothing else thats some nice port time! I can't remember the last time I saw a 12 hour day in port. In some cases you might have time for two NCL excursion 

[kikipug]

2 minutes ago, Laszlo said:

Wow, if nothing else thats some nice port time! I can't remember the last time I saw a 12 hour day in port. In some cases you might have time for two NCL excursion 

And I've looked at the port traffic for each port... the ONLY day that we're not the only ship in port is Puerto Plata!!

[Mikiejag]

I know it is a bit of time away but good to hear they will open more up.  About an average of two per stop...And several helicopter rides for $500 person.  Got enough helicopter time deployed...LOL

 

I do know in Saint Maarten it is going to be the Yoda Guy...That is like the number one hit when searching Saint Maarten.

[happytotravel]

Hi,  I posted the following earlier today on another place on this forum as MYNCL was showing only 36 excursions available and this has been the same for months.

==============================================================================

I just checked with Shorex and they said that 36 or 37 excursions showing is correct.  Reason being all the problems arising from Covid 19.  There are companies who have gone under and the lack of personnel.  Also many people may have booked very early and they are now all booked up.

 

It was suggested to look under the Shore Excursion page and take note of any excursions you might like and when onboard see if any of those are available.  It looks like there is a good chance according to Ihavetocruisesomewhere mentioned.

=============================================================================

Following that I booked 3 excursions.  Just a few minutes ago I checked MyNCL and there are only 21 excursions showing up now!!!!!   Two of the excursions I booked are no longer showing up.

 

Take care and continue planning!     happytotravel

 

[alpha4u]

On 2/21/2023 at 9:31 PM, GeroWA said:

Thanks Mikiejag for your question - We are on the cruise the week before you and was also wondering what tours we should take. I think ggTexasGal has answered all my queries - thank you TxG

We are also on the Cruise May 29-June 8th.  Hope to see you on board.  Just look for Santa, you can't miss me.

[alpha4u]

19 hours ago, happytotravel said:

Hi,  I posted the following earlier today on another place on this forum as MYNCL was showing only 36 excursions available and this has been the same for months.

==============================================================================

I just checked with Shorex and they said that 36 or 37 excursions showing is correct.  Reason being all the problems arising from Covid 19.  There are companies who have gone under and the lack of personnel.  Also many people may have booked very early and they are now all booked up.

 

It was suggested to look under the Shore Excursion page and take note of any excursions you might like and when onboard see if any of those are available.  It looks like there is a good chance according to Ihavetocruisesomewhere mentioned.

=============================================================================

Following that I booked 3 excursions.  Just a few minutes ago I checked MyNCL and there are only 21 excursions showing up now!!!!!   Two of the excursions I booked are no longer showing up.

 

Take care and continue planning!     happytotravel

 

my wife & I are also on that Cruise.  I have not seen many excursions that we would like either.  Hope to see you on board, just look for Santa, I am pretty hard to miss.

[alpha4u]

Is there any online companies that offer shore excursions?  I have usually found some online or just walked off the boat & found something but with so many stops I want to be prepared.

 

[alpha4u]

On 2/22/2023 at 8:59 AM, Jerseygich said:

On the same cruise and appreciate the info.

My wife & I will also be on there as well.  Just look for Santa, I'm not too hard to spot. LOL

[ggTexasGal]

1 hour ago, alpha4u said:

Is there any online companies that offer shore excursions?  I have usually found some online or just walked off the boat & found something but with so many stops I want to be prepared.

There are plenty of on-line companies for shore excursions, however, go here:

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/456-caribbean/   

Then, Scroll through the assorted locations you will be visiting and read through the advice given.

 

... BTW, do you happen to live in/near Santa Claus, IN?

[alpha4u]

I am a few hours away from there actually but I travel alot to appear as Santa. I will check out the link you gave.  I just got the crappy news that our itinerary was changed & reduced our time on the islands by 20%.  I asked to cancel & find a cruise that better suits me & they wanted to charge a huge fee even though they made the change.  Very frustrating!!

[alpha4u]

9 minutes ago, alpha4u said:

I am a few hours away from there actually but I travel alot to appear as Santa. I will check out the link you gave.  I just got the crappy news that our itinerary was changed & reduced our time on the islands by 20%.  I asked to cancel & find a cruise that better suits me & they wanted to charge a huge fee even though they made the change.  Very frustrating!!  

According to the cruise calendar the only real reason was their last port, puerto plata had 3 other cruise ships their that day. They tried to say it was to reduce carbon footprint, REALLY!! The route is the same just a different order & we lose out.

 

[ggTexasGal]

49 minutes ago, alpha4u said:

I just got the crappy news that our itinerary was changed & reduced our time on the islands by 20%.  I asked to cancel & find a cruise that better suits me & they wanted to charge a huge fee even though they made the change.  Very frustrating!!

Hopefully you will have a great time once you are onboard!

[sailingships]

On 2/21/2023 at 6:26 PM, Mikiejag said:

Fri	Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas	7:00 AM	4:00 PM	0
Sun	San Juan, Puerto Rico	10:00 AM	8:00 PM	1
Mon	Philipsburg, St. Maarten	8:00 AM	8:00 PM	0
Tue	St. John's, Antigua	8:00 AM	8:00 PM	1
Wed	Basseterre, St. Kitts	8:00 AM	8:00 PM	0
Thu	St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands	7:00 AM	3:30 PM	0
Fri	Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic	11:00 AM	6:00 PM	0

If theyve brought back the 'Cane Train' shore excursion in St Kitts go on that one. It used to be fun. For San Juan if youre a veteran the forts are free for you and three others. Theyre run by the US National Parks. Use your VA card. Also if you have a National Parks card take it with you. Again you and three others can get into the forts for free. 

[The Traveling Man]

On 2/21/2023 at 6:26 PM, Mikiejag said:

Fri	Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas	7:00 AM	4:00 PM	0
Sun	San Juan, Puerto Rico	10:00 AM	8:00 PM	1
Mon	Philipsburg, St. Maarten	8:00 AM	8:00 PM	0
Tue	St. John's, Antigua	8:00 AM	8:00 PM	1
Wed	Basseterre, St. Kitts	8:00 AM	8:00 PM	0
Thu	St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands	7:00 AM	3:30 PM	0
Fri	Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic	11:00 AM	6:00 PM	0

 

June 8th to the 18th, I prefer NCL excursions and there doesn't seem to be too many, maybe 2 or 3 at each stop.

Anyone been to these spots and can offer any advice?  Easy enough to just get off and walk?

 

Would have gone to the Ports forums but was looking at an overview first.

 

Thanks for any opinions.

We just got off the Sky on an 11 day cruise that went to many of the same ports.  There were only a couple of tours listed when we booked, but many more were added as the departure date neared.

[stunned]

On 2/26/2023 at 11:45 AM, The Traveling Man said:

We just got off the Sky on an 11 day cruise that went to many of the same ports.  There were only a couple of tours listed when we booked, but many more were added as the departure date neared.

This is good to hear as I have been looking daily.  

[stunned]

On 2/26/2023 at 11:45 AM, The Traveling Man said:

We just got off the Sky on an 11 day cruise that went to many of the same ports.  There were only a couple of tours listed when we booked, but many more were added as the departure date neared.

Would you mind sharing what you did you do at each port to give us some ideas. Thank you.

[The Traveling Man]

18 hours ago, stunned said:

Would you mind sharing what you did you do at each port to give us some ideas. Thank you.

We have sailed the Caribbean several times, so on our recent trip on the Sky we didn't try to do a lot on shore.  Mostly it was a trip for my wife to snorkel and scuba, while I just walked around the port area or city center.  In Cayman she took a snorkel tour then met me at a restaurant near the dock for a seafood lunch.  In Costa Rica (or was it Cartagena?) we walked down the pier to the gift shop / bird sanctuary and had a drink while the peacocks strolled past.  We have been through the Panama Canal twice before, once through the old locks and once through the new ones.  On this trip we took a land tour while the ship was passing through the locks.  Our bus tour spent over an hour at the locks museum (VERY interesting) then dropped us off at the station for a train ride from one ocean to the other.  The bus got us back to Colon where the ship had docked for the evening.  We could have had dinner on shore, but chose to return to the Sky early for dinner on board.  My wife took a snorkel tour at Harvest Caye, but I remained on board.  The dock there can accommodate only one ship at a time and one of the BA+ class ships got there first.  I've been to Harvest Caye before, so it didn't seem worthwhile to take a tender just to spend a few minutes wandering around the island.  At Cozumel my wife booked a scuba tour while I just wandered the port area looking for a place to have a drink and find a free internet connection.  Since we have been there, done that, many times, this cruise was all about disconnecting from our daily routine and just relaxing.