*My Day At St. Thomas, Virgin Islands*

[Skyev21]

This was day 4 of our week long cruise on the Triumph on 4/29/08.

It was such a beautiful island & had a BLAST!!!

...Especially in the pool @ Blackbeard's Castle!

 

This was called 'The Ultimate Excursion' and was about 6 hrs long.

We went to the top of the mountain to see the entire island & take pics

 

Then stopped at Megan's Bay (world's only heart-shaped beach) for 3 hrs of beach fun... & drinks! Great bartender there too!

 

Last stop was to Blackbeard's Castle for the remainder of our day.

The bartender instructed me to say "stop!" (pouring) when I wanted to! lol! He filled in 3/4 with rum! :eek: lol! Very sweet older man!

That explains me slurring on top the lookout lighthouse! he he!:p

We spend hrs in the pool, until they closed & kicked us out. lol!:D

 

Then we had to make our way down to the '99 steps' walkway to get a cab back to the ship! The rest of the day way as blur! lol!;)

Hope u enjoy.

 

 

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=-jWK4kOWO3U

[Perfect Stranger]

Thanks for sharing.

 

That sounds like something I might like to do but I don't see that excursion listed for our Triumph cruise. In fact, there aren't many choices of excursions at all.

[imjoyful2]

My kids and I just watched your video in anticipationg of our stop there in December. Loved getting a glimpse of what we are going to see. Thanks for sharing! :)

[Skyev21]

Thanks for sharing.

 

That sounds like something I might like to do but I don't see that excursion listed for our Triumph cruise. In fact, there aren't many choices of excursions at all.

 

I booked it through the Carnival website.:)

 

I know they do fill up fast so try calling them & ask about this 'ultimate' excursion.

 

When are u visiting there?

[Perfect Stranger]

I'll also be on the Triumph leaving Nov. 9.

 

Your excursion is on the 'general' list of excursions for St. Thomas but when I go into MY cruise and click "plan activities" they only show five, and that's not one of them.

[Skyev21]

I'll also be on the Triumph leaving Nov. 9.

 

Your excursion is on the 'general' list of excursions for St. Thomas but when I go into MY cruise and click "plan activities" they only show five, and that's not one of them.

 

Maybe it's sold out? I know they do fill up fast.

 

Call Carnival & ask their excursion specialists.

 

If not, don't worry cuz there's plenty of them lined up, ready at the pier.

So maybe u can jump on one of them?

 

It's a great excursion! So glad we did it!:D

[Perfect Stranger]

How did you come about using the pool? Were there employees walking around that perhaps said, "You're welcome to use the pool. You can change over there"...?

 

I think I also heard they offer free rum drinks? Is that true?

[Skyev21]

How did you come about using the pool? Were there employees walking around that perhaps said, "You're welcome to use the pool. You can change over there"...?

 

I think I also heard they offer free rum drinks? Is that true?

 

You can book this excursion & they drop u off here at the end.

Or I think u can just pay their fee to use their pools. There's 3 pools. Never made it to the other 2 cuz we had the largest.:D We passed it on our way down as we were leaving.

 

It's called Blackbeard's, so Google it to double-check the price per person.

 

I was the only one who jumped in from our group.

 

Watched groups of tourists coming through but no one else got in.

We did meet 2 employees from the ship, relaxing in the pool too after a while.

 

They also have a bar right next to the pool so u can get drinks very easily.

 

No, the drinks are not free but they're reasonably priced.

 

The bartender at the pool (an older guy) was soooo nice!

He asked me when to say stop (pouring) rum when I wanted him to! he he!!!:D :D :D

[Perfect Stranger]

Sounds like fun!

[Ms411]

Anybody can take the Blackbeard's Castle tour without a reservation - just show up at the gate and pay for your tickets. You can walk to Blackbeard's from town.

 

They usually have 2 types of tours - guided and self-guided. There's usually only one guided tour at about 9 in the morning, and last year the fee was $20. You can do the self-guided anytime and it was $12. There are docents/hosts at each of the properties that will tell you info about the buildings' history, furnishings, and previous owners. The restorations are really beautiful.

 

Anybody who takes a tour can swim in the pools, but most people don't know about it, so you usually have them to yourself.

 

The tour includes free rum or fruit punch in the gift shop. It's self-serve, and towards the end of the tour.

 

When I went up there last week, it didn't look like the gift shop was open. I don't know if that's permanent or temporary. There's another guy selling sodas/water on the way down back towards town.

 

Have fun!

[Perfect Stranger]

Ms411,

 

When you walked there from town was it an uphill walk and didn't you have to go up the 99 (or 103) steps? If so, I think I'd rather take a cab there.

 

And just so I understand, even if you take the self guided tour for $12 there are still hosts that will explain things to you? Were you directed to a changing facility?

[The Islander]

Perfect Stranger - if you walk to Blackbeards from downtown its up Government Hill a short ways and then up the 99 steps and then up a little bit more to Blackbeards.

 

Whether you take the guided tour or the self guided tour you can use the pool, if they are serving free rum punch in the gift shop/rum making exhibit room you help yourself.

 

There are hosts sitting in the main room/entry of each of the houses and if you have a question you can ask them. They don't give a tour or anything, they are there to supervise and help if you have a question. If you want an actual tour you have to take the guided tour.

 

You can ask the ticket person or bartender where the restrooms are. There wasn't anyone walking around the pool area taking drink orders or giving directions the times I have been there. There is a bar closeby for getting drinks; and pretty sure they offer a couple quick bite food items.

 

--Islander

[Perfect Stranger]

If I was to walk back to the shopping alleyways after exiting Blackbeards, it looks like I'd take a right...right? Will I be able to see it from there? About how long of a walk is it? 10 minutes? Is that section safe to walk through?

[Ms411]

If you're exiting Blackbeard's at the bottom of the 99 Steps, yes, you make the right to go to town, and it's no more than 5 minutes to get to Main St. Yes, it's a very safe walk - there's a govt office at the bottom of the 99 Steps, a hotel, and it's well traveled during the day.

 

I'd follow the street, though, back down to Main St, instead of taking the second set of steps going down. The birds find those stairs a very convenient toilet. They're kind of nasty sometimes.