matthecker

Hello everyone! What are your "Personal best-of-the-bests" / "Once in a lifetimes?" in the Southern Caribbean? Let me back up a bit... I'm 34 and am taking a 7-day honeymoon cruise to the Southern Caribbean with my [soon-to-be] wife in mid-July, '09. Now, I realize the cruise line has multiple excursion opps. for each island, but we want to experience the "Must Do's!" and don't want to miss anything because we were "scheduled to sit on the beach" (Mind you, we both LOVE the beach, and plan to see / lounge / swim / etc. at many, but I feel there is also a plethora of other attractions.)
We're leaving from San Juan, with the itinerary: Bridgetown,Barbados / Casteries, St. Lucia / St. John's, Antigua / Phillipsburg, St. Maarten and St. Croix, U.S.V.I. I have never been to any of these, and would like to know your "Personal Must-Do's" for these islands. We will basically dock @ 8 am and be on land until 5:30pm, so not a lot of time, but I'm searching for the "Best-of-the-best," the "Once in a lifetimes" from your past voyages. Anything is game for us so please let me know so I can have the "Best-of-the-Best" honeymoon! Thanks~

jbh555

I don't know if you would have enough time to visit Buck Island during your St Croix stop, but if so it is a fabulous day trip! We did it last spring when we were there for a week and it was one of the highlights... a nice catamaran trip there, then snorkeling (fair, not fantastic) but the water was incredibly clear and warm with a beautiful beach. Just be sure to pack a lunch. No one told us there was nothing to buy or eat on the island. It was really a fun day. I hope you can do it!

CaribbeanSoul

I think there is a fodor's forum specific to cruise travel. You'd probably get more relevant info there to your inquiry. More cruise "experts" lurking there than here, I'd imagine.

matthecker

Buck Island keeps coming up in my net searches, so I think we'll have to do it! (I think I saw a '1/2-day trip? Might check into that.) Sounds fantastic!

& I definately will see if there's a 'Cruise' forum. I'm really trying to gather expert personal knowlege / experiences of the various islands, regardless of how or why you got to the island. I'll try your suggestion, C.S. Thanks!

semiramis

Antigua:
Do the "Historical Park" sites - English Harbour, Shirley Heights, The Blockhouse, Dows Hill Interpretive Centre etc. The views are gorgeous and the photo ops are great.

semiramis

St. Martin:
Orient Beach

St Lucia
take the catamaran tour to see The Pitons

kellybeaches

Matthecker, congrats on your engagement!

I’ve been to Barbados, St. Lucia and St. Maarten/St. Martin out of the places you’re going. Here are my recommendations:

Barbados: swim with the sea turtles (do some research online for this-I can’t remember who we went out with)

St. Lucia: The Pitons are a MUST. Do the sailing day trip to see them. You could take the Unicorn tall ship down for the day (it’s the ship used in Pirates of the Caribbean-the Black Pearl).
drinks: get some Pitons-best beer ever. Also try the Caribbean gold coffee there.

St. Maarten-Orient Beach (white sand, lots of beach bars-great grilled lobster)

St. Martin-Sunset Beach bar (right by the airport-fun to grab a drink and watch the planes come it).

Stars and Stripes Americas cup yacht racing out of Phillipsburg marina (you can try your hand at sailing –no experience necessary)
http://cruises.about.com/cs/caribbea...tmaarten_2.htm

To book: http://www.stmaartenconcierge.com/wind/12metrerace.html

St. Croix: haven’t been, but have been to all the surrounding islands. You should be able to order a Painkiller in St. Croix. My personal favorite island drink and you can only get it in the USVI/BVI’s from what I’m finding!

Have fun and enjoy!

kellybeaches

Sorry-forgot the link for the Unicorn. Leaves at 8:30 and returns by 4:30. It’s an all day thing, but you’ll see the main attractions on St. Lucia!
http://www.seaspraycruises.com/brigunicondaytour.php

StanKase

St.Croix-Buck Island a MUST. St. Martin was for us pretty boring but Orient Beach is lovely and lunch at La Vie en Pose is simple lovely. The only other activity there is a sail on the America's Cup sailing Yacht which is very nice if it is not too hot. On Barbados I would try to rent a taxi with a driver with clear English for 6 hours (probably negotiate $150USD) and have him tour your through the different parishes and tell him you want a 1 hour stop to swim with te turtles.

janiekins

Check out cruisecritic.com.

That wonderful cruise website and cruise forum will definitely be able to help you out.

virginia

matt, i too recommend a sailing trip to the pitons.
cruisecritic should be useful for your planning and the cruise forum caribbeansoul suggests is found at the top of this page. click on change forum then click cruises.

sunnybee

I would recommend serenity for your excursions especially in St.Lucia and they have now extended to Antigua.See www.serenitytvl.com for a number of tours. In Barbados, Glory tours www.glorytours.com and a bit of shopping can be done in St.Martin. Sorry but can't tell u much about St.Croix.

SAnParis2

I would recommend not taking a cruise...by doing so you are essentially limited by that particular cruise & line...You'll not likely to find many peoples favorites, that way.

GoTravel

I agree with SAnParis. Cruising is just like drive by vacationing and the really good excursions aren't offered by the cruise lines because of time constraints.

That said, I'm sure you'll find some wonderful things to do.

Anguillagirl

Again, I don't know if you would have enough time, but if you do from St. Martin take a day trip to Anguilla and hang out all day at the beach bars on Shoal Bay East. Anguilla has the most breathtaking beaches you will EVER see. It is our best of the best for life.

Gregory_Ellis

Just a tip about St Lucia - While I can't speak for other cruise lines, the following is true of Royal Caribbean. Upon departure, the glide right past the Pitons. Our view was actually better than the cat cruise we booked. Write to the cruise line and ask if they round the island where you can see them. Truth be told though, they are nothing more than two large hills. Nothing really special as there is SO much beauty on St. Lucia.

travelenthusiast

Barbados - Our 4 hour private catamaran trip

Aruba - Kukoo Kunuko and our private island excursion which I think of as a catered survivor

St Martin - unexpectedly finding out that Frankie Golden was playing at the Red Piano the day after my 40th birthday which was the last night of our trip

Maui - the Pony Express horseback riding excursion into Halaikala, the dormant volcano( I know it's not in the Caribbean but it's one of our all time highlights.)

TPAYT

http://www.12metre.com/

This was one of our best days in the Caribbean after more than 20 trips.

Also, in Barbados, the snorkeling with the turtles, look at "Cool Runnings" a fabulous boat tour.