carolrita

My husband & myself will be taking a 15 day Carribean cruise on April 22, 06. We would appreciate info., on places of interest or best beaches, as well as snorkeling. I will put a copy of our ittinerary. Thanks so much for helping us to have the best time & making the most of the time we will have.
Apr, 25--11am--10pm--San Juan
Apr.26--7am--5pm--St Thomas
Apr.27--7am--3pm--Basseterre-St. Kits-Nevis
Apr.28--10am--6pm--Bridgetown, Barbados
Apr.30--7am--7pm--Oranjestad, Aruba
May 1--7am--4pm--Wilemstad, Netherland
Antilles
May 4--7am--3pm--Great StirrupCay,
Bahamas
I will be looking for any info anyone can offer.

DaveJJ

San Juan....as I recall the old part of SJ is within walking distance from the dock. We found it quite interesting just walking around. There is also a huge fort along the coast but I don't recall how close it was to the dock. Definitely do not miss the fort on Brimstone Hill when you stop in St. Kitts. After a quick jaunt around Basseterre you will still have lots of time to get to the fort and back. Orangestad is a nice little place to walk around and shop. I would though recommend doing an island tour first. It would take perhaps 3 hours with stops along the way. Aruba has a very interesting topography. I just returned from a 2 week vacation in Curacao (Willemstad) and would highly recommend visiting the museum (includes sections on slavery) at the Kula Huranda (?) complex. When you walk in from your ship, head towards the ferry. Once there look over your shoulder at the yellow building...thats it. Work your way up top, then follow the signs. Both my wife and I were very surprised by the exhibits. I would also recommend going to the oldest continuously operated synogogue in the western hemisphere. Take the ferry across to the Punda side of town. The synogogue is perhaps 5 minutes from there. Quite interesting, had a sand floor commemorating the Exodus.

cw

I you want to shop, St. Thomas would be the place to do it.

You could also take the ferry to St. John and walk around Cruz Bay, or go to a beach and snorkel.

As was already advised, Brimstone Hill is the place to go in St. Kitts. Take an island tour with a local taxi, and have them drive you to the Southeastern Peninsula as well, for the spectacular scenery.

cw

carolrita

Davejj, & cw, I want to thank both of you for your in-put. We will definitely follow through with the advice you both have given, & I am sure the trip will be one heck of an adventure.

xkenx

St.Thomas--take the ferry to St.John and enjoy the snorkeling at one of the many wonderful north shore beaches. You could even use Caneel Beach at Caneel Bay resort and have lunch there.
On Barbados, hire a taxi (not a tour) and check out Francia Plantation (a restored great house plantation) or Flower Forest (one of the most spactacular tropical garden/forests anywhere). You could lunch at Coral Reef Hotel (the island's classiest) right on the beach, which is at the edge of an underwater park. See www.barbados.org. This is an island worth staying on for a week. Bridgetown is just a bustling city--get out into the countryside.

carolrita

Thanks, xkenx----we will certainly follow through, & not take the tour---sounds awesome !!!!

Kerry392

In Aruba, DePalm tours offers a variety of tours and snorkeling that you would be able to participate in. They last for about 3 hours and are in the morning.
Have a grat cruise!

carolrita

Kerry392---Thanks for your response. The mornings are so much better, with the time we are allotted at each port.

Carrybean

Take an island tour in St. Thomas. It has some of the most beautiful views of any Caribbean island, if not THE most beautiful. And I'm also told this by cruise passengers every day.

carolrita

carrybean---thank you for the info.---we will definitely look into the tour of St. Thomas !!!