What shore tours do you recommend on Aruba, Curacao, St.Lucia and St. Thomas? What tourist attractions are a waste of time and money? Please email me with any info you have. <BR>Thanks, <BR>Mary

When we cruise we usually go ashore on our own. However, when we were on NCL Dream, they offered a jeep safari on Aruba. It was great fun and after the jeep ride they ferried us out to DePalm Island for some of the best snorkeling ever! We booked through the ship, but it was run by DePalm tours. On Aruba it's also easy enoughn to just take a bus to the beach if that's what you like to do. On Curacao we just walked acrossed the pontoon bridge and explored the town on our own. The buildings are so "cute". On St. Thomas it's easy enough to get to a beach or into town on your own. You could also ferry to St.John and see all the beauty there. We will be on St. Lucia for the first time next month and are planning on taking the 4x4 excursion offered by the cruiseline. <BR>Have a great time.

when you get off the ship there will be plenty of taxis who will take you around for the day. If at least 2 people are going it is usually the same price as the ship, but you are not herded around like cattle. <BR>Negotiate the rate before you step in...if it seems high go to another taxi.

Mary, to help others make recommendations, you should tell a little about yourself. Things like age and interests are good to know. For me, all those islands sound like dive locations, and that is exactly what I'm doing when I cruise to Aruba, Curacao, St. Maarten and St. Thomas. If diving or snorkling are of interest, check out www.cokidive.com It is a site for Coki Beach Dive Club on Coki beach in St. Thomas

We really enjoyed the ferry over to St. John and the island tour there. Next time I think I would snorkle there too, the beaches were beautiful as was the island. We would like to go back to St. Thomas and St. John.