Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos

MAP - http://www.tcimall.tc/grandturk/map.htm

GRAND TURK TOURIST INFO - http://tcimall.tc/grandturk/index.htm

Grand Turk is a small island that is the capital of the Turks & Caicos Islands which are located just below the Bahamas chain of islands. Grand Turk is only 6 miles long and 1 mile wide and its main town, Cockburn Town, is very small. You can take a tour around the entire island in just a couple of hours, including stops.

Cruise ships dock at the Grand Turk Cruise Center near the southern tip of the island. There isn’t a lot of development on this island and not a lot to be seen, however it is a beautiful, tropical island with gorgeous white sand beaches and clear, turquoise water. Since there are not a lot of tour operators, many of them are contracted to the cruise lines when ships are in port. Not all outfits are contracted to the same lines so there is always an opportunity to make your own arrangements.

Grand Turk is a great spot for diving and snorkeling. Several hundred feet offshore is a large vertical wall that is very popular with divers as it drops 7,000 feet - straight down. Near the cruise center beach, the drop-off is marked with buoys but it may not be marked at other beaches along the coast. When all you see is dark water below you…you’ve gone past the drop off : - ) There was a hurricane that hit the island a couple of years ago so that has affected some of the beach areas and sea life as well however, things appear to be getting back to normal now.

SIGHTS
There are not a lot of things to see but here are a few items that may be of interest:

Grand Turk Cruise Center - http://www.grandturkcc.com/ - the center is located right at the end of the pier when disembarking your ship (see website for map of shops, etc). There are tons of shops and the popular Margaritaville, which offers a bar, pool (free) and a Flow Rider to learn to surf (for a cost). There is lots of loud music and activity near the pool and this is where a lot of cruisers tend to stop and hang out for the day. There is also a beach that is in view upon docking. It is free to use the beach and chairs.

Lighthouse – http://www.tcmuseum.org/landmarks/grand_turk_lighthouse - the lighthouse is located on the northeast end of the island.

Mercury Spacecraft Replica - One of the island’s claims to fame is that, in 1962, John Glenn’s Mercury spacecraft landed in the waters to the south of the island. There is a replica of the spacecraft just outside of the airport.

Museum - http://www.tcmuseum.org/ - the museum is located in an historic building on Front Street in Cockburn Town. Open Mon – Sat 9am – 1pm. A cab ride will take 5 minutes to get there. There is no entrance fee, but a donation is much appreciated. There is also a gift shop on site and a few local vendor stalls across the road.

Conch ‘cemetery’ – exit the cruise center and turn to the right. On your way to White Sands Beach, you will come across an area that is covered with ‘dead’ conch shells (nothing living in them) which provides a unique photo opportunity.

Conch World – this is a conch farming operation that gives tours to educate visitors about conch. You can generally arrange for a tour through the ship or make your way there on your own. It is about a 20 minute drive and the cost is $15 per person for the entrance fee and a tour. Some think this is quite costly for what you get….others have really enjoyed the tour.

Jack’s Shack- http://www.jacksshack.tc/Home.php - this is a very popular bar that is located down the beach to the left from the cruise center, on the deck of the Oasis Dive Shop. Walk down the pier on disembarking, take a left coming off the pier and walk down the beach until you see the Oasis Dive Shop flag. The beach area is spacious and offers a great snorkel opportunity. Spotty, a spotted eagle ray with a 7 foot wing span, can often be spotted in the water offshore. The Shack has about 20 lounge chairs that can be rented for $5 each and you can also rent snorkel equipment, if you haven’t brought your own. It also offers a volleyball net, wireless internet and lockers to store your valuables while on the beach. This spot gets lots of great reviews as it is quieter than the cruise center beach and pool and rumor has it that they have some very tasty jerk chicken on the menu.

Flamingos – at times, wild flamingos can be seen around the salt pond area.

Gibbs Cay – this is a small island off the coast of Grand Turk where you can enjoy some time swimming with sting rays and doing some snorkeling. You can book an excursion through the ship or make arrangements with one of the tour operations on the island.

BEACHES

All of the beaches on Grand Turk are gorgeous white sand and turquoise water. The better beaches are on the west coast where the water is much calmer. I don’t think you can go wrong no matter which beach you choose!  Keep in mind that most beaches have rocky areas upon entering the water so step carefully when crossing the rocks. There is a good snorkel spot right beside the government pier where lots of fish congregate. Other beaches tend to have some fish to see but not much coral. You need to swim out a bit to have a better snorkel.

Governor’s Beach – is just a 10 minute walk or a very short cab ride ($3 per person) from the cruise center. When you exit the cruise center, turn left and walk along the road until you see the small sign for Governor’s Beach, turn left and walk toward the water until you see the larger sign for Governor’s Beach. There are bathroom facilities and a snack shack with loungers available. You may also be able to reach this beach by walking along the sand to the left of the pier where the ship is docked.

White Sands Beach – is located at the southern tip of the island and not a very long walk from the cruise center. You can reach it by exiting the cruise center and turning right onto the road or you can go through the duty free shop at the end of the pier and immediately turn right. Just past the cruise terminal buildings, there is a walkway that runs behind the cruise terminal beach. You will come to a small pier that is used for shore excursions, walk past the pier and past the fence which will allow you to walk along the shoreline around the southern tip of the island. This route is definitely ‘off the beaten path’ so you may choose to go along the paved road instead. You will come across the conch ‘cemetery’ on your way. The beach can have some very big waves as it is on the south coast, which is not as protected as the west coast beaches. There are no amenities and not likely to be very many people so if you are looking for your own private beach to enjoy, take your towels, snacks and some water and enjoy!!

Pillory Beach – this beach is located farther away from the cruise center and takes a taxi ride (approx $7 per person) to get there. Bohio Resort is located on this beach so there are bathroom facilities and a beach bar nearby. The snorkeling seems to get varied reviews. Some say it is great and they saw tons of fish, others say it wasn’t good at all.  I would say the weather and the spot you choose to snorkel likely has some bearing on your experience.

SNORKEL/DIVE OPERATORS

Oasis Dive Shop - http://www.oasisdivers.com/ – this outfit is contracted with some cruise lines when ships are in port. They are located within walking distance of the cruise terminal and do offer a snorkel area, free of charge, near their operation (see Jack’s Shack for more info).

Blue Water Divers – http://www.grandturkscuba.com/ – This is one of the best reviewed outfits on the Grand Turk discussion boards. It is a 15 min cab ride from pier (approx $10 per person including tip) and they offer several dive and snorkel excursion options.

Bohio Dive Resort - http://www.bohioresort.com/ – located on Pillory Beach which is a 10 minute cab ride ($7 per person) from the pier. Bohio Dive offers a good selection of dive and snorkel excursions.

OTHER TOUR OPERATORS

Nathan’s Golf Cart Rentals – offers golf cart rentals to tour the island. It is located just outside the terminal gates and rentals cost $80 a day for up to 4 people on a cart. There is a limited supply (about 10 carts) so it is best to make your reservations in advance as there may not be availability if you wait until you arrive on the island. Email them at ‘nathanandlinda@tciway.tc'. One item to remember is that they ask you to return the cart with the same level of gas in the tank.

Chukka Caribbean - http://www.chukkacaribbean.com/turks&caicos.php - this tour outfit operates on several Caribbean islands, including Grand Turk. Their tour offerings include horseback riding (includes a ride in the water), dune buggy excursions and jeep safaris.

Island Tours – you can arrange for an island tour with just about any taxi outside of the cruise center area. An island tour will run you about $25 per person.

MORE INFO AND PHOTOS

If you want to take the time to scroll through a Grand Turk visitor’s very detailed review with lots of great pictures of the island, click on this link to a Cruise Critic discussion thread : http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1225407&page=8

You can be as quiet or active as you want to be on Grand Turk. Enjoy a good snorkel or just relax on a white sand beach or by the pool!!

San Juan, Puerto Rico

San Juan is both a popular port of call on Caribbean cruises and also the main departure port for most southern itineraries. Puerto Rico is officially a Commonwealth and is a self-governing territory of the US. Most people you will encounter will speak English as well as Spanish. Drivers tend to be a bit crazy on this island so renting a car is not for the faint of heart! Get a good map and keep your eyes wide open. Others have rented cars and lived to tell the story ☺

If you are departing on a cruise from San Juan, most people will stay at a hotel in Condado, Isla Verde or Old San Juan (OSJ) due to their proximity to the piers. There are two main cruise piers in San Juan: the Old San Juan pier and the Pan American pier. Most ships stopping for the day in San Juan will port at the Old San Juan pier. Most ships beginning a cruise in San Juan will depart from the Pan Am pier however Carnival cruises usually leave from OSJ Pier 4. If you tell your cab driver which ship you are on, they will generally know which pier you need to be at.

TIP: If you are flying in for a cruise or need to wait for a flight out after a cruise, you can drop your luggage at Restaurant Barrachina (104 Calle Fortaleza) in OSJ and they will store it for you at no cost.

MAP
Map of Puerto Rico and map of Old San Juan – http://www.travelmaps.com/

TAXI CABS

All cab fares are regulated by the government and broken down into zones. You pay a flat fee from one zone to another, plus $1 for each piece of luggage. For more information on the various zones and fares, click on: http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/getting-around-by-taxi/

BUS INFO

Local buses are a very cheap alternative to get between downtown areas and Old San Juan.  Fares run between $0.50 - $0.75 each way. Schedules are not always firm so some flexibility is required. Route B-21 runs from Condado to OSJ. Route A-5 runs from Isla Verde to OSJ.  The bus is not a good option from the airport though.

ATTRACTIONS/SIGHTS

I have provided information on some of the more popular attractions and sights below. If you want to see a very detailed summary of all of the sights, go to: http://www.topuertorico.org/city/sanjuan.shtml

OLD SAN JUAN (OSJ)

This is the heart of the action for most visitors and is full of history and culture. You will find two fortresses and the Parliament House as well as tons of hotels, shops and restaurants. If you are in relatively good physical shape, you can walk to most locations in OSJ.

El Morro Fortress - $3 entrance fee or $5 for access to both El Morro and San Cristobal Fortresses. Valid for 24 hours. Open 9am – 6pm. This is the most well known of the two fortresses. Don’t miss the Paseo de la Princesa boardwalk path along the city wall. It is a beautiful walk to or from the Fortress and not to be missed. You can reach the path by walking to the left from the cruise ship pier, along Calle Marina, past the Plaza de Armas & La Casita (yellow building) and past the fountain where you will find the beginning of the boardwalk.

San Cristobal Fortress – $3 entrance fee or $5 for access to both El Morro and San Cristobal Fortresses. Valid for 24 hours. Open 9am – 6pm. This is the largest of the two fortresses and can be reached by walking up the hill and to the right from the pier area.

Restaurant Barrachina - http://www.barrachina.com/ - Located at 104 Forteleza in OSJ, Barrachina’s claim to fame is that they are the birthplace of the original Pina Colada. This restaurant will hold your bags for you, at no charge, while you are waiting for a flight or cruise to depart. If you are staying around OSJ, they also have a flamenco show on Friday and Saturday evenings at 8pm. Just ask to be seated in the show area!

Walking tour - If you are interested in a walking tour of Old San Juan, check out: www.frommers.com/destinations/sanjuan/0323010008.html

Shopping options - You can find vendors selling knock-off purses down along the waterfront. The popular Coach outlet is located at 150 Calle Cristo. You can find many local artisans selling their wares at Plaza Arturo Somohano located about a block behind the Sheraton Old San Juan.

OSJ FREE TROLLEY
There is a free trolley that travels around Old San Juan and makes regular stops at Covadonga, La Pultilla, Plaza de Armas and both forts. There are three different routes. You can get a map from the information kiosk near Pier 1. The trolley moves slowly due to traffic and, if speed is what you want, you would be faster on foot. There is a trolley stop right at the corner of the waterfront road and Corretjer St (the street going up to the left of Pier 4 and the second street up to the right from pier 3) but everyone from the ship will try to get on at that stop. If you walk a few blocks to the left of the pier along Calle Marina (parallel to the waterfront), there is a trolley stop to the left of the small yellow "Casita" building (Tourist Info Centre). Just follow the road to the left and look for the trolley stop marker beside the trucks that sell food/drinks at the plaza.

EL YUNQUE RAINFOREST – http://www.elyunque.com/ - located about an hour's drive from the pier, the park's hours of operation don’t appear to be fixed.  They say that they open ‘early’ and you cannot stay past 6pm. Entrance to the park is free, but if you stop at the Visitor’s Center, there is a fee of $3. You can pay $5pp for a guide from the Visitor’s Center. The best way to really enjoy the rainforest is to find a group tour or rent a car. Taxis are not permitted to enter the rainforest. Taxis must drop their passengers at the Visitor’s Centre, which is a good distance from the good hiking trails and scenic falls.

There are lots of hiking trails to choose from in the rainforest. You can select one based on your time frames and fitness level. Big Tree Trail is one of the more popular trails and a 20 minute hike will get you to La Mina Falls where you can enjoy a refreshing swim. Since it is very popular with large ship’s tours, it is best to hit this trail early to avoid the crowds. To get to the Mount Britton trail, drive on PR191 and park on side road 930 at km 13 marker. If you want to hike all the way to the mountain peak, aim to hit the peak by noon as often clouds roll in and the panoramic view may disappear in the afternoon. The hike to the peak appears to take between 1.5 and 2 hours. For a shorter option, if you hike about 20 minutes along Mount Britton Trail, you will reach the Mount Britton Observation Tower.  Juan Diego Creek is a less well-known spot so doesn't have much of a crowd.  If you hike about 1/8th of a mile along the creek (not a trail...more like a path), there are three different waterfalls to see.  You may also want to check out the 1575 foot Yokahu Observation Tower at km 8.8 on PR191.

LUQUILLO BEACH – This is a beach area located not far from El Yunque. A great spot for some beach time after touring the rainforest. Parking $4. Bathroom access $1 adult/ $0.50 children. There are actually four different beach sections in Luquillo:

1. "La Pared" (The Wall) is where the surfers hang out. Lots of action and heavy waves.
2. "Costa Azul" (Blue Coast) in front of the 3 condominiums is quiet with lots of 'snowbirds'.
3. "El Balneario El Monserrate" has lots of gorgeous palm trees and delightfully calm water that is perfect for young ones.
4. “Kiosk Beach” aka Jet Ski Beach located behind the 60 local food kiosks. Lots of people and jet ski traffic and can be a bit dirty.

PLAZA LAS AMERICAS – http://www.plazalasamericas.com/
This is a large, modern three-story mall. Open 9am – 9pm weekdays and Saturdays, 11am – 7pm on Sundays and contains many well known stores. The mall can be reached easily by cab or bus. From the Condado area, take bus B12. The bus stops running around 9pm and the fare is $0.75.  Have the exact change.

BACARDI RUM FACTORY TOUR – You can arrange this tour through the ship and pay a premium or you can do it on your own for very little money. Take the ferry from near the OSJ pier across the bay to Catano for $1 pp each way. On arrival, you can catch a cab for the short ride to the Bacardi Rum Factory which will cost around $2pp each way if there are a group of people heading there. You can get your free tour ticket in the gift shop area, along with your coupon for 2 free drinks, and then wait for the start of the next tour. You do not tour the actual distillery. The tour includes a movie of the company’s history, a mock up of the distillery, a chance to smell some of the different rums they make and a demonstration on how to make some rum drinks. The tour ends in the gift shop where you are entitled to 2 free rum drinks. Food for thought: Cruisers who did this tour through the ship say that it is overpriced and not worth the cost that the cruise lines charge.

CAMUY CAVES (Parque de las Cavernas del Rio Camuy) – For more info, see http://www.gotopuertorico.com/caving-puerto-rico.php. The caves are only open Wednesday through Sunday from 8am to 4pm, or until they reach park capacity. It appears that the park only allows a certain number of visitors per day, so it is best to get there early. Entrance fees are $12 for adults and $7 for children (ages 2 – 12). Parking will cost you $3pp. There is generally a wait until your number is called to start your tour so patience is a virtue : - )

BIOLUMINESCENT BAY TOURS – These very unique tours are done at night as that is the prime time to experience the natural phenomenon of microscopic plankton that glow when the water is disturbed. The two most popular locations for this excursion are Fajardo or Vieques Island and you can tour either by boat or by kayak.  I have posted the most popular tour operations for each location below. You can also book a tour through the cruise ship, but it will definitely cost you more. This tour is best done around a new moon when there is not a lot of moonlight and it is easier to see the glow from the plankton. Check the moon calendar to see whether the moon phases match well with your vacation time in Puerto Rico : http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/biobay-and-moon/ . Make sure you take bug spray as bugs can sometimes be an issue!!

La Laguna Grande - located in Fajardo, to the north-east of San Juan.  Two well-reviewed tour operators are: http://www.bioislandpr.com/ or http://www.kayakingpuertorico.com/ . The pros are that this location is closer to San Juan, less costly than Vieques and the tour takes about 2 hours. On the con side, you do not get the chance to swim with the plankton and visitors who have taken both tours say that Mosquito Bay has way more organisms to be seen.

Mosquito Bay - located on the island of Vieques, off the coast of PR. You can get detailed information here: http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/eastwind-vieques-biobay/  and then book here: http://www.eastwindcats.com/pages/powercat_excursion1.html . You will need to scroll down the page to get to the Bio-Bay excursion. The pros of this tour are that you can enjoy a swim among the plankton and that there is less light pollution which enhances the experience even more. The con is that travel time is longer from San Juan and, therefore, requires more of a time commitment.

SEGWAY TOURS - http://www.segwaytourspr.com/ - Tour OSJ on a segway.

TOUR GUIDES
The following guides get excellent reviews on the discussion boards.  They both offer a wide variety of tours:

Albert Aguirre – contact at surfcabs@yahoo.com or (787) 317-6907. To get the $50 pp rate, Albert requires a minimum of 6 people. If you don’t have that number, he will approach other cruise passengers until he gets additional passengers for his tour.

Countryside Tours (Victor Balbin) - http://www.countrysidetourspr.com/

Experience the history and culture of this beautiful island!!

Tortola/Virgin Gorda

Tortola is not as ‘touristy’ as some of the other islands. There are not a lot of attractions but it is a very relaxed island.

BEACHES
The two most popular beaches are Brewer’s Bay Beach and Cane Garden Bay Beach. Both of them can be reached easily by catching a cab (open-air safari bus) outside of the cruise facility. The cost is about $7 per person each way.

TOURS
You can do a tour with any cab outside of the cruise facility. Make sure you negotiate your price, time frame and tour details before you get in the cab and do not pay until you return. Based on what I have read, you should be able to get a tour for $15 - $20 per person. They will take you around the island and also have a beach stop wherever you choose.

You can be on the lookout for African Pride Taxi (driver – Cumba) which has great reviews.

There are a couple of tour operators that have good reviews on the discussion boards:

Egbert - He can take you by speedboat to the Baths on Virgin Gorda for approximately $45 per person.
See the discussion thread below for further details:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1132792

Patouche Catamaran Tours - http://www.patouche.com/index.html
They come very highly recommend and can take you to the Baths and to a couple of snorkel spots. The cost is $80 per person.

THE BATHS http://www.b-v-i.com/baths.htm

If you have enough time, I would definitely take the ferry over to Virgin Gorda and catch a cab to The Baths. They are massive boulders along the shoreline and you walk a trail through them. There are a couple of beaches -a smaller one at beginning of the trail and a larger one at the other end. There is also some fantastic snorkeling among the boulders.

You can catch the ferry just a 10 minute walk from the pier. There are two ferries: Smiths (http://www.smithsferry.com/) or Speedy’s (http://www.speedysbvi.com/). Check the website for departure times from both Tortola and Virgin Gorda. The ferry ride itself takes about 45 minutes so make sure you have lots of time when taking this option.

There will also be ship’s tours to this spot, but they are much more expensive!!

Nassau, Bahamas

There are lots of things to see in Nassau (downtown). When you get off the ship, there is a straw market near the end of the pier with typical tourist souvenir offerings and knock-off purses. Definitely negotiate for the purses. I think Customs only allows one knock-off purse per person on return to the US. There are horse & buggy rides available just outside the pier gates. If you walk around Nassau, be aware that the roads and sidewalks are very uneven so watch where you’re walking.

There are tons of options available, which is great because you will be there two different times. There are forts, a pirate’s museum, Ardastra Zoo, National Art Gallery, Slave Museum, Queens Staircase, jet ski, parasailing, snorkeling, golf, deep sea fishing, private islands, dolphins, sea lions, etc.

BLUE LAGOON ISLAND
This is a really popular spot for a day visit. We visited this island on our very first cruise in 1993 but it has definitely expanded since then.

http://www.bahamasbluelagoon.com/

Although Pre-booking (via website) is the only guarantee to get on the boat, you can appear at the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal about 30 minutes before any ferry and purchase a beach pass if they are not full. Beach is closed Thursdays and Sundays.

The Paradise Island Ferry Terminal is on Paradise Island. A quick $5 cab ride from the dock.
Ferries leave at 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM. Ferries return at 11am, 2pm and the last boat back is at 4pm.

They now offer dolphin and sea lion encounters on Blue Lagoon Island. It is through a locally-owned company. Dolphin swim is $185pp, Dolphin Encounter is $98pp and Sea Lion Encounter is $80pp. Go to http://www.dolphinencouters.com/ for details or to book.

ATLANTIS RESORT
Another popular option is to catch a cab over to Atlantis and just walk around and enjoy the areas that have free access (hotel, restaurants, casino) or you can buy a day pass. During the winter months, the pools, beaches and slides close at 5pm, in the summer 6:30/7pm.

Nassau Atlantis Property Tickets purchased at Atlantis: These packages are not sold in advance but may be purchased from any of the cashier stations located in the Lower Lobby Royal Towers, the Lower Lobby Coral Towers; and the Temple of the Moon in the Casino. I have pasted the day pass from the Atlantis site below:

- Discover Atlantis Aquaventure Package:. Adult Price: $110.00 . Children (ages 4-12) Price: $80.00 . Included: Access to the Dig (aquarium) and other marine habitats, beaches and water park including: slides, pools, river rapids & private lagoons . Not included: meals . Availability: limited based on guest occupancy; sold on first come, first serve basis
- Discover Atlantis Beach Day Package:. Adult Price: $65.00 . Children (ages 4-12) Price: $30.00 . Included: The Discover Atlantis Aquarium Tour, access to west beach and all marine habitats. . Not Included: access to pools, slides and private lagoons, meals . Availability: limited based on guest occupancy; sold on first come, first serve
- Discover Atlantis Aquarium Tour:. Adult Price: $35.00 . Children (ages 4-12) Price: $26.00 . Includes: access to predator lagoon, the dig, ruins lagoon . Not included: access to beaches, pools, slides and private lagoons, meals
- Lockers: In addition to these packages; guests can also rent lockers at the Day Visitor Center, located at the rear of the Mayan Temple. Guests will be charged $50 for any unreturned locker key (room charge or credit card only for lockers). . Small Locker: $5.00 . Medium Locker: $7.00 . Large Locker: $10.00 Day visitors who choose not to participate in the water attractions or tour are welcome to enjoy our fantastic restaurants, duty free shopping, and world class casino.

NOTE: Bring your own water as purchasing water at Atlantis is very pricey!!

BRITISH COLONIAL HILTON
You can purchase a day pass at the Hilton to enjoy their pool and facilities. The pass is $40pp and includes a $30pp food voucher. It is 2 blocks from the pier and within easy walking distance.

TOURS
Island Marketing - http://bahamascruiseexcursions.com/NassauExcursions.htm
This company offers all sorts of tours around Nassau. The “Taste of Nassau Island Tour” is $30pp.

BEACHES
Two beaches that get good reviews on the discussion boards are:
Cable Beach and Cabbage Beach (no bathrooms) – both on Paradise Island. You should be able to catch a cab to either. Going price is around $4pp or there are local jitneys (vans) that cost around $1.25pp.

OTHER OPTIONS

FLYING CLOUD CATAMARAN tours: http://www.flyingcloud.info/Half day cruise – leaves at 9:30am and 2pm for 3.5 hr cruise and snorkel. $70 pp

SNORKEL TOURS - http://www.stuartcove.com/ $52 adult (pre-booked) or
http://www.blueholewatersports.com/ Snorkel tour $40 adult

GOLF
Check out info on two of the golf courses in (or near) Nassau : Paradise Island Golf Course and Cable Beach Golf Course.
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/bahamas/0205020113.html

St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

Charlotte Amalie is the name of the town near where the ships dock. There are two piers where cruise ships dock.

Most ships dock at the West Indian Company Dock in Havensight, but you may also dock at Crown Bay Dock or, when all berths are full, you may anchor in the harbour and tender into Charlotte Amalie.

Havensight is about a mile from Charlotte Amalie and take about 20 minutes to walk or you can take a cab for around $5pp. There are tons of shops in the Havensight Mall to browse through. There is not much around the Crown Bay Dock so you will need to take a cab into town (around $4pp) as the walk is a long one. Cabs are usually open air 'safari' trucks and wait until they get full before they leave. Leave yourself time for this delay!

St Thomas is a great place for duty-free shopping with lots of jewelry and electronics buys to be had. Know your prices before you go and you may find some great deals. Bargaining is a way of life here so be prepared to sharpen your skills.

There is a vendor’s market near where the cabs drop you off downtown. It sells t-shirts, jewellery, knock-off handbags, souvenirs, clothing, etc. You can get some great bargains if you hang in and negotiate awhile.

There are also local taxis called “dollar taxis” that can take you most places on the island for about $2pp. You need to walk to a bus stop and flag down the $ taxis. They also look like big 'safari' trucks so it is sometimes difficult to distinguish them from regular open air cabs. The bus stop will be the identifying factor! This may be a bit intimidating to first-timers but it is a cheap way to get around the island. There is a bus stop near the Kmart which is down the road, to the left, of the Havensight pier. A bit of a walk will get you there. The dollar taxi routes don't go as close to the Crown Bay dock so a cab is your likely choice there.

The regular taxi fares are regulated and fixed based on the destination.

INTERNET CAFÉ – Beans, Bytes and Websites – downtown Charlotte Amalie in the Royal Dane Mall – ask locals or shopkeepers for directions when you get to the mall as there are many little alleyways to go down. It is not like our North American malls. All shops are off the quaint little alleys which are beautiful but can be confusing.

ATTRACTIONS
A couple attractions of interest would be:

SkyRide to Paradise Point which is an aerial cable car that takes you to 700 feet above sea level for a panoramic view that can’t be beat. There are shops and a bird show so you can spend some time wandering about. Round trip fare is $21 per person.

Coral World Ocean Park (at Coki Point) which has an observatory 15 feet under the water where you can view coral and sea life. The park is open Saturday to Wednesday from 9am – 4pm and the entrance fee is $21 per person. Coki Beach is right next door if you want some beach/snorkel time as well.

We haven’t been to either of these attractions but we know people who have gone and they enjoyed them. There are also lots of historical sights to see on the island. Go here for more info: http://www.vinow.com/stthomas/attractions_stt/

BEACHES
I have not listed all of the beaches as there are a lot of them. We have been to all of those listed below, except for Emerald Beach.

Magen’s Bay Beach – this is the best known beach on the island of St. Thomas. It is one of the top beaches in the world (according to several travel magazines). $8pp cab ride, $4pp entrance fee. You can rent chairs and umbrellas if you like but there are lots of trees that can provide shade. Depending on how many ships are in port (I will have this info as we get closer to cruise time) the beach can be quite crowded with cruisers, but the water is gorgeous and warm. This is a great option for first-timers!

Emerald Beach (aka Lindbergh Beach) – is another beach that has excellent reviews. $6-7pp cab, $7pp chair rental, $10 chair + umbrella, near Best Western hotel, shade available, beach bar, bathrooms under construction, not very good snorkeling, no vendors to bother you. It is generally quiet but it is near the airport so around 12pm-2pm there are several jets passing over.

Coki Point Beach - $9pp cab, food/drink, chair rentals, vendors on beach can be bothersome, good snorkeling, outside beach area is a bit run-down but you can get out at the entrance and catch a cab back from the same spot without wandering too far away.  UPDATE:  After the death of a 14-year old tourist who was caught in the crossfire of a shooting, this beach was removed as a ship excursion destination early in 2010.  The government has said that they have implemented several  projects to make the area safer and cleaner but just be aware of this issue when choosing your beach destination.

Trunk Bay – this beach is one of the top 10 best beaches in the world. It is located on the island of St. John, which is able to be reached by ferry (see schedule below) from either Red Hook at the east tip of the island or downtown Charlotte Amalie. You can take a cab to Red Hook, catch the ferry to St. John (20 min ride), then a cab to Trunk Bay or you can catch a cab downtown and take the Charlotte Amalie ferry (45 min ride). Both of these options will cost in the range of $40 per person. There is some great snorkeling around a little island just off of Trunk Bay where there is a marked underwater trail highlighting the coral and fish of the area. Make sure that you return in early afternoon (2-2:30pm) as after 3pm, the locals start filling the ferries when they get off work. We have done this trip several times and Trunk Bay is one of our favorite beaches. It just involves a lot of time, attention to timing and is a bit costly.

TOURS
Island tours are available. Most run in the $25 - $30 per person range. The person that I have read the best reviews about is Henry Christopher who charges $25 pp for a 2 hour island tour. At the end, he will drop you at a beach of your choice for 2 hours and then deliver you back to the ship. Check out his website at: http://www.eeetours.com/index.html

OTHER OPTIONS
Water Island is a small island off the coast of St. Thomas that can be reached by ferry from the Crown Bay marina (the other cruise ship dock). Water Island is designated as the fourth Virgin Island - joining St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix.

You can take a small ferry over to the island and you will have a bit of a walk to get to Honeymoon Beach, but it will be worth it to enjoy this tropical gem of a beach!! Not many cruisers know about this spot or make the effort to get there, so it is very quiet and uncrowded. Some of the 'party boat' charters stop there around noon or so and it can get a bit crowded for about an hour until the party boats leave. There are some basic bathroom facilities but they may not open until the lunch bus arrives mid-morning.   If you dock at the Havensight dock, a cab to the Crown Bay dock should cost you around $5pp each way.  Ask to get dropped off by Tickles Restaurant or you will need to walk over to the small marina to the left, if the cab drops you where the cruise terminal is located.  You should confirm the return times when boarding.  The ferry holds about 25 passengers and costs $12 pp round trip. Tickets are sold by the captain once on board.

You can check out the ferry schedule and fare prices at the site below. It also has schedules for other ferries leaving from St. Thomas to St. John, Tortola and St. Croix:

http://www.vinow.com/general_usvi/interisland_ferry/#Water%20Island%20Ferry:%20Crown%20Bay%20to%20Phillip


You can check out “http://www.vinow.com/stthomas/ “ if you want more info on attractions, beaches, etc.

You can also find some great info on http://www.cruisecritic.com/ports/newport.cfm?ID=17

St. Martin/Sint Maarten, Netherland Antilles

St. Martin/Sint Maarten's nickname is 'the friendly island' and is the smallest piece of land shared by two countries. It is only 37 square miles. The largest part of this island is owned by the French (St. Martin) with a population of around 35,000 and the smaller portion is owned by the Dutch (Sint Maarten) with a population of around 45,000.  English is widely spoken around the island.  You can freely cross the border between the two holdings without passports or checkpoints. Most cruise ships usually dock at Philipsburg (Dutch side) but some smaller ships may dock at Marigot (French side). All of the information in this post will be assuming your ship is docked in Philipsburg.

MAP

http://www.gobeach.com/sxmmap.htm

GETTING AROUND

WALKING

From the cruise terminal area, it is about a 10-15 minute walk into Philipsburg. There is a walkway along the 'highway' that is protected by barriers.  You will see a sign (below) for a shortcut over a little bridge that will lead you to another Water Taxi stop, along the Boardwalk and to Front Street. Front Street is the main shopping 'drag' and it is the first paved street away from the beach. It is lined with shops, restaurants, bars, etc. There are also shops along Back Street as well.

Sign for shortcut

WATER TAXI

You can also catch a water taxi from the cruise ship pier into town. The cost is $4pp one way or $6pp if you buy an all day pass that allows you to use the water taxi as many times as you want throughout the day. It is a beautiful ride across a gorgeous turquoise bay to the downtown pier. The only negative is that the lines for the water taxis are often really long and you need to decide if you want to waste precious beach/shopping time waiting in line. The water taxis drop off and pick up at three spots: the cruise ship pier, Bobby's Marina and the downtown pier. They run this route all day. I've read that there is a new water taxi stop at the far end of the Boardwalk just past the Sea Palace Hotel as well. I will be confirming this on our next stop in St. Martin.

TAXI CABS

The taxi fares on this island are regulated and all fares are posted at the taxi stands. No matter which cab you take, the price should be the same! Prices are subject to change from time to time and I will attempt to keep them as current as possible. There is a taxi stand at the cruise ship terminal.

Posted Taxi Fares (one way) from the cruise ship pier:

To downtown - $3pp

To Little Bay - $4pp

To Orient Beach - $18(1-2 people), $7pp (3-5 people), $6pp (6 people +)

To Dawn Beach - $15(1-2), $7pp (3-5), $6pp (6 people +)

To Mullet Bay/Maho Bay -$18(1-2), $8pp (3-5), $7pp (6 people +)

To Marigot - $15(1-2), $7pp (3-5), $6pp (6 people +)

To Pinel Island - $25(1-2), $9pp (3-5), $7pp (6 people +)

Obviously, it is much more cost effective to find some others who are going the same spot you want to go.

BUSES

A thriftier option is to use the local "buses" that charge around $2.00 per person, depending on where on the island you are going to. They are primarily used by the local workforce to get to and from work so they don’t provide service to many of the regular tourist spots. They don't service the beaches on the east coast (Dawn Beach, Orient Beach, Pinel Island) but have great routes to the west coast (Marigot, Mullet Bay Beach, Maho Bay). Most are white mini-vans with the destination name printed on a large sign in the front window. Check to make sure the license plate starts with ‘BUS’ as some taxis (license plate starts with ‘TAXI’) look exactly the same. You can catch the bus at the bus stop on Back Street in P’burg (right at the end of Old Street which runs between Front and Back Streets) or you can flag them down. On your return trip, simply go back to the area where you were dropped off and flag down another one. They will not stop if they are full, but wait a bit and another one will soon come along. It is polite to greet those in the bus when you get in. Feel free to ask for help from the driver. They are generally friendly and helpful to let you know when to get out. You can double check that they are going where you want to go but don’t ask them to drop you back at the pier as buses do not go to the pier and they will charge you regular cab fare. Sometimes they will offer to drive straight to a destination instead of stopping along the route to pick other passengers up. This option will then change your fare so make sure you settle on the fare before you accept this option. On our trip in March 2010, the bus driver drove the 8 of us directly to Mullet Bay Beach for $3 per person and arranged to pick us up again later in the afternoon at Maho Bay Beach and take us back to the ship for $3pp. Not all drivers may make this deal so discuss this before you get in the bus. If you go the regular route (stop to pick up passengers along the way) then the fares can be different depending on where you get dropped off so ask what the fare is when you get on the bus and have it ready to pay to the driver on exiting. Having small bills and coins would be a good idea! For those who may have concerns over safety, all I can say is that we have used this option many times and have never felt unsafe or had a bad experience.

INTERNET CAFÉS

As with many business, internet cafés tend to come and go. There are usually several in Philipsburg. Just ask a local shopkeeper for the nearest spot.

An internet search indicates that there is a spot called Cyberlink which is located on Front St across from Little Switzerland. It has about 20 computers, serves coffee, espresso and cold drinks and also has a mini-mart. Cost is $3 per hour.

BEACHES

There are so many beautiful beaches on this island that it would take too long to provide information on all of them. I have tried to summarize info on the most well known spots. Remember that this island has a very European culture so most beaches you will go to will have topless bathers and some beaches will have a clothing-optional area.

Great Bay Beach - this beach is right along the waterfront in Philipsburg. It is within easy walking distance of the cruise ship pier and is a low maintenance option if you don't want to travel too far to get to a beach. It has lots of spots that rent loungers and umbrellas and offer food and drinks. It is a great beach for sunning but the water quality of the bay is not the best so locals don't recommend swimming in the water.

Orient Beach – this is the best known beach on the island and is located on the French side. It is a prime destination for many cruisers and has tons of bars and restaurants. Club Orient is the nude portion of the beach and it is located at the far end of the beach (to the far right of where the cabs drop you off). Most beaches on the island are topless and a few are clothing optional. You will be likely to see topless women all along Orient Beach and sometimes you will spot a nudist strolling up the beach from Club Orient. It is a beautiful white sand beach with crystal blue waters and usually has pretty good waves. Beware if the waves are really high as the undertow will be strong. The beach is generally very crowded when there are several cruise ships in port so if you are looking for a quiet beach, this would not be the spot to go.

The beach is lined with bars/restaurants which also offer loungers and umbrellas. You cannot sit on a lounger without paying for it and staff take exception if you lay your towels down in front of the loungers. The cheapest spot for renting loungers/umbrellas seems to be ‘Le String’ at $8 for one lounger and umbrella, a drink and access to their bathrooms. There aren’t easily accessible public bathrooms unless you purchase one of these packages from one of the bars along the strip.

There is a grocery store located behind the ‘Bikini Beach Bar’ where you can pick up some snacks, drinks, etc. We have rented a chair/umbrella but most times we walk down the beach a way until we find a spot that is not in front of the bars/restaurant and put down our towel. If you plan to spend most of the day there, it is worth it to get a lounger and umbrella.

Dawn Beach – the discussion boards are full of good comments about this beach. It is about a 15 minute drive from downtown P'burg and is located just down the coast from Orient Beach. Restrooms are available as well as a restaurant. A beach resort and the Westin hotel are located on this beach and you get a great view of St. Bart’s in the distance. The surf can get quite rough which means this beach is not well suited for little ones. You can rent 2 lounge chairs with an umbrella for $15. You can also get a massage with aloe for $20 for 20 minutes. Snorkeling is pretty good as there is a coral reef offshore, but you will have to swim a bit to get there.

Le Galion – also known as 'Coconut Grove' or 'Baby Beach'. It is located between Dawn Beach and Orient Bay and is much quieter than the others. There is a coral reef just offshore which means calmer waters, especially nearer the North end of the beach. There is a slow drop-off into the water which makes it perfect for families with small children as you can walk out a good distance without getting into deep water. It has facilities and a place you can get something to eat. You can rent beach chairs and some water toys/gear are available for rent.

Pinel Island – this island is just up the coast from Orient Beach. A cab will cost around $7pp (one way) from P'burg. The island is reached by a ferry (actually a small boat with an outboard motor) and costs $7pp round trip. It is a lovely small island with white sand beaches. This is probably one of the better snorkeling spots on the island but St. Martin is not best known for its snorkeling. There are some touristy shops and bars as well. Generally not too crowded and is quiet because it involves a bit more effort and cost to get to it.

Maho Bay - this is a small beach located near the Princess Juliana airport. Its main attraction is that the airport runway is directly behind the beach so that when the planes land, you are incredibly close to them. The Sunset Beach Bar is located at one end of the beach. It offers a good view of the planes landing and broadcasts the air-traffic control chatter. Plan to buy at least a drink in order to have a seat in the bar. 

Here is the link to the airport arrival/departure schedule:  http://www.flightstats.com/go/FlightStatus/flightStatusByAirport.do?airportCode=SXM&airportQueryType=1


Mullet Bay Beach – This is a beautiful crescent-shaped beach located just a short walk up the coast from Maho Bay. Its active surf means it is popular with surfers. It can range from calmer waves to very large waves and the riptide can get dangerous when the waves are really big. Swim with a buddy if that's the case! Not likely a great option for families with younger children. You can snorkel near the rocks at either end of the beach. It doesn't offer all of the amenities of Orient Beach but does have a couple of spots to grab something to eat and, in front of the hotel, you can rent loungers and umbrellas. We quite often will take the bus to Mullet Bay and enjoy some beach time...then walk down to Maho Bay around 1pm so we are in time to see some of the larger planes land at the airport.

Baie Rouge - this beach got its name from the soft, lightly tinted, 'pink' sand found there. It is quite isolated and extremely quiet, except maybe on weekends when locals come out to enjoy this spot and things get a bit busier. The farther away from the entrance you go, the less clothing people will have on. The far West end of the beach is clothing optional. Some good snorkeling toward the east end along with a swim-through cave. There is a sharp drop-off a bit offshore so walk carefully. There are a couple of snack shacks available.

TOURS
Island tours are available. I have never taken an island tour so my information has been gathered by researching recommendations given by other travellers on discussion boards. My goal is to simply advise you of some options that have had very positive feedback and is not intended to be a personal recommendation.

Bernard's Tours - Private tour runs $350 total for up to 10 people on the van, which works out to $35 pp which is very reasonable for several hours seeing the island sights. http://www.bernardstours.com/

Joyce Prince - This lady is well-known around the island. If you have ever seen the "Feasting on Waves" series on the Food Network, Joyce is the guide that took Alton Brown around St. Martin. Her website is http://www.princepersonal.com/

Victor Bryan - gets excellent reviews - email at victor.bryan@wanadoo.fr

You can also get off the ship and head to the taxi stand. A ‘circle island’ tour (which would take you around the entire island) would be about $25 pp if over 8 people…however, I do not know if they would tailor your tour and stop wherever you wanted to???

SHOPPING
There are lots of shops in Philipsburg. Jewelry and electronics are usually very well-priced here. Sint Maarten being a Dutch holding, they also have gorgeous tablecloths, linens and Delft pottery. Again, know your prices at home so you can be sure you are finding a good deal.

There is an outdoor shopping market in the French town of Marigot, which is a bit of a drive up and around the coast. Marigot is the most popular town on the French side and has a lot of upscale shops and restaurants but you can grab something to eat on the waterfront from one of the local lolo BBQ's, on the boardwalk, for a reasonable price.

There is a shop called Rima’s, in Philipsburg, which seems to be where most of the island vendors buy their wares (or so goes the rumour). It is a big store with lots of beachwear, souvenirs, cheaper jewelry, etc. at prices that are usually better than beach vendors or at the market. Rima's is located at 41 Pondfill Road right beside the Salt Pond. A good stop to pick up your souvenirs. It is a good walk to get to or you could get the bus to drop you there on your return to town.

OTHER OPTIONS
CAR RENTAL – There are many car rental spots on the island. They have most of the usual spots (Hertz, Budget, etc) plus a few local spots that receive good reviews. Arthur's Car Rental is a local business that has some very good prices and is not far from the pier. http://www.arthurscarrental.com/

Make sure you check with your insurance carrier or your credit card company (if it provides coverage) about whether you are covered on St. Martin as it appears that North American insurance companies may not provide coverage there.

The streets of Philipsburg are very narrow and can be difficult to navigate as there is generally bumper-to-bumper traffic downtown. If this stresses you out, choose a cab or bus. No need to get your blood pressure up while on vacation ☺

Once out of Philipsburg, it isn't very difficult to navigate your way around the island as there is really just one main road to follow that travels in a circle around the island (see map near top of post). Most arteries are off this main road.

IMPORTANT TRAFFIC WARNING!! One thing to bear in mind is that there is a drawbridge at Simpson Bay, which is on the way back from Maho Bay/Mullet Bay. It opens to let big yachts pass through and brings traffic to a standstill at those times. Depending on how many ships are docked, you could run into some major delays. The schedule can vary but the usual problem time is in late afternoon so we usually try to head back to the ship by 3pm, at the latest, to be back on board by 5pm. Whether you rent a car, take a cab or take the bus....keep this issue in mind!

ATTRACTIONS /EXCURSIONS

I have tried to provide an overview of available attractions and excursions on St. Martin/Sint Maarten. This is not intended to be a personal recommendation of these companies (unless otherwise stated). My goal is simply to list the most popular excursions and outings that I have come across in my research and to provide a link for you to get more information for any item that you may be interested in.

Loterie Farm Treetop Adventure – http://www.loteriefarm.net/ . This is an aerial obstacle course and zipline adventure. It also has a couple restaurants and hiking facilities.

The Butterfly Farm – http://www.thebutterflyfarm.com/ . This is a large attraction filled with hundreds of species of butterflies. You can feed them and they will land on your hands. Entrance fee $12pp.

Lord Sheffield's Tall Ship Adventures - http://www.stmaarten-shoretrips.com/lordsheffield/

Captain Morgan's Day Charters - http://www.captainmorgan-daycharters.com/. Spend a delightful time sailing on a 65 ft schooner.

Rhino Riders - http://www.atlantisadventures.com/stmartin/rhino-rider-double/. Captain your very own 10 foot inflatable motor boat.

Bayside Riding Club - http://www.baysideridingclub.com/. Horseback riding on the beach. There is another stable on the island however, reviews have stated that they appear to put a priority on cruise tours and if you arrange this one on your own, you may be left waiting while cruise tours go first.

Segway's on the Boardwalk - There is a stand on the boardwalk where you can book a segway tour or you can email 's.duinkerk@hotmail.com to make a reservation in advance. $60 for an hour and 15 minutes or $30 for a half hour.

America's Cup Yacht Racing - http://www.12metre.com/ - race an America's Cup yacht in a recreation of the famous yacht race. This excursion can be a lot of work as guests are responsible for certain tasks associated with racing the yacht. If you do this, you will not get to relax or enjoy the scenery very much. I believe you can just choose to be a viewer as well but you should check this out if you don't want to work very hard. A great excursion for those who love to get active and feel the wind in their hair.

Enjoy all there is to enjoy on this beautiful island!!