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Topic: Don't want to sound cheap but......

hooked on cruising
First Class Passenger
Member # 1221

posted 02-07-2002 11:50 AM

What is there to do on Salt Cay, St Thomas or St Marteen that does not cost a lot! It says in the Carnival books that it will depend on the weather which private island we go to in the Bahamas, I can't remember the name of the other choice but one is Salt Cay. We have had a cruise where our tours cost almost the price of the trip (not kidding!) 7 ports and 7 tours! With the American $$ the way it is and us coming from canada we are going to try and curb our extra spending. We are going to take our own snorkle equipment but are not sure if there will be anywhere to use it without going on a trip. we have been in St Marteen and did the shopping thing but we would like to do something else on St Marteen and leave the shopping to St Thomas. Any ideas?? can we walk to a nice beach for snorkling or get a cab?? I'd love any info you have Thanks I wait patiently for all your wonderful suggestions=

Posts: 243 | From: London,Ontario,Canada | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

geno-r
First Class Passenger
Member # 931

posted 02-07-2002 12:04 PM

Hey hooked , haven't been to those ports, but when we went to Grand Cayman, cozumel and had all our kids and didn't want to spend a fortune we rented a car and did our own thing, it worked out very well.

Posts: 549 | From: Mt. Pocono,Pa. Usa | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

barr xx
First Class Passenger
Member # 2537

posted 02-07-2002 04:39 PM

Some of the best and cheapest tours I have done, are just hiring a cab and have the driver take you around the island. Most drivers are native to the island and know a great deal. Tell them what your interest are. Make sure you get the money thing done up front.

Steve

Posts: 17 | From: No. California | Registered: Oct 2001 | IP: Logged

Amerikanis
First Class Passenger
Member # 1835

posted 02-09-2002 03:45 PM

Fix the Price of the Tour with the Taxi Driver, before you start, discuss how many Hours are needed to do the trip.

Tell him, Ship will sail at 5 o'clock, when it really sails at 6. this is more safe...

...and pay, when you are back!!Never before you see your Boat again.

Posts: 1034 | From: Gutach, Black Forest, Germany | Registered: Mar 2001 | IP: Logged

Eric
First Class Passenger
Member # 2724

posted 02-10-2002 11:47 AM

In my honest opinion St Maarten is cheaper shopping than St Thomas. To snorkel at St Thomas take a taxi to coki beach, good but not great snorkelling there quite a lot of fish
Eric

Posts: 421 | From: UK | Registered: Jan 2002 | IP: Logged

Eric
First Class Passenger
Member # 2724

posted 02-10-2002 11:49 AM

In my honest opinion St Maarten is cheaper shopping than St Thomas. To snorkel at St Thomas take a taxi to coki beach, good but not great snorkelling there quite a lot of fish
Eric

Posts: 421 | From: UK | Registered: Jan 2002 | IP: Logged

trailhiker
First Class Passenger
Member # 1674

posted 02-10-2002 12:01 PM

We have had the nicest tours by local cab drivers and have paid about half what the ship tours are. After all these years I prefer to just get in a cab and head for a nice beach. They are the most beautiful places on the islands we have visited. You can find a driver (they are everywhere,) agree on a price and have him show you the sights of the island and drop you off at a nice beach. Agree on a time to be picked up allowing for extra time to get back to the ship in plenty of time. Pay after all this is done. We've never had a problem in 14 Caribbean cruises and never a complaint. The problem with the ship tours is that you seem to be always waiting in a line for someone who is lingering in a gift shop or has become lost. Also, you are paying probably 50% of the tour cost right to the ship. Why else do you think they push them so much.
In St Martin you can walk into Phillipsburg and shop or grab a cab at the terminal to Orient Beach. The more people in the cab the less you pay. If the toplessness bothers you ask for a cab to another beach. There is a beautiful new terminal right at the dock and they will help you.
In St. Thomas the cab ride to Magens isn't bad, but I think Sapphire Bay is the prettiest. Coki is also beautiful. You usually pay for the full cab, so the more the cheaper.

Posts: 46 | From: North Conway, NH 03860 USA | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 02-10-2002 03:28 PM

Hi...St.Thomas is probably cheaper for Americans because of the special duty free allowances they get there. For us Canadians, and others, we found St.Maarten to have better buys.
But then again the old story applies...know what you want and check the prices at home before you leave.
...peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

hooked on cruising
First Class Passenger
Member # 1221

posted 02-10-2002 04:02 PM

thanks for all the posts regarding what to do on St Thomas and St Marteen. What about the private island in the Bahamas, salt cay, any ideas??

Posts: 243 | From: London,Ontario,Canada | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

hhornblower
First Class Passenger
Member # 1047

posted 02-10-2002 05:47 PM

Hey "hooked", you don't sound cheap at all! Last year, I took two cruises and my on-board total came to $25 for the Voyager and $6 for the Destiny!!!! I took none of the shore excursions offered by the ship and had a great time! Did everything on my own and only spent about $100-150 total for shore excursion expenses per cruise.

Salt Cay, being a private island will probably be a beach day. You must be going on the Pride - I am booked for July when the ship will be going to Half Moon Cay. I wish they would tell us exactly where in the Bahamas each island is located. The Bahamas has some excellent snorkeling, but I don't know if there is any good snorkeling on Salt Cay.

For my trip in July, I plan to take only one excursion - the Captain Nautica excursion from St. Thomas to two private spots in St. John. It is $70 per person, but I am a snorkel fanatic and it will probably be the only good snorkel I get in. For Half Moon Cay - that will be a beach day and snorkel from the beach with my own equiptment. St. Martin - shop in the morning and share cab with as many people as possible and go to a beach to be lazy or snorkel from the beach. Have not decided which one yet.
Magens Bay is a beautiful beach and only $3 US per person when you share a cab. Nothing to see snorkeling wise. Coki Beach is your best bet for that.
If you really wanted to get some good snorkeling in, I would go to St. John for the day. Call the St. Thomas Tourist B. in the US or Canada and have them send you a copy of St. Thomas This Week. It has ferry schedules and prices. Taxis are very reasonable. Then I would shop most of the day in St. Martin.

Posts: 84 | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

hooked on cruising
First Class Passenger
Member # 1221

posted 02-12-2002 05:54 PM

thanks hhornblower! you have answered my questions completely!! I know what you mean about the island in the Bahamas. It says in the Carnival book that it will depend on the weather which island we go to. I think I will call and try and get some info on St Thomas St Marteen and the private islands. I have heard great reports from the Pride we are looking forward to it, but we will try and keep our costs down.

Posts: 243 | From: London,Ontario,Canada | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

Katie O'Girl
First Class Passenger
Member # 2704

posted 02-16-2002 11:11 AM

For some reason I forgot. WHEN is your cruise leaving? You were on the Pride, too?

Posts: 101 | From: Ireland | Registered: Jan 2002 | IP: Logged

hooked on cruising
First Class Passenger
Member # 1221

posted 02-16-2002 12:59 PM

Hi Katie we leave March 9 from Port canaveral

Posts: 243 | From: London,Ontario,Canada | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

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