Cruise Talk: places to shop?

Cruise Talk

Cruise News

Welcome to Cruise Talk the Internet's most popular discussion forum dedicated to cruising. Stop by Cruise Talk anytime to post a message or find out what your fellow passengers and industry insiders are saying about a particular ship, cruise line or destination.

>>> Reader Reviews
>>> CruisePage.com Photo Gallery
>>> Join Our Cruise Club.

Latest News...Norwegian Cruise Line celebrated the official christening of the all-new Norwegian Aqua in Miami and unveiled its plans to reimagine Great Stirrup Cay, NCL's idyllic private island in the Bahamas, with new experiences debuting in the fourth quarter of 2025, including an expansive pool area with a dedicated bar and kids splash zone and so much MORE. With a history of delivering guests ...

Latest News...MSC Cruises officially named its highly-anticipated new flagship, MSC World America, in a dazzling ceremony on April 9 at the line's new state-of-the-art MSC Miami Cruise Terminal, the largest cruise terminal in the world. MSC World America's Godmother, Drew Barrymore officially named the ship at the glamorous event with the maritime tradition of cutting a ribbon and triggering the breaking of a champagne...

Latest News...Seabourn, the leader in ultra-luxury cruising and expedition travel, celebrated the maiden arrival of Seabourn Encore to the continental United States on April 9, 2025, marking a major milestone as the ship docked for the first time in Long Beach, Calif. The visit offers a rare opportunity for guests and local travel advisor partners to see the award-winning ship up close..

More Cruise News...

my profile | register | search | faq | forum home

»	Cruise Talk » Cruise Lines » places to shop?

UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!

Author

Topic: places to shop?

hooked on cruising
First Class Passenger
Member # 1221

posted 02-14-2001 08:18 PM

We are going to Cozumel, Grand Cayman and New Orleans. We are wondering about shopping in any of these ports. Our 16 year old daughter is coming with us and she is looking forward to doing some shopping. We went to St Martaan last year and she just loved all the stores. Is there anything like St Martaan at any of the ports I have mentioned?

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

hhornblower
First Class Passenger
Member # 1047

posted 02-14-2001 10:20 PM

Nothing is like St. Martin or St. Thomas for duty free cruise shopping. Don't expect that level with these ports. Your port lecturer on board will guide you but here is a brief synopsis:
1. Grand Caymen - nice stores, but high prices and sometimes snooty sales people. Best buys: Tortuga rum cake, original flavor, which I think is the best rum cake in the Caribbean. Also souven. from "Hell"

2. Cozumel: great for cheap ( and I do mean cheap) Mexican crafts. Be careful, shop around. Good buys - silver and if you like to bake, Mexican Vanilla, which is good. You can get a LARGE bottle for a couple of dollars. Nicest store: Los Cincos Soles.

3. New Orleans - close to my home - take advantage of the fantastic restaurants. Emeril Lagaste (Essence of Emeril - BAM!) has two in New Orleans. Buy pralines, hot sauce, Jazz and Mardi Gras stuff - If you sail before February 28th, you can buy a King Cake, which is great (only sold before Mardi Gras). Also check out New Orleans School of Cooking. Watch taking your 16 year old to Bourbon Street! She may see things more geared for adults! Lots of Antiques on Royal Street. See the city, go on St. Charles street car, see Ann Rice's house...so much to do in New Orleans!!

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

KansasK
First Class Passenger
Member # 1758

posted 02-15-2001 11:56 AM

I liked Grand Cayman and enjoyed shopping there, but it may be pricier than St. Thomas, depending where you shop. There also were no aggressive street vendors in Grand Cayman. Cozumel had great deals on silver jewelry, but pay attention to the ship's advice on who sells actual silver. HHornblower listed great places in New Orleans. Another is The Cafe Du Monde in the French Quarter, which offers wonderful beignets and coffee and is a New Orleans tradition. The River Walk is a shopping mall with a New Orleans flavor and is very near the French Quarter along the Mississippi. Have fun on your cruise!

Posts: 126 | From: Overland Park, Kansas USA | Registered: Jan 2001 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 02-15-2001 12:46 PM

Hooked on Cruising - just sent you a long e-mail and it was returned - it stated " ----- The following addresses had permanent fatal errors -----
<lindacarletonea@aol.com>

Have you changed your e-mail address?

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 02-15-2001 03:32 PM

quote:
Originally posted by sympatico:
Hooked on Cruising - just sent you a long e-mail and it was returned - it stated " ----- The following addresses had permanent fatal errors -----
<lindacarletonea@aol.com>
Have you changed your e-mail address?

I would take Traveller's cheques and try not to use my Visa. Got my bill the other day and was shocked at what it cost me converting from US to Cdn$'s. The only time I will use the Visa is after I pay down my bill on the day before disembarkation, anything after that will go on the Visa (which I gave them on boarding) and then I don't have to stand in line on the morning of disembarkation to pay the bill. It's bad enough having to line up for Immigration.
Diane

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Italian Cruiser
First Class Passenger
Member # 1684

posted 02-15-2001 04:53 PM

In Cozumel there are many interesting stores.There is a great choice of silver jewerly(your daughter will like it.In Italy modern and classic jewels are fashion trand).There is also a wonderful choice of traditional jewerly(best prices at Diamond International store).For less expansive buys there is a superb choce of nice T.shirts(4 for just 10 dollars).Another good souvenir are the spices,particularly pepper and paprika.Have a wonderful cruise !

Posts: 887 | From: Orvieto (Italy) | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

hooked on cruising
First Class Passenger
Member # 1221

posted 02-15-2001 04:58 PM

Hi Sympatico, yes I have changed my e-mail address My new one is lindacarletonea@hotmail.com
I tried e-mailing you my new address but didn't get a reply. I'd love to hear from you.
Joe how do I change my e-mail address in my profile information?
Thanks for the replies, they were great. 27 days to go

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

hooked on cruising
First Class Passenger
Member # 1221

posted 02-15-2001 05:09 PM

Hi Italian Cruiser. Are the prices good enough to buy a nice diamond? my hubby wants to replace my engagement ring which I lost at Christmas while shovelling snow! I am not sure if it is a good idea to buy an expensive piece. How do you know you are getting the best value? I have heard that some cruise lines guarantee the best price. If when you get home and get the piece valued and it is valued at less the cruise line will give the difference (or something along those lines) anyone heard of anything like this? Also what do you suggest the best way to pay for an expensive piece to be. I don't want to get a lot of travellers checks incase I don't use them, I was planning on using my visa but Sympatico made a good point about that. I'd love to hear your suggestions. Thanks. Linda

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

Italian Cruiser
First Class Passenger
Member # 1684

posted 02-16-2001 08:59 AM

Yes the prices are very good.Two years ago my mother has bought a diamond tennis bracelet for only $ 900(in Italy a jewellery to buy two diasmonds kt requirea at least $ 2000).About the rings the prices depart from $ 100(very commercial quality) to $ 500(very good ring with fine stones.).Take a look of the main jewelleries.Also Omni.Little Switzerland and Cardow have very good prices.Colombian Emeralds is a bit expansive but the quality is superb.In Cozumel is also avalaible the wonderful black coral(sorry in the European Union Countries the importation of this material is forbidden).Good shopping.

Posts: 887 | From: Orvieto (Italy) | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

lambcom
First Class Passenger
Member # 656

posted 02-16-2001 09:29 AM

Hooked on cruising: you probably already know this, but it bears repeating. Don't confine your shopping to stores recommended by a cruise director in his/her port talk. On many lines the CD receives kickbacks from the stores he plugs in his talk. While these stores may offer good prices, just remember they aren't the only show in town and a place that doesn't pay for advertising in the magazine in your cabin or kickbacks may be able to offer lower prices as a result!

Posts: 179 | From: Montreal, canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 02-16-2001 10:00 AM

Italian Cruiser - I wouldn't buy black coral in Cozumel. Had a friend who purchsed a piece there and when I was going back to Grand Cayman she asked me to take it to where I had bought mine - "Bernard Passman's Black Coral And" shop - to have it appraised and polished. I did this and it turned out t be a piece of junk. Passman's is the only store in Grand Cayman and St. Thomas where I will buy black coral. Their guarantee is 100% - this I know as twice I had to return a small turtle pendant because of a broken flipper or leg. The first time I took it back they replaced it with the same size pendant, but the second time, they replaced it with a larger piece and I have had no problems with it. Each time I am in St. Thomas I take the 2 pieces that I own in to the store and leave them for polishing - pick them up after I have done some shopping. Also, if you get tired of a piece of jewellery after a few years, you can turn it in and buy something else. They will credit you the current price of the returned piece against the price of the new piece. I have done this many times in fact in Dec. my daughter bought a ring and I gave her a piece of black coral that I no longer wore to use as a credit towards her ring. The sales people are excellent - just remember authentic black coral is very expensive.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

jmfleser
First Class Passenger
Member # 1141

posted 02-16-2001 11:38 AM

I agree, cruise sponsored stores are ceratinly not the only game in town but I think you have a little more leverage and protection if you go there.

A few years ago when we were in Alcapulco on a Princess cruise, we went to one of the jewlery stores plugged by the ship. I bought a saphire and opal ring. Before I left the store one of the sapphires had fallen out three times ( read into this, a lot of time was spent in this store waiting while this ring was being fixed twice). With the third time I told them I wanted to return the ring. All of a sudden all the English speaking sales clerks could only speak Spanish. I wan't making much progress with them until my mother in a very loud voice threatened to report them to Capt. Stubing of our ship.

To those of you not familiar with Capt. Stubing, years ago there was a TV show on in the US called Love Boat and of course it was the Princess Line and Capt Stubing was the captain of the ship in the show. A lot of people attribute the initial boom to cruising thanks to this show. Anyway, obviously Stubing was not the captain of our ship but the store manager didn't know that. All he knew was a cruise passenger from a ship that pushed his store was very unhappy. Suddenly he spoke english again and with that he brought out a tray of opal and sapphire rings. He picked out a much larger ring and gave that to me instead. He also gave us his limo to take us to the cliff divers as we were complaining that since we had spent so much time in this store we were gong to miss them. The limo also took us back to the ship.

I also had an experience in St.Thomas. We bought some liquor at a ship sponsored store. I put in my order, paid for it and they delivered to the ship. I never saw the box until we were leaving the ship. I didn't open it until we had gotten home and of course half the order was wrong. Even though what I have recieved was more expensive I would never drink that stuff in a million years. When you want coconut rum and get Black Velvet, it's just not the same. So I called the store and told the manager the problem. At first he offered to split the difference with me. It wasn't until we threatened to call the ship lines that he gave me a full refund. If this store hadn't been affiliated with the ship I don't think I would have gotten any satisfaction here either.

So good luck with your shopping and I hope everything goes well.

Joan

PS The Black Velvet is still unopened.

Posts: 183 | From: Esperance, NY USA | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

All times are ET (US)

Ultimate Bulletin Board^TM 6.1.0.3

VACATION & CRUISE SPECIALS

Check out these great deals from CruisePage.com

Royal Caribbean - Bahamas Getaway from $129 per person

Description: Experience the beautiful ports of Nassau and Royal Caribbean's private island - CocoCay on a 3-night Weekend Getaway to the Bahamas. Absorb everything island life has to offer as you snorkel with the stingrays, parasail above the serene blue waters and walk the endless white sand beaches. From Miami.

Carnival - 4-Day Bahamas from $229 per person

Description: Enjoy a wonderful 3 Day cruise to the fun-loving playground of Nassau, Bahamas. Discover Nassau, the capital city as well as the cultural, commercial and financial heart of the Bahamas. Meet the Atlantic Southern Stingrays, the guardians of Blackbeard's treasure.

NCL - Bermuda - 7 Day from $499 per person

Description: What a charming little chain of islands. Walk on pink sand beaches. Swim and snorkel in turquoise seas. Take in the historical sights. They're stoically British and very quaint. Or explore the coral reefs. You can get to them by boat or propelled by fins. You pick. Freestyle Cruising doesn't tell you where to go or what to do. Sure, you can plan ahead, or decide once onboard. After all, it's your vacation. There are no deadlines or must do's.

Holland America - Eastern Caribbean from From $599 per person

Description: White sand, black sand, talcum soft or shell strewn, the beaches of the Eastern Caribbean invite you to swim, snorkel or simply relax. For shoppers, there's duty-free St. Thomas, the Straw Market in Nassau, French perfume and Dutch chocolates on St. Maarten. For history buffs, the fascinating fusion of Caribbean, Latin and European cultures. For everyone, a day spent on HAL's award winning private island Half Moon Cay.

Celebrity - 7-Night Western Mediterranean from $549 per person

Description: For centuries people have traveled to Europe to see magnificent ruins, art treasures and natural wonders. And the best way to do so is by cruise ship. Think of it - you pack and unpack only once. No wasted time searching for hotels and negotiating train stations. Instead, you arrive at romantic ports of call relaxed, refreshed and ready to take on the world.

Holland America - Alaska from From $499 per person

Description: Sail between Vancouver and Seward, departing Sundays on the ms Statendam or ms Volendam and enjoy towering mountains, actively calving glaciers and pristine wildlife habitat. Glacier Bay and College Fjord offer two completely different glacier-viewing experiences.

More Vacation & Cruise Specials...