Best Buys on the Islands

[luvwdw18]

We are getting ready to leave on the 8/23 Eastern 7 Day.

What are the best buys on the islands? I want to know what to be on the look our for!

Also, what is your favoriate souvenier from the cruise.

Thanks

[AnnMorin]

and if you are going eastern or western. Eastern has great deals on jewelry (sapphires, diamonds, gold, tanzinite, watches) western excellent silver deals. Booze much cheaper on Eastern. Cigars good deals western as well as rum cakes..

[abitjaded]

Imported luxury good of all types are a bargain in St Maarten, cheaper than St Thomas. If you like silver jewelry, look for Larimar (pronounced lar-e-mar, long e). It is a lovely stone found in these islands, very like a pale blue turquoise, much less costly than all the semi-precious stones set in gold. Captain's Corner at Havensite in St T has some, but the other little shops had better deals. Booze, especially that made with a rum base from the islands is cheap and good, again cheaper in St M, but K-Mart on St T is supposed to be cheap, too. You can get nice color-changing t-shirts, my kids favorite. St Maarten has a wonderful Belgian chocolate shop, chocolates to die for, move over Russell Stover and See's. (Needless to say, buy these at the very last, they used to deliver to the Magic, but I don't think security allows that now, they are legal to take off the ship.) St Maarten is also a great place to buy pareos. The ship itself had the nicest selection of unset stones. I bought some of these for my kid's keepsake boxes. They can get them set for their sweethearts in the distant future. These stones are a bargain and there are companies on the net which sell the findings for rings and earrings, or get them set at home. I also got a great set of earrings on the ship, fish carved of tumbled beach glass. And don't forget a Captain signed Christmas ornament of the ship. And each port has nice ornaments made of local shells with the island name on them, we collect an ornament from every vacation and mark the date on the back, that is, if you celebrate Christmas!

Carla

[Favorite Auntie]

If you want liquor, buy it on St Martin. Keep in mind that the fruther down the main street that you go the cheaper the prices get! If you are buying jewelery I would stay with a shop recomended by DCL. Otherwise if there is a problem when you get home you are on your own!

I found the prices overall in St Martin much cheaper than St Thomas...

[andybear]

Last week w found the lowest liquor prices to be at Ray's Jewelry on front street in St. Maarten. Yes, a jewelry store! Jewelry deals are great, but do not forget to haggle a bit.....it is expected, and some merchants are offended if you don't.

Steve

[jan lyn]

Agree... We found the liquor prices as well as jewlery prices to be much more reasonable in St. Maarten. The $1 Ice Cold Heinekens in St. Maarten were quite refreshing.. and you could walk in the street with an open container.

[alexcturner]

I like the Wedgewood Plates that have the Magic and/or Wonder on them. We got two (one for each child) signed by the Captain.

[luvwdw18]

Thanks for all you info. Jewlery sounds nice as well as the ornaments and plates.

Will post when I get back and let you know what I found!

Thanks again!