Anyone go to the shopping talk?

[Princess49]

We went, I knew it would be playing in our stateroom later but I wanted to see the theatre-- plus they used the term "free diamond bracelet"-- LOL- we thought the talk was informative- Sharon(I THINK that was her name) was so nice. She remembered my face from the crowd the next day in Nassau & asked us how we were, if we found what we were looking for! She made the shopping sound amazing & I know that's her job... & I loved the saying, "If you see it & you like it, buy it" becuase you cant go back! but I was unimpressed by the shopping!! I felt that prices were often not better than in the US & the shops were often dirty & salespeople pushy. The few shops that were really nice were really expensive. I felt that the jewelry situation was out of a Macys catalogue-- they say everything is 50% off, but they marked it up before hand so you're paying more!

Perfect example: I fell in LOVE with Carribean topaz. (the green & purple stone) I was in the tanzanite store & found a beautiful 6.6 carat emerald cut Carribean topaz necklace set in white gold. The asking price was $275 we got them down to $200 & we walked away to think about it. (we decided that since they negotiated down that much that we weren't sure about it) So we didn't buy it, despite the fact that we saw it & liked it Later that night we were on the ship & in the shops & we saw an emerald cut carribean topaz necklace... 9.4 carats for $200. Well I was GLAD that I didn't buy on the island!!

Just wondering if anyone else felt the same way? I did buy a watch for a great price but how many times in your life can you buy a watch? What kind of jewlery or good buys did anyone else find in Nassau? Thanks!!

 

[Scratch42]

found a great shop called "Coles of Nassau".

I had forgotten my good shoes and needed to buy a pair! Well they were selling their shoes for $20.00 a pair! It was hard to limit myself to one pair!

That was my best find!

Scratch

 

[BoardwalkBabe]

I went to the shopping talk on during our western caribbean cruise and Allan, the shopping guide, was just terrific! I found the talks to be useful and felt comfortable going into the recommended shops and making a purchase in each of the locations.

Now, I wasn't spending major bucks like some other folks were (the couple behind me filled me in on all their $x,xxx dollar diamond purchases), but it was nice to know I wasn't going to get ripped off when it came to the little things I did buy.

My only shopping regret? That I didn't splurge and buy the tanzanite earrings that I really liked (price was the same everywhere for that size), and then there was that beautiful pink sapphire ring in the gift shop on the ship.... oh well -- maybe next time!

 

[UMTerp]

I went to the shopping talk and won the DIAMOND TENNIS BRACELET! Nothing to write home about - can hardly see the diamonds (like the small chips they used to give out) and I'm not sure if it is real gold. It was free, what can I say?

Got a free baseball cap too!

I did run into a problem at Diamonds International in St. Thomas. I was looking for a specific diamond necklace that a few of the shops had. I got a quote with the diamond quality on a card from a few shops. I went back to buy at DI and after I had paid the woman added a lower grade on the certificate! I was really mad but got it anyway. Just wanted others to beware! Maybe get them to fill out the certificate first and hold onto it yourself while they complete the sale.

Enjoy!

UMTerp

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I cannot speak from my own purchases--
but way back when.....

We cruised to the Bahamas for the first time in like 1985 or '86...my mother bought a bunch of loose stones: emerald, ruby, topaz, the smokey colored topaz..and she says she got a great deal compared to in the US....and we went in '89 she didn't buy any (we spent all our cash on our broken down vehicle being towed into the port for debarkation ride)...later in 1994, we went again and the prices were not that much different than inthe US--basically, not a deal at all. So I think over time--the demand has caught up if not passed the supply--and the shops in port probably know that we "think" we are gettign a deal.

On our honeymoon cruise--are ship stopped in Cozumel--hubby was well versed in the cost of diamonds at that point (lucky me, eh?) But we did not buy anything--the prices didn't do anything for us as we had better quality, selection, and prices at home--however, being followed out of the store and being urged to come back in--I was almost afraid we would HAVE to buy something to get her to leave us alone. We got away credit cards and cash still in tact...got those free lovely "dia-melle" earrings--j.k. they were real--but if I were to try to wear them, I know my earlobe would have swallowed them that is how tiny they were.

Personally--I don't think the stones are all that great to buy in port--unless you do your research over the cost of diamonds and such before you leave on your cruise. NO SENSE in paying Tiffany prices for Wal-mart quality (no offense against wal-mart--they don't charge tiffany prices for good reason).