Choosing NOT to do an excursion

anthonyshine

Earning My Ears
Joined
May 28, 2004
Messages
44
Question...
Are there things to do when you dock if you DON"T want to do an excursion?? Or do you have to pretty much need to know where you want to go when you get to an island?
This is an R and R trip for me and I just want to relax on the beach and not have to run around anywhere.
Is there a beach near where the boat rocks?
Thanks!
 
Your question would be much easier to answer if you would state your route or your ports of call :smooth:
 
Our kids were only 3 and 4, so not really old enough for any excursions. We were on the Eastern Magic. We spent St. Maarten day on Great Bay Beach and St. Thomas day on St. John. It is easy to plan things to do on your own.

Have a great time.

Denae
 
Sorry about that!!! Yes, I am going on the Eastern and leaving Jan 22nd!!! A little over 2 weeks!
 

There are beautiful beaches at every port of call-or you can stay onboard and have a lovely snooze on deck 4!
 
We could not do many of the Disney excursions either because of age restrictions. We just did things on our own using taxis & such.
 
We typically do things on our own, but we research ahead of time so that we have a plan.
 
If you check out copies of the Navigator for your specific trip...

www.dcltribute.com

...you will see the activities that are on board while the ship is in port.

We're not big fans of St. Maarten, so we'll be staying on the boat as well while in port (although I may sneak off to the casino when no one's looking).
 
The pools & tropical rainforest are nearly deserted on port days. I'd hate to miss the islands all together, but it is an option.
 
castawayclub(dot)com has new navigators that show every thing there is to do on board.

We are not getting off in Grand Cayman. I think we are doing things on our own at Key West and Cozumel. The disney excursions are not that great and they are so expensive. I just realized that I paid $180 for us to the beach break through DCL. That was just for 2 adult and 2 children. This trip we are going to take a $15 taxi ride to Paradise Beach.

I know I will enjoy staying on the ship relaxing in Grand Cayman. I didn't do any relaxing last time. My dh plans on taking advantage of the comfortable chairs on Deck 4!!

:flower1:
 
I see you are from Rhode Island--I'm originally from CT, and also a fan of doing nothing on vacation, and understand the need to go somewhere warm in winter from new England, so I think I have an idea of what you are looking for. I am a fan of Sint Maarten--there is a water taxi, something like $5 or $6 for the day unlimited back and forth, that takes you across Great Bay and docks you right by the beach. Some may not like this beach because it is not exotic, tropical, isolated...but it is convenient, the water is warm and mostly clear (sometimes gets stirred up by a wave runner nearby or something like that), the sand is not rocky, and for a few dollars you can get set up on a comfortable lounge and have drink service at one of many stops along the beach. Easy return access to the ship, which is always in sight.

St. Thomas does require you to at least hop a taxi to get to a beach, but there are several, they are much prettier, and it is EASY to find the cab (really an open air truck w/ a few rows of benches) right off the ship and from the major beaches there are plenty of return taxis, or tell your driver what time you want to return. We did Magen's Bay last time on the Eastern, there are no waves, crystal clear water smooth clean sand--you might yourself saying "Toto, we're not in Narragansett anymore". We stayed until 1 or 2. Bit of a lengthy ride, but scenic as it climbed over the highest hills of the island to get to the beach. Others will recommend other beaches.

Great recommendation above that the spas have lots of availability during port days. And the pools are open and not terribly crowded.

Castaway Cay is heaven. Though I am not a fan of their ribs, but I get spoiled living in the south now.
 

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