Eastern Excursions - Need Reviews So I can Choose!

[pamelap]

Please post here with recommended excursions for Eastern Caribbean for St. Maarten, St. Thomas, St. John and Castaway Cay. Please help ASAP!


Pam
(going on the cruise for my honeymoon)

 

[tvguy]

Strongly recommend the 12 Metre Regetta on St. Maarten. I was a little leery, but my wife and kids convinced me, and we had a blast.
You can be as active, or inactive as you want in running the boat.
My son and I were crankers, the hardest work, my wife was the captain, and my daughter was the timer.

 

[CM_Mom]

Pam, we went on the Butterfly and Island tour on St. Maarten but I don't think I would recommend it for honeymooners - nice but a little too staid. I don't have first hand experience but I've heard good things about the 12-metre Regatta on St. Maarten as a fun activity.

DD's been on the St. John Barefoot Catamaran Sail and Snorkel and had a blast. I've also heard good things about the Doubloon Sail and Snorkel and maybe for honeymooners the Champagne Catamaran Sail and Snorkel would be fun. Also if you're pretty active, the group from our cruise that went on the St. John Eco Hike really enjoyed it.

Whatever you do, GO TO ST. JOHN. It's one of the most beautiful spots on the Earth. The advantage of choosing a DCL excursion is that you're sure to get back to the ship by all aboard time at 4:30.

On Castaway you can go parasailing or on the kayak tour or just go to Serenity Bay and enjoy the beach. We just hung out at the beach so I can't comment on the excursions at CC.

Congratulations on your marriage. Have a MAGICal time on your honeymoon.

 

[castlegazer]

We did the St. John Eco Hike on our honeymoon - IT WAS AMAZING! I have been on numerous cruises since this time and we have longed every time to be able to get back and do this. We did the hike while on a Princess cruise - its offered through many of the cruise lines with the same guide who is a hoot.

You go to HONEYMOON BEACH!!!!! A very secluded and absolutely beautiful beach. Probably the most beautiful beach I have ever seen. Plus you get to experience how St. John is half tropical and half desert environment.

I was unable to go on our last cruise due to being pregnant - its a bit of a hike, about 90 minutes or so - and the time at the beach is a little limited, an hour or so.

But this is a must do for us. We are trying to figure out how to do it again on our next cruise where we will have two little ones with us.

We have also done a trip to Megan's Bay (I know I spelled thta wrong, but its too early to check it and I need coffee). We did this on oour own, hiring a cab to take us down there. I would recommend this, but it gets a little hairy so if you want assurances in your life, go on an excursion to it. I did not like this beach and was not impressed - after all it didn't hold a candle to St. John and the white sand beaches there.

 

[jrabbit]

On St. Maarten, there is the Golden Eagle cat sail, snorkel, beach party. Lots of people on the DIS have done this and really love it.

Another option if you feel secure in your marriage is to go to Orient Beach (clothing optional ) Actually it is a very beautiful beach (the beach, the water the sceanry were awesome!!). We went with a couple of other families and had several kids ages 8 to 15 and were not worried about the "exposure". The taxi driver dropped us off in a more "family friendly" section of the beach. There 95% of the people were "properly" attired, several women were topless and there were just a handful of folks totally neked Oh yea, Playboy is wasn't!! My understanding is that there are sections of the beach where there is more nudity and others where there is less. If you go, don't do the DCL excursion there because you can do it for 1/2 price (or less) on your own.

On St. Thomas we did the Barefoot Sail and Snorkel over to St. Johns. We stopped at Honeymoon bay (which in your case would be appropriate). The boat was beautiful, and the crew was awesome!! It's a smaller boat so you have fewer people. Regardless of what you do at St. Thomas, you must try to make it over to St. Johns - it is a slice of paradise!!

 

[pamelap]

Well we decided on our excursions:

We are going to do the Rhino rider on St. Maarten, the Mountain Bike excursion on St. Thomas, and the Glass Bottom Boat on Castaway Cay.

By the way, we are getting married at WDW on 12/5/04 prior to the cruise and we were SUPPOSED to get married originally at WDW on 09/05/04 but Hurricane Frances got in the way. Thanks for all of your help. I may try to get to St. John if we have time.