Post your Eastern Caribbean Excursions here!!!

[JennandJaryd]

Anyone done the see and sea tourin st marten? I will have a toddler with me who loves water and fishes so I hope to go on the boat with glass viewing at bottom. I think its like half submersed?

 

[NoSoup4U]

We just got off the Fantasy Western and our Costa Maya day was very rainy. We had the ruins tour booked and we got a text message on our Wave phone from the Port Adventure team the night before. They gave us the option to cancel and have our money refunded because of the weather and all the mud. I don't think the beach excursions got the option to cancel since they were getting wet anyway.

So it all depends on the excursion then. if we book a beach excursion or snorkelling for example, we're SOL. Lol. I wonder, do they allow you to change excursions at the last minute if weather is bad?

 

[s3rndpt]

Anyone done the see and sea tourin st marten? I will have a toddler with me who loves water and fishes so I hope to go on the boat with glass viewing at bottom. I think its like half submersed?

I have this booked as well. I have a very timid almost 8 yr old, and a very outgoing and nature-loving almost 4. Hoping this will work well for both of them.

 

[alagille]

I was reading about the Randomwinds sailing and snorkeling trips in the first few pages of this thread. Goes out of St. Maarten. I don't know where the cruise ship docks on the island- is it nearby Simpson Bay? Does it take long to get there once off the boat? Has anyone done this with a ds7 and ds4.5? I can't book the traditional excursions for sailing and snorkeling b/c ds4 isn't yet 5. He loves the water and i'm sure he would enjoy. Are there other kids on the 20 person sailboat?

 

[DVCisME]

Just off the Fantasy. I would not recommend the Golden Eagle Catamaran as the only fish we saw were one type right by the boat.
We did do the St. John Champagne one and were able to see multiple fish, a stingray, and a turtle. I would suggest that even if you don't feel seasick on the boat to carry some medication on the excursion since it tends to be rougher. There were a lot of sick people on the first excursion and one or two on the other.

 

[MDennis28]

Great comparison of the two. Thank you!

 

[MDennis28]

Imput needed. Looking for an easy excursion for St. Maarten on Sept 24th. Due to neck and back injuries the kayak and rough boat stuff is out. Has anyone done the Island Drive and Explorer Cruise?

 

[sandyc1126]

We are going on our first cruise with two children ages 7 and 4. Is it safe to assume the age restrictions of 5 and higher are enforced? So many excursions are 5 and older which really limits the options. My 4 year old is more adventurous than the 7 year old.
Also, which excursions are best for families with kids this age? Our cruise is hitting St. Maartin, St. Thomas and Castaway Cay.

 

[alagille]

Sandy, I have the same problem. You can't book them on the Disney website as port adventures because disney has their ages and their name is not eligible to book the excursion for. I am looking into the randomwinds one for st. maarten mentioned in a previous thread for a sail/snorkel trip. If you want to do something and yours is too small, I think the only option is a non-disney privately booked excursion.

 

[2crazegoofies]

Has anyone done the butterfly farms on St. Maarten or St. Thomas/St. John? Please provide any feedback. Thanks!

 

[Prose]

For some reason I am having the hardest time deciding on excursions! If DD had her way, it would be beach, beach, beach, but DH and I would like to experience a little of the islands as well. Here is what we would like to do - do any of the available excursions match up?

St Thomas/St. John -spend as much time as possible on the beach at St. John, maybe Trunk Bay. Possibly snorkle. Would like a beach with chairs, food, restrooms. We are worried about reports that the trip there and back eats up your day, but friends have raved about the beach.

St. Maarten - see the island, maybe go over to the French side and shop/eat. Not to big on super-historic tours, but would like to get a feel for the island and its people, maybe eat a good local seafood lunch.

Of course, Castaway Cay will be a beach and activity day - DD and DH will probably parasail and we might bike a bit.

Any suggestions welcome, Thanks!

 

[kel4876]

Anyone done the see and sea tourin st marten? I will have a toddler with me who loves water and fishes so I hope to go on the boat with glass viewing at bottom. I think its like half submersed?

We just went on this excursion last week. The glass bottom boat is partly submersed. You take a air conditioned bus out of the port to the boat location. There is a short ride on the top part of the boat but it is partly covered. Once you get to the reef location, you are able to go down to the glass bottom viewing area. It is a little cramped and warm in that part, but you do see a lot of fish. A diver also comes down to feed the fish by the windows. That part of the trip is fun.

After the boat, you re-board the bus to go to Marigot, where you make one stop at a shopping location. I think we got about an hour to shop. It was kind of touristy and not so interesting, imho.

All in all, I think it was a good excursion for the price and the boat part is fun .

 

[StephC1217]

For some reason I am having the hardest time deciding on excursions! If DD had her way, it would be beach, beach, beach, but DH and I would like to experience a little of the islands as well. Here is what we would like to do - do any of the available excursions match up?

St Thomas/St. John -spend as much time as possible on the beach at St. John, maybe Trunk Bay. Possibly snorkle. Would like a beach with chairs, food, restrooms. We are worried about reports that the trip there and back eats up your day, but friends have raved about the beach.

St. Maarten - see the island, maybe go over to the French side and shop/eat. Not to big on super-historic tours, but would like to get a feel for the island and its people, maybe eat a good local seafood lunch.

Of course, Castaway Cay will be a beach and activity day - DD and DH will probably parasail and we might bike a bit.

Any suggestions welcome, Thanks!

We are looking for the same types of activities on St Marten and St John....would love suggestions too!

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Firstly, thanks to everyone who has offered advice to this thread. It's been really helpful.

I have a Bernards Tour booked for St Martin and I now just have to decide on St Thomas/St John.

I have pretty much decided on a St John Tour, but I can't decide which one. I am torn between great photography opportunities and getting to swim in a beautiful beach.

I'd love to know the answer to the following 2 questions as it will help me decide.

1. With the Trunk Bay tour, are there any opportunities on the way to the Bay to stop and get some stunning vista shots? I'd love to take one of those St John beach photos you see on all the websites that have been taken from up in the hills.

2. For the St John Island Tour, are there any opportunities to walk on a beach? I love the look of this tour, but it seems almost sacrilege to visit such a beautiful island and not at least once feel the sand between my toes and get to kick my feet in the crystal clear water.

Thanks in advance.

 

[twentytoez]

We are near our deadline to book excursions & so undecided...need your advice please!

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I understand wanting to have your plans but I don't think you really have a deadline for excursions. We booked our animal encounter two weeks prior to sailing and our parents bought the Blue Lagoon the night before Blue Lagoon on board. Some sell out but there is always something great to do.

No need to panic.

 

[Mahusky]

Great thread..... Ill keep reading Im year away from the Fantasy.

 

[Jenna45]

I was really looking forward to booking the full day snorkel/beach on St. John after reading everyone's reviews, however I booked my cruise last week and it leaves in 3 weeks so it was sold out... For those of you who have done it, or similar things , is there anything close that we may enjoy as much... The only other option I am seeing is the afternoon beach bash tour...


Thinking of booking Bernards for ST Marten after all the positives here.

 

[alagille]

I was really looking forward to booking the full day snorkel/beach on St. John after reading everyone's reviews, however I booked my cruise last week and it leaves in 3 weeks so it was sold out... For those of you who have done it, or similar things , is there anything close that we may enjoy as much... The only other option I am seeing is the afternoon beach bash tour...

Thinking of booking Bernards for ST Marten after all the positives here.

We are doing the private randomwind.com st Maarten sailing, snorkeling trip. It also has some good reviews.

 

[ej119]

Just discovered this thread and I love it! My Eastern Caribbean Fantasy cruise is still a million years away, but this is making me really excited.

I saw one post mentioning San Juan port adventures and interested to hear more -- but is San Juan more of a 2014 destination?

Also, any recommendations of particularly good port adventures for two adults without kids? I've been to Castaway Cay so I'm familiar with what's there, but I'm particularly interested in knowing more about the St. Maarten (and San Juan) area.