Question Re: dress and doing excursions on our own

[sandiedog]

I'm on the 4/13 7 day cruise and have a couple of quick questions -
1. Are there 2 formal nights and one Caribbean night only? Any other special dress required?
2. Can anyone recommend based on experience how to do our own excursions? I'm thinking on St. Martin, we'll want to go to a beach on the French side (not Orient Bay, possibly Terra Basse) and then we'll want to get over to St. John from St. Thomas. Is it best just to "hire" someone at the dock to take us these places or what?

 

[Señor Ferrari]

There are two formal nights, Sunday and Thursday (Thursday is termed "semi-formal"). Tropical night is Tuesday. Other than that the only other night I can think of which might require special dress is the 70's party on Thursday night, although you don't have to get decked out in 70's clothes to have a great time.

We always do our own excursions, I think its cheaper and it definitely gives you more flexibility. On St. Maarten, I like Dawn Beach, which is on the Dutch side, but you can grab a cab at the pier to anywhere on either side of the island. Most of the time, you can arrange a time with your driver to come and get you. If not, finding a cab is usually not a problem.

If you want to go to St. John, try to be one of the first people off the ship after it clears immigration. There will be a line of cabs on the pier. Ask for a ride to the Red Hook Ferry. Try to get there by 9:00am. You should be able to make it if you get off the ship when they first start letting people off. From Red Hook, take the ferry to St. John, and there are plenty of cabs there to take you to the beach. I like Cinnamon Bay the best. As I recall, the return trip ferries leave on the half-hour. I'd try, at latest, for the 2:30 return, which should get you back to the ship by 3:30. You don't want to cut it too close, because the ship WILL leave without you.

I'm sure others can give more specific info on St. John, I haven't made the journey there since fall of 2000.

 

[donald@home]

Senor Ferrari-

Why do you prefer Dawn Beach and Cinnamon Bay to other beaches? I am planning on doing the excursions on my own (and sandiedog, we will be on the same cruise so maybe we will be sharing a taxi somewhere) and was considering Orient Beach and Trunk Bay because I have heard such great things about them, but I would consider other beaches if people consider them to be nicer. Could you offer a little comparison?

 

[donald@home]

bump.

 

[Señor Ferrari]

Donald,

I like Dawn beach because it's not as crowded as Orient or Great Bay. Also, there's good snorkeling when the sea is calm, and some pretty fun surf when it's not. There's a little restaruant there, Mr. Busbee's, I think it's called, where you can grab lunch or a beer, and you can rent chairs, umbrellas, floats right there. Another good beach on St. Maarten is Little Bay, just west of Great Bay, where the ship docks. It all depends on what you want to do, really. If you're looking just to soak up some sun and take a dip in the ocean, Great Bay is a good choice. It's very convenient to the ship via the water taxi. The beach is huge, the water warm. It's just a bit cloudy for snorkeling, due to all the water traffic, and there's not much in the way of surf.

On St. John's Trunk Bay is great, I just think it's a bit crowded, especially when there are a lot of ships in port. The last time I was in St. Thomas, this past December, there were 5 ships in port. Cinnamon Bay is just less well-known, and therefore not quite as crowded. I don't think you can go wrong with either one.

 

[swede63]

Single dad with DS11 and his friend 13 looking to share cabs on St Martin, and Cabs and boat to St John's on the April 13th cruise. Went last year same week and took the ship excursions, found them to be overpriced and too short for the money. Went to Trunk Bay last year it was the hiighlight of the excursions, but way too short of a stay with the Ships excusion. If there is a less crowded beach with just as good snorkeling then that is fine with us. 9 days and counting!!