San Juan and St. Thomas

[gottaluvpooh]

Just found out that in Sept of 2004 they will be going to these ports.
Can anyone give me information on either of these.
Cleanliness - shopping - what to do there and of course the famous question on "conservative beaches".
Thank you

 

[RellingTwin]

We went to both last year when our cruise was diverted by a storm. My sister and her family did a snorkel tour (via DCL) and enjoyed it. My family and I did a bus your (on our own). The buses were lined up on the road side as you exit the ship. The further down you walk the cheaper the tour. We had a nice tour (about 1 hour) including one of the historic forts. The bus dropped me off in the shopping area (family cont. on to the ship). The shopping area was nice, lots of small shops. People were very friendly. My big disapointment was that we did not know we were going there until the day before (for obvious reasons ) so I did not do my usual "research". I had to "wing it" (good life lesson for me!!!)
In St Thomas we went to Trunk Bay (on our own). Fantastic day! Beautiful beach, would go again in a second!

 

[gometros]

The first sailing to San Juan will be our cruise on August 7, 2004. I spoke to Disney and they haven't planned the excursions yet, so any research we do will have to be as pioneers. Of course, the Magic has been sailing to St. Thomas since the 7-day started, so you'll be able to get a lot of opinions on that island.

For my money, grab the ferry over to St. Johns and visit Trunk Bay (which is on St. John, not St. Thomas. Megan's Bay is on St. Thomas).

 

[wendym]

We are going to St John and Trunk Bay for sure when docked in St Thomas. As for San Juan, well I didn't even know where it was! Now I do and you may find these sites helpful - the first 1 is from the cruise critic site

http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?q=Y&a=frm&s=927093444&f=619097554&p=1

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/puertorico/0094020110.html

I fancy the rainforest trip but don't know what my mum will think of that.
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/puertorico/0094020137.html
http://www.iit.edu/~PR/elyunque.html


Wendy

 

[Wonderwoman1982]

Our DCL cruise WAY back in 2001 went to San Juan also... It was last minute, so no planning ahead of time. I WAS glad to have missed St. Maarten though. They had excursions ready for people to chose form last minute. Amazing. We winged it on our own, since we're adventurous folks! We all got off the ship, and I used my cell phone to call Avis and found a location close in town and I called them and they came and picked us up. We got a local map and ventured out. We drove up into the rain forest, Went to some historic tower/fort in the rainforest up in the mountains. We also went to Old San Juan and went to all the historical forts there. THAT was pretty neat. I had alot of fun there, it was nice. It helped that my husband speaks spanish.... If I had known better BEFORE and had planning time, we'd have visited that giant satellite dish thingy. I can't think of the name of it, but it's been in alot of movies. It was in one of the Bond 007 films in the last few years. It is IN San Juan, or close to it, up in the mountains. We learned that on a show on the Discovery channel. If we ever go back, we'll go there. It was an enjoyable place to see. Old, but not junky. Different from the states, but everywhere outside of the states IS different.

 

[gometros]

Wendy - I can't believe you started researching it already! I just can't think that far ahead.

I've already bookmarked the websites. Thanks.

 

[wendym]

Sandy
You should know what I am like! Plus anything to put off doing schoolwork - and the pupils think they have it bad!
Think I have convinced Mum into doing the rainforest trip so that is a good start.
Wendy

 

[Moosysmom]

In SanJuan you can always tour the Bacardi Rum factory, I don't drink but it was an interesting tour. I also enjoyed El Morro (an old fort). I was in San Juan in 93 or 94 but I enjoyed it.