Travel suggestions - Caribbean islands

[the_Journeyman]

So, my fiancée and I booked our honeymoon this weekend.  It's a 7 night Caribbean cruise leaving out of San Juan.  There's lots of shore excursions available, but I'm always looking for other things to do too.  I'll say I would enjoy visiting a rum distillary, as that's one of my favorite libations, and I know there are a few of those peppered about the Caribbean.

Anybody have any experience visiting these ports on a cruise ship or just visiting these cities in general?

Bridgetown, Barbados
Castries, St. Lucia
St. John's, Antigua
Philipsburg, St. Maartin
Frederiksted, St. Croix

Anything I absolutely shouldn't miss at any of these ports?  Anything that's not worth doing that is over-hyped by the tourism folk? 

Thanks!

JM

[Got Duc]

ST. MARTIN!
I just got back yesterday!

I am going to post pictures and the trip tonight.

[the_Journeyman]

I'll be looking for that 

Forgot to add this:

I'll be in each of the listed ports from about 8AM to 5PM

JM

[Popeye the Sailor]

So, my fiancée and I booked our honeymoon this weekend.  It's a 7 night Caribbean cruise leaving out of San Juan.  There's lots of shore excursions available, but I'm always looking for other things to do too.  I'll say I would enjoy visiting a rum distillary, as that's one of my favorite libations, and I know there are a few of those peppered about the Caribbean.

Anybody have any experience visiting these ports on a cruise ship or just visiting these cities in general?

Bridgetown, Barbados
Castries, St. Lucia
St. John's, Antigua
Philipsburg, St. Maartin
Frederiksted, St. Croix

1) There's free rum whenever you get off the ship. Don't have too much of it. The Bacardi distillery is in San Juan-it's the only place you can buy Bacardi 12. The tomb of Ponce De Leon is in San Juan, up by the fort, and worth a look. For the most part, IMO, San Juan is sort of a hole-stay in at night.

Sint Maartin. Somewhat busy-fairly touristy. Good place for a shore excursion or to rent a jet ski. The beer is cheaper than water, so drink that. The Jerk chicken is terrific.

St. Croix. Your license is good here. Skip the shore excursions-rent a scooter-go see the entire island while your cruisemates manage nothing more than seeing some fish. Find somewhere off the beaten path. Eat there. Leave any idea of rushing alone-the people there are laid back and friendly.


If you find a bottle of Mount Gay Rum (Tricentennial)-I'll give you $400 for it 

[the_Journeyman]

So far:

1)  Rent a scooter in St. Croix and find some Mount Gay Tricentennial.
2)  Bacardi 12, is that like 8, but aged 12 years instead?
3)  Find things to do inside after dark in San Juan...  shouldn't be a problem on a honeymoon
4)  Beer & jerk chicken in St. Maartin

Things are sounding good!

Keep it coming folks, I love to travel well informed ~

JM

[Le Pirate]

if you like snorkeling/diving....don't do the cruise ship excursions.


rent a car/take a cab....and do them yourself (you can call tour companies ahead that aren't cruise ship affilated).
this past winter I went on a 7 day cruise....we would rent a car (called ahead) or scooter (did it there), and go snorkeling/diving on our own, and then go eat somewhere and shop a little. We spent alot more time in the water than people who did the cruise excusions, and we spent less money. Plus, you get to explore the parts of the islands that the cruise ship people steer you away from (meaning less other people from the boat/ cheaper booze and foods).


Still...I think the downfall of the cruise ships is that you only get 7-8 hours at a certain port (cayman islands, we only had about 5 1/2 hours on shore...you can't do much in that time span).

[darylbowden]

I think I've been on this cruise, those ports all look familiar.

The best time I had on that whole trip was in barbados.  We got off the boat, took a cab to the other side of the island and rode the hell out of some jetskies in the ocean for about 4 hours.  Then we walked over to the grass hut bar (on the beach) and got hammered (this was back when I used to drink).  After a few hours of that, we headed back to the boat and passed out for the night.

From what I heard from other people, there was also some good snorkeling on the island as well.  Overall, it was definitely the best port that we visited the entire time.  Whatever you do, make sure you get out of the port towns cause all there is to do there is buy overpriced chotchkies.

[Popeye the Sailor]

Btw-cruise ship liquor ain't cheap, but they check to see if you bring your own.


Water bottles filled with clear liquor are your friend.

[the_Journeyman]

Yea, I've been on a few cruises, and the alcohol prices are not friendly.  I figured I would heavily sample the local brews while I was off the ship.

JM

[rgramjet]

St Martin in a heartbeat!  If not for anything else, they have an impromptu motorcycle race every Sunday morning where youll see bikes ranging from 12 o'clock wheelying scooters to stretched out Hayabusas.  There were a couple of drag cars that showed up that beat the Hayabusas!  All on an open public road with a ditch on each side.  Priceless.

[somegirl]

Water bottles filled with clear liquor are your friend.

Somehow I'm not surprised.

[Evil_Ductator]

Carib is my favorite beer down there

[the_Journeyman]

My fiancée has never been snorking.  I'm thinking that's the ticket in a couple places.  Anyone have any suggestions to which of the listed ports would have any better snorkling?  Or are they all about the same since they're in the same waters in close proximity?

I'm all for walking off the boat, taking a taxi or walking to where some local bars are and drinking myselft silly sampling the local brews and stumbling back to the ship 

Thanks for the input folks, do keep it coming ~

JM

[cyrus buelton]

remember on the French side of St Martin, you will get charged Euro's.


Go to the Orient Beach

[Evil_Ductator]

remember on the French side of St Martin, you will get charged Euro's.


Go to the Orient Beach

True, although most places will take both EUR and USD, and list their prices in both.  But the last time I was there was a good 5 yrs ago so that may have changed.  Dutch side took USD everywhere.

And + a billion on Orient beach.  That is, unless you have a problem with being surrounded by completely nude French models and actresses.  Of course, you gotta take the good with the bad, there's a lot of fat old dudes walking around with their wangs hanging loose.