Easy DIY
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Topic author - Cadet
- Posts: 63
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Somerset
Easy DIY
Hi again
Off on azura to Caribbean soon - only 94 sleeps to go so getting ready!
I'm really undecided about which ports to do a P&O trip and which to DIY. We do like the ports that have interesting places to walk to, even if it's a bit of a hike. What are your recommendations for these ports?
Tortola
Antigua
St kitts
Dominica
Grenada
Curaçao
Thanks
Ess x
Off on azura to Caribbean soon - only 94 sleeps to go so getting ready!
I'm really undecided about which ports to do a P&O trip and which to DIY. We do like the ports that have interesting places to walk to, even if it's a bit of a hike. What are your recommendations for these ports?
Tortola
Antigua
St kitts
Dominica
Grenada
Curaçao
Thanks
Ess x
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- Senior Second Officer
- Posts: 815
- Joined: September 2014
Re: Easy DIY
Greetings,
We did a Caribbean cruise last March on Orian that visited some of your ports. We had a great time so although some of my comments may seem negative, we really enjoyed all ports only some more than others.
Domenica; this was a real favourite. We arrived on a Sunday and disembarked quite quickly. On an urge we wandered in to a local church...what an event. Loads of colour and singing. Really hot inside but the shutters were open ( only the window behind the alter was glazed) and palm trees could be seen wafting in the breeze. At one point near the end of the service it was announced that there was a cake stall where purchases could be made in aid of the church funds ( nothing new there...) but because the congregation had not been pre warned of the sale, credit would be offered! After church we wandered further in land ( about 500m past the cricket ground and into a lovely park with baobab & banyan trees & loads of exotic plants. There was a local cricket game going on also. Within the grounds of the park is the crused remains of a school bus, a reminder of a terrible hurricane. Back to the ship for lunch & then we went snorkelling at champagne reef ( very good & worth the money)
St Kitts was a bit like Gibraltar on a wet November morning. Loads of souvenir stalls & watch stalls ( shops) but little to write home about. We wandered out into the town but it was pretty run down (& a bit spooky!) Would look at a tour if we went there again.
Grenada; Bustling town but was disappointed that only nutmeg was on sale in the spice stalls. Quite good walks up the hills past the ruined church ( another hurricane victim) Did the Rhum Runner in the afternoon- don't ask! The beach we landed at was beautiful. Would probably do this again.
Hope this helps.
Steve
We did a Caribbean cruise last March on Orian that visited some of your ports. We had a great time so although some of my comments may seem negative, we really enjoyed all ports only some more than others.
Domenica; this was a real favourite. We arrived on a Sunday and disembarked quite quickly. On an urge we wandered in to a local church...what an event. Loads of colour and singing. Really hot inside but the shutters were open ( only the window behind the alter was glazed) and palm trees could be seen wafting in the breeze. At one point near the end of the service it was announced that there was a cake stall where purchases could be made in aid of the church funds ( nothing new there...) but because the congregation had not been pre warned of the sale, credit would be offered! After church we wandered further in land ( about 500m past the cricket ground and into a lovely park with baobab & banyan trees & loads of exotic plants. There was a local cricket game going on also. Within the grounds of the park is the crused remains of a school bus, a reminder of a terrible hurricane. Back to the ship for lunch & then we went snorkelling at champagne reef ( very good & worth the money)
St Kitts was a bit like Gibraltar on a wet November morning. Loads of souvenir stalls & watch stalls ( shops) but little to write home about. We wandered out into the town but it was pretty run down (& a bit spooky!) Would look at a tour if we went there again.
Grenada; Bustling town but was disappointed that only nutmeg was on sale in the spice stalls. Quite good walks up the hills past the ruined church ( another hurricane victim) Did the Rhum Runner in the afternoon- don't ask! The beach we landed at was beautiful. Would probably do this again.
Hope this helps.
Steve
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- Senior Second Officer
- Posts: 815
- Joined: September 2014
Re: Easy DIY
Antigua was great also. Went to the beach Dickenson bay or there is coconut grove( but that sold out quickly both very good.
Steve
Steve
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- Senior First Officer
- Posts: 3819
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Derbyshire
Re: Easy DIY
Hi Ess it is really easy to DIY in the Caribbean, take a look at this lots of ideas and will probably cover the majority of islands you will be visiting.
http://www.cruise-community.me.uk/viewforum.php?f=55
http://www.cruise-community.me.uk/viewforum.php?f=55
Jo
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- Senior First Officer
- Posts: 3951
- Joined: January 2013
Re: Easy DIY
We can recommend the Rex resorts Halcyon Cove on Dickenson Beach. They do a day pass for abot $60 US pp which covers all meals and drinks and they have the best beach seats with covers.Ranchi wrote:Antigua was great also. Went to the beach Dickenson bay or there is coconut grove( but that sold out quickly both very good.
Steve
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- Ex Team Member
- Posts: 968
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Surrey
Re: Easy DIY
I can vouch for champagne reef snorkel in Dominica. Brilliant but quite a lot of swimming.
In St.Kitts we go to Carambola Beach Club at South Friars Bay. Lovely boardwalk, good food and a lagoon with lots of brown pelicans. Nice sun beds with comfy cushions and umbrellas for $20 each .. Showers and toilets as well and very clean.
We always walk from there to the Shipwreck bar for a beer and to see the monkeys that come down out of the hills. About 10-15 mins walk along the beach.
Some reasonable snorkelling just a little way off the beach on a shallow reef..
Grenada, it is Grand Anse beach for us, via the water taxi, picked up just near the ship.
Tortola, we have done Cane Garden Bay, by the buses outside, very colourful, but quite a hairy journey. We have also been to Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke, both of which we loved.
Antigua.. Swam with stingrays, did a tour and also agree Dickenson Bay is lovely, but then with 365 beaches you can't go wrong
Curaçao. We did Mambo beach and an Island tour
As you can guess we are beach and sea lovers....
Hope this helps . When are you going?
In St.Kitts we go to Carambola Beach Club at South Friars Bay. Lovely boardwalk, good food and a lagoon with lots of brown pelicans. Nice sun beds with comfy cushions and umbrellas for $20 each .. Showers and toilets as well and very clean.
We always walk from there to the Shipwreck bar for a beer and to see the monkeys that come down out of the hills. About 10-15 mins walk along the beach.
Some reasonable snorkelling just a little way off the beach on a shallow reef..
Grenada, it is Grand Anse beach for us, via the water taxi, picked up just near the ship.
Tortola, we have done Cane Garden Bay, by the buses outside, very colourful, but quite a hairy journey. We have also been to Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke, both of which we loved.
Antigua.. Swam with stingrays, did a tour and also agree Dickenson Bay is lovely, but then with 365 beaches you can't go wrong
Curaçao. We did Mambo beach and an Island tour
As you can guess we are beach and sea lovers....
Hope this helps . When are you going?
Jenni