Cruise Talk: Doing your own tours in port

Cruise Talk

Cruise News

Welcome to Cruise Talk the Internet's most popular discussion forum dedicated to cruising. Stop by Cruise Talk anytime to post a message or find out what your fellow passengers and industry insiders are saying about a particular ship, cruise line or destination.

>>> Reader Reviews
>>> CruisePage.com Photo Gallery
>>> Join Our Cruise Club.

Latest News...Princess Cruises' highly anticipated second Sphere-Class ship, the stunning Star Princess, which is currently being built by Fincantieri, has reached a major milestone with the successful completion of its sea trials. The ship is on track to welcome its first guests on October 4, 2025, sailing the scenic Mediterranean from Barcelona.During these final sea trials from August 9–12, Star Princess departed the Fincantieri Shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy,...

Latest News...Big fun will be available to more Carnival guests with a larger variety of options as Carnival Cruise Line adds short itineraries into the mix for its Excel-class ships in 2027/28. Mardi Gras will be the first Excel ship to offer shorter cruises for the first time. Carnival Celebration, homeporting year-round from Miami, will continue its popular seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean...

Latest News...Let the memory-making begin – the ultimate family vacation is finally here. Royal Caribbean’s highly anticipated Star of the Seas* arrived today in Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida, for the first time. With just one week to go before the first vacationers set sail on the vacation of a lifetime, more than 2,000 Royal Caribbean team members came together to welcome the newest Icon Class ship ...

More Cruise News...

my profile | register | search | faq | forum home

»	Cruise Talk » Ports of Call and Destinations » Doing your own tours in port - St. Thomas and San Juan

UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!

Author

Topic: Doing your own tours in port - St. Thomas and San Juan

Cruiser
First Class Passenger
Member # 841

posted 10-15-1999 07:28 PM

I have heard that booking the tours through the cruise line can be quite expensive. Has anyone found their own transportation on St. Thomas or San Juan? We are thinking of going to El Yunque in Puerto Rico and Magens Bay on St. Thomas.

Posts: 11 | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 10-15-1999 09:42 PM

The best reason for doing the tours with the ship is if the tour is late getting back to the ship, they will not sail without you, whereas if you are on your own and you are late, too bad - see you in the next port at your expense.
Don't know about El Yunque as last November we could not get into Puerto Rico because of therough seas and we had intended on taking the tour to El Yunque
Yes you can go to Megan's Bay on your own. Just make sure you get a taxi back. It is a beautiful beach and well worth spending a morning there.
Have fun.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Mercy
First Class Passenger
Member # 322

posted 10-15-1999 11:03 PM

Be careful renting Jeeps on St.Thomas. I have heard several stories of people breaking down in the Jeeps. Also a friend of mine got food poisoning on some pizza he ate from a vender at Megan's Bay. Go to the beach, but don't eat the pizza!

[This message has been edited by Mercy (edited 10-15-1999).]

Posts: 697 | From: Stanwood, Wa. USA | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

Swanny
First Class Passenger
Member # 830

posted 10-18-1999 02:16 AM

We did our own tour in San Juan and St. Thomas. We did not enjoy a taxi tour in the Bahamas and decided to do San Juan with another couple from the cruise and St.Thomas on our own. This was back in the 80's, so I cannot say if the safety factor would be any different now. But, as far as logistics, all went well. We were in our 20's, and able to do a lot of walking. We had a great time both days. We entered only shopping areas we were interested in, and could take things at our own pace. We did not venture out of the port towns. Returning to ship was not a concern. At one of the two ports (can't remember which) we walked back to the ship.
A plus: after all the exercise I felt no guilt about that night's dinner!

Posts: 25 | From: Mission Viejo, Ca USA | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 10-21-1999 07:59 PM

Spent 10 days in St. Thomas - would NOT suggest renting a car - everyone (except you) knows exactly where they are going. Heaven help the stranger! They give no quarter.
Try to get another couple or two interested in your idea and when on shore look for a mini-bus - check the rates.
Personally I'd take a tour! Sympatico's advice is sound.
See my other post re El Yunque

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

All times are ET (US)

Ultimate Bulletin Board^TM 6.1.0.3

VACATION & CRUISE SPECIALS

Check out these great deals from CruisePage.com

Royal Caribbean - Bahamas Getaway from $129 per person

Description: Experience the beautiful ports of Nassau and Royal Caribbean's private island - CocoCay on a 3-night Weekend Getaway to the Bahamas. Absorb everything island life has to offer as you snorkel with the stingrays, parasail above the serene blue waters and walk the endless white sand beaches. From Miami.

Carnival - 4-Day Bahamas from $229 per person

Description: Enjoy a wonderful 3 Day cruise to the fun-loving playground of Nassau, Bahamas. Discover Nassau, the capital city as well as the cultural, commercial and financial heart of the Bahamas. Meet the Atlantic Southern Stingrays, the guardians of Blackbeard's treasure.

NCL - Bermuda - 7 Day from $499 per person

Description: What a charming little chain of islands. Walk on pink sand beaches. Swim and snorkel in turquoise seas. Take in the historical sights. They're stoically British and very quaint. Or explore the coral reefs. You can get to them by boat or propelled by fins. You pick. Freestyle Cruising doesn't tell you where to go or what to do. Sure, you can plan ahead, or decide once onboard. After all, it's your vacation. There are no deadlines or must do's.

Holland America - Eastern Caribbean from From $599 per person

Description: White sand, black sand, talcum soft or shell strewn, the beaches of the Eastern Caribbean invite you to swim, snorkel or simply relax. For shoppers, there's duty-free St. Thomas, the Straw Market in Nassau, French perfume and Dutch chocolates on St. Maarten. For history buffs, the fascinating fusion of Caribbean, Latin and European cultures. For everyone, a day spent on HAL's award winning private island Half Moon Cay.

Celebrity - 7-Night Western Mediterranean from $549 per person

Description: For centuries people have traveled to Europe to see magnificent ruins, art treasures and natural wonders. And the best way to do so is by cruise ship. Think of it - you pack and unpack only once. No wasted time searching for hotels and negotiating train stations. Instead, you arrive at romantic ports of call relaxed, refreshed and ready to take on the world.

Holland America - Alaska from From $499 per person

Description: Sail between Vancouver and Seward, departing Sundays on the ms Statendam or ms Volendam and enjoy towering mountains, actively calving glaciers and pristine wildlife habitat. Glacier Bay and College Fjord offer two completely different glacier-viewing experiences.

More Vacation & Cruise Specials...