Cruise Talk: Snorkeling @ Labadee

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»	Cruise Talk » Ports of Call and Destinations » Snorkeling @ Labadee

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Topic: Snorkeling @ Labadee

cncservo
First Class Passenger
Member # 532

posted 01-23-2001 11:06 AM

We will be on the Explorer in Febuary and I would like to snorkel at one of the stops. Labadee, San Juan, St. Thomas and Nassau are the ports of call, My first choice is Labadee only because we are docked there the longest and it looks as though there is less sightseeing and other things to do there compared to the other stops. I have snorkeled at the Blue Lagoon and will not try that again. Any comments on Labadees snorkeling.

Posts: 170 | Registered: May 99 | IP: Logged

hhornblower
First Class Passenger
Member # 1047

posted 01-23-2001 01:17 PM

I was on the Voyager last summer and the Majesty several years ago when they docked at Labadee. I like Labadee and RCL has made a lot of improvements. But I think the snorkling has gone down because the area is fished by the Haitians. When I went on the Majesty, they had just opened Labadee and I went on the Amiga Island tour and it was great. I saw fish and lovely coral close to the beach. When my sister-n-law and I went on the Amiga island trip last summer, the visability was poor and I had to swim far out to see any fish - and I only saw a few and they were tiny. This is what happens when a reef area is not protected.
If you have never snorkled before, I would use the beach right off Labadee just to learn how to snorkle. The water off the main beach is usually clear and very calm, you just won't see any fish, just sand. But you can get your technique down. Since you are going to St. Thomas, you can either go to Coki Beach - I have been to St. Thomas many times, but have never gone there, but I have heard the snorkling is quite good. Or you can take an excursion to St. John. Trunk Bay is an beautiful beach but the snorkling is ok. The last time I was on St. John, I booked my own snorkle trip with a private company that was on St. John. They took us out on a small boat to a protected area that was fantastic! I did the snorkle trip in the morning, took the Red Hook ferry back to St. Thomas and still had plenty of time for lunch and shopping in the afternoon. Hope this helps!

Posts: 84 | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

Laura
First Class Passenger
Member # 924

posted 01-23-2001 08:34 PM

We were on the Voyager last year and did not snorkel in Labadee, but heard from everyone we talked to "not to bother." The water is too "churned" up and visibility is terrible. (Several of our tablemates did the Amiga Island tour and said it was not good.) And I've heard from many others that Labadee is not the place to snorkel.

St. Thomas, on the other hand, is GREAT for snorkeling!!! Some of the BEST! Since we'll be there in Feb., I've been reading a TON and it sounds like Coki Beach and Sapphire Beach are the two beaches on St. Thomas that have great snorkeling right off the beach, and St. John, of course, is great too.

You're better off doing it in St. Thomas (and maybe some in Nassau) but leave Labadee for relaxing on a hammock or floating on a mat in the ocean. Don't waste your money on a snorkeling trip.

Posts: 114 | From: Ohio | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

cobra
First Class Passenger
Member # 1605

posted 01-24-2001 07:46 PM

We agree, the snorkeling in Labadee was not good. No fish, murky water and a lot of trash. Do go to St. John's Island and snorkel there. The beach in Labadee was fine and the water was clear in shore.

Posts: 21 | From: north palm beach, fl. u.s | Registered: Sep 2000 | IP: Logged

Ascendancy
First Class Passenger
Member # 840

posted 02-01-2001 03:17 PM

Labadee is just a great day on the beach. One of the nicest beaches I've seen.
I love that place, no stinking life guards blowing there whistle every 5 minutes.

Posts: 354 | From: Aurora, CO | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

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