Cruise Talk: Barbados & Martinique

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»	Cruise Talk » Ports of Call and Destinations » Barbados & Martinique

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Topic: Barbados & Martinique

fondaenergy
First Class Passenger
Member # 1641

posted 10-17-2001 12:17 PM

This is an easy question. Do ships tender at Barbados & Martinique? We were there 15 years ago, and I can't remember.

Also, is St. Martin still a tender stop?

Posts: 177 | From: Jacksonville, FL | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 10-17-2001 02:12 PM

First time we were in Martinique, which was in '92, we tendered but when we were there 2 years ago, we docked. Looked like a new dock.
Barbados has a very large dock - no tendering.

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

Marbella
First Class Passenger
Member # 1863

posted 10-17-2001 07:43 PM

We were in Barbados in Jan '99. There is a small but very nice cruise terminal with some interesting shops and a great liquor store! The one sales rep was from Toronto and was happy to speak to fellow "Torontonions". We hired a cab with a wonderful driver who also had ties to the Toronto area. He charged us for an hour tour and ended up taking us about "his beautiful island" for over 2 1/2 hours. He left us downtown as we asked and we had a lovely lunch on the upstairs "porch" of the restaurant in the major department store.(the store was actually fairly small and lovely) We then took our time walking about Bridgetown and walked back to the ship, stopping along the way at a roadside type of bar, we being the only tourists there. Ice cold beer and lovely people!
It is a lovely country. Enjoy!

Posts: 30 | From: Burlington Ont | Registered: Mar 2001 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 10-17-2001 09:32 PM

Marbella - was the dept. store Cave Shepherd? Reminded me of an old Eaton's store. It's been in Barbados for years. Lots of ties between Torontonians and Barbardians down there. They are great people. We spent 2 weeks at a hotel in '90 and had a wonderful time.
I just read somewhere where they are expanding the duty free stores at the dock.

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

Italian Cruiser
First Class Passenger
Member # 1684

posted 10-18-2001 04:51 PM

Hallo Fondaenergy !
I have visited Martinique and Barbados last year during a cruise on the Costa Classica.
Fort de France has a very small port with a limited space for docking so there is an high probability that your ship will stop at anchor.In the area there are many typical and coloured shops.
Instead Bridgetown has a large and fully equipped port.In the area there is a good shopping center with many jewelleries, but the prices are a bit high.So I suggest you to go to the center of the city. You can reach it walking from the port in about fifteen minutes or taking a taxi ( they have very affordable prices ).
Have an excellent cruise.

Posts: 887 | From: Orvieto (Italy) | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

Marbella
First Class Passenger
Member # 1863

posted 10-19-2001 09:46 AM

Hi Sympatico

I'm afraid I can't recall the name of the store but it did remind me of an older Eatons store. The restaurant was on the second floor and looked as if it had once been a balcony. It was lovely having lunch while enjoying a great view of the main street. Had the best fresh crab salad sandwich! I often find that these stores are the best to buy any souvenirs. That said, the more we travel, the less we buy.

Posts: 30 | From: Burlington Ont | Registered: Mar 2001 | IP: Logged

fondaenergy
First Class Passenger
Member # 1641

posted 10-20-2001 11:11 AM

Things were different when we visited these places in 1985.

On Martinique, there were no truly organized tours. We had a crazy taxicab driver, who spoke only French. There was another couple in the car who spoke only English and German. My high-school French was good enough to be a translator. We thought we weren't going to make it back to the ship (Sun Viking). I also remember their museum. Very sad place.

I remember shopping (actually looking) downtown in Barbados. I came across a set of Dalton china that I loved. It was $400+. I didn't get it. We didn't have much money at the time, and I worried about how we would get it home to Connecticut.

We've never been back to either of these places are are eager to see how they have changed.

I'm looking forward to a fresh seafood sandwich. My husband had a fresh tuna sandwich in Aruba this May. It was outstanding!!

Posts: 177 | From: Jacksonville, FL | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

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