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»	Cruise Talk » Ports of Call and Destinations » Best & Worst Southern Caribbean

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Topic: Best & Worst Southern Caribbean

Commodore
First Class Passenger
Member # 1575

posted 04-23-2003 09:48 PM

Does anyone have a S. Caribbean destination(s) they like best and one they think is worst. I would say from where I've been so far the best would be Guadalope and the worst would without a shadow of a doubt Grenada.

Anyone else willing to share.

Posts: 1106 | From: New Jersey | Registered: Sep 2000 | IP: Logged

Grant
First Class Passenger
Member # 1000

posted 04-24-2003 12:13 AM

For me it is easy: The best stop is Aruba. The worst is Trinidad. I'm a beach lover who never shops, so there is a bias for sure!!

Posts: 834 | From: Victoria, BC, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

desirod7
First Class Passenger
Member # 1626

posted 04-24-2003 09:15 AM

I truly dislike St. Thomas. It is the Asbury Park/ Blackpool of the Carribean. What is not ritzy is a slum with nothing in between. When 5 cruiseships at once descend on the place it is more crowded than Kings Cross Station at rush hour.

Next cruisehip I am on if it stops there I will stay on board.

quote:
Originally posted by Grant:
For me it is easy: The best stop is Aruba. The worst is Trinidad. I'm a beach lover who never shops, so there is a bias for sure!!

Posts: 5727 | From: Philadelphia, Pa [home of the SS United States] | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

WhiteStar
First Class Passenger
Member # 2740

posted 04-24-2003 09:45 AM

Grenada is the ABSOLUTE worst! My favorite is Curacao followed by Aruba.

Posts: 668 | From: Minnesota | Registered: Jan 2002 | IP: Logged

Commodore
First Class Passenger
Member # 1575

posted 04-24-2003 09:45 AM

I personally can't stand St. Thomas, but have you seen Greneda, it's the biggest dive I've ever seen.

Dead fish all over,abandoned cars and trucks with trees growing out of them, and haggling everywhere. Awful. What do you think about Antigua, Dominica, and Martinique, I haven't been to any of them but the Jubilee and Carnival Destiny go there and it might be our last Carnival cruise in a while.

Posts: 1106 | From: New Jersey | Registered: Sep 2000 | IP: Logged

Commodore
First Class Passenger
Member # 1575

posted 04-24-2003 03:16 PM

Oh, I really would like to know about Antigua, Maritinique, Dominica,and St. Kitts(Which I heard is not so great) since 2 of you already said Aruba is good I don't have to ask.But Antigua especially.

Posts: 1106 | From: New Jersey | Registered: Sep 2000 | IP: Logged

CGT
First Class Passenger
Member # 3531

posted 04-24-2003 03:25 PM

What is so great about Aruba? I've never been there but I heard this island is really just a desert surrounded by the sea, not attractive sounding to me! I like lush tropical islands, and Aruba apparently isn't this?

CGT

Posts: 2760 | From: New York, New York, USA | Registered: Dec 2002 | IP: Logged

Commodore
First Class Passenger
Member # 1575

posted 04-24-2003 03:34 PM

Well you could be right but perhaps you ae wrong. I'll give you an example. We were going to go on a Southern Caribbean on the Fascination to St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Dominica, Martinique, and Barbados .Anyway a family friend said Grenada was the best and you could "smell the wonderful spices".So we booked the Inspiration.(The ship wasn't great looking either) When we arrived it was horrid looking and I could smell the fish. The most over rated port of call ever in my opinion.Now, we are considering going on a Southern Caribbean cruise in 2004, maybe Adventure or Mariner of the Seas.Don't know yet that's why I'm looking for opinions.

[ 04-24-2003: Message edited by: Commodore ]

Posts: 1106 | From: New Jersey | Registered: Sep 2000 | IP: Logged

Cookie
Just Boarded
Member # 3803

posted 04-26-2003 09:36 AM

My favorite port was St. Barts. Rent a mokie and just drive all over the little island from beach to beach. The scenery is breathtaking and the island is so small you can cover it in a few hours.
For shopping I enjoyed Barbados -

Posts: 4 | From: Pittsfield, MA | Registered: Apr 2003 | IP: Logged

annnthony
First Class Passenger
Member # 3733

posted 04-26-2003 05:30 PM

I,m no expert, but, St.Thomas, St. Barths, & Antigua are not So. Carib....they are Eastern Carib. Southern Carib. begins with Guadeloupe and south to include Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Martinique, Barbados, Trinidad, Tobago, and the ABC's....Aruba, Bonaire, & Curacao. Aruba is not good, it's not great,.....it's fabulous....temperatures rarely above 90 degrees, no humidity, little or no rain, and the wonderful trade-winds......and, great snorkeling, especially for novices, in less than 6 foot waters! Barbados, Guadeloupe, and Martinique are also very nice....Martinique not so great if on a cruise and you prefer the beaches.....you must ferry to the preferred beach areas, and the ferries run irregular schedules and are not realiabe. Grenada, Trinidad, and Tobago are not great stops! Lastly, if you're into diving, Bonaire is one of the best.

Posts: 315 | From: westwood,n.j.,USA | Registered: Mar 2003 | IP: Logged

Eric
First Class Passenger
Member # 2724

posted 05-03-2003 04:43 PM

I would agree with Annnthony's list as to what comprises the sthn carrib! Never been to Trinidad, but the rest-- Guadaloupe 2, Dominica 2, St Lucia 4, Martinique 4, Barbados 4,Grenada 2, Tobago 2, aruba 3, & curcoa, Bonaire, St vincent 1 each.
Now of that lot, the absolute "pits" as John McInroe would say is Martinique, never got off ship last time, never had a good experience there & another reason it is populated by the worst type of Frenchman you can imagine- if you only speak english forget it!!. A close second in our opinion is St Lucia, Taxis expensive & unreliable & a very dirty town.
Tobago, go to pigeon point beach VG, ABC Islands all good go back to all in a flash, St vincent delightfull & laid back superb scenary. Dominica superb rain forest. Guadeloupe yes its French but it does have something that Martinique does not & we did not dislike this one. Grenada very pretty harbour, water taxis to beaches quite cheap, Touts at dock are very persistant! So that leaves Barbados our favorite Island if only because 154 proof Mount Gay rum is around $11 per litre in DF mall, Hired a car twice at mall & easy to drive around north & east coasts are spectacular, snorkelling reasonable at Scarborough marine park
Eric

Posts: 421 | From: UK | Registered: Jan 2002 | IP: Logged

Commodore
First Class Passenger
Member # 1575

posted 05-03-2003 06:21 PM

I always did think Barbados was the best. That's why I was upset when our cruise on the Fascination was moved to the Inspirtation. Grenada does have a nice harbor, but once the tender docks, it's the pits, completely disgusting. However, I'm sorry to say I might not see them so soon as I'm anticipating a cruise on the first Project America ship, and the SSUS when she comes. Three cheers for NCL!

Posts: 1106 | From: New Jersey | Registered: Sep 2000 | IP: Logged

LP
Just Boarded
Member # 3705

posted 05-06-2003 12:17 PM

This is my first post; I normally just lurk. But, I must say that one of the most fascinating places I have cruised to in the Caribbean were the San Blas Islands. Technically part of Panama, even though they they are closer to Colombia.

Posts: 5 | From: Eagan, MN | Registered: Mar 2003 | IP: Logged

M.S.Grumple
First Class Passenger
Member # 1340

posted 05-06-2003 02:16 PM

quote:
Originally posted by LP:
This is my first post; I normally just lurk. But, I must say that one of the most fascinating places I have cruised to in the Caribbean were the San Blas Islands. Technically part of Panama, even though they they are closer to Colombia.

I agree - like being in another world!

Posts: 280 | From: Burlington, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jun 2000 | IP: Logged

Commodore
First Class Passenger
Member # 1575

posted 05-06-2003 06:48 PM

The San Blas Islands you say. Hmm...sounds nice.

I've been only 1 time to the S. Caribbean and we had an awful route. I've been to the E. Caribbean once as well(If you don't count 4-day Bahamas) but it was better, and the W. Caribbean 3 times. That is if I counted right.

Posts: 1106 | From: New Jersey | Registered: Sep 2000 | IP: Logged

loulou46
Just Boarded
Member # 3761

posted 05-24-2003 02:17 PM

I will try to atleast give my opinion on some of the
islands we have been to. We have been on 5 cruises, our 6th coming up this Jan. 2004 on Adv. of the Seas (royal caribbean). When ever we have been to Aruba everyone in our group just loved it. I really think that it is one of the few islands that you can leave the ship right there in port and you'll find it CLEAN and lots of shops and little bars etc. Most of the ports we have pulled into are nasty and you need to get away from the port to really see the island. I could agree and disagree with you all about the different islands, but I guess it depends on what your looking for. Beaches, shopping, tours,
etc. etc. Regardless what you want to do, please
remember to just get away from the port. The weather is got to be better where your going than
where your coming from. So just enjoy !!!!!

Posts: 2 | From: upstate new york | Registered: Mar 2003 | IP: Logged

oddessea
First Class Passenger
Member # 3883

posted 06-01-2003 03:07 AM

Aruba and barbados are the best for me, if your ever in barbados go to the boatyard and take a scuba tour- its fantastic.
the worst is guadlope it smells like pee. there were riots over a KFC union and there were shootings so we stopped going there for a couple of weeks.and martique smells like burning tires, and I found the pepole there are very rude, they seem to dis like tourists. and they try to screw you on the exchange rate(when i was there it was about 85 cents(euro) to the u.s. dollar and they tried telling us that its 1:1 becuase the banks charge them extra to exchange money. it was 6 us dollars for a coffee with milk and pepsi.
Curocao and St lucia are nice, st thomas was alright but its best to take an excusion to another island like st john.

Posts: 15 | From: canada | Registered: May 2003 | IP: Logged

beccy
First Class Passenger
Member # 3930

posted 06-18-2003 10:48 AM

After reading all these posts it sounds like it would be better to either go Eastern or Western Carr. not Southern. Do all the islands start to look alike? Is middle Sept. a bad time to go there? How about Alaska? Too cold in Sept?? I like sun and beaches so Alaska may not be the way to go but my hubby would love to see it only if it is not real cold. I really need some help - Thanks!

Posts: 19 | From: Phoenix | Registered: Jun 2003 | IP: Logged

oddessea
First Class Passenger
Member # 3883

posted 06-18-2003 01:43 PM

quote:
Originally posted by beccy:
Is middle Sept. a bad time to go there? How about Alaska? Too cold in Sept?? I like sun and beaches so Alaska may not be the way to go but my hubby would love to see it only if it is not real cold. I really need some help - Thanks!

I lived in the Yukon for 20 and sept isnt that bad, but the best is june21-end of july 24 hrs of sunlight a day, you cant beat it. its beauitfuls. It doesnt have much in the way of beaches but if your more of an outdoorsy person its great, hiking, glacier walks kayaking. you can even still take dog sled rides in july( there no snow at the lower elevations) but you can take a helicopter ride up to one. I f you go may I suggest the icecream parlor in skayway its about 5 blocks down the main street and it has a big icreamcone on the side of the building, its awsome.

Posts: 15 | From: canada | Registered: May 2003 | IP: Logged

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