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7 day cruise from Rome. Should be fun!!

I mostly like to use public transport whenever possible.

Just returned yesterday from Punta Cana. We were at an adult only all inclusive. ( Royalton Chic Punta Cana) You can’t beat the price? We travel the Caribbean often. The DR is booming. We paid nearly 1/2 of what we spent in Cancun last year. People are friendly and they love the tourism boom. Go save your $$

Lovely report Eva. Thanks for posting. Never got to the Bahamas during my time in the Caribbean. Always intended to go but just never happened.

Back from Cat Island, Bahamas, having stayed at Fernandez Bay Village. Here is my trip report: Cat Island 2026

Rosemary--thanks, although it was so long ago, I don't remember it! LOL! It comes with getting old!!

Sorry I missed it. Happy Birthday to you both.

So far I still think the fries at O'Plongier in Marigot are the best I've had on SXM

oh no. we swim back and forth to red hook.
when we want to take a ferry we just do that from Charlotte Amalie to Cruz Bay.

st john beach day is well worth the trouble to get on a ferry. we just have remember to buy our return ferry ticket in the morning in case it gets sold out.

OK whatever.

Carol look at pictures it’s a rail car! The only other option to get up to the town from the tender dock is walking up a very steep hill or ride on a donkey.

Frankly it would be a waste of my time to re-send you the info on the outstanding Santorini guide we had. If you’re that terrified of heights you will not see Santorini.

Rick--Send me the info. We have something booked for Santorini through the cruise line. I have onboard credit that I need to use. I will tell you though I absolutely cannot do a cable car, so I want to avoid that at all costs. I am absolutely terrified of heights. You do not want to hear about my experience in Germany with a cable car. If it's relatively close to the ground, I might be OK.

So Carol do you want the website and contact info for the Santorini tour people who were absolutely amazing?

Therrs a newish Sandals? At he Georgetown end of Grand Anse, before the cemetery....ohhhh the infinity pool looks top notch from the main road...it opens all the way, splitting the two sides of the hotel. One day i will book it.

I stayed at BBC beach. The Kalinago??? Resort was nasic at the time, food was great, and the small beach quiet.

Its been a while but grand anse beach is my recommendation.

Carol have you ever been to the Parliament House Restaurant or the Fish Fry village of great local food in Nassau?

So what if you’re in traffic you’re in a cab! My opinion is St. John is significantly much better than St. Thomas.

However being on a cruise ship stopover I would not risk going to STJ with the chance of getting back to the ship as it leaves port. Also do not take a ship excursion to STJ as you’re in a crowd of ... Since the accurate word was censored, I'll say you'd be in a huge crowd of s-h-e-e-p-l-e.

It's not just the traffic to Red Hook, you also have the ferry. St. John is ok, but I wouldn't do all that, just to get to St. John.

St Thomas means St John……so we would brave the traffic to/from Red Hook to get to St John.

I have to think that you booked this cruise for the ship, not the ports, as I would never book that cruise with only those ports. If I were going to stay on the ship for one of them, it would be Nassau, as I find nothing interesting there at all, after about 10 stops there. I adore St Thomas, so I personally wouldn't skip it. Of course I have never been on one of those Royal Caribbean monster ships, and I doubt I ever will. They don't appeal to me at all. We're going on Enchanted Princess in Europe in three weeks, and it is plenty big enough for me. It's your cruise, you don't have to plan anything ahead of time. How late is the ship in port? I might spend a few hours on the pool deck and head off the ship around noon. Enjoy!

This Lobster Trap menu is no longer valid. Can the person who posted it please take it down?

Not crazy at all. I've done this three times. When five ships are in port, St. Thomas is a nightmare. The taxis are gridlocked, the beaches are shoulder-to-shoulder, and downtown is a sweaty mess. Staying on the ship is the best "secret" in cruising. The pool is empty. The bartender remembers your name. Do it.

I’d stay on the ship as ST Thomas has nothing to offer except crowds and just another big city atmosphere. I’m sorry but you’re cruising on a floating subdivision. Each to your own.

We are doing an Eastern Caribbean loop on a large Royal Caribbean ship next month. Itinerary: Nassau, Sea Day, St. Thomas, Sea Day, CocoCay.

I have been to St. Thomas (Megan's Bay) twice before. I love the island, but I am looking at the port schedule: there will be five Oasis-class ships in port that day. I have heard Charlotte Amalie becomes a literal wall of people.

I am considering just staying on the ship to have the pool, the empty hot tubs and the quiet buffet.

Will I regret missing the island completely, or is the "ship day" experience when everyone is off the boat better than fighting 15 000 other tourists for a taxi?

Been to both. Punta Cana is easier, cheaper, and fine if you just want to sit on a resort and drink. But you said "snorkeling." Curacao wins that category by a mile. The snorkeling right off the shore at Playa Lagun or Tugboat Beach is world-class. Punta Cana snorkeling is mostly choppy and requires a boat trip. That said, $600 is $600. I'd save the money and do PC, then plan a full week for Curacao later.

Hi all,

I am not sure if its the same company, but a few sails ago, we rented a car near Portsmouth. The brakes nearly caused me to leave my dna on a mountainside. We had to wait at said bend for new vehicle for hours south of Portsmouth.

The next vehicle had better brakes, but the tires were equally bald.

We should have inspected the brakes b4 hitting the road, not on the road. Lesson learned and renter beware.

PS i hope you enjoy your time in Dominica, Zanshin. Are you attempting Boiling Lake? My first stay was in Laudat a decade ago. Dominica is magical.