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PrincessP
Big sister!!!!!!!!!!
Member since 12/05 17450 total posts
Name:
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cruise booked
Does anyone know anything about the following places
-Samana
-Tortola
-St Thomas
-Great Stirrup
we are also going on the NCL pearl. Any reviews of ship?
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Posted 9/27/10 10:22 PM  |
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Blazesyth
*yawn*
Member since 5/05 8129 total posts
Name:
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Re: cruise booked
Samana is a reeeeeeeeeeally small port. Nothing to do there without a plan and not the safest place. Don't bother taking a tender over if you dont have a scheduled tour, as the only thing over there is a 7x7 hut selling tshirts and magnets.
That being said, we did ATV tour.
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| Posted 9/27/10 10:54 PM |
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jilliibabii
Mrs. O'Connor
Member since 6/10 12821 total posts
Name:
Jillian
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Re: cruise booked
Sure! Tortola has an excellent swimming the dolphins excursion! I absolutely loved it!
St. Thomas has a beautiful bay- I want to say Horseshoe but I might be confusing that with Bermuda's Horseshoe Beach. Anyway, it's right next to a great aquarium and they have snorkeling and beach rentals. I think we had unlimited use of snorkel gear for $10 (you get $5 back when you return the gear) and dog biscuits (random I know, but they are to feed the fish!) while the cruiseline offers a "guided snorkel" at the same location for about $35.
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| Posted 9/28/10 4:03 PM |
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PrincessP
Big sister!!!!!!!!!!
Member since 12/05 17450 total posts
Name:
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Re: cruise booked
Posted by Blazesyth
Samana is a reeeeeeeeeeally small port. Nothing to do there without a plan and not the safest place. Don't bother taking a tender over if you dont have a scheduled tour, as the only thing over there is a 7x7 hut selling tshirts and magnets.
That being said, we did ATV tour.
I read some of this. It made me a bit nervous that I am thinking of staying on the ship during this stop. I read something about going to las tarenas. Do you know anything about this?
How was the ATV tour?
Message edited 9/28/2010 7:42:55 PM.
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| Posted 9/28/10 7:41 PM |
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LisaW
Time for me to FLY!
Member since 5/05 13199 total posts
Name:
Did I ever tell you that I hate people?
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Re: cruise booked
We just booked the Cayo Levantado Beach excursion through NCL
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| Posted 9/28/10 8:56 PM |
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PrincessP
Big sister!!!!!!!!!!
Member since 12/05 17450 total posts
Name:
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Re: cruise booked
Posted by LisaW
We just booked the Cayo Levantado Beach excursion through NCL
When are you going? Would love to hear how it went.
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| Posted 9/28/10 10:08 PM |
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LisaW
Time for me to FLY!
Member since 5/05 13199 total posts
Name:
Did I ever tell you that I hate people?
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Re: cruise booked
Posted by PrincessP
Posted by LisaW
We just booked the Cayo Levantado Beach excursion through NCL
When are you going? Would love to hear how it went.
We are going on the Dawn mid November
I did a lot of reading on Cruise Critic!
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| Posted 9/28/10 10:26 PM |
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Blazesyth
*yawn*
Member since 5/05 8129 total posts
Name:
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Re: cruise booked
Posted by PrincessP
I read some of this. It made me a bit nervous that I am thinking of staying on the ship during this stop. I read something about going to las tarenas. Do you know anything about this?
How was the ATV tour?
We took the ship sponsored ATV tour thru Royal - but I am guessing NCL will offer the same tour. The island is so small we saw the same company running the ATV and 4x4 and all the tours so it's probably all the same.
You start out at the lifeboat dock - go up into the mountains on bumpy dirt roads (passing by the shacks they call houses, and passing by kids walking down the 'street' holding 3 feet long machetes). We drove to a rainforest like area where you can hike up and go thru to a waterfall. There was so much rainfall that the path was flooded and they had locals assisting you to cross the river jumping from sandbag to sandbag. Most of the people on the tour skipped that part as we heard that the waterfall is barely a waterfall. Wasn't worth wrecking my pair of sneakers over it.
You drive thru the mountains some more - which also freaked me out as there is no guardrail and I felt odd with the lack of control of the ATV so I was scared I was going to go off the side of the mountain.  You drive thru some small rivers so it's fun that the water splashes and it's novel doing that since it's not something you would usually do.
They then took us down to a wooded area and to a beach and you ride all over the beach, which was fun. There was a little hut where you could buy soda/food/bathroom but of course no one did that and we left and drove back to the lifeboat dock.
As I said previously - if you dont have a guided tour don't bother going over. There is a small place for souvenirs (nothing good) and I think a huge restaurant. That's it. It doesnt really seem like a safe area where you could go walking off unassisted off of the dock, even if there was something that was worth it to see.
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| Posted 9/28/10 10:36 PM |
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PrincessP
Big sister!!!!!!!!!!
Member since 12/05 17450 total posts
Name:
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Re: cruise booked
Posted by Blazesyth
Posted by PrincessP
I read some of this. It made me a bit nervous that I am thinking of staying on the ship during this stop. I read something about going to las tarenas. Do you know anything about this?
How was the ATV tour?
We took the ship sponsored ATV tour thru Royal - but I am guessing NCL will offer the same tour. The island is so small we saw the same company running the ATV and 4x4 and all the tours so it's probably all the same.
You start out at the lifeboat dock - go up into the mountains on bumpy dirt roads (passing by the shacks they call houses, and passing by kids walking down the 'street' holding 3 feet long machetes). We drove to a rainforest like area where you can hike up and go thru to a waterfall. There was so much rainfall that the path was flooded and they had locals assisting you to cross the river jumping from sandbag to sandbag. Most of the people on the tour skipped that part as we heard that the waterfall is barely a waterfall. Wasn't worth wrecking my pair of sneakers over it.
You drive thru the mountains some more - which also freaked me out as there is no guardrail and I felt odd with the lack of control of the ATV so I was scared I was going to go off the side of the mountain. You drive thru some small rivers so it's fun that the water splashes and it's novel doing that since it's not something you would usually do.
They then took us down to a wooded area and to a beach and you ride all over the beach, which was fun. There was a little hut where you could buy soda/food/bathroom but of course no one did that and we left and drove back to the lifeboat dock.
As I said previously - if you dont have a guided tour don't bother going over. There is a small place for souvenirs (nothing good) and I think a huge restaurant. That's it. It doesnt really seem like a safe area where you could go walking off unassisted off of the dock, even if there was something that was worth it to see.
OMG...machetes?? Yeah Ummm...I think we are going to skip getting off at this port...LOL
We will have my 3 yr old with us. This port doesnt sound to kosher. Was the rest of your trip the same islands as above? I know St thomas is beautiful and heard the same about tortola.
We already did st maarten, st thomas, and bahamas so we wanted to try something different. This does sound quite different...
Message edited 9/29/2010 7:24:17 AM.
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| Posted 9/29/10 7:21 AM |
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PrincessP
Big sister!!!!!!!!!!
Member since 12/05 17450 total posts
Name:
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Re: cruise booked
Posted by LisaW
Posted by PrincessP
Posted by LisaW
We just booked the Cayo Levantado Beach excursion through NCL
When are you going? Would love to hear how it went.
We are going on the Dawn mid November
I did a lot of reading on Cruise Critic!
I was on the Dawn to Bermuda. you are going to love it!
Thanks for the cruise critic tip!
GL in samanaa sounds wonderful...haha
Seriously, when you return, shoot me an FM and let me know what you thought.
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| Posted 9/29/10 7:25 AM |
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Blazesyth
*yawn*
Member since 5/05 8129 total posts
Name:
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Re: cruise booked
The only other port I've been to on your list was St. Thomas. I thought it was nothing special.
Usual shopping area and beaches.
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| Posted 9/29/10 11:45 AM |
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LIMOMx2
...
Member since 5/05 24989 total posts
Name:
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Re: cruise booked
Love Tortola & St. Thomas. I know nothing about the other port. Never even heard of it
CruiseCritic.com is my best friend. Check it out
Here are my pictures from the islands when we went
Webshots
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| Posted 9/30/10 12:28 PM |
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PrincessP
Big sister!!!!!!!!!!
Member since 12/05 17450 total posts
Name:
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Re: cruise booked
Posted by 5ofClubs
Love Tortola & St. Thomas. I know nothing about the other port. Never even heard of it
CruiseCritic.com is my best friend. Check it out
Here are my pictures from the islands when we went
Webshots
Awesome pics!
Can you recommend any excursions?
I saw prussers landing in your pics. Was that worth seeing?
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| Posted 9/30/10 7:21 PM |
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LIMOMx2
...
Member since 5/05 24989 total posts
Name:
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Re: cruise booked
We always book our own excursions outside of the ship. We find them to be overpriced and not a great selection.
In Tortola when we got off the ship we went on an awesome open aired bus and took a tour of the island. We made some stops along the way and it was great!!
We even got dropped off at a beach for a little while and then they come back to get you.
In St. Thomas we went to Coral World and then walked over to the beach next door.
We swam with the Seal Lions. It was AWESOME!! You can also do Dolphin Swims there but we have done that already so we wanted to do something different.
Coral World is great!
Here is the FB Page Coral World
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| Posted 9/30/10 8:39 PM |
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Melimaup
love lockdown
Member since 11/07 1509 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: cruise booked
I'm going on the Pearl in 3 weeks with the exact same itinerary! I will let you know how it was when I get back!
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| Posted 9/30/10 11:04 PM |
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PrincessP
Big sister!!!!!!!!!!
Member since 12/05 17450 total posts
Name:
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Re: cruise booked
Posted by Melimaup
I'm going on the Pearl in 3 weeks with the exact same itinerary! I will let you know how it was when I get back!
Please do!!!
What excursions did you book?
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| Posted 10/1/10 8:23 PM |
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Melimaup
love lockdown
Member since 11/07 1509 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: cruise booked
Posted by PrincessP
Posted by Melimaup
I'm going on the Pearl in 3 weeks with the exact same itinerary! I will let you know how it was when I get back!
Please do!!!
What excursions did you book?
I'm not doing anything in Samana. I've heard too many bad things about that port. In St. Thomas we're going to Maegan's Bay....I heard that beach is gorgeous. Still trying to figure out what we're going to be doing in Tortola. I'm undecided on their private island. A lot of people complained on Cruise Critic bc it's so crowded and there really is nothing to do so I guess we will play it by ear.
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| Posted 10/2/10 9:59 PM |
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MrsA1012
love my little girl !
Member since 9/10 5777 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: cruise booked
Great Stirrup Cay is very beautiful and relaxing. It is the perfect place to do nothing but swim and chill out on a lounge chair with a good book. 
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| Posted 10/4/10 10:40 AM |
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