RCCL Monarch of the Seas - 4/29 Southern Caribbean

doug · #1 (**permalink**) March 2nd, 2001, 11:22 AM

The wife I acquire the day prior to the cruise and I are honeymooning on this cruise out of San Juan. Stops will be in the VI, St Martin, Antigua, St Lucia and Barbados. Any suggestions of don't miss activities and tours will be appreciated.

Doug <------going down after 32 years of determined bachelorhood - but not fighting it at all

#2 (**permalink**) March 2nd, 2001, 03:10 PM

Doug,

Although I didn't sail on the Monarch, I did go to these ports on the Ocean Princess, February 4-11, 2001. I sent in a review of the cruise here about the 14th but it still has not been posted. However, you can review it on www.cruiseopinion.com.

Dennis Willing

gail · #3 (**permalink**) March 3rd, 2001, 10:05 PM

Di that itinerary on the Galaxy. We loved the land/sea excursion in St. Lucia. Great way to see and learn about the island. The catamaran strip back was great fun.

doug · #4 (**permalink**) March 4th, 2001, 12:19 AM

Gail wrote:
>
> Di that itinerary on the Galaxy. We loved the land/sea
> excursion in St. Lucia. Great way to see and learn about the
> island. The catamaran strip back was great fun.

Catamaran strip????? Whoooo Hooo!!!

: ))

Thanks for the tip will check that tour out!

Doug

#5 (**permalink**) March 4th, 2001, 08:57 AM

Antigua is still my all time favorite port. It is just beautiful there. I would suggest see Nelson's Dockyard while there. Have a great trip.

Brian · #6 (**permalink**) March 16th, 2001, 10:55 AM

I'm also on this sailing, and am curious about the islands, and excursions in general. On previous cruises, I've never done a whole lot on shore... just the standard shopping, beach going, etc.

I'm very active and competitive in many/any sport that I do and would really like to do a more serious hike, mountain bike trip, trail run, kayak adventure, etc. on shore. Anybody have any experience with this? The typical shore excursions offered by the cruise line are geared toward such a wide audience of all fitness abilities that they don't really satisfy what I am looking for.

Thanks!

#7 (**permalink**) March 18th, 2001, 09:42 PM

Hi Doug,
My husband and I enjoyed cruising on the Monarch so much, we booked it two years in a row. St Maarten is wonderful and a really good place to shop for bargins on jewelry (I reccommend Kay's Jewelers). One year we went to the butterfly farm very informative and the next year we went on the semi submersible
we liked it much better. I loved the Antigua beach break! One word of warning..bring a good sunblock and lots of aloe vera, the beach was beautiful, but we got a little crispy fried. The second year here we took the catamaran cruise. I would also highly reccommend this one. In Barbados I would highly reccommend the Malibu beach break. You get a beach chair, an umbrella, and a free drink. It has changing rooms and bathrooms and is patroled by the local police you will feel very safe and we were not hounded by the locals to buy anything. We only went to St. Lucia once because they replaced Martinique (thank God, horrible island, people were rude and we witnessed one of the locals walking to the waters edge in full view of everyone to urinate) with this island. We went on the 7 hour
catamaran cruise to Morne Coubaril Estate. It was wonderful the only part of it I didn't care for was when they took us to the sulphur springs (if you have a weak stomach you won't like it) that's smells like rotten eggs. I might be tempted to take a hankercheif with me and spray it with perfume to tie around my nose so I wouldn't have to smell that smell. The locals all converge on you here wanting to sell you their necklaces. The rest of the tour was pretty good,and they feed you on this one. Congrats on your forthcoming marriage, I hope you have as great a time as we had on the Monarch.
Mary Martin
mmarti18@hotmail.com

cricket · #8 (**permalink**) April 24th, 2001, 08:31 PM

Monarch was our 1st cruise and we loved it. Staff were amazingly friendly and service was GREAT!

St. Thomas was our favourite port... you must take a taxi to Megan's Bay. The taxi driver was so friendly he helped make our visit to St. Thomas enjoyable.

I'd avoid the ships excursions if I were you... they're expensive and you can do the same activities on your own by taking a taxi on your own schedule (long waits for buses on ship excursions).

Way to go on the "getting married" thing! After 27 years of happy marriage I can
definitely give wedded bliss high honours as well. Congrats and have a great cruise.