** Coco Cay via Royal Caribbean!! **

Royal Caribbean's prime private island.  A mix of theme park, private tropical island delight and culinary and liquorious delights. I have been to the island years ago more than a few times, but it was nothing compared to what it is now!! 

They have a dedicated dock for the ships so you don't have to tender on a boat to shore as in the past.  This is must see for you and the family  😊

In the meantime, here are some choice selections about CocoCay from Royal that you might find interesting.

Saint-Martin / Sint Maarten

Before I tell you about one of the true gems of the Caribbean, please indulge me in two very important lessons learned while visiting St. Maarten. The first one is when you find a great opportunity to buy a waterproof/water resistant watch for a great price that is too good to be true, you are right, it IS too good to be true. It’s my own fault, I should know better than to go in the water with a $10 watch that is supposed to be water resistant. The second lesson learned is that the excursion tours that are purchased through the cruise line really do look after you and make every effort to make sure you get back to the ship in time and they are accountable for you as the passenger. It’s a matter of preference for me to have the safety knowing I won’t be missed. Sure, I’ve done certain things on my own when visiting such as renting a van or going to a beach separately that I’m familiar with and knowing I have plenty of time to visit and there are plenty of cabs to and from (very important to keep in mind). If however, you are doing an excursion that you are not familiar with and that may take many hours and be close to your ship’s departure time, you should consider sticking to the cruise line’s excursion bookings. The cruise line exerts a great deal of control over their tour providers and you can be assured that you will be looked after, accounted for, and that you will be happy with the excursion. If they get bad reviews, you can bet they will not be continued by the cruise line for very long. These excursions are in communication with the ship at port and will advise them of any problem or delays and I have heard of times when the ship will wait for the group to return.

How did I learn this? Well I took an excursion with Royal Caribbean to Orient Beach at Orient Bay. Instead of sitting on the beach in a chair provided for each of us and partaking of all the drinks we wanted, I decided to explore, equipped with my brand new watch that would keep me well informed as to when I needed to get back for the return bus. I walked all the way up past Palm Beach and tried to get to Pinel Island because I wanted to see what it looked like (more on that later), but found it was too far and I would have to cross through many private areas to get there. So returning, I went down the beach past where we were to find a spot where I could swim and relax. My watch said I had plenty of time. After a while, I returned to the point of departure only to find everyone gone!! That’s when I realized my watch must have stopped because the time had not changed. My mind raced, and I tried to calculate how much time I had to get to the cab stand and return to the ship. I wandered to the parking lot to see if the bus there was for my group, but nothing was there except a few cars. One person in a small car must have seen my look of tourist panic along with my backpack and cheap watch and got out of the car and asked my name. Our bus had left about 10 minutes before (after waiting for me) and she had been waiting there to see if I showed up. She radioed the bus and had them stop at the side of the road, then gave me a ride to the bus where I boarded much to the delight of the passengers that had to wait earlier. I offered my sage advice to them about buying cheap watches and most took pity on me and left me alone. For what it’s worth, that’s my story and advice. 

On a more serious note, I was snorkeling on another island with a ship excursion and a fellow traveler had an episode while in the water. The excursion personnel were great, they immediately supported the person in the water and got them ashore where they applied oxygen and made sure they were stabilized enough to return to the ship. They also radioed the ship where people there would meet the passenger and check them out further to make sure they were OK. Again, cruise line excursions are the safest way to go unless you are absolutely sure where you are going and what you are doing.

Saint-Martin (French side) and Sint Maartin (Dutch side) is a wonderful island with beautiful beaches and a lot of things to see and do. I’ll cover a number of things I have done on my many trips there but can’t wait to return for more experiences.

The Port at the southern end of the island is big and beautiful. You can expect to see anywhere from three to six cruise ships or luxury yachts there at one time and it is always bustling with activity. There are tiki bars, shops and other specialty stores for island liquors duty free as well as cigars. I don’t smoke but there is small shop at the cruise port near the cab circle called DAS Cigars – the guy rolls his own right there with Cuban leaf and uses their private label. You can get Cuban cigars all over the island but if time is short, you can’t go wrong visiting the store. I always stock up for my Christmas list.

I’ve already told you about my one excursion to Orient Beach – I’ve been there a few times and it’s fun to visit. The water is not calm though – expect wind and some small waves and snorkeling is not really ideal from the beach. They have a lot of sports rentals, jet skis, kayaks, sails, and more so there is always something to do. Do not be surprised however if you venture too far down the beach, there is a section (with a sign posted) that is clothing optional, so be forewarned.

On my last trip to the island, I took an excursion by boat that went snorkeling on the west side, and then was supposed to go to an island further north. It was windy that day and the excursion decided it best not to venture through the rough seas to the island, but rather took us to a beautiful little bay at Anse Marcel where we anchored and swam ashore, snorkeled and counted the many turtles that were in the water around us coming up for air. Despite the diversion, it turned out to be a great day. The ride to and from was made more enjoyable with the captain telling us about the sights and history of the points on shore as we passed by including the beachfront homes of some very famous and wealthy people. I thought I had seen most of the island before but this trip was a real education. This was my first time back since my previous cruise wherein we were among the first ships to arrive after St. Martin had been devastated by hurricane Irma in 2017 and the cruise port was closed for quite some time. It was painful to see the severe damage the storm had wreaked upon the island as well as the emotional toll of the people that lived there. I’ll never forget the firsthand story from a store owner of how he endured the worst of the storm with his family for hours on end not knowing if they would make it. But I was amazed at how quickly the island had come back on my return visit and you could tell by the smiles on the people’s faces that things were getting back to normal. The island had its groove back.

A couple of times, my small group has rented a Jeep to drive around the island. By this time, we were pretty familiar with the island and what we didn’t know, the good old fashioned visitors maps could show the way. One time, we had a GPS with the voice of President Obama dubbed in the directions. It made for a very fun filled day that we still talk about. Some of our typical stops were the airport bar which is near Princess Juliana International Airport at Simpson Bay. The bar is right on a beach and very busy with its main attraction being that it is right at the end of the runway separated only by a fence. If you stand on the beach while a plane is landing, you will honestly believe the plane is going to hit you. The force of the jet engines will literally knock you down, I know from personal example and my hat wound up about 40 yards in the water off the beach. If you’d rather not go so close to the action, you can always sit at the bar and sip your favorite drink and watch the planes come and go. The bar even has a blackboard telling you the times that planes are scheduled for arrival.

Airport bar 

Driving around the huge harbor to the western and French side of the island, you can visit Marigot where there are many shops and restaurants and a large harbor for boats. Be prepared for a delay however, it gets very busy and crowded there and there a limited number of roads in and out. North of Marigot, almost by accident, my friends and I found what is now one of our favorite spots: Grand Case. There is a public parking lot there and you can simply walk over to one of the many great little restaurants on the water and enjoy a meal and a swim or relax on the beach. It’s all laid back and very relaxing, and a great place for beach pictures. Heading north from here, you will pass some great views of the ocean from the Rue de I’anse Marcel road, a beautiful little bay called Anse Marcel that is on my list to visit, and loop around to the east side and pass an area called Cul-de-Sac. From here you will head south past Orient Bay crossing back into the Dutch side passing many small towns and getting to see the sights and landscape as you head back to the port at the southern tip of the island.

beach at Grand Case

driving on Sint Maarten

Finally, one of my favorite land trips on Sint Maarten; Pinel Island. Pinel Island lays just off the shore at the northeast side from the area previously mentioned named Cul-de-Sac. I had originally wanted to go there to kayak but not knowing the exact geography, I wanted to see the island first. I have not seen any excursions there since the one and only time I took one with Royal Caribbean a few years ago. Even then, the trip was almost cancelled due to strong wind, but upon asking, I opted to take the tour anyway and am so glad I did. I have yet to see this excursion with any cruise line since. The bus took us to the beach there at Cul-de-Sac where a small boat ferry takes you out to Pinel Island. The island itself is not very large and is not very far from shore, but on arrival, there were two separate beach restaurants/bars with white sand beaches and chairs all along the beach. There were even small tables in the water off the beach where the bars would bring wine bottles or other drinks out to small groups so they could stay in the water and enjoy their drinks. The food offerings were casual to decidedly French fare and very good. I decided to take a stroll and explore the island following paths that led to other sides of the island as well as spectacular hill that with a commanding view of the ocean as well as the entire Orient Bay to the west. I truly could have stayed here all day long and it was only with great reluctance that I left. I plan on returning there again soon and will report more on Pinel Island once I do.

More on Sint Maarten to come as I set sail again.

TURKS & CAICOS

The Turks & Caicos island stop is frequently offered with most of the major cruise line itineraries.  The Caicos Islands are larger and to the east of the smaller Grand Turk island where the capital Cockburn Town is located.   They are a British Overseas Territory and sit in the southern part of the Bahamas Archipelago chain.  Grand Turk is a relatively small, flat island, laid back and not highly populated.  However the southern end of the island can be very busy with multiple cruise ships per day visiting the port.  There are a number of beaches one can visit, but most people tend to gravitate to the beach right in front of the cruise ship; at Margaritaville with a restaurant, huge pool with swim up bar, afternoon music and entertainment as well as a beach with chairs and hammocks where bar personnel will bring drinks to you including in the water at the beach.   I'm guilty of this many times.  It’s perfect after an early excursion where you can simply relax or groove to the music in the pool and enjoy some drinks.  {Tip: I always take a small waterproof closable pouch with me that can hold my ship card, ID and some cash and either wear it around my neck or put in my pocket for hanging out in the water.  It saves time and apprehension if you are leaving your money on a chair somewhere.}

All of the excursions I have taken at Grand Turk involve snorkeling or some combination with boat, snorkel and beach.  The water is fantastic and there are lots to see.  One particular trip included the opportunity to dive down and actually touch a shark that the guides have apparently domesticated with plenty of snacks.  If your health allows it and you are comfortable in the water, learn how to dive if you are snorkeling.  You will get much more from it actually swimming with the fish.  A lot of excursions require you to wear a vest, however if you want to dive, simply do not blow up the vest or let the air out.  You will still float easily due to the salinity of the water. 

I hope to expand my excursion venue in the near future at Grand Turk as well as find a way to visit the other islands. I will post any new info here as soon as I can! 

BONAIRE SNORKELING

Bonaire is a very unique island.  Comprising the “B” in the ABC islands, Bonaire is not as developed or commercial as it’s counterparts Aruba or Curacao.  As a matter of fact, I immediately felt the vibe that this island was all about the water , and that becomes very evident as you take in the breathtaking views of the crystal clear turquoise and blue water or have the good fortune to dive and explore the reefs yourself.  The island itself is beautiful and has many sights that I want to cover in another post, but Bonaire is a Mecca for divers of all sorts.  The reefs surrounding the entire island are designated and protected marine parks and the island maintains and protects these areas very well.  There is a fee for divers and a lesser one for snorkelers and kayakers so take advantage of the built in fee advantage if you are going on an excursion from a cruise.  The reefs and wildlife are abundant and in great shape.  I only wish all other islands would protect their reefs as well as Bonaire.

All cruise excursions are meticulously researched by your cruise ship and offer a great experience.  I always recommend using your cruise excursions for many reasons as I will point out in my post “Why a Cruises Excursion is the best choice.”  However, if your cruise ship offers a snorkeling adventure with the Sea Cow Snorkeling group, I highly recommend it.  Henk, Gea and their crew make this snorkeling excursion the absolute best experience for everyone. They are very professional, informative, and truly invested in making sure you have the best experience possible whether you are very experienced or snorkeling for the first time. They not only go over everything you need to know before getting in the water, they go with you and point out interesting fish, turtles, and coral. They even have  a professional photographer that takes pictures of your snorkeling and makes available to you as you return for a nominal fee.  They are always looking out to assist anyone in need and truly put everyone at ease. I'm very experienced with many years snorkeling but have learned something new each time I visit them. I've gone with them three times now and can't wait to go again. I highly recommend this snorkeling excursion, whether you are visiting on a cruise line or on the island yourself.

Here are some pictures that I have personally taken in Bonaire:

 (click to enlarge)

ANTIGUA SNORKELING & KAYAKING

The Paddles Snorkel and Kayaking adventure is a great way to see the sights of Antigua.  I've been on this excursion from our cruise ships twice and can't wait to go again. Balance yourself on the floating pier where you will be taking the boat ride to Great Bird Island which is fast and fun - lock down your hats! Explore Bird Island.  On the way, look over to your left and you may see Long Island where Oprah and other big stars have a home.  If you're adventurous, climb the rocky trail to see the scenic top of the island and the blowhole.  However this trail is slippery and very steep so if you are not physically able to maneuver, hang out on the beach where there will be some island shacks with gifts and refreshments or take the trail that goes straight back across the island (only about 100 yards) and see the beautiful inlet on the other side ( I always like to explore a little).

Snorkeling is good, but depending on the boat, be prepared to drop off the side of the boat to about 2-3 feet.  It may be windy so keep track of your group or you may be separated quickly.   The kayaking is great. Most kayaks are stable, two-seater sit on tops. The guides are very patient and informative and will take you to the edge of the mangroves and look for starfish and other things in the water to show you. They will take you on a wide circle of the area and it is a good workout. Once done, you will board the boats again and go back to the estate where you began. There, the owners will treat you to punch and some snacks where you can relax and get refreshed in their beautiful garden. They are really nice people and truly care about your experience. I will probably go on this trip every time I go back to the island - no exaggeration this excursion is the best and well worth every penny.  

Antigua extended:

The port has numerous shops, bars and music where you can enjoy some time before or after your excursion.  If you feel adventurous, take a taxi to Dickenson Bay.  The taxi will drop you right off at the beach where you can enjoy the water or sit at a great little restaurant/bar where you can relax and watch the waves if you like.  It is located right beside the Sandals resort on Antigua and the beach is very clean and nice. Here are some pictures taken there:

Dickenson Bay Beach

There is a lot of history in Antigua.  the countryside still has some original windmills left over from the prior Dutch inhabitants along with many historic churches and buildings.  Most cruises have a tour that highlights these via a tour bus.  More to come once I get back to the island!

ST LUCIA

Taken while anchored off the beach of Anse Cochon

St. Lucia 
is a beautiful island with many sights and activities for the curious. One of those sights are the breathtaking Pitons; two tree carpeted peaks right on the waters edge offering a sight and pictures like nothing you have seen elsewhere in the Caribbean. Situated on the west coast of St. Lucia, these mysterious and alluring Pitons are in a location that is ideal for the traveler of many tastes. They are situated next to the historic port town of Soufriere (soo-fee-err), beautiful waterfalls and gardens, a volcano that feeds into mud baths and mineral bath waters built by French troops of King Louis XVI in 1784 reputed to offer healing and therapeutic qualities.

If you are stopping at St. Lucia on your cruise, there are a variety of excursion options that allow you to experience these sights depending on your preference and adventurous spirit. 

A Trip to Soufriere. This can be experienced by being driven, by boat or a combination of the two. Take the drive only if you like winding, curvy roads on steep hills. I enjoy it because the sights are incredible, but understand many people may have reservations. It’s similar to taking a New York taxi ride on Pikes Peak. The drivers usually stop at some of the towns for a break and to peruse the vendor booths. If you're lucky, you may stop for someone that lets you get a picture (for a fee) holding a monkey or a python. Once you arrive at Soufriere, many excursions either take you to a plantation for lunch, the diamond falls, mineral baths, botanical gardens, the active volcano, and or the mud baths. Many cruise lines offer different variants of the trip and you can choose the one that most appeals to you. My favorite is the drive and boat combo which give you the best of all experiences.

The volcano is active, and depending on your excursion you may be allowed to walk along a cordoned path and actually be right beside the bubbling sulphur (yes it smells), but on my last trip they only drove as far as the mud baths and did not allow you to walk to the volcano (my driver pretended to turn around at the volcano so I could take a selfie of me and the volcano on the sly). The Mud baths are actually the warm runoff of sulphur infused water from the volcano. The water is tolerably warm and you can dip in and cake the sulphur/mud on you as much as you desire. It’s a lot of fun if you are with a group and feel like getting dirty – there are showers there also to rinse off, just walk carefully because it is slippery.

The Diamond Falls and botanical gardens replete with the mineral baths are a beautiful sight, just be prepared to walk. Also, unless you have the specific mineral bath excursion, you must pay to dip in the waters. I was scolded by an attendant for putting my feet in. I'm usually eager for action and adventure but have to admit these sights are definitely worth seeing. There are other excursions in the Piton area that I have not experienced such as 4x4 treks, Jeep rides, hiking or climbing, snorkeling and others. My favorite overall though is the boat ride along the coast through the clear blue waters off the coast. The sights are amazing and most of the rides offer refreshments (some catamarans offer dancing and generous rum punches). Most of the rides I have been on venture into Marigot Bay to see the sights and marina, and stop at a small beach at Anse Cochon for a rest and some snorkeling. The water is crystal clear and if you venture to the right side (facing the water from the beach) there are some small reefs where you can get some great pictures of fish. There are also 3-4 vendors in kayaks here that will come up to your boat. Don’t be afraid – these men actually have a permit to vend even though they may be shirtless and have long dreadlocks. They of course want to sell you some of their homemade wares but will leave you alone if you prefer. I’ve actually gotten to know some of them by name and look forward to seeing them every time and exchange pleasantries about families and health. Some of these guys are in their 50’s and 60’s but look 30 – we could use some of their secrets. Titus always cuts a coconut for me so I can drink the pure coconut water inside.

St. Lucia is all about attitude – leave your expectations behind and just experience with an open mind. I guarantee you it will change your life.

This is one of many Islands and Cruise tips I will be sharing.  Stay tuned to Tuck's Travels Blog for much more!!