Southern Caribbean cruise

My husband and I found this place by ourselves. It is one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen! You can Google Seaquarium Beach and you'll get a site that shows more details. It was deserted when we went there. The chairs were $1 each and it was $3 to get in the beach. The lounge chairs were comfy and the sand was very fine and white. The water was nice and warm and that gorgeous Caribbean blue color. We spent a lot of time swimming and relaxing there. It was nice that nobody else was around us and it felt like we were on our own little island.

We went snorkeling at De Palm Island in Aruba. The island is like a 5 minute boat ride from the mainland. Our travel agent told us there was a beach and swimming. Well, the beach was full of rocks and you could only wade in the water, not actually swim. When we went snorkeling, we barely saw anything, certainly not all these wonderful fish they told us were there.

We did not really enjoy ourselves on this excursion and I would not recommend it.

We went on the KuKu Kunuku bar hopping tour in Aruba. It was a LOT of fun! We were on a school bus painted with various quotes with no glass on the windows. Everyone was given maracas to shake and there was a sound system with music on the bus. They played lots of party music and every time the bus driver hit the horn, it would play that sound from 'The Dukes of Hazard."

We went to 5 bars I think. Our first drink was paid for at each bar. The driver and a guide came in each bar with us. They had a lot of energy and were very funny. I loved driving throughout Aruba screaming and yelling out of the bus!

We went shopping in Aruba right where we got off of the ship. There were locals selling art on the streets which was nice. I bought a really creative and unique tart burner made of pottery for $4.

Everyone was really polite and nice and I did not feel pressured into buying things as I have in other places. The merchants were not following me around like in most places.

The prices were OK, and there is a lot of touristy stuff there as well if you are looking for some souvenirs.

We went to Waikiki Beach in St. Martin on Orient Bay. It was so relaxing and comfortable there. This is a nude beach though, being on the French side of St. Maarten.

Since there was a hurricane elsewhere in the Caribbean, the waves crashing in on the beach literally knocked you off of your feet. It was tons of fun! We would dive into the waves and jump around like when we were kids.

The water was that beautiful blue green color and crystal clear! The beach is surrounded by hills and it's all very pretty and scenic.

I would love to go back there. We did not want to leave.

When you get off the ship, the best way to get to the main shopping area is to take the water taxi. I think it's about $4 round trip. You can walk the whole way there but it's just easier to take the taxi.

There are a lot of people around and there are a lot of shops. I'd recommend Diamonds International for any fine jewelry you want to purchase. I have bought many things there and they are well known in the Caribbean. The liquor is so inexpensive! We got a lot of Bacardi for a very low price!

There are casinos there (slots), but we did not go inside. It looked very odd and we did not like the looks of it. Everyone seemed very friendly and there was a lot of nice stores.

While in St. Thomas, we took a day trip to St. John to Trunk Bay. What a gorgeous island! The place that we went to was in the Virgin Islands National Park. Aside from the attack seagulls (yes I said attack), it was amazing!

The blue water at the beach was a perfect blend of blue and green. I was truly amazed at how pure the water looked. We did wish that we had some chairs though. There is a snack bar and gift shop and amazing snorkeling. However, beware of the seagulls! They grab food from your hands and I swear they were close to drawing blood from me!

It was like paradise there and I'd love to go back!

My husband and I both felt like we had not left the US when we went shopping in St. Thomas. When we got off of the ship, there was a small shopping area that has jewelry, souvenirs (we bought these amazing shell necklaces there!), and various other items. If you take a taxi for about a 5 minute ride (it's a couple of dollars a person), you are in an area where there are a lot more shops. You can also walk there, but it's worth it to take the taxi. They let you off right in the shopping area.

There was a flea market of sorts where the driver dropped us off. We stayed out of there, because it was the type of place where people follow you around pestering you to buy their merchandise.

The shops line various streets and all entrances are from the outside. They sell everything from those tacky souvenirs we all seem to buy (including myself!) to brand name items like Tommy Hilfiger, Gucci, and Benetton. Also, they have a Little Switzerland and Diamonds International as well as lots of liquor, perfume, and China.

Each person is allowed a $1600 duty free exemption. We were advised not to wear swimwear under our clothes in the shops, because it is considered taboo there. We did see people wearing tank tops over bikini tops and swimsuits though.

My husband and I stopped at a bar for a drink and we sat outside which was nice. He bought some homemade fudge from a street vendor and it was amazing! It was full of flavor and very rich. The fudge was also very cheap. I think he paid $2 for a huge square of it.

We bought a few souvenirs such as shot glasses and magnets, but nothing else. Overall, it was a nice shopping experience and we enjoyed shopping in such a pretty area on the water.

This was a nice little attraction in St. Thomas. It's close to the port which is convenient for the cruise passengers. There were only a few people here when we went on the ride and we were able to get our own car to ride. At the top, you can walk on this little path and look around. It's really pretty and we even saw a storm approaching. You could see a lone rain cloud with rain coming down but there was sun all around it. I have never seen something like that before and it was kind of interesting.

There is also a souvenir shop, bar and restaurant as well as bathrooms. It's a nice attraction and we had fun.