When we were boarding the Carnival Freedom we noticed people struggling to carry on cases of bottled water and canned pop. It was a physically exhausting effort, but those people were smart. Water was our #1 expense in shopping on board. And it is expensive.…Read More

When we were boarding the Carnival Freedom we noticed people struggling to carry on cases of bottled water and canned pop. It was a physically exhausting effort, but those people were smart. Water was our #1 expense in shopping on board. And it is expensive. You could only obtain it if you made a special request with your steward, room service, or go to a bar. The first two are unreliable, so go right to a bar. Each bottle had a 15% tip added to the charge.

There are three "Fun Shops" on the Freedom. I will call the first one "All that Glitters". They only sell costly jewelry, watches and expensive desk novelties like marble globes. We didn't buy anything there. Next door is a shop I will call "Gift Basket" shop. They sell special occasion gifts that include flowers, wine, and jelly beans. I had brought my own candy on board, so didn't shop there either. The third shop I will call " Do you want Pringles with that T-shirt?" It is a varitety shop with T-shirts, some snacks, kids toys, and thank heavens, some paper back books (ours were ruined when our suitcases were drenched during boarding). We bought 4 books, 4 pringles cans and two thermal cups. I recommend the thermal cups as a first day purchase. I got a blue and my husband a red. We would fill them with ice water or coffee in the Lido 24/7. That cut the cost of our bottled water habit.

There is a lady on the Freedom staff who is a shopping advisor. For those of you have cruised before, you know what that means. This over the top enthusiastic shopper wants you to spend all your time in port going from shop to shop buying diamonds, emeralds and tanzanite. In fact she told us there wasn't any good shopping on Tortola because there weren't many jewelry store. We wanted souvenirs that reflected the locale. It was our experience that Tortola had the best shopping for our needs...local art and crafts and antiques and if you must have jewelry, they had some locally crafted items that were lovely. Close

One of the ship's TV channels had a self-promoting feature story about the achitect-designer of the beautiful Carnival Freedom. I was truly surprised they were promoting it, as generally speaking the interior is a mish-mash of overblown designs. Lets start with the wood panelling. It…Read More

One of the ship's TV channels had a self-promoting feature story about the achitect-designer of the beautiful Carnival Freedom. I was truly surprised they were promoting it, as generally speaking the interior is a mish-mash of overblown designs.

Lets start with the wood panelling. It is valued for its rare graining, bands of colors that range from orange to teal. All the other art was keyed off this unusual wood. The main lobby had multi storied panels of this wood between glass walled elevators. That was neat, but then they added panels of garish designs and banks of colored lights that changed colors. It looked like a .....carnival...oh, I get it now!

The elevators were a wonder of oversized designs that could encourage seasickness. Panels of bold but pleasant designs were randomly placed in corridors of the public areas. They also reflected the wood colors. Flooring was often of a stone tiled arrangement that led to visual confusion...do I need to step up or step down? The white stone tiles were grained with a dirty brown that looked like a bad mop job.

In the Freedom Restaurant, wall sconce lights were made of a translucent blue material in the shape of the Statue of Liberty's face. They looked like ghoulish death masks. Overhead the strange blue blobs of glass were interspersed with wavy metallic brown bands. Was that supposed to look like dirty sea foam waves?

The very best art work was found on the stateroom decks between rooms. These tasteful Art Nouveau panels depicting people both famous and not, were sized right and were an excellant memory devise for finding your room. Different decks had different colored art.

I realize that most people are on board to party, party, party. And there were appropriate areas of disco glitz for that purpose. The main auditorium was surprisingly understated which helped focus on the entertainers. As for myself, give me the the elegance of the Delta Queen or HAL Amsterdam.Close

Cruise ships have recognized that not all passengers want to suit up in tuxedos and beads & sequins. Not all passengers want to share a table with 6-8 strangers making small talk for endless meals. For those reasons they have developed alternate eating opportunities. We…Read More

Cruise ships have recognized that not all passengers want to suit up in tuxedos and beads & sequins. Not all passengers want to share a table with 6-8 strangers making small talk for endless meals. For those reasons they have developed alternate eating opportunities.

We ate most of our meals at the Lido buffet called the Freedom Restaurant. Each day they offered a specialty such as Caribbean, Italian, etc. They also offered enough alternatives to please most people. There are more than one buffet line for lunch and dinner, including a Mongolian grill. Breakfast also has an omlette buffet line. All three meals have a seperate area with cheese, fruit and some pastries or desserts. The dining areas are dark and the flooring used looks dirty all the time, even though they clean it often.

Up a flight of stairs, sorry no elevator, from the Freedom Restaurant is Fish n Chips. We had read in a guidebook to not miss this one. We went early and often. Very good food and it is less crowded than the main dining room. They also serve sushi here.

As for fast foods there are three choices. I ate once at the Pizzeria: and found they had interesting selections. The location, unfortunately is beside the pool bar. It is very loud and rowdy. We ate a few times at The Grille: Hot dogs and hamburgers with sides like fries, potato salads and slaw. The Deli: this grossly understaffed eating opportunity provided excellant grilled reuben, grilled ham & cheese and cold sandwhiches, too. I noticed as we neared the end or our trip, the lines at this window were very long. Word got around!

One comment about the buffet set-up. For some reason they put the condiments before the entree. For instance you put catsup and pickles on you plate than pick up your cheeseburger; or you spoon au jus on a plate than put the roast beef on top. There are no small serving plates,bowls or condiment cups. If you want a cup of soup with your meal, you either pour it over the rest or put a splash at the bottom of a huge bowl.

What makes the Carnival Freedom a standout for us was the availability 24/7 of coffee, tea and soft serve ice cream and frozen yogurt.
We tried using room service one morning. They never delivered our order. All we got was an apology when I called, no offer to bring the order.

If you do love your tuxedo and beaded & sequined clothing, there are two fancy restaurants on board: Posh and Chic. In addition the steakhouse encourages upscale apparel. The cruise we were on had a large tuxedo crowd, and they all want the ships photographer to capture that sparkling moment.Close

Just as in the movie "The Graduate", this one word piece of advice is well intended and could save you some troubles. We boarded The Freedom just as the outer edge of Tropical Storm Alberto passed by. The passengers were given protection with covered walkways…Read More

Just as in the movie "The Graduate", this one word piece of advice is well intended and could save you some troubles. We boarded The Freedom just as the outer edge of Tropical Storm Alberto passed by. The passengers were given protection with covered walkways from the terminal building to the ship. Not so our luggage. The cube shaped luggage trailer-carts were open sided and open topped. They sat on the dock fully exposed to the downpour before boarding. Everyone we talked to had soaked luggage. In ours I had packed books, which are now permanently mishappened. All our clothing had to be dried and some had to be washed prior to drying to get rid of stains from things they were packed next too. We did quickly make friends as the laundry room was THE gathering place.
Plastics...from now on we will pack everything in zip-lock bags and stack them in the suitcase. I checked out waterproof luggage on line and decided I can buy a lot of plastic bags for that cost. There were long lines at the guest services desk. Their comment was that it often rains in Fort Lauderdale. I was ahgast! If that is true, than why don't you have a system in place to protect the luggage? On our last day on board, I reviewed our bill and I noticed there was a refund of $9.95 per person. That covered our extra laundry expenses, but not the books.Close

ACCOMMODATIONS:For the first time we decided to splurge and upgrade from an inside stateroom to a Grand Suite with a balcony. The room was the size of a normal hotel room and was so wonderful. We had two twin beds that my mom and aunt…Read More

ACCOMMODATIONS:
For the first time we decided to splurge and upgrade from an inside stateroom to a Grand Suite with a balcony. The room was the size of a normal hotel room and was so wonderful. We had two twin beds that my mom and aunt used and I had the whole pullout couch to myself. There was a full size closet and plenty of drawer space. The room had a bar with additional drawers and a small fridge that was perfect for storing those late night snacks. You could purchase the chocolate bars, nuts, soda and candy that were in the fridge for a fee, but we managed to find treats elsewhere without paying extra.

The bathroom was such a pleasure with a double sink, huge mirrors and a full bathtub with shower. The cruise line provided gratuitous shampoo, conditioner, soaps, etc. Towels were changed every night as needed and the sheets and comforters on the beds were the most comfortable I have felt in a long time.

The suite had a television, stereo system and DVD player that we used a couple of time during the at-sea days. The balcony was the full length of the suite and housed a small table, two chairs and a full size lounge chair that we took advantage of many, many times during the cruise.

Our accommodations were so nice we starting calling ourselves "suite snobs", we spent so much time in our room. If you can afford it, definitely upgrade at least to a balcony room; it provides so much comfort, privacy and a wonderful view of the ocean and ports.

DINING OPTIONS:
With a ship as large as this, your dining options are endless. For dinner, the most common choice is to eat in the main dining room at your assigned table. We had main seating at 6pm on the bottom floor of the three level dining room. The Captain’s table was right next to us, but we only saw him on the formal Captain’s dinner night. Dinners here are usually themed and can vary from Tex-Mex night to formal night to Caribbean night and the recommended dress is usually mentioned in your daily planner.

Another option is the Windjammer, which is a buffet style eating area. The variety is good and on this trip it included sushi, which made my day. If you would prefer a more laid back atmosphere for dinner, this is the place to go. Most of the meal options in the main dining room are carried over to the Windjammer and we chose to eat here many a night. The service is just a quick, the food just as good and the view out the back of the boat through the full-length windows was amazing.

On my last night onboard my mom and I chose to eat at the specialty Italian restaurant, Portofino. For a $20 surcharge you can enjoy a quiet and delicious meal with white glove service. The food here was so good and is a bit fancier than the meals served in the main dining areas. I had never tried it before and can’t wait to go back and try it again.

There is also Johnny Rockets the onboard version of the popular burger and fry diner chain; Café Promenade, a perfect place for cookies and coffee and of course room service that can be ordered right through your in-room television.Close

We had cruised in the Caribbean previously, but this was the first time that we had had a direct flight to join the ship. We have sailed from San Juan, flying via Newark, and from Guadeloupe, flying via Paris, but this direct flight from Manchester to…Read More

We had cruised in the Caribbean previously, but this was the first time that we had had a direct flight to join the ship.

We have sailed from San Juan, flying via Newark, and from Guadeloupe, flying via Paris, but this direct flight from Manchester to Barbados made the journey so much easier.

It did not stop with the direct flight though. P & O must be congratulated on their organisation regarding getting their passengers from the plane to the ship.

We did not enter the terminal building. Instead, as we left the plane, we immediately boarded coaches to take us to the ship, taking just our hand luggage and leaving our main cases to be brought along to our cabin later. The check-in was fast and efficient, and we were in our cabin approximately 40 minutes after landing. How does the advert go? "Life doesn't get much better than this."

Once on board, after a quick freshen-up, we started to find our bearings on Oceana, as we had not cruised on this ship previously. Dinner was open seating on the first night, giving the opportunity to take our time, find out what was on offer, and unpack.

We had booked a cabin with a balcony on Arcadia deck. There was plenty of wardrobe and drawer space, and this was to accommodate clothes for a 15-night holiday with four formal evenings. Unlike some passengers, we had not come with the idea of using the launderette halfway through our holiday. As Oceana had previously been part of the Princess Fleet, as with other American ships, the bathroom was quite small, with a shower only, no bath, but as "shower people", this did not concern us.

The entertainment on board was varied, but we did find some of the shows disappointing, especially those of the ship's company and one of the comedians who we did not feel offered family entertainment. Our favourite evenings were the cabarets by Martin Daniels (son of Paul Daniels) and singer/songwriter Gerard Kenny. Each performer did two shows, which differed entirely and were entertainment at its best.

In the dining room, waiters and assistant waiters were attentive but not "over the top", as can sometimes be the case. Our head waiter was exceptional, nothing being too much trouble, and within a very short space of time, he was very aware of everyone's likes and dislikes.

It is a shame that there are not more tables for two on cruise ships. We would have liked our wedding anniversary meal alone, but the only way to arrange this was to pay to book in one of the alternative dining rooms. It can also be the case that if you are seated with passengers who are not easy to get along with, meal times can be ruined, but this is a chance that has to be taken.

The buffet area was where we always took our breakfast, finding an outside table whenever possible to soak in the Caribbean air and enjoy the warmth, having left behind a very cold England.

The cabin was kept spotlessly clean by our attendant. It is a welcome luxury on a cruise to go to breakfast and return to find the bed made and the bathroom replenished with towels, etc., and after evening dinner to return and find the bed turned down, with a chocolate on each pillow.

For those feeling energetic, there was plenty of opportunity to work out in the gym, and for those who wanted to be pampered, the Beauty and Hair Salon could meet their needs. On board, there were always plenty of activities available - art auctions, lectures on ports of call, quizzes, etc. Never a dull moment. And for those who simply wanted to relax, there are many bars and lounges to do just that.

We have sailed with P & O previously and have always been happy with the service provided, but it has to be said that there is a very happy and relaxed atmosphere on board Oceana, amongst both the passengers and crew. They do say that sort of situation comes "from the top", and in this case that was certainly so.

The captain and crew of Oceana should be congratulated on what was an excellent cruise from start to finish with first-class organisation. The return to the airport was just as good as the arrival with full use of the ship's facilities until our coach arrived at 3:15pm.

If anyone is thinking of cruising in the Caribbean, this is a cruiseline that should certainly be considered.

The decks… Plaza Deck (5): The Plaza deck is the first thing you see when entering the ship. The atrium is three decks high and topped with a beautiful stained glass. A piano player is entertaining the guests at cocktail times and you can find many…Read More

The decks…

Plaza Deck (5): The Plaza deck is the first thing you see when entering the ship. The atrium is three decks high and topped with a beautiful stained glass. A piano player is entertaining the guests at cocktail times and you can find many cozy chairs. There is also a lobby bar. You'll also find one of two Purser's desk. Just on the right of the purser's desk, you can find a nicely (although small) furbished library. I recommend going as early as possible if you don't have a clue of what to see on your trip, because the travel books are leaving fast. Just beside, you have Players, the card room that features also games like Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit), for those afternoons at sea, in case you really wouldn’t know what to do. There is also a writing room. On the back of the ship, you'll also find the Michelangelo, one of the main dining rooms.

The Fiesta deck (6): is the host of the Botticelli (which is only accessible by a rear stairs, which is weird) and Leonardo main dining rooms, princess boutiques, the casino (not too tacky and features some cool holographic sea life pictures) and the fabulous Princess Theatre which is two decks high.

The Promenade deck (7): Features well… the wraparound promenade which will become one of our favorite place, the Painted Desert, the Tex-Mex alternative dining option ($8 cover charge, margarita included), the Heart and Minds chapel where the captain can tie the lovers’ knot should you decide to get married. The Explorer Lounge has an Egyptian-Indian feel and is a venue for art auctions during the day shows and becomes a dance-hall and karaoke performance stage (passengers can also become performers on the last night of the cruise with the passenger’s talent contest). The Wheelhouse bar has a gentlemen club feel. Here, the nautical theme is dominant and it’s very cozy. You will also find Sabatinni's, the Italian upscale dining option (6 course meal, $20 cover charge), and last but not least: the Vista Show lounge, one of the busiest places on the ship. During the day, you can watch movies, play bingo, attend lectures and at night, you can… also watch movies and see performances like stand-up comedians. A piece of advice, be early on performance night or you will be stuck behind a pillar that blocks your view. And going from the boutiques to the Vista Lounge, you have a big alley were the photo-service is installed. You will find your ship pictures on display and for you to purchase.

The Lido deck (12) is the second busiest deck on ship with two pools: the Poseidon Pool where all the action is and the Calypso Pool with its retractable roof (great for bad weather or cool sea breeze). By the way, you will find the Poseidon Grill by the pool that serves you the usual fast-food things (burgers’n fries) and the Pizzeria (go have a try, they’re delicious and there is a special pizza everyday). There is also Scoops, the ice-cream parlor, but you have to pay, it’s a Haagen-Dazs concession. Words of advice: if you come to the Horizon Court between 3:30pm and 5:30pm, vanilla and chocolate ice cream is available (with the indispensable fudges and cream). Further back, the Horizon Court that has 24 hours buffet and is Justin's favorite place. The aft Terrace is a very nice place to have your breakfast if you don't wake up too late (the heat sets it quickly) with the adult-only terrace pool down on the Aloha deck.

The main attraction of the Sun Deck (14) is the Plantation Spa. If you don’t feel like it (or can’t afford, it doesn’t come cheap) to have a massage, you can use the Lap Pool, the sauna and the gym. If you are thinking about having a spa treatment, it is better you go right away there and make your appointment as it gets all booked up very quickly. It’s also the area where kids are kings which the Fun Zone for the young ones and Off-Limits, a teenagers’ only nook. For the kids and kids at heart, there is also Voyage of Discovery, an arcade heaven but it’s not cheap! The Conservatory is a relaxing place, overlooking the calypso pool. Ideal for your afternoon tea.

The Sport deck (15) has a tennis court-volley-ball-basket ball court and a jogging track that runs all along the ship. There is a golf simulator as well, Princess Links.

And finally, the Sky Deck (17) which has perhaps the neatest feature of the ship: the Skywalker Lounge, a nightclub hanging above the rest of the ship and which gives the Grand class ships that distinctive look. To access the lounge, there is a glass walkway (that is all lit up with neon at night). The Lounge has floor-to-ceiling windows with a superb view during the day. If you go during the day, you won’t find anyone there and you can spend a quiet time.

And yes, you're not dreaming, there is no deck 13, 13 being an unlucky number, it's not mentionned. You go from 12 to 14 .

But the time to sail away was near and quick, we ran to the lido deck to see our departure. Justin and I thought we’d have the Love boat theme. Alas! I guess since they’ve been bought by P&O… But, with a Love Boat cocktail on my hand (with the colors of Princess: blue, green and white), sun in my eyes, music in my ears… Anchors off! We saluted Fort Lauderdale as we left and waved at people at the parking lot that was watching us … thinking that only six months ago, we were the ones standing in the parking lot!

The ship slowly backed up in channel and we were gone, everybody gathered at the back of the ship to see Fort Lauderdale disappearing with the setting sun.

On Princess, you have the choice for your dining option: fixed seating (at 6pm or 8pm) or Personal Choice Dining (you can come anytime you want). At first, we had chosen to have fixed seating at the 6pm service, just to try, knowing that you can change your mind afterwards. Because we would miss the sunsets if we carried on with the 6pm dining, we decided to go on Personal choice. But for our first dinner, we went ahead with the fixed seating. It’s always a gamble because you never know with what kind of dining companions you will end up. Ours were pleasant enough but that didn’t stop us from choosing PCD. Anyway, the question you are probably asking is: how is the food? First, you have to know that the menu is changing everyday: French, Italian, the Captain’s Gala Dinner… and if really, you really don’t like what you see on the menu, you can always order from the permanent menu. The food is very tasty and well-presented although not exceptional. Each time we were there, the service was impeccable but if you come at a busy time, you might wait longer than you’d want for your food and drink (although it’s part of the experience of dining in any fine restaurants).

The Maitre D’ (they are all Italians in the three different dining rooms) are all great, using that Italian charm (especially with the ladies, but it’s part of the game) to put you at ease. So, no complains from that point of view.

We spent our first night aboard watching Ocean’s Eleven in the Vista Lounge and after that, we went to take a look at what was going on in the Princess Theater, we just arrived in the middle of a stand-up comedian‘s act. Unfortunately, I can‘t remember his name but he was really good. Not being a fanatic of Las Vegas style shows, we haven’t seen any but the comments I heard were very positive, I even heard "dazzling". We also went to the Skywalker Lounge, which is really great at night, lots of people, nice light work, good music (we were just there for a "disco-mix, they have theme-parties too).

Finally, exhausted, we decided it was time to go to bed.

Royal Caribbean’s private island was a highlight of this cruise, white sand beaches amidst a Windex blue ocean. The island is approximately 1 mile long and half a mile wide, and was surprisingly relaxing. I say that because by noon over a thousand passengers took…Read More

Royal Caribbean’s private island was a highlight of this cruise, white sand beaches amidst a Windex blue ocean. The island is approximately 1 mile long and half a mile wide, and was surprisingly relaxing. I say that because by noon over a thousand passengers took up loungers, flocked to the water and land sports and yet we didn’t feel hemmed in at all.

The snorkel shack rents out equipment and offers instruction. A mandatory snorkel vest is required rental for those who have their own snorkel, mask and fins at a cost, $6.00, for those guests who do not have equipment. Unlimited snorkeling is offered including all equipment and instruction, perfect for beginners or advanced snorkelers. {$27. Adult. $16. Child}

The designated snorkeling area is crystal clear; small yellow fish can be seen as you enter the water. A short swim from the beach takes you to well-marked areas where fish congregate. A red buoy marks the spot of a submerged Spanish Galleon replica the fish are plentiful and friendly thanks to a fish feeding extravaganza.

Toward the lifeguard platform approximately 15 feet on the sandy bottom lies a plane wreck it was placed there to create an artificial reef, close to the wreck are clusters of reef balls, schools of yellowtail, snapper, mangrove, flounder and parrot fish abound. We saw stingrays and contrary to popular misconception they do not sting {unless one turns one over and steps on its stinger} they sleep on the bottom cover their body with sand so that you can only see their head and tail but they are quite something gliding through the water.

I am not really a beach person, lounging in a chair finds me restless after 10 minutes however the day on this island was anything but boring. We arrived by tender around 9am in the first group of passengers. From the ship the tranquil golden island looked like something out of Robinson Caruso, once on the island we were charmed by pretty pastel buildings housing the straw market, sports huts and various food and beverage venues staffed by RCL personnel. There is no permanent habitation on the island aside from a handful of huts that house support staff during cruising months; everything is brought onto the island for the comfort and consumption of RCL guests.

We hiked around the island prior to snorkeling and to our delight once we passed the beach area we left behind people. There is a marked nature trail but we walked at first along the edge of the water. Once we reached the beach head we had to walk in the water; pretty soon we came to a part where the rocks were high and ascending thus we climbed up onto the path at the edge of the trees where the nature trail meandered through dense woods. Along the way we noted piles of beautiful conch shells and a myriad of pretty pink shells. On the trail we couldn’t hear a soul nor did we see many birds, we passed through dense palms Casuarina trees, coconut and fan palms. Sheltered in thick foliage it was hard to believe that less than half a mile away thousands of passengers were descending upon the island.

Lounge chairs are plentiful and hammocks are interspersed between shady trees and along the foliage areas on the beach. The buffet lunch is provided by the cruise line and staffed with the ships wait staff, everything was well organized and vegetarian options were available.

After lunch we walked around the west part of the beach and rented a Hobie Cat sailboat for a leisurely hour, from it we spied stingrays and puffer fish. We chatted with a friendly young man who had rented us the cat, part of the sports team he spends months on the island during cruising season. He was from the Bahamas and pointed out that this area was known as slaughter bay. Pirates lit bonfires along the beaches to entice ships, once they grounded the pirates attacked. Black beard is touted to have roamed here in fact we noticed a fake grave site with his name on it beside the woods, behind the grave site was a ruined cottage but our friend was unable to give me any background on it. We enjoyed our day on this " fantasy island and would certainly recommend it for clearing the stress and warming the soul.

Rental Rates

Rental mandatory snorkel vest $6

Floating Beach Mat $10

Scuba Dive2 hours all equip $55 Tank & weights only. $45

Parasailing one hr $$79

Kayak adventure one & a half hour$38 adult $32 child.

Hobie Cats Sailboats $45 hour/ Paddle boats$15 half hour/ Wave runner one hour $89 passenger $29

Columbus is said to have discovered the island on Saint Martin’s day in 1493 and claimed it for Spain. No Spanish settlers were sent but French and Dutch settlers arrived in early 1630. The Northern part of the island was settled by the French and…Read More

Columbus is said to have discovered the island on Saint Martin’s day in 1493 and claimed it for Spain. No Spanish settlers were sent but French and Dutch settlers arrived in early 1630. The Northern part of the island was settled by the French and the southern section the Dutch, however you can travel between the two without restriction.

There are a wide variety of ships tours offered at this port, prices range from $450 for Harley in Paradise {6hrs} to St Maarten Island tour at $23.{3hrs} We have visited many times always by ship and have never taken a ships tour. Beaches and shopping are easily accessible. Because our daughter had not visited this island before we opted to take a taxi tour {$10 pp. 3 hr tour} and then spend the afternoon at the closest beach.

The Arawak Indians named this island the isle of salt because of its proliferation of salt ponds. Salt was its mainstay until the 1900’s and the French part of the island continued to export salt until 1967. The salt pond in great bay Phillipsburg is still there but no longer in production. Today tourism is the islands main source of income; it is indeed a lovely place.

Our tour started in Phillipsburg the Dutch capital. There were four in our party and we waited about ten minutes until four others joined us. The taxi prices are well posted at the pier and several taxi tours are offered at a much-reduced rate than those of the ship.

At the top of the hill outlined against the sky was a white obelisk monument signifying both countries, a small garden surrounded it and the view over the bay was remarkable. We continued onward through the district of Orleans once the capital of the French side. I must say traffic was bumper to bumper, as we crawled along inhaling the aroma of diesel fumes we had lots of time to check out the surrounding country; Old sugar mills, pastel toned European style villas perched atop hillsides surrounded by dense bush with its mosaic of color; the orange flamboyant trees, red hibiscus and magneta bougainvillea suggests quiet tranquility and a yearning to actually sit on those terraces. Our next quick photo stop was at Orient Bay with its spectacular view over Orient beach, Pinel island, and St Barts.
In the village of grand case we viewed the pretty Creole buildings and art galleries, Grand Case has the well-deserved reputation of being the gourmet capital of the island and I can guarantee from past visits that is the case

Marigot on the French side is an attractive port town housing sidewalk cafes and markets. Overlooking the bay is imposing Fort St Louis, the last time we were here we made the steep climb to the summit and I can tell you the panoramic view was well worth that climb. There are also several high-end shops offering West Indian souvenirs, art, jewelry, and perfume. I purchased perfume that I was unable to obtain when in Paris. Okay it’s old, I’m old but not redundant, will need to go back for a refill!
Marigot market is a lively place filled with the aroma of spices. Fresh fruit and vegetables abound plus a pretty impressive array of local arts and crafts and beautiful batik wraps.

I always enjoy this French town with its pastel colonial buildings and friendly people. The pretty harbor is a fine place to enjoy a quiet moment and watch the lively crowds. It is also the pick up and drop off point for taxi’s and tour groups. We stopped at several scenic lookouts and I do recommend this tour to orient you to this beautiful island

Following lunch we spent the afternoon in Phillipsburg at the beach closest to the ship Great bay. We rented a lounge chair and umbrella, {$10 all day} jet ski rental and other water sport activities are available but it is not a good place to snorkel.
If you like shopping you won’t be disappointed nor will you get lost. It is a pretty easy place to navigate. The two main roads are named Front St and Back street! They connect by a myriad of narrow passageways. At the eastern end of the town Wathey square is a busy hub and there too you will find the tourist office and the impressive white wooden courthouse. {now the post office} There are tiny courtyards leading from some of the alleys and I loved the characteristic pastel coloured west Indian buildings around this town.
From the ship you can walk into town but most people take the water taxis

Transportation.

Taxi fares from the cruise terminal. One way per person.

Mullet Bay $16.
Marigot. $12.
Dawn Beach. $15.
Orient Beach.$18.
Divi Little Bay. $8.

Getting to Town.

Water Taxi to town pier. $5. unlimited transport all day.

Land Taxi to the courthouse. $3. per person one way.

Great bay Beach is conviently located at Phillipsburg where cruise passengers disembark the tender. This beach is within walking distance from the tender.

The chief port and capital Charlotte Amalie has been a haven for seafarers from all over the globe since 1600. The harbour is beautiful and especially so at night as lights twinkle across the island. It was reportedly the homeport of pirates, Captain Kidd and…Read More

The chief port and capital Charlotte Amalie has been a haven for seafarers from all over the globe since 1600. The harbour is beautiful and especially so at night as lights twinkle across the island. It was reportedly the homeport of pirates, Captain Kidd and Blackbeard being the most notable, from this lair Sir Francis Drake launched his attacks on Spanish Galleons on their way to Spain. Today Thousands of cruise ship guests and other visitors descend on this island daily and the old warehouses that once stored the pirate’s booty contain many of the town’s boutiques and shopping arcades.

The best way to explore the town is on foot, we had spent five hours at Coki beach and on our way back to the ship asked the driver drop us close to Emancipation Park, so named because Seventeen years before emancipation the Dutch governor freed the slaves of the Virgin Islands. A replica of the liberty Bell and a sculpture of King Christian the fifth are on display.

The vendors market across the street from the Legislature building was once the busiest 18th century slave market in the West Indies, in those dark days of slavery humans were bought and sold into untold hardships and horrors, today a sea of colorful tee shirts and cheap souvenirs attract consumers.

The green Legislature building is a 130-year-old Italian Renaissance structure once used as a barracks for Danish police, when the US acquired the building it housed U.S. Marines. The 1917 ceremony transferring ownership of the islands to the U.S was signed here. The building is open to visitors.

We have been to St Thomas many times but this was our daughter and grandsons first visit, they are really more interested in beaches than towns but they said they did enjoy walking the town and visiting its shops, while they shopped Neil and I found a nice patio bar where we sat and had a cold one and watched the sun play over the interesting buildings. Much of the stone on these restored 17th –18th century warehouses were built with stone from ships ballast and coral resulting in interesting light shadows. Navigating through the narrow alleyways of the town will give its visitor a real flavor of what used to be. Saying that, on cruise ship days the place is a beehive of hustle and bustle and wall to wall hawkers, traffic snarls along its small street is commonplace so take that into consideration and give yourself ample time to re - join your ship.

There is of course more to see around this town, on our last visit we climbed over a hundred steps to see " Blackbeards" Castle and government house. I can recommend the climb for the vista that waits at the top. We also visited St Thomas Synagogue, it is the oldest synagogue in continuous use under the American flag and the second oldest continuously used synagogue in the western Hemisphere. I remember it had a floor of sand. During the Spanish inquisition Spanish and Portuguese Jews needed to muffle the sound of their services. The Synagogue is located on Crystal Gade and is a steep climb up from the main street.