What is a Group Cruise?
This cruise is being administered by CruiseQuick, a very reputable online cruise only agency that does business by email only. A group booking engine has been set up to accommodate deposits – when you are ready to book, simply log on and enter in your credit card information. After Carnival Cruise Lines receives your deposit, an invoice will be emailed to you. Please make sure the information on the invoice is accurate, and matches your passport documentation exactly. If you have any questions or concerns about your booking, please email or call Suzi Rudek at (916) 971-5122 MWF.
Our group booking was set up to lock in 2006 rates on a 2007 sailing. All perks Carnival extends to groups are based on the number of group points that are assigned to the sail date; points are a way for the Cruise Line to attract groups and fill the ship. Some sailings generate up to 8 points, while others none. Popular sailings, like those over the summer generate little or no points, while those in the fall and off season have more. As the sail date nears, the points assigned for new groups on a sailing generally go down. Points can be used for certain shipboard amenities. Once a group booking is made, the points are locked in. The 6 points we are receiving for our sailing allows us to offer members $100 per cabin shipboard credit, a free group cocktail party and some champagne at embarkation. Pretty nice, eh?
One perk extended to Carnival groups is a reduced deposit on double occupancy cabins that is NOT available to individual bookings. When you hold a room with this reduced deposit, you are NOT booking a guarantee, even though most agents refer to the booking as a guarantee. What you are really doing is paying a deposit to hold a room in a particular category until your second deposit posts.
Once your reservation posts the full $300pp deposit, you can then opt to obtain a cabin assignment or have your booking remain a guarantee. The purpose of the $25 deposit is to buy you some time. Many people, who desire a certain cabin or prefer to know they have a cabin reserved, will make their second deposit well before its due date.
The $25pp deposit applies to double occupancy cabins only. If you are looking to book a single, triple or quad, you must pay the standard $300pp deposit. Remember ALL monies paid into your booking are 100% refundable 70 days or more prior to the sail date.
Once your second $275pp deposit posts to your reservation (meaning you have a total of $300pp on your booking), your booking is then treated very much like any other individual reservation.
Ports of Call Information:
St. Maarten
What to See and Do
Scuba diving around Proselyte Reef, named for the British frigate HMS Proselyte, which sank here in 1801. It lies in depths ranging from 15 to 45 feet. Divers need to book through a local dive site operator.
St. Maarten 12 Metre Regatta consists of yachts that raced in the 1987 America's Cup; you can sign up through your cruise ship or through a hotel. Be prepared to pitch in--everything from trimming sails and winching to being the cooler queen (passing out sodas).
Take a trip to the isle of Anguilla. This peaceful British-affiliated island, about a 25-minute ferry ride from Marigot, is known for its gorgeous white-sand beaches and phenomenal gourmet restaurants. At the ferry terminal here taxis are available. Most folks head straight to Shoal Bay (east), full of activity and barbecue shacks, and fronting tranquil waters. Another option, especially for foodies: Ask the taxi driver to take you to Trattoria Tramonto, a fabulous waterfront Italian restaurant on Shoal Bay West (the restaurant offers free lounge chairs for lunch guests); make sure you arrange for the cabbie to pick you up again! Logistical note: Ferries operate between Blowing Point (Anguilla) and Marigot every half-hour or so during the day. Cost each way is $12 and is paid in cash onboard. Both St. Martin and Anguilla charge "departure" fees ($2 and $3 respectively). Critical: make sure you bring your passport, or you'll be denied entry.
Best Beach for a Half-Day Visit: Mullet Bay.
Best Beach for the Dedicated Beach Bum: Orient Beach, aka Baie Orientale, is located in St. Martin but is an easy taxi ride from Philipsburg. The beach has a section for nudists as well as more crowded areas for plain ol' beach bums. You can rent water gear and beach lounges, and there are numerous bars and food shacks. Windsurfing is good here and you can rent equipment.
Best Beach for Active Types: Dawn Beach for snorkeling and body surfing.
Secluded Beach: Cupecoy Beach, which has caves and rock cliffs, has lots of private nooks and crannies. Also, try Dawn Beach for snorkeling.
Shopping
Philipsburg's main drags of Front and Old Street are crammed with duty-free jewelry shops, electronics, and liquor. For offbeat finds in Philipsburg, consider Greenwith Gallery (33 Front Street) for a wide variety of Caribbean artwork and upscale crafts, Dutch Delft Gallery (37 Front Street), Ikemba-African Art Gallery (125 Front Street), and the Belgium Chocolate Factory (Old Street Arcade).
Marigot, St. Martin: This hub of the French St. Martin is filled with designer boutiques and fabulous restaurants, bistros, and cafes (duty-free merchandise, while occasionally available, isn't as much a focus).
Where You're Docked
The A.C. Wathey Pier & Port Facility, St. Maarten's new pier and cruise terminal, is a boon to cruise passengers, especially those who find tendering unpleasant, inconvenient or physically challenging. In most cases ships will dock here, but on busy days tendering to Little Pier, right in the heart of Phillipsburg, is still a possibility.
Getting Around
On Foot: The main on-foot attraction at the base of the new pier is a set of duty-free shops. Though you can hike the 20-minute route into downtown Philipsburg, the streets are narrow and there are no sidewalks (and the views are incredibly un-scenic to boot).
Taxis:
In the past taxi operators in St. Maarten were totally independent, setting their own rates and schedules. Now they are under government regulation -- though we heard grousing from some passengers that it was better in the good old days when you could negotiate a price with a cab driver and get a personalized island tour thrown in to boot. The problem was that if you just wanted, for example, to go directly to Marigot on the French side, drivers would often refuse to take you, waiting for the possibility of a group seeking a more lucrative island tour.
We think things are better under the new system, where passengers at the new port facility queue up under signs designating per-person rates and destinations -- everything from one-way to Phillipsburg to a full island tour. Vehicles range from standard taxis to large vans and open safari-style vehicles, and rates improve based on the number in your party. The per-person savings aren't that huge, so if you are on a tight schedule and don't know your taxi-mates well, it's probably best to go it alone, lest one of them pipes up that they want to add an island tour or a detour to the beach.
Water Taxi:
A water taxi operates between the cruise pier and the heart of downtown Philipsburg; cost is $3 each way (a roundtrip discount price of $5 is often available).
Renting a Car: This is a destination where renting a car can be a benefit (particularly if you have four or more people and want to see sights on both St. Maarten and St. Martin). There are a handful of agencies at the cruise pier.
Staying in Touch
Internet Paradise (corner of Front Street and Yrausquin Boulevard).
St. Kitts
Where You're Docked
Three years ago Port Zante, at the southern end of the island, opened to accommodate the big cruise ships and now features restaurants and shops. Just a stroll from the port is Basseterre, the capital of St. Kitts. Established by French explorers in the early 17th century, the town features white colonial houses and a few surviving 18th-century buildings.
Getting Around
The best way to explore St. Kitts is to take one of the island's widely available taxis. It's advisable to agree on the price up front, since there are no meters. Buses also circle the island all day in the form of mini-vans. A visitor's driver's license costs $62.50 EC ($23 U.S.) from police stations and car rental agencies. It's best to drive slowly. Children walk to school via the roads and people often stop their cars to talk. Goats, sheep, donkeys, and cows have the right of way.
What to See and Do
Carib petroglyphs north of Basseterre. Etched on huge black rocks, these preserved drawings offer a glimpse into the lives of the people who originally discovered this island.
Bloody Point is the haunting site where French and British troops massacred over 2,000 Caribs in 1626. The view of Mount Liamuiga is spectacular.
Brimstone Hill Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a complex of bastions and barracks built by the British. On a clear day, the view includes six islands: Nevis, Montserrat, Saba, St. Barths, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten.
Basseterre's Marketplace on Saturday morning is the place for people watching as well as buying flowers, mangos, guavas, apples, and wild cherries.
At Black Rocks along the northeast shore, the surf has sculpted huge lava deposits into unusual shapes.
Indulge at the Four Seasons Spa with a signature "Rum and Tonic" treatment. Start with a mango sugar rub, followed by a rum and tonic application. Finish with a warm tin foil wrap and massage with warm mango shea butter from the African Karite tree.
Discover St. Kitt's flora and fauna at the Nature Reserve. Many species, including the St. Kitts national bird, the brown pouch-less pelican, make their home here.
Stroll the grounds at Romney Manor, once owned by Thomas Jefferson's grandfather. Today, the botanical garden houses Caribelle Batik, a great place to buy handmade batik clothing.
Staying in Touch
Sun Surf Internet Cafe, at the TDC Mall on Fort Street in Basseterre just north of the Circus, offers high speed Internet access as does nearby Dot Com Cafe.
Where to Eat and Drink
St. Kitts boasts a wide variety of restaurants ranging from restored plantation houses to casual beach hideouts. Here are some of the most memorable tables:
Its Atlantic Ocean setting and casual West Indian food make the Atlantic Club a popular local spot. In addition to fresh fish, conch, and lobster, specials include goat stew and pickled pig.
Another local favorite is Glimbara Diner, a down-to-earth, family-run restaurant serving Creole cuisine and American-style food (869-465-8633; 869-465-1786).
On the northern coast at Dieppe Bay is the Golden Lemon, famous for its sophisticated Continental/Creole menu. Specialties include fresh fish and Creole steak with rum sauce. Sunday buffet brunch is served poolside under a breadfruit tree (869-465-7260).
Rawlins Plantation, a former sugar plantation on the slopes of Mount Liamuiga, 10 minutes from Brimstone Hill, is famous for blending Kittian and French cuisine. Its buffet lunch features dishes like shrimp fritters in mango salsa, lobster and spinach crepes, and chocolate terrine with passion fruit sauce (869-465-6221).
Stonewalls, in Basseterre's convenient historical area, is a casual, open-air bar set in a tropical garden with fare ranging from zesty gumbo and spicy curry to stir-fries and conch fritters (869-465-5248).
St. Lucia
Where You're Docked
Most ships anchor at Place Carenage or dock Pointe Seraphine, both within walking distance of downtown Castries. The Miracle will be docked at Pointe Seraphine.
Getting Around
On Foot: Downtown Castries is within easy walking distance of both Pointe Seraphine and Place Carenage.
By Taxi: Taxis are readily available at the dock or from downtown. Regulated taxi operations are available at most places throughout the island. A ride from Castries to Rodney Bay will cost about $16 for up to four people. Be sure to agree on a price before you get in -- and specify which currency you'll be using.
By Car: There are several car rental companies waiting at the port, with rates starting at about $50 per day. You can also rent 4 x 4 vehicles starting at about $60 per day. Unless you have an international driving permit, you'll need to purchase a temporary permit ($20). Note that St. Lucians drive on the left.
By Bus: St. Lucia's public transportation system consists of colorful, privately owned minivans, often painted with whimsical names (we rode on one called "Big Time"). They're mostly used by locals and are the cheapest way to get around the island -- for example, a ride from Castries to Rodney Bay costs less than a dollar per person. The bus station is in downtown Castries within walking distance of the cruise terminals.
Where to Eat and Drink
For nouvelle Caribbean cuisine and gorgeous views of the Pitons, head to Dasheene Restaurant & Bar (Ladera Resort, Soufriere, 758-459-7323, noon - 2:30 p.m.), perched on a mountainside above the sea. The fresh catch of the day is always a good option.
Chill out and watch the world (or at least a bunch of yachts!) go by at The Lime (758-452-0761), a casual bar and restaurant overlooking busy Rodney Bay. "Liming" is a Caribbean term for relaxing, and you'll do just that over reasonably priced Creole favorites like seafood and jerk chicken.
Also in Rodney Bay is The Charthouse (758-452-8115), one of the longest-established restaurants on the island. Menu options include steak, ribs and fresh seafood.
In Vigie Marina, The Coal Pot (758-452-5566, Monday - Friday, noon - 2 p.m.) offers a blend of international cuisines and is intimate and romantic. Reservations are highly recommended. Ferry service is available from Point Seraphine.
Green Parrot (758-452-3399, noon - 2 p.m.), set on Morne Fortune above Castries Harbor, provides panoramic views of the island. Cuisine is West Indian blended with Creole and international styles. Reservations are essential.
What to See and Do
The area in and around the 18th-century city of Soufriere is one of the loveliest parts of the island. Located in the shadow of the Pitons, Soufriere was once the capital of St. Lucia back when it was a French colony, and today its colorful buildings with gingerbread trim still hold plenty of historic charm. This is home to the Soufriere Drive-In Volcano, where you can get up close and personal with a collection of multicolored sulfur pools -- an extraordinary sight, but be prepared for the stench!
A more fragrant option near Soufriere is the Diamond Botanical Gardens & Waterfall (758-459-7565), where you can stroll through acres of lush flowering plants and trees and even go swimming in one of the mineral baths near Diamond Waterfall. Originally built by King Louis XVI of France, the estate is now owned by the descendents of its 18th-century owners. Monday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sundays and holidays 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
One of those much-hyped (but still fascinating) attractions is the Pitons. These twin mountains, whose peaks rise right out of the ocean for almost a half-mile, are on the island's southwest coast. If you're really ambitious (and have an extra-long day in port), it's possible to hike up Gros Piton; be warned that it's a challenging and time-consuming climb, and you'll need both a guide and permission from the St. Lucia Forest & Lands Department. For most travelers, the best way to see the peaks is from the water; most cruise lines offer boat excursions that sail along the coast. They are also visible as you drive in and around Soufriere.
Fun for both children and adults is a visit to Pigeon Island, at the very northwest tip of St. Lucia. Once home to a group of Carib Indians and later a pirate hideout, today the island is part of the St. Lucia National Trust, with beaches, a restaurant, and the historic remains of the barracks and garrisons where the French and English once fought for control of St. Lucia. Learn all the compelling history of the island at the Museum and Interpretive Centre, housed in the former British officers' mess building, which has been restored to the way it looked in 1808. Don't miss a hike up to the hilltop ruins of Fort Rodney for sweeping views of the sea and the mainland. Daily 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Vendors have gathered for more than 100 years at the Castries Market and adjacent Craft Market to hawk fresh fruits and vegetables, spices, and local crafts. Baskets, wood carvings, pottery and hand-screened clothing are all excellent buys. Monday - Saturday 6 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Go duty-free shopping at Pointe Seraphine, a harborfront shopping complex in Castries offering imports like designer perfumes, crystal and china, as well as wood carvings and other local handicrafts. The island's finest silk-screened fabrics and clothing are offered at Bagshaws Studio and Shop, located two miles from Castries. Most stores in Castries are open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, with a break for lunch, and from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Those interested in snorkeling should head to Anse Chastanet or Anse Cochon to explore spectacular reefs, colorful marine life and -- at Anse Cochon -- an old sunken ship.
Try your hand at deep-sea fishing. Mako Watersports (798-452-0412) motors the "Annie Baby" out of Rodney Bay Marina, welcoming both neophytes and experienced fishermen. Reservations are highly recommended. Half- and full-day tours are available.
Staying in Touch
There's an Internet cafe at Caribbean Travel on Micoud St., Castries. The cost is $5 E.C. (less than $2 U.S.) for 30 minutes of access.
