Expert: Curtis Thorsen - 9/1/2002

Question
Should I book shore excursions before my cruise or wait until on board or just buy my shore trips at each port? I am sailing back to back on Celebrity Millenium 10-4 and 10-14. This is our first time cruising.

Answer
Welcome to the world of cruising... WOW... you are starting off in a LARGE WAY for your first cruise !

The Millenium is a BEAUTIFUL SHIP, and I am sure you will have a wonderful cruise experience.

Shore trips should be purchased when you board the ship (on each leg) as they do sell out rather quickly. If you were a seasoned cruiser, I would say that you could do your own shore tours via vendors that are right outside the ship at each port. But since first timers... I would suggest staying with the cruiseline tours so that you have recourse if any problems should arise.

Suggestions are difficult for me to make as I do not know your likes and dislikes and I do not have the exact excursion offereings at my fingertips.
Looking at the ports of call on both sailings I can suggest as below:

St. Maarten: VIsit Orient Beach (this is a clothing optional beach), but a beautiful beach at that ! Or you may want to go shopping downtown and then visit beach bar and grill called "Everyting' Cool". a great place that I have visited many many times !

St. Lucia: Take a tour of the "Pitons" if offered.

Barbados: Pick up some Mt. Gay Rum ! You can tour the distilliary too !

St. Thomas: Go to Sapphire Beach for a great beach adventure or possibly Cinamon Bay., shopping is good, but better in St. Maarten.

Key West: Good shopping... not the best beaches though. Visit "Sloppy Joes" Bar... Hemmingway did some of his best writing in this bar ! There is a great sponge shop here... take the Conch Train tour for the history of this quaint port of call !

Cozumel: Great shopping and see the Mayan Ruins....stop in to Carlos and Charlies for a great plce to relax and have a drink and dance 1 Good Beaches here.... Chaakanab Nation Park where you can swim with the dolphins, snorkel or just rest your buns in the sand !

Grand Caymen: You MUST DO "Sting Ray City" and interact with sting rays while feeding holding and snorkelling with them. Shopping VERY PRICEY !

Here is a website you may want to visit for other suggestions.....  www.cruisecritic.com. They have specific port of call boards where you can get the scoop on the remainder of yours you will visit.

Hope this has been of some help to you and if I can assist you in future cruise plans... feel free to call or email us.

Safe Travels.....

Curtis Thorsen
President
Cruise & Resort Connection, Inc.
1-912-654-1072 office
fun2cruiz@aol.com   email