I am going on a cruise in a couple of weeks. I need suggestions of what to do at each of these ports. I could schedule excursions through the cruise line but wanted to know if there were other things that I should put on my to do list. We are going to port at the following places and any suggestions you have would be very appreciated. Any tips or restaurant suggestions are welcomed!

Half Moon Cay, Bahamas
Charlotte Amalie (St Thomas), US Virgin Islands
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Grand Turk, Turks And Caicos Islands

Half Moon Cay, Bahamas- The Swamp Bar has the best martinis in town! They distill the Gin in-house (young gin).

Charlotte Amalie (St Thomas), US Virgin Islands

You might have to do some on-line research on this. Not a whole lot has re-opened last I checked. If you get a chance to take the ferry over to St. John, it is worth the trip - but again, both islands were almost wiped off the map in Irma and Maria.


San Juan, Puerto Rico

Marmalade Restaurant & Wine Bar - downtown San Juan - best restaurant on the island. You need to make reservations early however - if you are going in a couple of weeks you might already be too late.

The old Spanish forts in Puerto Rico are really cool to explore.

I believe we went swimming with the sting rays when we stopped in St. Thomas and that was lots of fun.

Taking a tour of the Bacardi factory was fun when we visited years ago.

Catamaran snorkel and rum outing at Turks and Caicos. Sounds like you are doing Holland America. One of the best times I have ever had on an excursion. They don't serve rum until after the snorkeling.

I was thinking that too, that this sounds very much like an HA itinerary!

Half Moon Cay is a private island owned by HA so you guys/gals (?) must be correct.

take advantage of the bathrooms on land

if recent news reports are any indication, they won't be working on the ship

Go to Magens Bay on St Thomas and hit the beach bar. Beautiful place, beautiful people, tasty drinks that make you feel like you're really on vacation.

to prepare for the cruise, go to Denny's or Shoney's every morning between the hours of 6-8 AM, and go through the buffet line. Then go to Golden Corral from 4-6 PM, also buffet line. This will prepare you for eating arrangements on the cruise!

you're welcome...

Then go to Golden Corral from 4-6 PM, also buffet line.

I think that 2:30 to 3:00 for the early bird senior hour would be a better representation

We always enjoy our cruises, and we've been on probably a dozen or so.
We love just sitting on deck or on a balcony and enjoying the breeze.

Ditto to the above, I go every year and I disconnect from everything except my Kindle.

I have been on a cruise before just haven't been to these ports of call. I love to cruise and think its really the only way to totally disconnect. You can get room service for free and skip the long lines at the buffet.

what kind of shape is Puerto Rico in at this point? I know much of the outlying points on the island still have power and water issues.

here you go

http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2018/01/11...nter-storm.html

We took this excursion in St Thomas and went to Honeymoon Beach afterwards. The rum punch was delicious and yes they only served it after the snorkeling tour was over.

San Juan didn't have much hurricane damage. Our tour guide said some people in the rain forest up near the mountains still didn't have power. The beach we visited was beautiful.

Did you enjoy it overall?
Which line did you cruise?

I absolutely loved it! We sailed on the Carnival Glory.

That's great. Our last cruise itinerary got derailed due to Hurricane Irma, so that was unfortunate for all affected (obv the island residents way worse than us), but we're set for our next cruise in May for my wife's 40th. We're going on Royal Oasis this time which will be a first for us on that specific Royal ship but from what I've seen, it looks spectacular.