Cruises to islands to visit

http://www.cruisecritic.com/ports/area.cfm?area=10



Sun Jul 3 San Juan, Puerto Rico 10:00pm

Mon Jul 4 St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 7:00am 5:00pm
Tue Jul 5 At Sea
Wed Jul 6 Barbados 8:00am 5:00pm
Thu Jul 7 St. Lucia 8:00am 5:00pm
Fri Jul 8 St. Kitts 8:00am 6:00pm
Sat Jul 9 St. Maarten 7:00am 5:00pm
Sun Jul 10 San Juan, Puerto Rico 7:00am


St. Thomas: Sapphire Beach


San Juan:

• San Juan's Luqillo Beach, located near El Yunque, is a real locals' haunt; long stretches of sand, water sports rentals and a great line of food stands offering classic Puerto Rican beach food.
• Natural Wonders: Visit El Yunque, the only rain forest designated as a U.S. National Forest. Located about an hour south of San Juan, you'll see numerous waterfalls, ferns and wildflowers along the marked trails. Because it's a rain forest, it will probably, well, rain during your visit -- so pack a slicker.
  
   

St. Thomas: Sapphire Beach
Barbados:

• Hunte's Gardens: http://www.huntesgardensbarbados.com/
• Brighton Beach in Barbados, also known as Weiser's Beach (Weiser is the popular beach bar by the ocean), is beautiful beach visible from your cruise ship. Placid water and a laid-back vibe make this one a favorite with locals.
• Beach Break in Barbados - The Boatyard
• It's the one tour that offers a comprehensive view of island life and commerce; a Bajan lunch in a plantation house is a special bonus allowing visitors a taste of the colonial atmosphere and of the island's cuisine

St Lucia:

• LucianStyle Experience Center: segway tours
• Why It's Extraordinary: A drive-in volcano? A waterfall that changes colors? A fabulous catamaran-snorkeling trip? What can be more extraordinary than that?
  
  St Kitts:

• http://lizpereirastourstore.shutterfly.com/availabletours  - Panoramic Island Tour (25$/per person)
• http://www.stkittsislandparadisetours.com/tours.cfm?idz=1
• It takes you back in time to when sugar was the currency of kings; it gives a fantastic view of the island, little villages and sugar cane fields, black-sand beaches and the distinctive ruins of sugar mills, Brimstone Hill Fortress (the "Gibraltar of the Caribbean,"), and views out to Nevis, birthplace of Alexander Hamilton
• At Turtle Bay in St. Kitts, you can rent everything from snorkeling gear to windsurfing equipment here -- and eat and drink. Don't forget to check out the monkeys. Snorkelers may want to head to White House Bay or Friar's Bay.
  
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St - Maarteen:
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) -- take the Water Taxi instead.
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).
Best Beach for a Half-Day Visit: Mullet Bay.

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.

http://www.thebutterflyfarm.com/
Dawn Beach  (careful, there is some other nude beach)
Long beach - St Maarten