CARNIVAL FASCINATION & OLD SAN JUAN CRUISE PORT

Our last Caribbean cruise sailed out of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Since we had never cruised from there before, I wasn't quite sure what to expect.

As it turned out, sailing from San Juan was a wonderful experience.

There is something especially exciting about beginning a Caribbean cruise surrounded by the colorful streets, historic forts, and tropical atmosphere of Puerto Rico. Unlike cruising from a mainland port, San Juan already feels like part of the vacation before you ever step foot on the ship.

While every cruise port has changed over the years, one of the things I loved most about sailing from San Juan was how easy it was to combine a cruise with time exploring Old San Juan.

Exploring St Lucia Beyond the Pitons: Local Food, Banana Plantations & Cruise Excursion Tips

In Part 1 of our St Lucia adventure, I shared our visit to Sugar Beach, the famous Pitons, the Sulphur Springs mud baths, and Toraille Waterfall.

But our Cosol Tours excursion included so much more than the major attractions. Along the way, we tasted local foods, visited banana plantations, saw incredible island scenery, and learned more about life in St Lucia.

This is what made the tour so special — it wasn't just about seeing beautiful places. It gave us a glimpse into the culture and everyday life of the island.

St Lucia Cruise Excursion Review: Exploring the Pitons, Sugar Beach and Sulphur Springs with Cosol Tours

After visiting several Caribbean islands, each with its own personality and charm, I can honestly say that St Lucia quickly became one of my favorites.

There is something truly special about this island. Maybe it is the dramatic Piton Mountains rising from the sea, the lush rainforest covering the hillsides, the colorful towns along the coast, or the way the island combines adventure, beauty, and Caribbean culture. Whatever the reason, St Lucia left a lasting impression on me.

CARLISLE BEACH & BARBADOS CRUISE PORT (BRIDGETOWN)

My daughter and I were really excited about visiting Barbados.  I mean, it's Barbados....the water is a beautiful turquoise and the sand is a brilliant white. 

Walk from the ship to the port area

TOURING BEAUTIFUL ST KITTS

I have mentioned our plans on all of my post about this cruise.  We had grand plans for some islands like Barbados and no plans at all for islands like Antigua.  St Kitts was another port where we didn't make any plans.  

After a nice breakfast, we decided to get off in port and see what tours were available.  

ANTIGUA ADVENTURE: A PHOTO TOUR

I’ve been fortunate enough to visit a handful of Caribbean islands—thirteen, to be exact—and one of the brightest gems on that list is Antigua. Nestled in the West Indies (yep, that’s what your phone will show as your location), this island is part of the stunning Leeward Islands chain.

Antigua is famous for its beaches—locals claim there are 365 of them, one for every day of the year. Whether that’s literally true or just a clever way to lure visitors, it’s easy to see why the island has earned its reputation as a paradise. Soft sand, sparkling turquoise water, and hidden coves await around every turn.

The easiest—and most fun—way to truly see Antigua is on a tour. You can read all about how we chose ours [HERE]. Before our cruise, I couldn’t have pointed out Antigua and Barbuda on a map without a bit of hesitation. Now, after exploring its winding roads, colorful towns, and secret beaches, I’ll never forget it.

If you’re like many people, you might not be able to point out Antigua and Barbuda on a map. To be honest, before our Caribbean cruise, it would have taken me a little while to find this tiny island myself.

BEACHES

With our feet finally on Antigua’s soft sand, it was time to see what the island is really famous for—its beaches.

ANTIGUA YACHT CLUB

After soaking up the sun and snorkeling in the turquoise waters, we headed to the Antigua Yacht Club to enjoy a different side of island life.

AROUND THE ISLAND

  

With a few drinks and bites enjoyed by the water, it was time to explore more of what Antigua has to offer—winding roads, colorful towns, and hidden gems beyond the coast.

Loved the boat shaped house in the above photo.

The fruit growing in the above photo is a Custard Apple.  It was the fist time I had ever seen this fruit but love the texture.  It supposedly has the taste of custard, hence the name.

Of course, the views are breathtaking, but what really stole my attention in Antigua was the fruit. Everywhere I looked, pineapples, mangoes, bananas, and coconuts were growing together, more abundant than on any other Caribbean island I’ve visited.

Spotted along our drive: a cheerful preschool and day care, a glimpse of everyday life on the island.

Branch Post Office tucked into Antigua’s charming streets

What to Know Before Visiting Antigua

Size & Getting Around:
Antigua is a small island—only 108 square miles and about 13 miles across—so it’s easy to see a lot, even if you only have a day like we did.

Tours:
If Antigua is one of your cruise ports, check out my post about arriving in port and choosing a tour [HERE]. We took a full island tour for just $20 USD with a local guide—and it was amazing! I’ll walk you through the process so you can enjoy a day on the island for very little money.

Currency:
The official currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar, but US dollars are widely accepted.

Language:
English is the official language, making it easy for English-speaking visitors to get around.

What I’d Do Differently:
Honestly, nothing! We had a relaxing breakfast, followed by an incredible island tour. It was the perfect day in Antigua.

ANTIGUA - ST JOHN CRUISE PORT

Before the trip, I had done a little research on each port and, in the back of my mind, had ranked them based on what I thought would be the most exciting. For some reason, Antigua ended up at the bottom of my list. Why? I’m not sure—maybe it was because I hadn’t heard as much about it as the other islands.

After returning to the U.S., I’m happy to report that my assumptions about Antigua were completely wrong. In fact, it ended up tying with St. Lucia as my favorite Caribbean island.

MAHO BEACH - THE MOST THRILLING BEACH IN THE WORLD

No visit is complete to St.Martin without a trip to Maho beach. If you haven't considered visiting St Martin, then you need to redo your bucket list.

St Martin is beautiful but that in itself is not the reason for my excitement about visiting this country. My excitement came from the fact that St Martin is the location of Maho Beach. THE Maho Beach...the one where planes land only feet away from the beach and where visitors stand with their cameras ready to capture the enormous jets as they pass overhead.



Maho beach is located in the western part of the Dutch side of the island near the French border and right beside the Princess Juliana International Airport. The beach is separated by a two lane highway which stayed busy the entire time we were there. It also has the distinction of being one of the most dangerous airports in the world.

HURRICANE DESTRUCTION AROUND ST MARTIN / ST MAARTEN

I saw hurricane destruction up close and personal for the first time in my life when I visited St. Maarten / St Martin on Saturday.

When Hurricane Irma struck the island in September 2017, winds of 180 mph tore through the island, destroying everything it it's path.  It wasn't bad enough dealing with Irma, but they had to deal with Hurricane Jose and Hurricane Maria in the following weeks.

I spoke to a local who said he and several of his friends and relatives  tried to ride out the storm in his home but the roof was torn off so when the eye passed over and everything was calm for a minute, they went to a neighbors home that had a concrete roof that was still in tact.