Cruise Review | 8 Day Carnival Caribbean Island Tour (Grand Turk, San Juan, St.Kitts and St.Maarten) Wednesday 05 October, 2016
The Carnival Splendor 8-day trip was amazing! Four islands sailing through Grand Turk, San Juan (PR), St. Kitts and St.Maarten. It was nothing but great weather, beaches and fun. I loved learning more about each location, the culture and makes me want to take separate trips to each island again in the near future. Check out some of my photos of the island destinations we stopped on.
GRAND TURK
Our first stop was Grand Turk, which is located in the Turks and Caicos island. Did you know that Carnival owned Grand Turk island? I didn’t know that until last year..a cool tidbit! I was here last year and I was shocked it was the first stop – because when I went on Carnival Sunshine last year it was the last stop. Well since I was already prepared on what was in store, I told Nina we don’t even have to do much I know exactly where we were headed. MARGARITAVILLE!!!
Its always a party at Margaritaville in Grand Turk. The pool is the hot spot and all the music, dance contest and more!
Grand Turk is definitely the American tourist party island. I see why Carnival owns it now. There is a beach right in front of Margaritaville that everyone can hang out at without having to go on a tour, but Nina and I stayed here the whole time. There really was no need to go anywhere else – this was literally the party! I believe we got here on a Monday too. Being here would make you love Mondays instead of loathe it. Good times, vibes and the music was fun and so many dance contests. You have no choice but to come here and have a wonderful time!
Our new cruise friends at Margaritaville
SAN JUAN
Second stop was in San Juan, PR. The cool thing about this stop was I believe this was the first one we were here until 8pm at night. If you know anything about most cruises you port early and maybe return back to the boat around 4 or 5pm. It was nice to know we had a night time setting in San Juan. I have never been so excited for my first time going!
The Beach we stopped at on the San Juan Tour.
We did do a San Juan Tour, but I will give a disclaimer. We did like an 2 hour tour for only $10 with the local tour companies – but there was a little blip in the situation. We did get a cute little preview of San Juan for 45 mins but we only got a 20 min tour of the beach. Nina and I at the time didn’t mind because we just wanted to be near a San Juan beach for a moment. Most beaches were not near the port where the cruises dock so you had to drive. The tour took us to this cute little beach…but…
As I stated before Nina and I only had literally 20 mins at this particular beach. Here is where the blip happened. We were 2 mins late, walking back towards the tour bus. Guess what? The tour bus left us. Yup. By two minutes. We were a little pissed. Understand when you do these local tours, please know you have to understand everything is a hustle. The good thing is we didnt pay him beforehand, and honestly – the other people on the bus could of let the driver know it was two females missing (clearly they didn’t).
So what did we do? Thankfully because we were in an area where lots of local tour buses scout for cruisers to do the tour, there was another bus tour willing to take us back and ride with his group. Very nice and accommodating and he knew the other driver. We just ended up paying him instead of the original driver. This is a disclaimer to say be careful with local tour guides that let you off and come back to a certain location. Make sure you get the tour guide number, the tour guide company number and info, and make sure you communicate with them, get them to remember your name so they don’t forget to leave you. This was definitely a lesson to learned. I also earned my lesson on getting on tours with only a 20 min tour of the beach. Not ever enough time.
ST.KITTS
Third location was my favorite in St.Kitts. Prior to the cruise I never even considered traveling to St.Kitts on my own. So happy I got an opportunity to explore this wonderful island. Another special perk about this particular Carnival cruise on Splendor is that this was our longest day on land. From 10am-8pm! So happy we got so many hours on the best island!
Monkey See. Money Do (Not Rip My Lips Off) lol so cute in its little diaper! His name was Peter!
St. Kitts drops you off like many of the cruise locations in the tourist area of the place and I met Peter here. Peter was a local man’s baby monkey. It was so cute with its little diaper…and it actually kissed me! Now I see why Michael adopted bubbles. Monkeys are so cute!
Nina and I made friends with our tour guide. He did an amazing job taking us around St.Kitts and showing us his beautiful town
Now remember the local tour I told you about in San Juan. The one in St.Kitt made up for it. This was a local tour company who was very kind and affordable who only charged I believe $14 for 3 hours of a tour. I believe 45 mins around the town and history and then 2 hours at the beach. We told him our experience in San Juan, he was very kind and said he promised not to leave us plus we had wristbands with the company info on it. Another good tidbit note when doing a local excursion.
Views of St.Kitt beaches from the tour bus
So Nina and I had 2 hour at Cockleshell Beach. I have been to a lot of beaches but this one was the clearest I have seen. This was definitely the clearest water I have seen at it was so peaceful. It wasn’t overcrowded and I am just so happy our guide gave us some time here and made us feel like this was paradise. After coming here and getting a little history of the city, this is the one I am definitely going to take a travel trip to in the near future. Learning from a local, St.Kitts is also very close to my mother’s native island of Montserrat – in which I can take a two hour ferry to visit on my next trip. I will be doing that as I have never been to Montserrat.
ST.MARTEEN
Last land island was at St.Maarten. St.Maarten was a fun little island. Another island I wouldn’t of thought to visit prior to my Carnival Cruise experience.
Views of St.Marteen going into the town
When you go into the town please visit Lemon Mojito! The best mojito I ever had and its fresh!
Riding in the water taxi to get to Great Bay Beach
The girls and I enjoying the water taxi to Great Bay Beach
Last Dip in the Beach at the final land spot!
My colorful dressed match the St.Marteen local restaurant
I enjoyed each stop, and each island had their own feel. I definitely would recommend traveling on an 8-day Carnival cruise to these locations because you see so many places within a week. I know some people are weary of traveling that long on a cruise, but I tell people why not? That is the whole fun of cruising, stopping and exploring places you wouldn’t get a chance to do normally. Maybe even place you wouldn’t even think to consider because it isnt the “norm” travel spot.
I am so happy I picked Carnival Splendor to travel to these places because then I wouldn’t of realized how amazing St.Kitts was (one of my favorite spots). It was my favorite I guess because we had a really amazing tour guide and more time on the beach verses the other location. St. Marteen was also an amazing place. I want to go back just to eat more of the Caribbean cuisine. They had so many local spots to choose from. To be honestly, in all of the spots, I felt like I was home because many of the locals were so friendly to us.
I enjoy this experience and I hope it inspires you to take this trip (or a similar one) with Carnival! Check out my next post on how much fun I actually had on the boat here.
I partnered with Carnival Cruise who hosted my experience on this press trip #CruisingCarnival but all opinions are my own.
Have You Been To Any Of These Islands?
About the Blogger - Kiwi the Beauty
Kiwi is the free spirited blogger and content creator of KiwiTheBeauty.com. As a digital influencer, she produces creative inspiration around beauty, lifestyle, media and travel leisure. Her life mantra is to make manifesting fun! When she’s not blogging, she is eating trendy hipster food, carrying crystals, making it rain at her local farmer's market and binge brunching.
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For me, the actual cruise ship is only half the fun. I absolutely love getting out and exploring on excursions. Looks like you and your friends had a blast!
A good cruise is all about amazing experiences on AND off the boat. I love to do it up on the cruise ship and then get out and see all the local sights.
First of all, you look fabulous. You make traveling look fantastic! What a great choice of islands, we love to cruise and explore, this would be perfect for my family!
thanks,
Mitch
Seriously – all these places are little slices of heaven on earth! And I love St. Maarten! Last time I was there I was a teenager, but still – I have all positive memories of the island. Super gorgeous!
I haven’t had the pleasure of visiting any of the islands. It looks incredibly beautiful and relaxing. I love the photo of the beach. What a dream vacation.
This looks like such an amazing time and I love all of your photos. We have been talking about taking a cruise and now you have me wanting to book one.
How awesome. What a really great way to see so many places. I think the only way I’ll be seeing any place like this is via a cruise so I hope to plan one in the close future! This is great.
I haven’t visited any of these islands but they look beautiful. You look like you had a great time making friends with the locals and learning their culture.
In my opinion the best vacation is a cruise. Not only are they affordable, they are loads of fun. I’ve done a few cruises and they have all been with the fun ship – the Carnival.
I have never been on a cruise and I keep saying it will be this year. Your post has inspired me to start planning. It looks like you and your friends had a blast at every stop.
You have the most fun!!! I have never been to any of those places and I can’t wait to go. I’m so glad that you weren’t totally stranded at the beach. LOL!
It sounds like you had an incredible time. I’m still afraid to cruise, I’ve not been to any of these places via cruise. I have vacationed in Puerto Rico so I’ve spent seven days there.
I love love cruises! I haven’t been on one in years, but I am definitely planning one for next year! I also go western Caribbean, but I want to give a few other ports a try!
I’ve never been on the Splendor. We have gone to Grand Turk with them. Love Carnival. Girl, but I do NOT Know how you let that monkey put its hand in your mouth lol
It looks like you had a wonderful time. I love Carnival cruise line and I am going on one to the Bahamas next week.
The best part of a cruise for me is the excursions. There is so much beauty out there!
For me, the actual cruise ship is only half the fun. I absolutely love getting out and exploring on excursions. Looks like you and your friends had a blast!
A good cruise is all about amazing experiences on AND off the boat. I love to do it up on the cruise ship and then get out and see all the local sights.
Sounds like a super fun trip! I would love to visit all these places, especially St. Kitts!
First of all, you look fabulous. You make traveling look fantastic! What a great choice of islands, we love to cruise and explore, this would be perfect for my family!
thanks,
Mitch
Seriously – all these places are little slices of heaven on earth! And I love St. Maarten! Last time I was there I was a teenager, but still – I have all positive memories of the island. Super gorgeous!
I haven’t had the pleasure of visiting any of the islands. It looks incredibly beautiful and relaxing. I love the photo of the beach. What a dream vacation.
It looks like you had a wonderful time. It’s my dream to take a cruise one day with my mom.
I just love visiting the Caribbean! We typically head straight to Jamaica, so touring these islands would be a special treat.
It sure looks like you are having so much fun. You are a great advertisement for this cruising buisness!
I’d have been so upset having been left behind, but glad to hear another bus was accommodating! The rest of the trip sounds amazing!
It sounds like you had a ton of fun! I would absolutely love to go on a cruise like this. It looks so beautiful!
My husband and I ended up deciding to separate our trips after our last cruise as well. So much to experience!
Wow! This sounds like so much fun! I can’t wait to take my first cruise what a relaxing vacation!
I have wanted to go on this cruise. I love all the stios and this ship looks like fun. Thanks for sharing all the info about it.
This looks like such a fun trip, and that black fringe tank is the cutest thing ever!!!!!!!!!
It looks so amazing! I love the destination photos–the colorful settings, gorgeous water! I need to be there now.
I cruised for my honeymoon with my hubby earlier this year. We are already planning our second one! WE LOVE cruises!
Oh my goodness, this trip looks beyond amazing!! I love all your fun cruise outfits and that monkey wearing a diaper is too adorable lol.
Well… what can I say. I am so jealous. Your stops all look so amazing, I’d love to visit Grand Turk, and all the others. Wow and amazing pictures!
Looks like a great experience! I wish I can have a cruise and visit these places places soon! A great addition to my bucket list!
I love the photo of you in the water with the ship in the background. I love the extras you’ve been doing on the cruise too. I need a vacation!
This looks like such an amazing time and I love all of your photos. We have been talking about taking a cruise and now you have me wanting to book one.
How awesome. What a really great way to see so many places. I think the only way I’ll be seeing any place like this is via a cruise so I hope to plan one in the close future! This is great.
What an amazing time you all had. I’ve never been on a cruise, but I would love to go one day.
What an amazing trip! I’d love to see these islands.
How fun! I have always wanted to take a cruise! It looks like you had a great time and made some new friends!
It looks like you had an amazing trip. Those photos are priceless! What awesome memories.
That place looks beautiful and that monkey was adorable! I’ve never been to any of these places but I would love to go.
Oh, what a nice vacation. I love your review and hope to get there soon.
I haven’t visited any of these islands but they look beautiful. You look like you had a great time making friends with the locals and learning their culture.
Looks like you all had an amazing adventure. I’ve never been to these islands, but they seem like a great place to relax and recharge.
In my opinion the best vacation is a cruise. Not only are they affordable, they are loads of fun. I’ve done a few cruises and they have all been with the fun ship – the Carnival.
I have never been on a cruise and I keep saying it will be this year. Your post has inspired me to start planning. It looks like you and your friends had a blast at every stop.
How fun! I have never been to any of these islands but your pics make me want to book the next flight out!
You are stunning as always! I have these islands on my bucket list for sure. What an amazing vacation this would be!
This was so inpsirational and looked like so much fun! I have not yet been on a cruise. I need to get it together… LOL!
I’m not a huge cruise person but I love that you got to visit so many awesome islands on one trip. It looks like you had a ball!
LiveLifeWell,
Allison
You have the most fun!!! I have never been to any of those places and I can’t wait to go. I’m so glad that you weren’t totally stranded at the beach. LOL!
It sounds like you had an incredible time. I’m still afraid to cruise, I’ve not been to any of these places via cruise. I have vacationed in Puerto Rico so I’ve spent seven days there.
We took a cruise for our honeymoon. What I loved about it was that you got to go to many different places. These islands are good ones to visit.
Ok, so you look amazing!! Secondly, I enjoyed your post and all the pics!!
This looks like a great vacation! Peter the monkey is cute! And I love your hair. You look so happy in your photos. Beautiful photos!
This looks like it was such a fun cruise. I have always wanted to go on one. They look like they are such a blast.
This looks like the ultimate girl trip. I want to go on another vacation especially since my mexico trip! Great pictures!
I love love cruises! I haven’t been on one in years, but I am definitely planning one for next year! I also go western Caribbean, but I want to give a few other ports a try!
You look awesome and it looks like you had an incredible trip! San Juan is one of my favorites!!
I’ve never been on the Splendor. We have gone to Grand Turk with them. Love Carnival. Girl, but I do NOT Know how you let that monkey put its hand in your mouth lol