St. Thomas, USVI

St. Thomas combines the natural beauty of the islands with a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Charlotte Amalie, the capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands, is one of the most beautiful harbors in the world and the most visited port in the Caribbean.
Elegant dining, exciting nightlife, and world-class duty-free shopping are abundant in Charlotte Amalie. The city's reputation as the shopping mecca of the Caribbean draws visitors from all over the region and aroundthe world.

A mountainous island, St. Thomas offers stunning vistas in almost every direction. While Charlotte Amalie is full of energy, St. Thomas also provides natural wonders such as the indescribably beautiful Magens Bay and stunning views of the Caribbean from 1,500 feet above sea level. Drake's Seat is particularly famous for its vistas.

Sports and activities are abundant on St. Thomas. Golf enthusiasts will enjoy the George and Tom Fazio-designed Mahogany Run course. St. Thomas is also well known for its world-class yachting and sportfishing.

Coral World

Located on St. Thomas' northeast shore at Coki Point, Coral World Marine Park & Observatory contains an underwater observatory tower, a tropical nature trail, a marine gardens aquarium, and an 80,000-gallon coral reef tank. The circular, glass-enclosed tank lets visitors glimpse the beauty of the Caribbean without getting wet. Other exhibits include an open-air shark pool and a children's touch pool.

Fort Christian

Resting over Charlotte Amalie harbor since 1672, Fort Christian is the oldest standing structure in the Virgin Islands. Now a U.S. National Landmark, this brick fortress protected the town from pirates and European armadas. The fort has served as St. Thomas' first Government House, a church, and a community government center. Today it is home to the Virgin Islands Museum.

Charlotte Amalie

Numerous attractions can be found in and around the capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Blackbeard's Castle, Crown House, Seven Arches Museum, and Government Hill offer many days worth of exploring for visitors catching a rest from the town's world-class duty-free shopping and dining. Charlotte Amalie is also the base for several regattas, yacht chartering services, and fishing guides.

Magens Bay

Both National Geographic and Conde Nast Traveler have named heart-shaped Magens Bay one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. You can judge for yourself. Snorkeling, kayaking, and other water gear is available for rental.

Mountain Top and St. Peter's Greathouse

Treat yourself to a taste of more recent island history by stopping at MountainTop for a famous banana daiquiri. This site has offered their legendary concoction of local rum, cane sugar, and bananas since the 1960s. Estate St. Peter Greathouse and Botanical Gardens contains local art and over 200 kinds of West Indian trees and plants.

Paradise Point Tramway

The tramway takes visitors up an almost 700-foot peak over Charlotte Amalie, offering a stunning view of the town, the island, and the Caribbean. Running between Havensight and Paradise Point, the tramway can hold up to ten people in one car.

Restaurants

Agave Terrace at Point Pleasant Resort
Perched on a cliff overlooking nearby St. John, Agave Terrace specializes in fresh seafood dishes individually prepared for each guest. Enjoy local lobster or one of the day's fresh catches, along with a tropical drink or a selection from the restaurant's award-winning wine list.(340) 775-4142

Banana Tree Grille
Famous for its stunning views of Charlotte Amalie, Banana Tree Grille perches high above the cruise ships and yachts in the harbor below from its legendary lookout at Blackbeard's Castle Hotel (and on property at Bluebeard's Castle as well). Formerly called Entre Nous, the restaurant offers entrees such as Thai-glazed salmon, coconut tempura shrimp, and raspberry cabernet chicken, plus many great steak and pasta dishes. Key lime pie headlines the dessert menu, along with ice cream crepes and bananas Foster.(340) 776-4050

Blue Moon Café
Palm trees along the beach and boats at anchor in the bay set the scene at this beachside restaurant at Secret Harbour Beach Resort on St. Thomas' east end. Beach-goers wander in to enjoy a lunch menu of salads and tortilla-style sandwiches. Dinner guests enjoy an excellent selection of salmon, mahi mahi, steak, and prime rib dishes. Open every day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.(340) 779-2262

Caesar's
Charlotte Amalie harbor provides a serene backdrop for this classic Italian restaurant at Marriott Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort. Come for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, Monday through Saturday.(340) 776-8500

Nature and Wildlife

Visitors to St. Thomas should take advantage of Virgin Islands Ecotours' guided kayaking and snorkeling tour through St. Thomas' Marine Sanctuary and Mangrove Lagoon. Led by experienced local naturalists, these tours let visitors see the fragility and beauty of the mangrove lagoons firsthand. Snowy egrets, great barracudas, dwarf herrings, spotted eagle rays, jellyfish, mangrove crabs, and breeding nurse sharks are only a few of the species visitors might see on the tour. Snorkeling is done in designated areas without fins to protect the delicate marine environment. Virgin Islands Ecotours also offers a new tour on Magens Bay. On the north end of the island, Humpback whales can be seen breeding from January through April. Both Jacques Cousteau and "Wild Kingdom" filmed specials on whales in the waters off of St. Thomas.

St. Thomas is a mountainous island, so visitors will find that
climbs to the peaks offer dramatic views. Drake's Seat, one of the island's most famous views, overlooks Drake's Passage, the channel where Sir Francis Drake sailed among the islands in the late 1500s. Visitors will also note the abundance of the yellow cedar, one of the world's most beautiful flowers found in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Down along the coasts, visitors will quickly understand why St. Thomas' beaches are legendary. Magens Bay is just one of several beaches worth visiting on the island.

Courtesy of http://www.usvitourism.vi/en/stthomas/st_Home.html

Woo Hoo! The paperwork is in! Carnival Cruise here we come!

New cruise rate proposal

Dear Kim,

Thank you for contacting Costco Travel Group Department for your group cruise quotation. The UPDATED quote you requested is below. Unfortunately, rates did go slightly up since my first proposal on May 9, 2007.

Space is currently being held. Rates are subject to availability and can change without notice. All rates quoted are on a per person basis.

7 Day Southern Caribbean from San Juan, Puerto Rico

Sailing on: Sunday, June 29, 2008

Ship: Carnival Destiny


Category 4A - inside $727 for 1st & 2nd passengers (Riviera Deck)

Category 4C - inside $763 for 1st & 2nd passengers (Upper Deck)

$610 for 3rd and 4th passengers



Category 6A - ocean view $808 for 1st & 2nd passengers (Riviera Deck)

$637 for 3rd and 4th passengers



Category 8A - balcony $961 for 1st & 2nd passengers (Upper Deck)

$664 for 3rd and 4th passengers



Please note- group rates include port charges, taxes and fees.

Your group is eligible to receive $75 onboard credit per cabin.



Group Amenity: For every eight (8) double, triple or quad occupancy cabins one (1) guest is free, excluding port charges and taxes. This credit is applied just prior to final payment..

BerkelyCare Travel Insurance: Is available upon request. For more information, go to www.costco.com >Travel >General Information >Costco Travel Passenger Protection Program.

Insurance is valid for purchase by US or Canadian residents only.

Minimum Group Size: For sailings of 4 or more days the minimum group size is 8 double occupancy cabins. For sailings of 3 days or less, the minimum group size is 16 double occupancy cabins.

If you would like to request space on a cruise, please advise what category and occupancy is needed for each cabin.

Many thanks for contacting Costco Travel Groups.


Elia Saez, CTC, MCC

Group Specialist

Costco Travel

St. Thomas, USVI

This is our first port of call, the beautiful St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Motion Sickness No More

THIS IS FOR CRAIG!!!!!

What Is the Transderm Scop® System?

The Transderm Scop® system helps to prevent the nausea and vomiting of motion sickness for up to 3 days. It is a round adhesive patch that you place behind your ear several hours before you travel.

How the Transderm Scop® System Works

A group of nerve fibers deep inside the ear helps people keep their balance. For some people, the motion of ships, airplanes, trains, automobiles, and buses increases the activity of these nerve fibers. This increased activity causes the dizziness, nausea, and vomiting of motion sickness. People may have one, some, or all of these symptoms.

Transderm Scop® contains the drug scopolamine, which helps reduce the activity of the nerve fibers in the inner ear. When a Transderm Scop® patch is placed on the skin behind one of the ears, scopolamine passes through the skin and into the bloodstream. One patch may be kept in place for 3 days if needed.

Source

Our ship

Decision Time

Okay, so I think everyone has agreed we like the chosen cruise. Now I want commitment. I would like everyone to make up their minds by June 30th, which just happens to be Patty's wedding day! Once we have decided for sure who is going, I will make the reservation. The deposit will be $500 per couple, due when I make the reservation. Costco takes Visa, American Express, and Mastercard. The remaining balance will not be due until April, so there is plenty of time to save up (almost a whole year). I would like each of you to comment on this post if you are in. I can't wait!

Costco Group Rates - Excellent!

Dear Kim,

Thank you for contacting Costco Travel Group Department for your group cruise quotation. The quote you requested is below.

No space is currently being held. Rates are subject to availability and can change without notice. All rates quoted are on a per person basis.

7 Day Southern Caribbean from San Juan, Puerto Rico
Sailing on: Sunday, June 29, 2008
Ship: Carnival Destiny

Category 4A - inside $682 for 1st & 2nd passengers (Riviera Deck)
Category 4C - inside $745 for 1st & 2nd passengers (Upper Deck)
$610 for 3rd and 4th passengers

Category 6A - ocean view $817 for 1st & 2nd passengers (Riviera Deck)
$637 for 3rd and 4th passengers

Category 8A - balcony $952 for 1st & 2nd passengers (Upper Deck)
$664 for 3rd and 4th passengers

Please note- group rates include port charges, taxes and fees.
Your group might be eligible to receive $75 onboard credit per cabin.


Group Amenity: For every eight (8) double, triple or quad occupancy cabins one (1) guest is free, excluding port charges and taxes. This credit is applied just prior to final payment..

BerkelyCare Travel Insurance: Is available upon request. For more information, go to http://www.costco.com/ >Travel >General Information >Costco Travel Passenger Protection Program.
Insurance is valid for purchase by US or Canadian residents only.

Minimum Group Size: For sailings of 4 or more days the minimum group size is 8 double occupancy cabins. For sailings of 3 days or less, the minimum group size is 16 double occupancy cabins.

If you would like to request space on a cruise, please advise what category and occupancy is needed for each cabin.

Many thanks for contacting Costco Travel Groups.

Info on Ports of call

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO

Historic San Juan, once nothing more than cobblestone streets and the distinctive architecture of the Spanish who founded it, is now a modern world capital. Among the peaceful shaded courtyards and commanding colonial fortresses of El Morro and San Cristobal, you'll find a cosmopolitan city of wide boulevards, lively cafes, highly regarded galleries and designer boutiques. This is where the old world meets the new - and you can enjoy them both.

ST. THOMAS, USVI

Not all of St. Thomas' treasures are buried. Most of them are right in the open on this gorgeous island, home of the infamous Bluebeard's Tower. Whether looking for jewels, crystal, perfume and fine wines in the shops of Charlotte Amalie, or soaking up the sun on the incredible beaches, you'll marvel at the wealth of history on this treasure-filled paradise.

DOMINICA

Set halfway between Guadeloupe and Martinique, you'll find Dominica, the largest and most mountainous of the Windward Islands. Abundant with rushing rivers, cascading waterfalls and lush rainforests, Dominica is a treasure chest of hidden natural wonders. Explore the beauty of this tropical paradise with a bike ride through the Layou River Valley, or a tour through the capital of Roseau. This is one island that is sure to take your breath away.

BARBADOS

High tea and cricket in the afternoons remains a tradition on the very British island of Barbados, also called the "Little England" of the Caribbean. The Bajan landscape, with its breathtaking panoramas of oceans and valleys, and endless pink- and white-sand beaches, is one of the most majestic in the Southern Caribbean. Barbados is the perfect setting for snorkeling in turquoise waters, touring historic sites or taking in a round of golf.

St. Kitts

info coming soon

LA ROMANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Located in the southeastern tip of the Dominican Republic and 60 miles east of Santo Domingo. This city was built by the sugar mills before it started to blossom as a resort area. About 1 mile from the famous Casa de Campo Resort, this small city has some of the finest golf courses found in the Caribbean. White sand beaches in La Romana are also one of the citiy's main attractions.

Source

Cruise Poll

UPDATE:The polls will be closing on Monday so make sure you voted!!!! thanks!

Update #2 The Polls are now closed. Results:

Question 1: Do you like the choice of cruise choosen?

A RESOUNDING 100% YES response! YAHOO!

Question 2: What style of cabin do you perfer?

Looks like we'll be scattered on three levels of the ship.. 33% balcony, 25% oceanview, 42% indoor cabin. Good to know! This will aid Kim when scouting out the best deal for us.

Question 3: What is the optimal length of cruise for you?

Looks like 7 day cruise won out with 69% of the vote. 5 days scored 4 votes.

Okay, so I have done a little homework. I have been researching one of the Carnival cruises (if we decide to go on a cruise). It leaves out of San Juan, Puerto Rico on June 29th and returns on July 6th. It stops at the following places: St. Thomas, Dominica, Barbados, St. Kitts, and the Dominican Republic. You can see it on the Carnival website: 7 Day Southern Caribbean from San Juan, Puerto Rico . Here is a breakdown of some of the pricing I have found (per couple):

Costco: Balcony (8A) $2,083.74 Oceanview (6A) $1,813.74 Inside Cabin (4A) $1,543.74
Expedia: Balcony (8A) $2,282.74 Oceanview (6A) $1,982.74 Inside Cabin (4A) $1,682.74
Priceline: Balcony (8A) $2,477.69 Oceanview (6A) $2,177.69 Inside Cabin (4A) $1,845.69

These numbers include taxes and port fees. Most require a $500 deposit (per couple) at the time of reservation with full payment due by April 2008.

I haven't had too much time to research group pricing, but from what I have read a party of 8 cabins or more usually counts as a group. Sometimes you can get a deal where one person gets a free trip if 8 or more cabins are reserved, so split over a large group of people, you might save $50 each. I can also find pricing on inside cabins if anyone likes (although I wouldnt' recommend one).

I'll try and work on group pricing tomorrow to see what I can find!

Get Excited!!!

Welcome to our new 30th Birthday Travel Blog. Here you will find information on destinations, expenses, etc etc etc. So start saving those nickels and dimes and get ready for a trip of a lifetime!!!