Thanks, for all the info.

I have been busy looking at cruisecritic and lots of other sites (think I have spent far too much time on the computer as my fingers and arms are feeling a bit sore!)

It all looks pretty amazing with these huge ships - some of them are heaps bigger than we have ever had in Sydney and we only usually have one docked at a time.

In St Thomas...if we go to Blackbeard's Castle (or Bluebeard's castle depending on which site I look at). I read you can walk up the hill to get there & get a taxi back (I think I would rather get the taxi both ways - don't mind walking but don't like the hills especially if its hot). Does any one know if there a "self-guided tour" there?

Also, if we go up there is it also worth going up the Paradise Point skyride as wouldn't the views be somewhat similar?

.....and one more question.....with the cruise ships and doing private tours or getting in a taxi - is it usually pretty quick and easy to get off the ship with all those people I thought it could take a while?

Thanks