Ideal excursions for a 3 & 4 y/o

[2Waterprincesses]

Just booked our first DCL cruise for 4/27/13! Going to Cozumel and CC. I have 2 DD's and would appreciate any suggestions for shore excursions with them. TIA! I am learning a lot reading all of your helpful threads. Thx again!

 

[jm106]

Also hoping find reviews, we are on the same sailing. We think we will do the Cozumel ruins and beach tour so its good for all- see the ruins for adults but 90 pool/beach time too. We have a 4 almost 5 yo and a 7 yo.

 

[wiigirl]

Also hoping find reviews, we are on the same sailing. We think we will do the Cozumel ruins and beach tour so its good for all- see the ruins for adults but 90 pool/beach time too. We have a 4 almost 5 yo and a 7 yo.

x2 on the Ruins....they are amazing and great for any age.

 

[rdw]

We are planning to be on the sane trip! Need to pay our deposit today. We will have a 5.5 DS and just turned 3 DD. DH swears we will not get off the ship in Cozumel, but I'm hoping to change his mind!

 

[jm106]

x2 on the Ruins....they are amazing and great for any age.

Awesome! I dont want to go all that way and miss them. thanks

 

[Woodmnky]

In Grand Cayman I would look into going to the turtle farm. It is awesome. I would suggest a tour that includes more than just a look around as the pools there are very neat.

In Cozumel I would avoid any tour that requires you to go to mainland Mexico (Cozumel is an island). The ferry to the mainland is very rocky and has a lot of exhaust fumes. This often causes people to get sea sick.

Honestly if this is your first cruise I would focus more on things to do on the ship itself and shedule 1 shore excursion. This will be more relaxing, cheaper, and allow the kids the time to do more of the fun shipboard activities.

 

[bwallace]

Just did those stops with a 4 & 2.

we did paradise beach in Cozumel which worked out well. I would have liked to do ruins, but a ferry ride to the mainland and then a buss ride would not have worked for my kids.


we did Turtle Farm in GC and really liked it.

check out these threads:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3047919

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3047393

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3044028

 

[jm106]

Just did those stops with a 4 & 2.

we did paradise beach in Cozumel which worked out well. I would have liked to do ruins, but a ferry ride to the mainland and then a buss ride would not have worked for my kids.


we did Turtle Farm in GC and really liked it.

check out these threads:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3047919

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3047393

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3044028

Now I am confused- the disney excursions page says a motocoach ride not ferry.

 

[bwallace]

it was my understanding that all of the real ruins were on the mainland, but i'm probably wrong.

 

[2Waterprincesses]

Thanks to everyone for their input. I have been on other cruises to Cozumel (pre-kids). I don't remember there being Ruins on the island. And not sure I want to take the time to travel to the mainland. I like the idea of the turtles. Did anyone do something special on CC or just chill?

 

[Chee Chick]

DD had just turned 3 when we cruised. We did the Dolphin Encounter and Turtle Farm excursion on GC. Both DD3 and DS7 liked the turtle farm. Both were scared of being in the water with the dolphins at Dolphin Discovery. They started to warm up to it right at the end. I wish we would have just done the Turtle Farm.

We went to the beach at Playa Mia in Cozumel. Both my children loved it and it was very relaxing for me and DH. We really had a great day. There is also a small water park there. It opened two weeks after we went. It looked really fun for kids.

 

[mickeyschickie]

The San Gervasio Ruins are on the island and that is what the Cozumel Highlights and Ruins tour covers

 

[jm106]

The San Gervasio Ruins are on the island and that is what the Cozumel Highlights and Ruins tour covers

Yes that is the one. I looked map to be sure I wasnt lost but yes they are on the island. Its smaller scale then those on mainland it seems. I am wondering if we would be better off going on our own rather then Disneys excursion I am just leary of knowing how to safely get around on my own.

 

[bwallace]

We took a cab to paradise beach and back, then walked around downtown, and i never felt for a second that anything was sketchy. The cabbies know all of the spots you may ask them to go to, and I would expect that most speak at least rudimentary English. Just leave youself plenty of time to get around, and you wont miss the boat.

If you google crime and cozumel, you'll see that they are very proud of a low crime rate there.

 

[jm106]

Thanks, I may try one of the other beaches then and maybe skip ruins. I did want to do more then just beach, see a little more of the island. I dont care about shopping areas.
I got taken advantage of by cabbie in Ft lauderdale so Mexico really had me wondering. Good to know they have low crime.

 

[bwallace]

you may also want to google cabs in cozumel.From what i recall they are on a fee schedule and hsould be able to show you a fee schedule to any major destination before you get it.

I think most rides max out around $20-ish for a car load of people.

 

[scrapbookmomma74]

The turtle farm in Grand Cayman is a blast! Imagine this same photo of one of your kids (I am a big kid at heart!) I would recommend a beach in Cozumel...I've heard good things about Paradise Beach (not offered through DCL), we are going on our next trip there in Sept.
Usually in Grand Cayman, we do the "Island Tour with Stingrays", which includes a stop at "Hell", Grand Cayman, then the turtle farm, and then a ride out to the stingray sandbar to interact with the stingrays. My youngest was 7 the first time we went there, and she loved it, but I'm not sure your kids are old enough, according to DCL.
Have a great cruise! The Western Itinerary is our favorite!
Also, on CC, its fine to not plan anything and just enjoy the beach. You might want to pick up some cheap sand toys at home to pack, they are expensive on CC.

 

[jcjen519]

We are booked on that cruise too and our son will be 2 months shy of 4 when we sail. We have signed up to do the family beach day at tiki beach in Grand Cayman, the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins tour in Costa Maya, and the Cozumel ruins and beach tour. We also have a cabana booked but I'm not 100% sure we will keep it.

 

[Chee Chick]

We are booked on that cruise too and our son will be 2 months shy of 4 when we sail. We have signed up to do the family beach day at tiki beach in Grand Cayman, the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins tour in Costa Maya, and the Cozumel ruins and beach tour. We also have a cabana booked but I'm not 100% sure we will keep it.

I didn't personally go on the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins tour, but DH and DS7 did. We didn't dock in Costa Maya until noon on my cruise. DD3 still takes a good two hour nap in the afternoon, so I knew she would never make it. I stayed on the ship with her which ended up being great because she really got to enjoy a non-crowded pool for quite a while. At one point she actually had the whole Mickey pool to herself (this was on the Magic).

DH and DS7 really enjoyed the Mayan ruins. DS is getting to the age where he enjoys learning about history. DH said the bus ride to the ruins was really long, about an hour each way. So if you bring a little one, make sure you have something to entertain them on the long bus ride. DS actually slept the whole way back.

 

[jcjen519]

I didn't personally go on the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins tour, but DH and DS7 did. We didn't dock in Costa Maya until noon on my cruise. DD3 still takes a good two hour nap in the afternoon, so I knew she would never make it. I stayed on the ship with her which ended up being great because she really got to enjoy a non-crowded pool for quite a while. At one point she actually had the whole Mickey pool to herself (this was on the Magic).

DH and DS7 really enjoyed the Mayan ruins. DS is getting to the age where he enjoys learning about history. DH said the bus ride to the ruins was really long, about an hour each way. So if you bring a little one, make sure you have something to entertain them on the long bus ride. DS actually slept the whole way back.

thanks for the info! I'm a little nervous about the drive but he does love buses (haha) so hopefully he'll be okay. we will pack some entertainment for sure! staying on the ship sounds nice too though!