Anyone just off 10/6 Magic?

[Belle4]

Just looking for some feedback from the cruise. I am particularly interested in the excursions you may have done.

 

[SucalT]

Several of us just came off the 9/29 Magic and have a group TR going here:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=45872292#post45872292

Give it a look.

 

[TheTexasGal]

I am home from the 10/6 cruise. We only got off in Grand Cayman. We did the Rum Point Beach day. It was perfect for our family.

It poured in Costa Maya and we didn't plan to get off the ship so that was a great day to rest and relax.

The ship was a ghost town during the Cozumel day and we spent the day enjoying the pools and did some club things that day.

So -- no help from me on excursions unless you'd like to know more about Rum Point in Grand Cayman! It was an AMAZING CRUISE!!! Even having just gotten off once we were never bored and loved every minute of our trip!

 

[riofriotex]

no help from me on excursions unless you'd like to know more about Rum Point in Grand Cayman!

Yes, please, I'd love to hear more!

 

[gigi1313]

I, too, would love more info!

 

[Belle4]

Several of us just came off the 9/29 Magic and have a group TR going here:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=45872292#post45872292

Give it a look.

Thanks! I will go check out the link.

 

[Jensyfert]

Just got off the Magic yesterday...if I had to do it again, I wouldn't do any excursions. We got off at every port. Excursions in Grand Cayman and Costa Maya to beaches. Next time I'm staying on the ship to enjoy the quietness not was kind of chaotic doing the beach excursions with a 3 and 4 year old.

 

[gigi1313]

Just got off the Magic yesterday...if I had to do it again, I wouldn't do any excursions. We got off at every port. Excursions in Grand Cayman and Costa Maya to beaches. Next time I'm staying on the ship to enjoy the quietness not was kind of chaotic doing the beach excursions with a 3 and 4 year old.

If you were to pick one of the beach excursions w/a four year old, which one would it be? we want to do one beach day, since we will not get to castaway cay, but that would be our only excursion... and we are not 10-hours-at-the-beach people... more like two or three, so cost would be an issue.

 

[Goofysrus]

If you were to pick one of the beach excursions w/a four year old, which one would it be? we want to do one beach day, since we will not get to castaway cay, but that would be our only excursion... and we are not 10-hours-at-the-beach people... more like two or three, so cost would be an issue.

You might try Paradise beach in Cozumel. Very clean! The cost is a taxi and to rent a chair is a few dollars. I believe water toy rentals about 14. Your little one will just enjoy sand and fun. Lots of palm trees. No charge for entry just enjoy! Weather might be a deciding factor. I found rain moves in many afternoons in Mexico. At Costa just take a taxi to Tropicante. Lots of good reviews! Email Steve and he will reserve you chairs and he even has kid size chairs. Once again no charge just buy some drinks and snacks. Have a massage and just relax. Sorry I don't have link but many have the posted link. You'll find both of these ports safe but you'll always have a little pushy sales pitch just say no thanks and keep walking! Have a great trip

 

[ChristyTX]

If you were to pick one of the beach excursions w/a four year old, which one would it be? we want to do one beach day, since we will not get to castaway cay, but that would be our only excursion... and we are not 10-hours-at-the-beach people... more like two or three, so cost would be an issue.

We just got off the Magic yesterday. I have a 4-year-old and a 19month-old. We did the Cozumel Beach Break (I can't remember exactly what Disney calls it but it's at Playa Mia). We've done this excursion before on other cruises and it was a lot of fun. We were there about 3-4 hours or so and I think it was the right amount of time. We spent time in the ocean and the freshwater pool. They have lots of things to do there but my little one really enjoyed the pool since he couldn't get in the pool on the ship. My daughter jumped on the water trampolines out in the ocean, and played in the pool. I'd recommend it!

 

[itzkelly]

We just got off the 10/6 cruise, too, and did the following with our 7,5 and just turned 2 yr old:

Grand Cayman: Booked a catamarran excursion (non-Disney) to see the Stingrays and snorkel. It was about 4 hours and we had a great time and everyone went into the water where the stingrays were and got to touch them and watch them swim around.

Costa Maya: we booked Nohoch Kay (non-Disney) based on a lot of reviews and had the BEST time even during the downpour that lasted maybe 45 minutes. Jaime, the owner, and the rest of the staff treated us like gold and we had unlimited food and drinks, as well as lots of sand toys for the kids to play with. The food was excellent, the water calm and shallow enough for our kids to play around in and for us to sit in with a drink in hand. We'd definitely go back to the next time we are in Costa Maya. I believe it was $40 per adult, $20 for kids 7-17, and 6 and under were free. The taxi ride was $2 per person each way.

Cozumel: We ended up getting a taxi and going to Paradise Beach. The taxi ride for 9 of us was $30 each way, for which the taxi driver offered to stay and wait for us there for no cost (they tried to offer this for $20 extra at the taxi stand so I'm glad we declined and ended up getting him to offer to stay and wait anyways). It was a $2 beach chair rental per person, plus another $12 if you wanted to go out and jump around on the water toys/trampolines/slides. They also had a large pool that was nice to bring my 2-yr old into. I'd say we felt like we got the least for our money here, primarily because we didn't stay long enough for me to feel we got our money's worth. We never ordered food or drinks, but the prices seemed like restaurant prices.

I think it was also tough for us to "rally" in Cozumel because we had just had two other back-to-back fun-filled days at port. Overall we had a great time and our kids had a blast! We were travelling with two other families, a total of 13 of us, and everyone enjoyed our excursions and agreed Costa Maya was our favorite due to how lovely our time at Nohoch Kay was.

 

[gigi1313]

Thanks for all the quick feedback... dh is against doing anything "non-Disney" as he has a fear of being left ashore... even our Disney dolphin excursion in Grand Cayman in May got delayed and the ship had to wait for us (and 30 others! due to Dolphin place being wayyyy behind schedule! had we booked this independently, we'd have been screwed!) but we were not too worried since it was Disney booked!

I like the sound of Nohoch Kay, does Disney book them? i also looked at the Cozumel beach break... sounds safer than letting dh roam the stores again!!!

 

[alisrockin]

We did moby dick tours in grand cayman. This was perfect and enough time to get back to the ship. One of the best excursions I have ever done. In Cozumel we did the fury, great time snorkeling and beach break.

 

[Jensyfert]

If you were to pick one of the beach excursions w/a four year old, which one would it be? we want to do one beach day, since we will not get to castaway cay, but that would be our only excursion... and we are not 10-hours-at-the-beach people... more like two or three, so cost would be an issue.

The beach excursion (Jungle Beach) in Costa Maya was a 40 minute bus trip. So that was a bummer. I would have to say 7 mile beach break in Grand Cayman was good. Pretty water and close by.

 

[dizmomof2]

What time was the all aboard at Costa Maya? I know on the September 29th it was changed to 11:45 pm but on the info they sent us it is only a four hour stop. Did they change it for you as we'll?

 

[vmedisneymom]

I would love to see menus if someone on here has them!

 

[Jensyfert]

What time was the all aboard at Costa Maya? I know on the September 29th it was changed to 11:45 pm but on the info they sent us it is only a four hour stop. Did they change it for you as we'll?

You are in port in Costa Maya till 11pm.

 

[gigi1313]

You are in port in Costa Maya till 11pm.

This is not guaranteed... A longer port stay is a perk given to crew.

 

[Jensyfert]

This is not guaranteed... A longer port stay is a perk given to crew.

Since Costa Maya is so close to Cozumel...it doesn't make sense of why the ship would leave at 4pm. That would put you in port in Cozumel super early. Our room steward said that more than likely we would be in port till 11pm because of that. So hopefully it continues on the remaining cruises. It gave us more time at our beach excursion.

 

[gigi1313]

actually, i believe you go out to sea, and not just pull right into the next port... i'm sure it has something to do with port costs of why they schedule shorter and then opt for longer but what we were told in May on the Fantasy is that the extended port time was a perk for crew... although i wasn't clear on how it would help the crew as a whole as you still had a mostly full ship of pax, and most were still working! but i guess if it was your off-time, it was a bonus!!