Best Excursions on the Fantasy Western?

[Dug720]

What did you think about the travel time to get to the secret river? I always look at this one but the travel time always scares me.

If you are on the ship's tour, no need to worry about travel time as in the unlikely event something happens and you cannot get to the ship before it sails, they will take care of you and getting you where you need to be.

 

[soniam]

Our meeting time was at 7:45am in the D-Lounge, so it was an early start but not as bad as it sounds because of the +1hr time change. We had to take a water taxi from Cozumel to Playa Del Carmen. The water taxis are next to the ship, so there was no need to exit the secure port area. I think it was about a 30 minute boat ride? To me, every ride on a water taxi seems like a 30 minute ride, regardless of where you are going. We walked thru town and hopped on a shuttle van... for a (yes you guessed it) 30 minute shuttle bus ride - most of it was on a dirt road. The van was enclosed and air conditioned. We got to the Secret River around 10:00am and were back in Playa Del Carmen after 2pm. It gave us enough time to explore at bit, have Häagen-Dazs and look for some geocaches. Everyone took the 3:30 taxi back to Cozumel.

Could you take an earlier ferry back from Playa del Carmen if you wanted? Was there any food included?

 

[Suttonmama1]

We did nachi cocum the first time in Cozumel and loved it. The next time we tried mr sanchos and hated it. We did both places on our own.

I second the Nachi Cocom idea. We loved it and so affordable

 

[klasjdfa]

Could you take an earlier ferry back from Playa del Carmen if you wanted? Was there any food included?

There was food provided at Rio Secreto - a small buffet. I think the water taxis back to Cozumel run every hour, so depending on when you get back to Playa Del Carmen, you might be able to catch an earlier boat. However, the guides that take you from Playa Del Carmen to Rio Secreto take a headcount, so you should probably let them know your plans. Our group was missing a couple of people and the guide waited at our meeting spot for them until the last possible minute before leading us back to the dock.

 

[soniam]

There was food provided at Rio Secreto - a small buffet. I think the water taxis back to Cozumel run every hour, so depending on when you get back to Playa Del Carmen, you might be able to catch an earlier boat. However, the guides that take you from Playa Del Carmen to Rio Secreto take a headcount, so you should probably let them know your plans. Our group was missing a couple of people and the guide waited at our meeting spot for them until the last possible minute before leading us back to the dock.

When did you do the tour? Thanks

 

[adg06]

I'm in the same boat as OP, but looking for a great excursion for a multi-generational family in Grand Cayman (age 4- 72!)
I see a lot of excursions have age restrictions that my 4 years old just won't make Any ideas? We are not adventurous.

We are not adventurous either and will also have a 4 year old. Neither of my kids are good enough swimmers for snorkeling, but I want them to see some ocean life, so we'll be doing one of the submarine or semi-sub boats in GC. Either the Nautilus or Atlantis, still debating between the two. Once that is done we'll probably walk around and do some shopping around the port.

 

[klasjdfa]

When did you do the tour? Thanks

We were on the 4/1/2017 Disney Fantasy sailing.

 

[SunDevilFanAZ]

We did Playa Mia last Monday while in Cozumel. That was a lot of fun for everyone.

The Dolphin Swim and Stingray City in Grand Cayman were a lot of fun too.

In Jamaica we were really excited for the Shark encounter (with Dunn's River Falls). Other than the 20 minutes with the sharks it was a total anc completely horrible trip. Our tour guide was bad, shark pictures were $180+ tax for ONE PICTURE, dunn's river falls was a waste. Our friends who went zip lining loved their excursion though.

 

[Pandafamily]

For snorkeling, we love Reef, Catamaran, and Kittiwake snorkel in Grand Cayman.

I am planning on doing this, has anyone else done this excursion? What did you like or dislike about it? Did you see a sea life at the reef?

 

[Pandafamily]

Did you see a sea life at the reef?

I meant "a lot of sea life..."

 

[soniam]

I am planning on doing this, has anyone else done this excursion? What did you like or dislike about it? Did you see a sea life at the reef?

We saw a lot of sea life at the reef and the Kittiwake. I think we saw sea turtles too. We saw more fish on this excursion than we did on our Cozumel excursion (dune buggy and snorkel) or on our snorkel trips in Hawaii and Kauai.

 

[soniam]

I meant "a lot of sea life..."

The only place that we have seen more sea life was on a sunken boat at Coco Cay (RCCL's private island in the Bahamas) and the Atlantis sub in Cozumel. I remember being able to see at least 10-20 fish/sea life in my field of view at any one time.

 

[Pandafamily]

We saw a lot of sea life at the reef and the Kittiwake. I think we saw sea turtles too. We saw more fish on this excursion than we did on our Cozumel excursion (dune buggy and snorkel) or on our snorkel trips in Hawaii and Kauai.

Thanks, I believe my sons will definitely enjoy it.

 

[soniam]

Thanks, I believe my sons will definitely enjoy it.

I am trying to find a picture. Unfortunately, they are from 2014, and the folder has about 3GB of data. I'll see if I can post one.

 

[Pandafamily]

I am trying to find a picture. Unfortunately, they are from 2014, and the folder has about 3GB of data. I'll see if I can post one.

Great! Thank you very much.

 

[soniam]

Great! Thank you very much.

These are not the best pictures, and they are mostly of the water, not the ship or reef. They are little cloudy and not greatly focused. These were taken in 2014 with an older waterproof camera. I know some of these are at the ship, but I can't quite tell if any are at the reef.