Cabo excursion question?

[flinkerfrosch]

I will be on the Panama Canal Cruise this Oct 2015 (yay!) and have a question about Cabo if any of you could please help me?

It will be myself, husband, 2 boys ages 6 and 8 and my friend with her 2 girls ages 3 and 7. We want to snorkel, see the Lands End, Al ARCO, etc....

We could do a 2hr private (Rogers Glass Bottom Boat) excursion that offers all this, plus jumping off of Pelican rock, then dropping us off at Medeno beach for a late lunch and then take us back to the ship. They also use their GoPro and video our trip and give us the card to take home. Drinks are included as well. All of this for $350US (I'm Canadian)

Or...would it be better to wing it, get a water taxi from the marina to take us? The one thing I'm concerned about is we want to snorkel and don't have the equipment, so we need equipment.

Please help if you have any experience in Cabo or have done any excursions or can recommend something else.

Thanks a bunch!

 

[MunFam]

When you get to the main area after you tender, there will be dozens of guys with signs trying to sell you this excursion or that excursion. Prices were negotiable. When we were there in May (WBPC), the water was too rough and they closed Medano beach to water taxis/boats. Also, I know the Mexican ports are often missed due to weather (or unrest) so use caution when prebooking or prepaying for a private excursion because if you skip the port, and have no insurance, you may not get your money back. We booked everything when we got to the port.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

When you get to the main area after you tender, there will be dozens of guys with signs trying to sell you this excursion or that excursion. Prices were negotiable. When we were there in May (WBPC), the water was too rough and they closed Medano beach to water taxis/boats. Also, I know the Mexican ports are often missed due to weather (or unrest) so use caution when prebooking or prepaying for a private excursion because if you skip the port, and have no insurance, you may not get your money back. We booked everything when we got to the port.

What would be an average (good) price for just going out, dropping off, and picking us up at Land's End (is that Medano Beach?)?

 

[flinkerfrosch]

When you get to the main area after you tender, there will be dozens of guys with signs trying to sell you this excursion or that excursion. Prices were negotiable. When we were there in May (WBPC), the water was too rough and they closed Medano beach to water taxis/boats. Also, I know the Mexican ports are often missed due to weather (or unrest) so use caution when prebooking or prepaying for a private excursion because if you skip the port, and have no insurance, you may not get your money back. We booked everything when we got to the port.

You've made a very valid point, one I didn't think of! I don't want to lose all the money if we don't make it into Port. Hopefully we do of course, but I know by the many cruises we've done with DCL that it does happen.
Did you happen to notice if some of the people offering the excursions at the marina provided snorkelling gear?

I also want to know if you or anyone else has experienced Chileno Beach?

Thanks again!

 

[MunFam]

What would be an average (good) price for just going out, dropping off, and picking us up at Land's End (is that Medano Beach?)?

We paid $20 USD for 3 people in a private boat and that included the "dock fee". They have guys at the gate of each dock charging a fee to come/go thorugh the gate which is essentially using the dock fee, but the consumer picks up the tab.

Land's end is the arch. There is a back called Lovers Beach that some people get dropped off at. I personally, did not want to trust that the boat was going to come back to get us. Its not safe to swim back...and its cliff-locked? so you really need that boat! Medano Beach is a beach sort of near the town and when they drop you off there, you have to wade through the surf to get to the beach. There are lots of vendors selling their wares at that beach.

Our guide (not the boat driver, but the guide, whom we tipped $5 each because they were wonderful and even brought food to feed the fish) also gave us a great local place to eat. Its behind the shops along the tender docks in a dirt parking lot (behind Cabo Blue) with broken down food trucks. The food was AMAZING and cheap and no one got sick. He also tipped us off on an AWESOME local's beach that we walked to. Its called Chuntaro's Beach and its way closer to town than Medano, maybe 5 minutes from the tender area. There were no vendors there...but no bathrooms either.

 

[MunFam]

You've made a very valid point, one I didn't think of! I don't want to lose all the money if we don't make it into Port. Hopefully we do of course, but I know by the many cruises we've done with DCL that it does happen.
Did you happen to notice if some of the people offering the excursions at the marina provided snorkelling gear?

I also want to know if you or anyone else has experienced Chileno Beach?

Thanks again!

I am sure they did. They were offering EVERYTHING (camel rides, sunset sails, ATV tours, tastings, etc)! I was on a mission, so I mostly just said no thanks and kept going.

 

[flinkerfrosch]

I am sure they did. They were offering EVERYTHING (camel rides, sunset sails, ATV tours, tastings, etc)! I was on a mission, so I mostly just said no thanks and kept going.

Thank you for all your information!

I keep reading about "ship time" vs "Island time" do you know anything about this?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thank you for all your information!

I keep reading about "ship time" vs "Island time" do you know anything about this?

In some ports the time zone is on a different time than on the ship. Not often, but does happen. If it does, announcements will be made at the show the night before, and it's mentioned in the Navigator, as well as a sign at the debarkation door that you must keep to "ship's time".

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

99% the ship adjusts to local time, on 13 DCL cruises we only had one port off time and that was as we went there in an emergency post a hurricane.

 

[mmouse37]

Have been to Cabo once before on a land based trip. We took a boat excursion to Land's End to see the arch (booked through our hotel). But, I didn't trust the local small boat taxis. They seemed very unsafe to me and we actually saw one sink right off the beach with all the people in it. People lost passports, cameras, wallets, etc. People were scrambling for shore. They brought out a jet ski to tow some people to the beach. The beach in town where all the beach clubs/hotels are is often closed to swimming due to high surf (where these pics were taken). We had just left The Office on the Beach (bar) when we saw this. The people in the water are not swimming for fun but were on the boat when it went down.

http://www.theofficeonthebeach.com/

Here are some pics of the boat sinking:

The arch

I am on the Panama Canal cruise next month also and I am not booking any private tours ahead of time. We were on the PC cruise in 2005 and missed a port or two so will just wait until each port and see what we want to do.

MJ

 

[flinkerfrosch]

In some ports the time zone is on a different time than on the ship. Not often, but does happen. If it does, announcements will be made at the show the night before, and it's mentioned in the Navigator, as well as a sign at the debarkation door that you must keep to "ship's time".

Right! I actually remember this now from a previous cruise. We were all so confused cause our clock in the stateroom had one time, the TV had another and our phones had another different time. It was so confusing lol...I remember reading the Navigator and just stuck to what that said!
We've never done anything on our own before, so considering a private tour is new to me, so if I did do it, I would hate to miss it cause of being confused about the time

Thanks PrincessShmoo

 

[flinkerfrosch]

99% the ship adjusts to local time, on 13 DCL cruises we only had one port off time and that was as we went there in an emergency post a hurricane.

You would think after doing 10 DCL cruises myself, this upcoming one being #11 that I would have it down pat, but we've never done one with this many time zones before!
Thanks for your help!

 

[flinkerfrosch]

Have been to Cabo once before on a land based trip. We took a boat excursion to Land's End to see the arch (booked through our hotel). But, I didn't trust the local small boat taxis. They seemed very unsafe to me and we actually saw one sink right off the beach with all the people in it. People lost passports, cameras, wallets, etc. People were scrambling for shore. They brought out a jet ski to tow some people to the beach. The beach in town where all the beach clubs/hotels are is often closed to swimming due to high surf (where these pics were taken). We had just left The Office on the Beach (bar) when we saw this. The people in the water are not swimming for fun but were on the boat when it went down.

http://www.theofficeonthebeach.com/

Here are some pics of the boat sinking:

The arch

I am on the Panama Canal cruise next month also and I am not booking any private tours ahead of time. We were on the PC cruise in 2005 and missed a port or two so will just wait until each port and see what we want to do.

MJ

Wow! That's so scary!! Thanks for the pics

I never take my passports off the ship, but I do take my camera and money. I try to take as little as I need.

Is Medeno Beach nice? Is it a good place to go with kids for a few hours? I've heard a lot of vendors really hassle you. I really want to see the Arch for sure!

I hope we don't miss Cabo. I'm really looking forward to this Port!

Exciting to know another person coming on this cruise!! We're so excited!! See u soon!

 

[flinkerfrosch]

We paid $20 USD for 3 people in a private boat and that included the "dock fee". They have guys at the gate of each dock charging a fee to come/go thorugh the gate which is essentially using the dock fee, but the consumer picks up the tab.

Land's end is the arch. There is a back called Lovers Beach that some people get dropped off at. I personally, did not want to trust that the boat was going to come back to get us. Its not safe to swim back...and its cliff-locked? so you really need that boat! Medano Beach is a beach sort of near the town and when they drop you off there, you have to wade through the surf to get to the beach. There are lots of vendors selling their wares at that beach.

Our guide (not the boat driver, but the guide, whom we tipped $5 each because they were wonderful and even brought food to feed the fish) also gave us a great local place to eat. Its behind the shops along the tender docks in a dirt parking lot (behind Cabo Blue) with broken down food trucks. The food was AMAZING and cheap and no one got sick. He also tipped us off on an AWESOME local's beach that we walked to. Its called Chuntaro's Beach and its way closer to town than Medano, maybe 5 minutes from the tender area. There were no vendors there...but no bathrooms either.

Awesome info, thank-you
I'm really excited for this Port! I just wish we had more time!
11-4:30 just isn't long enough and we have to tender which will add on more time
This will be a first for us tendering off the ship. The cruises we've done that did tender, we didn't get off.

 

[mmouse37]

Wow! That's so scary!! Thanks for the pics

I never take my passports off the ship, but I do take my camera and money. I try to take as little as I need.

Is Medeno Beach nice? Is it a good place to go with kids for a few hours? I've heard a lot of vendors really hassle you. I really want to see the Arch for sure!

I hope we don't miss Cabo. I'm really looking forward to this Port!

Exciting to know another person coming on this cruise!! We're so excited!! See u soon!

The beach we were on was nice but it is in front of many beach clubs, restaurants and plenty of vendors asking if you want to buy stuff. also, as mentioned, if the surf is rough they won't let you swim. I am not sure if that beach is Medano Beach.

Very much looking forward to this cruise!!! See you onboard.

MJ

 

[MunFam]

Thank you for all your information!

I keep reading about "ship time" vs "Island time" do you know anything about this?

The only thing I could think of is that one the ship, everything happens on time, on the beach, it happens when they feel like it...but thats just a guess (based on my knowledge of "island time" in Hawaii). But the above answer makes sense.

 

[MunFam]

I am on the Panama Canal cruise next month also and I am not booking any private tours ahead of time. We were on the PC cruise in 2005 and missed a port or two so will just wait until each port and see what we want to do.

MJ

If you can, book Cartegena in advance. We used Dora the Explorer (so very highly recommended on DIS as well as trip advisor). She did not charge us in advance, and if the ship missed the port, there were no penalties. She is the best tour I have been on (and I work in the travel industry).

 

[MunFam]

Awesome info, thank-you
I'm really excited for this Port! I just wish we had more time!
11-4:30 just isn't long enough and we have to tender which will add on more time
This will be a first for us tendering off the ship. The cruises we've done that did tender, we didn't get off.

The water was so choppy that on the 2015 WBPC cruise, the waves were crashing over the tender dock at the boat, and they would have you wait til the boat was coming down and then jump! They were holding your hands, but still, eeeeeks! They even positioned the boat in the best angle to avoid the chop. The water was crashing up over the bottom 3-5 steps too. I was thankful to get from the boat back to the ship!

 

[cisobe]

We are on this cruise. We have two little ones (3 and 1), so we are just doing a excursion through DCL, to Lands End.

Thone photos of the boat sinking are kinda scary especially since we have our small kids with us.

 

[flinkerfrosch]

The beach we were on was nice but it is in front of many beach clubs, restaurants and plenty of vendors asking if you want to buy stuff. also, as mentioned, if the surf is rough they won't let you swim. I am not sure if that beach is Medano Beach.

Very much looking forward to this cruise!!! See you onboard.

MJ

We're very excited too!!

I think we will decide on Medeno Beach once there. It's hard to predict anything when you've never been before. I just wish we had more time and then it would make things a bit easier!
I really wanted to snorkel at Chileno Beach, and go to the Arch, but we don't have enough time