SamRoc said:
I called my friend and asked her which ruins tour she took. She said Xcaret was the best with the underwater river, but it was Chichen itza where she got sick from the heat.(she was in a hotel in mexico last August) I got our vacation guides today, and am still not sure about which ruins tour to take. In Cozumel we have the choice of Tulum or Xcaret but they are both 7 hour excursions and in Costa Maya we have the choice of the kohunlich (6 1/2 hours) or chacchoben which is about 5 hours. My kids love history and I know they want to do at least one ruins tour, but can't decide which one will be the most impressive and also which will be doable in August with the heat.
Last week someone on the cruise board has asked about Tulum, and this is what I had posted:
Here are the pictures from our Cozumel day, including Tulum.
http://www.brownfamilyvacations.com/html/cozumel.htm
You board a ferry directly from the ship, from a side door of the ship. There's a small plank you walk down, and step directly onto the ferry.
The ferry is relatively fast, and there are 2 levels of seating. There are tv's inside, but we couldn't hear them, and just as well since they weren't in English. lol They sold t-shirts on the ferry, as well as snacks, and on the return trip someone came around and sold jewelry. It wasn't the smoothest boat ride I'd ever been on, but all of us were fine, and I didn't see anyone on our particular ferry getting seasick. (My family takes Bonine {motion sickness medication} every single morning of the cruise anyway, so that might've helped us).
Once we got to the mainland of Mexico at Playa Del Carmen, we walked a few blocks through a small town, until we got to where the buses were parked. The buses were large, comfortable, and air-conditioned. We boarded the bus and the next stop was a small tourist gift shop where we could use the bathrooms, and shop. I guess we were there for about a half hour, then everyone got back on the bus.
We then arrived at Tulum. The bus let us off, then we boarded a colorful tram to take us to the entrance to the ruins. Our tour guide led us inside the walls of the ruins, over to a covered gazebo type of structure. There he explained about many of the carvings and markings that we'd be seeing, and what their significance were, to the Mayan people. Then we walked around with him for a while then we were able to walk around on our own, and at this point you can walk over to where the small beach to the Caribbean Sea was. He gave us a time frame for which to meet him back at the entrance. While waiting for everyone to get back, we were able to shop in a small area at the entrance.
Then we got on the bus, they handed out soda and beer, and Subway sandwiches, and that was basically it until we got back to Playa Del Carmen and got back on the ferry.
One more thing: During the entire bus ride to the ruins, which was at least an hour, the tour guide stood up at the front of the bus and gave us a lot of history and information about the Mayan people, their culture, the ruins, some myths, etc. He was great, and at the end of the tour we were very happy to tip him. We felt he had done a great job in providing the background info for this excursion.
Hi Friends,
We had considered cancelling this cruise for the repo also, but DSs are older now and are interested in the castles of Europe, not the cities near the ports, so we'll be doing a land vacation there instead. I tried to talk DH into just us doing the repo, but he didn't go for it. 
Also, if I've mistakenly taken off a name, let me know that as well. I'll continue to read back through the thread even further, later when I have more time. 
