Cozumel, Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Castaway Cay Activities

[ChicosWife]

I know a lot of the excursion sites I've been researching for my upcoming cruises say your money will be refunded if you don't stop at the port and all the ones I've seen also have guarantees to get you back in time or they will pay to get you to the next port. I would just look at the fine print and if you're not reassured, go with Disney or find an excursion/company that gives you reassurance.

Good info. Thanks!

 

[texasgingerbread]

I am scared to book outside of DCL. What if weather happens and we don't stop at that port? What if it's in a sketchy area, etc? Anyone face these issues?

Ditto - this is my 3rd cruise - always book private excursions. Reputable companies will include a note about "if you don't stop or inclement weather and we don't go out..." full refund. We booked private thru Captain Bryan's in Grand Cayman and toursinjamaica for Falmouth (both recommended by friends) and both included this info.

 

[LSUfan4444]

There are so many options, but what did you enjoy doing (or not doing) when you stopped at one or all of these ports? Are there ports that are better at just shopping/eating/etc. near the port and are there ports that it's just better to book an excursion?

Please let me know your thoughts and experiences!

Cozumel - Paradise Beach
Jamaica - Jewel at Runaway Bay purchased through Resort for a Day
Grand Cayman - snorkling (we booked at the dock and only wanted to go for a couple hours then we do some shopping)

 

[DisneyFanatic496]

Jamaica:
1st time : Good Hope Estate tour and lunch

What was Good Hope Estate like I'm thinking of doing one of the adventures there but I can't decide which one. Do you know if you can add extra activities once your there? If people in your group are doing two different adventures at GHE do you know if we can travel together and/or extend the time at GHE if one activity is done earlier?

 

[Bsmitty]

Cozumel: we've done Mayan ruins with a private beach lunch/swim after. LOVED it, although it's a time investment.

Jamaica: bobsled & Dunn's river falls. LOVED the falls so much! I could do without the bobsled, although I loved the ride up to the mountain top. I just would've picked the zip line instead of the bobsled.

Cayman: I've done A LOT in the caymans over the years. Turtle farm (wouldn't recommend it to my worst enemy), Hell is funny, but not worth the time, botanical gardens are great, but only if it's like your 5th time there, dolphin encounter was great, we've snorkeled, we've scuba'd, we've shopped & had our hair braided, we've been on boats out to see live turtles swimming, we've done wave runners, but by far my favorite thing in Cayman is to hit stingray city & a boat charter to Rum Point for the afternoon. Rum Point is simply amazing. And mainly only locals (like the wealthy land owner kind) live around there so it's very safe, very pristine, beautiful luxury type afternoon. Like you see on postcards

 

[elvispursley]

I am scared to book outside of DCL. What if weather happens and we don't stop at that port? What if it's in a sketchy area, etc? Anyone face these issues?

We've booked private excursions before and have had no issue with the companies and their cancellation policies re. the ship not making port. We typically are booking for private boats for snorkeling and all have said that if it is raining when we get off the ship, to please call as they may still go out or may cancel. I feel that if you do your due diligence in researching the tour companies you're working with, you shouldn't end up getting screwed or in a really sketchy area. I know we've had some questionable issues with potentially overpaying for a cab to return once (might've gotten "taken" for when we were in Tortola). We just make sure we are returning to the ship well before the all-aboard time. The first time I booked outside of DCL, it made me nervous, but to be away from all the ship crowds was so worth it!

 

[disney789]

For those of you that have done both, would you recommend the dolphin excursion in Cozumel or Grand Cayman?

 

[sandy77d]

We are just back from the Fantasy Western Caribbean. Here is what we did:

Cozumel - Jeep tour - We enjoyed this excursion. Drove around Cozumel in a Jeep. We stopped at a shopping area, which was my least favorite part of the excursion. Then we stopped to see the crocodiles and saw one. Then to a beach for lunch and beach time. The lunch was good and we enjoyed the beach. After the beach, we went to a lighthouse, then back to the ship. Fun excursion and good view of Cozumel.

Grand Cayman - Rum Point Beach break - We took a 40 minute catamaran ride to Rum Point beach. It was really beautiful and relaxing. The Disney group had its own area of the beach and lunch. On the catamaran ride back, we slowed down and used the sails for a while, then turned the motors back on to get back quicker. Great excursion.

Jamaica - Jewel Runaway Bay - booked through Resort for a Day - We loved this excursion. My daughters (both 11 years old) loved the water part - lazy river and water slides. The beach was beautiful. All food and drinks were included. It was about a 45 minute bus ride. The driver was entertaining giving some background of the area. This was my favorite beach although my husband preferred Cayman.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Jamaica - Jewel Runaway Bay - booked through Resort for a Day - We loved this excursion. My daughters (both 11 years old) loved the water part - lazy river and water slides. The beach was beautiful. All food and drinks were included. It was about a 45 minute bus ride. The driver was entertaining giving some background of the area

I agree all the way around. We had to drag our little one around the lazy river.

My only complain was the service...not that it wasn't good but they kind of didnt leave us alone. I don't thnk my wife and I could go 5 minutes of a conversation without another server trying to come up and offer us something. Very nice and attentive but a little over the top to us. Not that it was bad, just a little too much.

 

[ludari]

My go to port adventure for all the ports it's offered is scuba diving. If it's not offered I usually do some sort of tour and my favorite port adventure at CC is kayaking.

 

[ChicosWife]

We are just back from the Fantasy Western Caribbean. Here is what we did:

Cozumel - Jeep tour - We enjoyed this excursion. Drove around Cozumel in a Jeep. We stopped at a shopping area, which was my least favorite part of the excursion. Then we stopped to see the crocodiles and saw one. Then to a beach for lunch and beach time. The lunch was good and we enjoyed the beach. After the beach, we went to a lighthouse, then back to the ship. Fun excursion and good view of Cozumel.

Grand Cayman - Rum Point Beach break - We took a 40 minute catamaran ride to Rum Point beach. It was really beautiful and relaxing. The Disney group had its own area of the beach and lunch. On the catamaran ride back, we slowed down and used the sails for a while, then turned the motors back on to get back quicker. Great excursion.

Jamaica - Jewel Runaway Bay - booked through Resort for a Day - We loved this excursion. My daughters (both 11 years old) loved the water part - lazy river and water slides. The beach was beautiful. All food and drinks were included. It was about a 45 minute bus ride. The driver was entertaining giving some background of the area. This was my favorite beach although my husband preferred Cayman.

This is good info. I hadn't thought of the stops for the Jeep tour in Cozumel. How did you find the resort for Jamaica that offered all these amenities?

 

[ChicosWife]

Jamaica - Jewel at Runaway Bay purchased through Resort for a Day

We are just back from the Fantasy Western Caribbean. Here is what we did:

Cozumel - Jeep tour - We enjoyed this excursion. Drove around Cozumel in a Jeep. We stopped at a shopping area, which was my least favorite part of the excursion. Then we stopped to see the crocodiles and saw one. Then to a beach for lunch and beach time. The lunch was good and we enjoyed the beach. After the beach, we went to a lighthouse, then back to the ship. Fun excursion and good view of Cozumel.

Grand Cayman - Rum Point Beach break - We took a 40 minute catamaran ride to Rum Point beach. It was really beautiful and relaxing. The Disney group had its own area of the beach and lunch. On the catamaran ride back, we slowed down and used the sails for a while, then turned the motors back on to get back quicker. Great excursion.

Jamaica - Jewel Runaway Bay - booked through Resort for a Day - We loved this excursion. My daughters (both 11 years old) loved the water part - lazy river and water slides. The beach was beautiful. All food and drinks were included. It was about a 45 minute bus ride. The driver was entertaining giving some background of the area. This was my favorite beach although my husband preferred Cayman.

I looked into these and they are now options that we are seriously considering. Thank you for the info!

 

[LSUfan4444]

If you're interested, from the 5:02 mark in this video (I made from our RCCL last year) until the 6:57 mark is all Resort for a Day/Jewel at Runaway Bay.

 

[ChicosWife]

If you're interested, from the 5:02 mark in this video (I made from our RCCL last year) until the 6:57 mark is all Resort for a Day/Jewel at Runaway Bay.

Thanks! It looks like you all had fun!

 

[ChicosWife]

Okay, so just booked outside of DCL for Grand Cayman and did the Island Marketing Waverunners to Stingray City excursion. DCL has similar excursions that go to Stingray City, but not by Waverunner. I think that will be more fun!

I am looking at Mr. Sancho's for Cozumel. Anyone have good or bad experience with them? I see that the aquatic park is not included though and that will be a huge draw for my boys.

 

[barbarossa_hoosier]

Just tagging for interest, as this will be our itinerary for our first cruise.

One question: am I right in believing that the Dolphin Encounter/Swim at Grand Cayman looks like a better value than the Dolphin Encounter/Swim at Cozumel?

 

[MSPeeler]

We are heading out on this itinerary in 10 days again but I will put what we have done in the past as well as what we plan to do on the next cruise

Cozumel :
Ruins and Beach Break (2X)
Shopped and got a Cozumel Starbucks lol (1x)
Didn't leave the ship (1x)
Next one :
My daughter and I will be taking the chocolate and Island tour. My husband and son are going to hang out at and look at the leather crafts. Possibly visit Hooters for some wings. The nearest Hooters to us is a really long drive and they do make good wings.

Caymans:
1st visit was the Turtle Farm and Hell which was fun
Second visit we got off the ship and checked out the beautiful church and took pictures with the pirate statue near Margaritaville. Also checked out the diving museum right there at the port. We did some shopping while we were there.
3rd and 4th visit stayed on the ship
No plans to debark on the upcoming cruise either.

Jamaica:
1st time : Good Hope Estate tour and lunch
2nd time : Green Grotto Caverns and Beach break
3rd shopped in the port
4th: stayed on the ship
Upcoming trip:
Ziplining and Tubing for the boys and High tea at Good Hope estate for my daughter and I.

ETA: Castaway Cay:
1st time: Float rental, bike rental (riding around the island is awesome) snorkeling package (Getaway package)
2nd time: Stingray adventure, 2 floats and 2 snorkel sets
3rd time: Floats (do you see a trend here? ) and bikes again
4th time: Floats and lunch
5th time: Stingray adventure for son and I. Floats for daughter and I.
6th time: stayed on the ship and rode Aquaduck 12 times in a row. Enjoyed the pool!
7th time: Missed the port due to engine issues
8th time: Stayed on the ship again.
9th time: Floats and lunch at Cookies Too
10th time: Floats, bike ride and lunch. Back on the ship by 1 :00 PM
11th time: Stayed on the ship
12th time: Lunch and floats
Upcoming: Let's see if you can guess? And Bikes. But that could change and parasailing might be on the table depending on how ziplining goes. lol

How was Good Hope Tour/Lunch? We are thinking about doing the High Tea...
We will have a party of 7, 4 adults, 3 kids (age 12, 10 and 4 at the time) Wondering if it will be "too boring". With that said, we aren't adventurous people, so snorkling and parasailing aren't for us. It's hard to find excursions to fit our age range (4yr to 73yr)

 

[pdizzle27]

Falmouth, go outside of the port and get a local cab driver. They took us to a great beach and a Jerk chicken spot that the locals go to. I know a lot of people are leary of doing that, but is was definitely a highlight of our trip. It's also a great way to "help" kids appreciate what they have at home.

 

[Sytrace]

How was Good Hope Tour/Lunch? We are thinking about doing the High Tea...
We will have a party of 7, 4 adults, 3 kids (age 12, 10 and 4 at the time) Wondering if it will be "too boring". With that said, we aren't adventurous people, so snorkling and parasailing aren't for us. It's hard to find excursions to fit our age range (4yr to 73yr)

The first go round we did the Good Hope Estate tour and lunch...my kids were 12 and 13. The tour was awesome and very informative. There were all kinds of kids on that one. We then did Green Grotto Caverns and beach break. That was a lot of walking and closed in spaces along with bats. Which we didn't mind. They were 13 and 14 at that time.

The High Tea at Good Hope was really laid back. Very brief tour and then some food that included cookies, small sandwiches (cucumber and pesto, cheese and cucumber) some jerk chicken and of course tea. The Lemongrass was really good. You could also get Blue Mountain coffee if tea is not your thing. My daughter and I did this...she is 15 and my son and husband went ziplining (he is 14)

 

[ChicosWife]

I was looking at Mr. Sancho's in Cozumel, but am kind iffy about it. We may just do the Sea Trek Helmet Dive and then have the rest of the day to do our own exploring! My husband is most excited about eating the food!