December 7, 2013 - Winter Fantasy Cruise

[Va-NanaTink]

 

[Tiresius]

Is there any way that one of you elite folks who can already access all of the check-in information would be willing to look up a few times for excursions in Cozumel?

Timing of excursions in Costa Maya and Grand Cayman doesn't much matter, since our choices are limited to one excursion in each port anyway. But for Cozumel, it does seem like if you plan right, you could squeeze in one early morning and one later afternoon excursion. But without being able to see the times scheduled, pre-planning is incredibly difficult. Anyone willing to help?

If you are bored and want to do the really lengthy version, finding out which excursions meet early morning or late afternoon, a complete list would be more than I could ever hope for.

However, if you have just a few minutes, even just looking up the times for a few (our favorites) would still be incredibly helpful. We are mostly wondering about the meeting times for the following excursions in Cozumel:
-Three Reef Snorkel
-Cozumel Highlights and Mayan Ruins
-Ocean View Explorer Tour
-Atlantis Submarine
-Clear Kayak and Beach Snorkel

Thank you thank you!

 

[Va-NanaTink]

Is there any way that one of you elite folks who can already access all of the check-in information would be willing to look up a few times for excursions in Cozumel?

Timing of excursions in Costa Maya and Grand Cayman doesn't much matter, since our choices are limited to one excursion in each port anyway. But for Cozumel, it does seem like if you plan right, you could squeeze in one early morning and one later afternoon excursion. But without being able to see the times scheduled, pre-planning is incredibly difficult. Anyone willing to help?

If you are bored and want to do the really lengthy version, finding out which excursions meet early morning or late afternoon, a complete list would be more than I could ever hope for.

However, if you have just a few minutes, even just looking up the times for a few (our favorites) would still be incredibly helpful. We are mostly wondering about the meeting times for the following excursions in Cozumel:
-Three Reef Snorkel
-Cozumel Highlights and Mayan Ruins
-Ocean View Explorer Tour
-Atlantis Submarine
-Clear Kayak and Beach Snorkel

Thank you thank you!

OK, The Three Reef Snorkel and Cozumel Highlights and Mayan Ruins are both sold out.

Ocean View Explorer Tour meets at 9:45 and 11:45
Atlantis Submarine meets at 8:30 and 12:30
Clear Kayak and Beach Snorkel is at 9:45


Hope this helps you plan!!!

 

[Dixielady908]

OK, The Three Reef Snorkel and Cozumel Highlights and Mayan Ruins are both sold out.

Ocean View Explorer Tour meets at 9:45 and 11:45
Atlantis Submarine meets at 8:30 and 12:30
Clear Kayak and Beach Snorkel is at 9:45


Hope this helps you plan!!!

wow cant believe that some of the excursions are sold out already....
hmmmm wonder what will be left at 90 days

 

[Va-NanaTink]

wow cant believe that some of the excursions are sold out already....
hmmmm wonder what will be left at 90 days

there will be lots, but the popular ones are sometimes gone!

 

[Dixielady908]

there will be lots, but the popular ones are sometimes gone!

well the ones that are gone, I was not going to do anyway.....

actually only 25 more days until I get to book.....

 

[kde175]

well the ones that are gone, I was not going to do anyway.....

actually only 25 more days until I get to book.....

We're right with you. I just paid off the cruise today!!! Yay!! Now I have to wait until the 8th to book the rest of the fun. I guess we should figure out just what kind of fun we want that to be.

 

[Tiresius]

OK, The Three Reef Snorkel and Cozumel Highlights and Mayan Ruins are both sold out.

Ocean View Explorer Tour meets at 9:45 and 11:45
Atlantis Submarine meets at 8:30 and 12:30
Clear Kayak and Beach Snorkel is at 9:45


Hope this helps you plan!!!

Thank you!!!

Frustrating though that things are already sold out. Our top two are out, back to the drawing board. Also slightly frustrating that everything is in the morning (I know, 12:30 isn't the morning, but we are in port till 5, and the Atlantis one is only 2 hours. It could easily start at 2pm.). I wonder if there just aren't any afternoon excursions at all.

 

[Tiresius]

there will be lots, but the popular ones are sometimes gone!

Is it easy to see what is sold out and what is available? I mean, without looking each one up? Are lots of things already sold out? Now I am nervous...

Are the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins sold out for Costa Maya? I doubt that one is, since they can keep adding more buses, but that's the only thing that really interests us there.

What about Grand Cayman? We want to snorkel in Stingray City, and there seem to be three excursions that go there. Are those all sold out?

Sorry! I don't mean to be a pain and make you look all of this stuff up. If its not easy, I can wait my turn and just see what is left when its my time, I promise. Its just that if things are already gone, then we know we have to re-think, and have plan B or C in place for late-night booking day.

 

[philatiger]

Thank you!!!

Frustrating though that things are already sold out. Our top two are out, back to the drawing board. Also slightly frustrating that everything is in the morning (I know, 12:30 isn't the morning, but we are in port till 5, and the Atlantis one is only 2 hours. It could easily start at 2pm.). I wonder if there just aren't any afternoon excursions at all.

They may not be sold out completely. I would still check online when your booking time comes up. They may even hold some spots to book on the ship.

I am always dis-heartened when things like this get sold out before anyone else even has a chance. I completel understand that they want to cater to concierge and platinum, but if these excursions sell out that quickly then they should make arrangements with the tour operators to conduct more tours. For some people this may be the trip of a lifetime and to not be able to do the things they were hoping to can be a downer.

I think the 12:30 cutoff is to allow for any possible delays getting back to the ship.

 

[Tiresius]

They may not be sold out completely. I would still check online when your booking time comes up. They may even hold some spots to book on the ship.

I am always dis-heartened when things like this get sold out before anyone else even has a chance. I completel understand that they want to cater to concierge and platinum, but if these excursions sell out that quickly then they should make arrangements with the tour operators to conduct more tours. For some people this may be the trip of a lifetime and to not be able to do the things they were hoping to can be a downer.

I think the 12:30 cutoff is to allow for any possible delays getting back to the ship.

I agree with your analysis - totally understand that some guests get priority, and that it is a perk of that status, but it is still a downer to know that you book a cruise to snorkel in the Caribbean and then get locked out of the snorkeling excursions. Oh well, we will find something we love I am sure.

I also totally get the need for some extra time to get back to the ship. But if a 4.5 hour excursion can be scheduled in a port that the ship only docks at for a total of 4.5 hours, then you would think a 2 hour excursion could be scheduled for when the ship doesn't even leave port for another 3.5 hours. Just saying, if we (and we most likely aren't doing this, just speculating), booked the 9:45am Ocean View excursion, we are theoretically back on board at 11:45am. We would still have more than 5 hours free in that port. Plenty of time to allow travel wiggle room, and head out again at 1 or 2pm.

 

[Marlea98]

GUESS WHAT DAY IT IS?????? COME ON....GUESS WHAT DAY IT IS????

IT'S HUMP DAY.....WOO HOO

I just love that Geico commercial with the camel in it....I think its my favorite.....

Have a great day

We don't get those ads here. I really liked American ads, so different to what we have here. But most of what I saw was for fast food, cars and insurance. I really liked the Progressive Insurance ones.

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[Marlea98]

OK, The Three Reef Snorkel and Cozumel Highlights and Mayan Ruins are both sold out.

Ocean View Explorer Tour meets at 9:45 and 11:45
Atlantis Submarine meets at 8:30 and 12:30
Clear Kayak and Beach Snorkel is at 9:45

Hope this helps you plan!!!

Oh no. I wanted to do the Cozumel highlights and Mayan Ruins ones

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[Marlea98]

wow cant believe that some of the excursions are sold out already....
hmmmm wonder what will be left at 90 days

I was thinking the same thing. Back to the drawing board methinks.

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[Marlea98]

I agree with your analysis - totally understand that some guests get priority, and that it is a perk of that status, but it is still a downer to know that you book a cruise to snorkel in the Caribbean and then get locked out of the snorkeling excursions. Oh well, we will find something we love I am sure.

I also totally get the need for some extra time to get back to the ship. But if a 4.5 hour excursion can be scheduled in a port that the ship only docks at for a total of 4.5 hours, then you would think a 2 hour excursion could be scheduled for when the ship doesn't even leave port for another 3.5 hours. Just saying, if we (and we most likely aren't doing this, just speculating), booked the 9:45am Ocean View excursion, we are theoretically back on board at 11:45am. We would still have more than 5 hours free in that port. Plenty of time to allow travel wiggle room, and head out again at 1 or 2pm.

That's the one thing I liked about P&O they showed their departure and arrival dates online so that made it easier to plan more than one shore excursion. Some yours were over a two or three times so there were always tours heading off to the same location for some excursions. I wish DCL did that, show start times before your booking window opened up to make for easier planning.

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[philatiger]

I am glad we are not worrying too much about excursions. For me this cruise I really want to explore the ship. We did a 5 day on the Dream and I feel like I missed seeing so much of the ship.

Once we get closer to our booking window we will probably take a look.

 

[Marlea98]

I only really want to do some ruins and that'a about it. Cozumel will be Margaritaville for me but if I can throw in some ruins I'll be happy. I do like exploring new places though.

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[Va-NanaTink]

Y'all, don't get too twisted.....it is easy to see the ones sold out, so I will take a look later this evening and give you a list. As to them being 'sold out', don't get disheartened...I do believe they hold a percentage of the slots for the later bookings just like they do with Palo's and Remy's. W might just get a lion's share. Plus, people book things and later cancel for whatever reason. So, when I give you the list of 'sold out' excursions, that there may well be more excursions added later.
And DCL does add more sometimes if they are popular, but you have to remember we are not the only ship in port and some things can only hold so many people and Disney is probably only given a percentage of the available spots.

My motto...never give up hope!

 

[Va-NanaTink]

OK, here is what is listed as sold out as of 1820 on 14 AUG 2013

Grand Cayman

Nothing showing as sold out

Costa Maya

Beach Power Snorkel
Glass-bottom Boat/Snorkel
Snuba

Cozumel

Adventure Park
Cozumel Highlight/Mayan Ruins
Mayan Ruins/Discover Park
Three Reef Snorkel

Castaway Cay

One Cabana on the family beach and one on Adult beach left.

Hope this helps with planning, but remember, it may be that the "sold out" tours may have openings held for the other levels. I don't know if they do the excursions like that, but I've heard they do Palo's and Remy's like that.

 

[Dixielady908]

We're right with you. I just paid off the cruise today!!! Yay!! Now I have to wait until the 8th to book the rest of the fun. I guess we should figure out just what kind of fun we want that to be.

Well you have 25 days to think about it....

I'm not going to get my panties in a bunch if something is sold out....I love to cruise and being on the ship...so if something that we planned is sold out, and nothing else really grabs my attention, I may just get off do a little shopping and head back and relax on the ship....and save a few dollars...which actually adds up to more foo foo drinks for me.