From WDW to DL With Love - January 06, 2011 part 3

[glindamood]

Afternoon all. LOVE all the excursion talk. We would do something on our own - if I could find something interesting. I always did the research (cruise critic works well for ideas but there is lots out on that world wide web) and made my contacts. I figure those independent excursion companies needed to provide the product/service as they advertise and get people back when they said they would as folks missing their ship will post some not so nice reviews keeping further business away. Antigua, Cozumel, St. Thomas, St. Maartin, St. Lucia and Grand Cayman tour operators have been very good to us.

But at this point, the only things we have seen are the DCL excursions and nothing tickles our fancy in Manzanillo or CR.

Enjoy!

 

[granmaz]

We quite often watch the final folk getting back to the ship before leaving port, and I am always surprised how fine some people cut it. They literally get onboard as the ropes are going. sometimes they just amble even though you can see the CM's looking intently at them. I would be freaking out. Not that I would be rolling up late anyway of course.

I often wonder when they call names out just before sailing if actually the people do get in touch and are onboard or not. I always presume they are as we never hear anything.

 

[aan1701]

Yes Jen I so agree with you. If you plan, plan, plan you should be fine. It is the things you can not plan on that freaks me out, like blown tires on a bus or a boats engine failing or something like that.

 

[LindaBabe]

Linda going to Port Canaveral in Oct where can I see the Manatee's staying at Residence Inn.

Between the Residence Inn and the Radisson as you're headed south on A1A there is a right hand turn that says park / manatee viewing area. You *could* walk it in 10-15 minutes, if you're not mobility impaired. We drive & park.

 

[JenKatt]

Between the Residence Inn and the Radisson as you're headed south on A1A there is a right hand turn that says park / manatee viewing area. You *could* walk it in 10-15 minutes, if you're not mobility impaired. We drive & park.

If anyone is headed to the west coast of Florida, we have to most incredible manatee viewing area literally down the street from us in Apollo Beach. The power plant sits in Tampa Bay warming the water. At any given moment in the fall and winter (until April) you will see manatees, sharks, sting rays and other assorted marine life. And it's free to go out on the piers by the power plant to see all of it. It's a great hidden treasure here on the west coast.

 

[JenKatt]

Yes Jen I so agree with you. If you plan, plan, plan you should be fine. It is the things you can not plan on that freaks me out, like blown tires on a bus or a boats engine failing or something like that.

Like I said Alan, the people I saw who missed their boat could see it. If you plan for the worst case scenario like you say, you'll (99%) sure make it back in time. That 1% happens regardless of where you are (hence the drunks at Carlos and Charlies)

 

[WDW Princess 71]

Ok, Calypso Cruises got back to me. Although it sounds and looks wonderful, it takes 2 hrs to go across the bay. The cruise has pools, bar, etc, but it doesnt return to Puentarenas until 5:30 are DCL says we leave at 6 pm. That seems to be cutting it a bit short to me. Other comments....??

I also emailed Calypso and got the same response. That is cutting it way too close to me. As amazing as the Shore Excursion sounds, I just cant justify it. They told me that they've never had a problem being back on time, but couldnt guarantee anything. Also they sent me a link to their website that listed a few dozen cruise lines that they say you can do with them- DCL wasnt on that list. Maybe its because our ship leaves earlier? Nevertheless, too close for me.

I have since found another company that returns at 4pm. Am requesting info from them. The island really looks like where I would be interested in spending a day. My idea of a tropical island. I will keep you posted.

Please keep us posted! A 4 PM return time would definitely make me feel better. Hopefully this one pans out!

The only time I've ever seen someone get left behind at a port didn't venture more than 5 minutes from their boat. In fact they watched it sail away. Of course the yard of drinks they had at Carlos and Charlies in Cozumel made them wonder when Carnival painted the boat black. They sobered up really quick when they realized that the painted boat was really the Magic and their boat was the one leaving.
My point being is it doesn't matter what you do on shore as long as you plan well. We've done DCL and non DCL excursions and never had a problem. We do what y'all are doing, planning around arrival and departure times and making sure we have plenty of time. It seems stupid to travel so far and limit yourself to only DCL excursions and what is withing spitting distance of the ship. For those of us with kids this cruise (little ones), we'd be sorely screwed if we only did DCL excursions. Seeing what we've spent on this cruise, you better believe we'll be on board by departure!
But as you always say Alan, to each their own.....

I totally agree Jen. I cant imagine traveling all this way and spending all this money and being so limited. I was hoping DCL would have all the excursions we wanted, but I am so disappointed. I have no idea why they dont offer Tortuga Island or another CR beach day- and if there is a reason, like safety concern, I wish they would advise us so we dont venture out to something bad on our own.

 

[carmie3377]

We would like to be added to the list, please.

Will get you added

I figure those independent excursion companies needed to provide the product/service as they advertise and get people back when they said they would as folks missing their ship will post some not so nice reviews keeping further business away.

This is what DH and i were talking about today. Their livelihood greatly depends on cruise passengers. If they didn't get people back on time, word would get out real quickly and they'd be out of business soon. We just plan to be back at least a couple of hours before departure.

 

[ACDSNY]

If anyone is headed to the west coast of Florida, we have to most incredible manatee viewing area literally down the street from us in Apollo Beach. The power plant sits in Tampa Bay warming the water. At any given moment in the fall and winter (until April) you will see manatees, sharks, sting rays and other assorted marine life. And it's free to go out on the piers by the power plant to see all of it. It's a great hidden treasure here on the west coast.

I was looking into this for the day before the cruise, how long would it take to get there from Orlando? The other place we're looking at is Blue Springs State Park, any thoughts on it?

 

[angelgurl]

Just looked, we're now up to 21 with the addition of tracyvp. We haven't decided if we'll go with the standard or power but either way, it won't be much per person - less than $3/person if everyone stays in. Anyone else, feel free to let me know if you're interested and I'll get you added! Link of the info is in my signature.

Please add me to the list as well
I am not the greatest photographer by any means but I do try to take a lot of picture I can share
And it would be nice to get some of the things we miss

 

[JenKatt]

I was looking into this for the day before the cruise, how long would it take to get there from Orlando? The other place we're looking at is Blue Springs State Park, any thoughts on it?

Disney proper to my house is roughly 75 miles. It's all interstate. January is one of the best times to see the manatees since the bay is so cold. Last year with the unseasonable temps we had, the manatees were literally dying if they left the power plants waters. If you decided to come down to Apollo Beach, let me know, I can reccomend some other things to do/ eat/ etc.
Don't know anything about Blue Springs. Where is it?

 

[aan1701]

Like I said Alan, the people I saw who missed their boat could see it. If you plan for the worst case scenario like you say, you'll (99%) sure make it back in time. That 1% happens regardless of where you are (hence the drunks at Carlos and Charlies)

Jen has anyone told you, you are one wise woman? If not let me be the first. I guess that 1% is the reason why I never look out side of ship sponsered excursions.

 

[carmie3377]

Please add me to the list as well
I am not the greatest photographer by any means but I do try to take a lot of picture I can share
And it would be nice to get some of the things we miss

Gotcha added!

 

[WDW Princess 71]

Will get you added



This is what DH and i were talking about today. Their livelihood greatly depends on cruise passengers. If they didn't get people back on time, word would get out real quickly and they'd be out of business soon. We just plan to be back at least a couple of hours before departure.

Yea, I think 2 hours before departure time is the minimum I would accept as comfortable for me to do a non DCL excursion. So far all I have found for Costa Rica is returning at 5:00 PM, which is just too close for me...someone else may have found a vendor that returns you at 4:00, so I'm holding out for that, otherwise we are just going to have to figure something else out.

 

[danfromca]

Will get you added
This is what DH and i were talking about today. Their livelihood greatly depends on cruise passengers. If they didn't get people back on time, word would get out real quickly and they'd be out of business soon. We just plan to be back at least a couple of hours before departure.

Jen has anyone told you, you are one wise woman? If not let me be the first. I guess that 1% is the reason why I never look out side of ship sponsered excursions.

DCL has the advantage of security, and being "hassle free". But for those who don't mind (or enjoy) the effort of researching and reserving other excursions, or who need a greater variety (which definitely is applicable to ome of our ports), going with non-DCL excursions can make sense.

But even so - 30 minutes seems to me far too close for comfort.

 

[shushh]

Hello all!

Been reading through all your thoughts on the shore excursions. Took a while! It looks like we will be doing most ports on our own. Unfortunately, like on the med cruise, DCL just isn't offering a great choice for families with very young children.

Was hoping that someone could help with some post-cruise advice/suggestions.

Our flight back to Sydney after the cruise doesn't leave until 1045pm. We're flying with Delta. At Barcelona, they offered at port check in for international Delta flights. However, DCL won't tell us if they will do this at LA which makes it hard for us to plan! There are 14 of us flying home that day, 7 of whom are young children. And we'll have a tonne of luggage with us as well full from our shopping expeditions. (LOVE shopping in the states)

So just wondering if anyone can think of something that we can do or someplace we can go to spend the day before our flight? There's probably something that I'm overlooking or don't know about.

 

[LindaBabe]

Good Morning, Happy Cruisers!

 

[shushh]

Morning Linda! I meant to ask earlier but forgot. Will cabs in NY (or anywhere else in the states for that matter) take all 5 of us in the one cab, or will we have to get a maxi-taxi? I read somewhere that children under a certain age can sit on their parents laps. Also, not sure if sitting in the front is the done thing there? People do it here, but I didn't want to assume anything.

 

[zakerdog]

Morning all,

I have been reading the comments about excursions and just wonder if everyone is seeing everything that is available? The DCL site is not the most user friendly by times and depending how you access information you may get different snapshots. For example when I look at the PC cruise info going through cruise destinations I see 4 excursions for each port. However if I go in through ships activites I see a different picture.

Not counting Castaway Cay activites I see lots of excursions available. I haven't even had a chance to read them all yet to determine if there is anything there I want to do. I personally would be nervous doing an outside excursion if the return time was anything close to departure. (just me) but Disney excursions are pricey.

Number of excursions so far for each port =

Aruba - 12
Cabo San Luca - 34
Puntarenas - 16
Manzanillo - 9
Puerto Vallarta - 26

Happy planning,

 

[poohs4me]

Morning all,

I have been reading the comments about excursions and just wonder if everyone is seeing everything that is available? The DCL site is not the most user friendly by times and depending how you access information you may get different snapshots. For example when I look at the PC cruise info going through cruise destinations I see 4 excursions for each port. However if I go in through ships activites I see a different picture.

Not counting Castaway Cay activites I see a total of 113 excursions available. That's a lot I think. I haven't even had a chance to read them all yet to determine if there is anything there I want to do. I personally would be nervous doing an outside excursion if the return time was anything close to departure. (just me) but Disney excursions are pricey.

Number of excursions so far for each port =

Aruba - 12
Cabo San Luca - 34
Puntarenas - 16
Manzanillo - 25
Puerto Vallarta - 26

Happy planning,

What am I missing I only see

Manzanillo - 9