Is it possible to stay later and not return with the offical DCL excursion?

[HLester3]

We are taking the DCL excursion in Cozumel to XCaret, but we have dolphin swim reservations at 3:00 p.m. around the same time the tour is schedule to leave to go back to boat to get everyone back by 5:00 p.m. for dinner. Since the ship doesn't leave until 10:00 p.m., I was thinking about gettimg back to the ship ourselves and leaving around 4:30 or 5. Is this problem? We have never been on a cruise, so I don't know how the excursions work.
Thanks.

 

[clten]

If you want to make your way back from an excursion, that's usually okay. Just make sure the driver and/or guide knows not to look for you on the return bus so they are not waiting around trying to find you.

 

[windermerejudy]

You do know that to get back from Xcaret you will need to get a taxi to the water ferry terminal for about $15 and hopefuly there will be some at xcaret. I would not assume. Then once you get to Playa Del Carmen you will need to take a water ferry that takes about an hour. I would look up that schedule too. I don't know how late they run. Plus you would have to time the taxi ride accordingly. If I can find this info I will post later. BTW I think water taxi is about $10pp

 

[flexsmom]

Please, please, remember the advice of clten in telling the guide/driver. We waited....and waited....and waited for some people for 45 MINUTES before our bus finally left and my toddler was a wreck by then since we were all sitting on the bus thinking we were leaving at any moment. Everyone was tired at the end of a long day and it was just flat out rude to add that kind stress to a long day out.

 

[windermerejudy]

Water taxi is 85 pesos and runs pretty much all day til 11pm except for siesta time 2-4pm

 

[HLester3]

Thanks for all of the information. We have 3 1/2 year old twins, and know how horrible it is to keep them occupied waiting for someone, so I will be sure to tell the guide. I thought we would at least go with the excursion to figure out the transportation and then it would be easier on the way home. Maybe we will buy ferry tickets in advance so that will make it easier, I have heard on another board that lots of the excursions take chartered ferry over.
Thanks again

 

[windermerejudy]

Do you have anything booked for Grand Cayman? If not I will tell you what we did since DCL will not allow under 5 to go on most water excursions and we have dd2 ds5 ds8. If you are interested in Stingray City let me know and I can tell you how to do that on your own very easily and you can take the kids.