msaseifert said:
the Stingray City tour in Grand Cayman sounds fun too.........I know my kids would love the turtle farm too but I did not see only that as an option, I guess when it get closer and we actually pay it off, I can start really delving in deeper. On CC we will just rent snorkel equipment this time. Last time we did the family Getaway package and ended up not using the floats nor the bikes. The kids loved the snorkeling so they pretty much did that all day long. In Key West, I think we will wing it and just walk around.
We took this same cruise (almost) this past January. (We went to Nassau instead of Cozumel.) We did all our excursions on our own, rather than book through Disney.
For Key West, we looked around a bit and then took the Old Town Trolley Tour. One of the nice things about their tour is that you can get on and off as much as you like to visit the local attractions. The tour guides have a basic script they work off (with some embellishments of their own), so you can pick up the the tour wherever you left off and not miss any information. We also went to Pirate Soul Museum, which was quite cool. (
www.piratesoul.com) we also went to the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum. Yes, we have a pirate lover in our group. I think this time we're planning to go visit the Southernmost Point.
www.historictours.com/keywest has good information on some of the sites of Key West.
Out next stop was Grand Cayman. We booked through Captain Marvin's (
www.captainmarvins.com) and did the Stingray City snorkel and snorkeling in another location. Then we tacked on their Island Tour with stops at Hell, Grand Cayman and the Turtle Farm. The kids really got a kick out of seeing the turtles. They do have the option of just the island tour with stop at the turtle farm without the stingray visit. My kids were 3, 6, and 10 during our trip. I held the 3 y/o during the stingrays, but she was the first of the kids to touch one. The 10 y/o loved snorkeling, but tried to climb to DH's head when the stingrays came by. The 6 y/o doesn't have strong swimming skills, but he enjoyed both areas.
In Nassau we did the Dolphin Encounter. I've heard the same company is located in Grand Cayman. It was a really neat experience. Be warned though, they sell pictures and videos that look wonderful, but aren't cheap. We all had an opportunity to feed, touch, kiss, and hug the dolphin. DD3 has now fallen in love with Dolphins--she was the bravest of all three kids. We also walked around The Atlantis hotel. Nice, pretty and very expensive.
Castaway Cay we just sort of hung out. DD10 did some snorkeling, but the weather was a bit cool, so she didn't do it very long. We spent quite a bit of time at Grouper's Game Pavilion. I bought some of those rashguard swimsuits for the kids to wear this time. They look like they would be a little warmer, but maybe not with having more fabric to stay wet.
Of course our activities will be a bit different this time, since we'll have our "souvenier"
from our last cruise with us this time. A few weeks after we returned from the cruise this past January, I found out I am pregnant with #4, so we'll have an infant with us. We've affectionately named it "pixie dust," until we find out what sex the baby is.
This time, we're also bringing my parents, DH's mom, and one of my friends booked rooms for her family, too.
I'm definately looking forward to this cruise!
Kim
My MIL is getting excited as well - she came up for a visit this weekend and I gave her the book that came with the DVD. She also had a look at the Passporter - she now says that she always wanted to go on a cruise but didn't tell anyone. Glad to hear it!!
Okay...that still sounds far but it was a LOT further away when we booked it. 
(and that's 3 smilies before I've really said much...trying to wake up here)
