Key West/Cozumel excursion advice??

[Mtdewbuzz]

I've already decided that we're going to do the Stingray snorkel in the Caymans, and I THOUGHT we were going to do XCaret in Cozumel until I read how little time you have to enjoy it.

I just need some advice on what to do (& what NOT to do) in Key West, and also something to do in Cozumel (especially something involving the Mayan ruins).

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[Hopkins]

We haven't been to any of these ports, but are going on the January 18th sailing of the Magic next year. We are planning to do the Conch Train Tour in Key West since its a nice 60 minute introduction to the city. We'll sign up for the excursion thru DCL, but will play evrything else like the aquarium, shipwreck historeum and stuff like that by ear. Maybe we'll rent bikes. We'll definitely see the sunset from Mallory Square. On Cozumel, we'll sign up for the Tulum tour offered by DCL. That will take up most of the day. In the evening, we are going to have dinner at Pancho's Backyard and play Cozumel Mini-Golf. At Pancho's, you can eat outside (very romantic setting) and the allegedly they make a great margaritta and excellent mexican food. Cozumel mini-golf just looked neat from their web site. You can reach them by following their flag inland a few blocks from the main dock. On Grand Cayman, we are going to do the Land and Sea Island Tour offered by DCL, again for an overview of the island. Also, we'll be able to see the stingrays, but don't have to swim with them. They have a moored semi-sub to view them. Hubby doesn't swim. We are also going a bit overboard with our excursions and are going to book the Atlantis Submarine excursion thru DCL so we can see the famous Cayman Wall reefs and marine life.

Hope this helps.
Tina

 

[prymsu]

in Key West. Depending on the time of year and if you are taking along little kids, you may want to pass on the ruins. It can get very hot and it a lot of walking. You also have to allow about as much travel time to get to the ruins as you could to Xcaret.

 

[4crusinransiers]

Tulum is nice ruins BUT the tour will take up almost your whole day AND it will be the HOTTEST part of the day. Ruins are nice in the morning. Why not go to San Gervasio Mayan Ruins , they are right on the island of Cozumel on the north end of the island.
You can rent a jeep and go on your own!

 

[Lisabell]

We did the Tulum Ruins tour. It was VERY worthwhile but VERY HOT!!!!!! I'm so glad we did it since it was so educational and beautiful, but it really did eat up our whole day, especially since we really wanted to experience the MEXICALI dinner and deck party on the ship. By the time we got back to Cozumel after the tour, we only had about an hour and a half to shop and explore in order to shower and make our late seating dinner (and let me tell you that after that heat, we needed 2 showers ).

We are already planning our next Western 7-day and we will be doing a shorter excursion, preferably on the island itself (rather than the mainland) and hopefully one that involves some water fun to stay cool.

We did the Conch Train Tour in Key West and found it to be very worthwhile (except that we were among the few unfortunate ones who had to face BACKWARDS on the tram). It's a nice overview of the island and shows you all the places you might want to return to on bicycle or scooter later in the day. We also went to the Shipwreck Historeum. We really enjoyed it and the view from the top of the tower is worth the price of admission.

Happy Planning!
Lisabell

 

[Lisabell]

....and one more thing....

Unless you enjoy tacky tourist traps, do the Snorkeling Only tour at Stingray City. We did the excursion that combined Stingray City with a stop in Hell, the Turtle Farm and the Rum Cake Factory. We were longing for more time with the Stingrays. They are as gentle as puppies!! This was one of the Major Highlights of our trip!!

You'll have sooooo much fun!!!

Lisabell

 

[tkd lisa]

You didn't say if you had kids.

We have an 8 1/2 YO and a 10 YO. We did the conch train on our own and really enjoyed it. If you buy tickets online from their web site, it's 10% off. We just poked around Key West on our own for the rest of the time.

We did Capt. Marvins snorkle and stingray 1/2 day on Grand Cayman. I really enjoyed it, but note that my 8 1/2 year old wouldn't snorkle. He had practiced in the pools, and we thought he was ready, but once he got a mouth of salt water (and the teenagers who yelled shark), that was it for him! For our family of 4, it was $124. That was about half what the DCL excursion would have cost, because they were going to charge adult price for our 10 yo.

We didn't have firm plans on Cozumel. Our mistake! We chartered a fishing boat which was no fun. Details in my trip report. The San Gerisimo trip has a taxi price of $45 (which I think was round trip). I understand entrance was a few dollars. Having talked to people who took the boats over to the mainland ruins, it didn't sound like a fun trip.

Good luck!

 

[Tay N Evie's Mom]

We have 4 year old twins. We did the Conch Train Tour on Key West. DH and I thought it was OK, but the kids were bored. In general DH and I didn't care for Key West, we didn't think there was much to do for our family.

On Cozumel we did the Tulum Ruins and Beach Tour. One piece of advice-DON'T DO IT!!! We've been on DCL three times and this was the worst excursion we've ever been on. Our family of 4 spent $154. The bus ride was long and you spent more time on the bus than sightseeing. By the time you got to the beach they only give you 1 hour and you hardly get in the water and it's time to go. And if you don't wear a watch, you won't know when to go back to the bus. The excursion meets at 11:30am, so your only option on the ship is to eat breakfast-no time to eat lunch before you leave. We were gone from 11:30-5pm and not provided any type of lunch or snack-only 2 glasses of pop. My kids don't drink pop so we were out of luck for them. For what we paid we should have been provided a lunch. The only opportunity to buy lunch was at the beach club-$15 buffet, but if you chose to do that you wouldn't have time to enjoy the beach. DH got very sick since there was no place to get something to eat. He missed Mexicali dinner since he was so sick-which was a shame since I thought it was the most enjoyable dining experience on the cruise. As soon as we got to the cabin from the excursion I called guest services I was so upset. Someone did call me back, but kept cutting me off when I tried to tell her the details of our experience. They did appreciate the input though.

 

[cmatt]

stay on the boat at those to and save your money ,,

glass boat tour awful dcl exc at keys

coz if you want nice beach dont go to chakanaab go to playa so

save your money for caymans great snorkleing tour with capt. bryans,,

then do rum point or 7 mile beach

3 hours 36.00 each take only small group no more than 18

3 places stingray sandbar, aquarium, coral reef,, they were great 1 hour each place my kids 12 and 13 loved it

thanks cmatt

 

[4crusinransiers]

cmatt
save your money for caymans great snorkleing tour with capt. bryans,,
How do you find info on Capt Bryans?

 

[cmatt]

hi this should work for you

http://www.cayman.org/captainbryan/


the name of the boat we were on was the Hannibal real nice and javin will drop you off at the hyatt when your done if you want to swim 7 mile beach,, public acess there or ferry there to rum point

if can help any more let me know cmatt

 

[4crusinransiers]

Thanks!

 

[cmatt]

did you call them or e-mail them,, do you think you'll book with them ??

have some pics at www.webshots.com

under sting ray 147

if you want to see them snorkeling and at at stingray sand bar


thanks cmatt

 

[cmatt]

try this one www.webshots.com

go to members photos lower right hand side

stingray 147

then my photos

should work thanks cmatt

after caymans you wont snorkel at coz or key west to rough

 

[trishy]

Tay n Evies Mom - are you sure that was the "Tulum ruins" excursion? I'm not finding that one with a beach tour in the catalogue. There's a "Cozumel ruins & beach tour" which lists "complimentary beverages" only.(C-19) The Tulum ruins (C-06) lists only going to the Tulum site and a boxed lunch with beverages is provided. Did something change? I know the fine print says DCL can change anything on the excursions, I was wondering if this excursion "Tulum ruins" has been changed. Thanks.

 

[Tay N Evie's Mom]

I'm sorry, it was the Cozumel Ruins and Beach tour, not the Tulum ruins.