October 25, 2008 Western DD

[NewfieMom]

I had really wanted to do Xcaret, but the long trip there and back, as well as it pretty much taking up our whole day in Cozumel, put an end to that idea. I'd love to do a ruins tour, but can't see the kids getting through that without a meltdown or two, and they'll be 9 & 11 when we cruise! Just can't see that keeping them interested, and everything I looked at involved a long ride there and back - not good. I'd also love to do a snorkeling excursion, but DS9 won't hear tell of it - afraid of sharks! Now we're seriously considering the Dolphin swim at Chankanaab - but must admit my first choice would still be Xcaret!

This is what the Disney website has as our arrival/departure times for each port....

Saturday Port Canaveral — 4:00 p.m.
Sunday Castaway Cay 8:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m.
Monday At Sea — —
Tuesday Costa Maya 7:30 a.m. 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday Cozumel 8:00 a.m. 6:30 p.m.
Thursday At Sea — —
Friday Castaway Cay 9:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m.
Saturday Port Canaveral 7:35 a.m.

That gives us 10.5 hours in Cozumel in total, and remember that we have to go through disembarkation, and be back on board before 6:30 (not sure if that's all aboard time, or departure time). Xcaret takes 7 - 7.5 hours, with about 1.5 hours each way to get there and back included in that time. As much as I'd love to see Xcaret, I think I'd rather go quickly to Chankanaab spend my 4 - 5 hours there, and still have lots of time to explore the port area & shop.

Alot of the threads I've read about trips to Costa Maya talked about a private tour with a couple of guys named David & Ivan that everyone raved about. I think this involved a ruins tour. That would be good to check into, but like someone said earlier, it's really hard to plan for Costa Maya because unsure what will be up and running and what won't. Majahaul was a popular destination for a beach day, but by all reports that was wiped out. I guess we just have to wait and see for Costa Maya.

Really hard to believe we'll be on board in 5 months. Actually, we'll all be on our way to Cozumel after our day in Costa Maya, if all goes according to plan!

Valerie

 

[Midwest Cruisers]

Xcaret is truly amazing but as others have said, it really needs an all day stay to truly enjoy it. There is so much to do and the lazy river is amazing! If you were to try to do it on this cruise, you would probably feel ripped off because you would miss so much. My advise is to visit Cancun some day and just drive down or take a bus and spend all day there. It is a must see if you are in Cancun- even worth missing the meals and drinks at the all-inclusive

 

[Aneille]

Valarie - The Costa Maya Tour with David and Ivan is the one my family is considering. Their website is NativeTour.com. I believe its a pretty short bus ride compared to other ruins.

I thought my kids might be able to handle it.

I would love to snorkel but only 1 of my kids is old enough. Next trip I guess.

 

[Midwest Cruisers]

Aneille-thanks for the information on the website for David and Ivan. Nativechoice.com. The only catch is that they charge $10 per person to pick up at the port. I wonder if we get a group together if they will charge as much for pick up at the port. We need to find out how far the Costa Maya Inn Hotel and Mahahual Village is that they talk about as pickup/drop off sites. Within walking distance or how much by taxi. I will try some other sites to see if we can get some answers.

 

[NewfieMom]

That's funny Aneille - I had just found a link to their website!

http://www.thenativechoice.com/index.php

I also like that the travel time seems to be more managable. And I also like how they can build visiting a local school into their excursions, and cruisers then donating school supplies. I think that would be an awesome experience for my kids.

I just e-mailed them through their contact info on their site to ask what, if any, of their tours they are expecting to have up and running in October. Will let everyone know what I find out. I find it really hard to believe I'm going to visit Mexico and not check out ruins - it's an opportunity I don't want to miss, but can't see subjecting the boys to a lengthy and boring (in their perspective) tour to do it. And I've read really good things about these guys, and their ability to engage the kids.

Just checked the Cruise Critic ports of call site, and on that someone said Ivan is working out of Cozumel. I guess we'll have to wait and see if I get a response to my e-mail, and what DCL says the closer we get to sail date. Right now, there's not even any excursion info posted on the DCL website for CM, but then again, there hasn't been anything there since I booked this cruise last February - so we can't even decide to do, or rule out, DCL excursions at this point! And Passporters and the Birnbaum book also have no info about Costa Maya excursions either. Mystery port!! (But in saying that, realize that what the people of Costa Maya are going through is nothing compared to our indecision about excursions.)

Will let everyone know if I hear anything back.

Valerie

 

[Midwest Cruisers]

Valerie- thanks for looking into the Costa Maya tour. I really hope we are able to stop there. It would be nice to get the chance to help their economy as well as maybe bring some supplies for the schools.

I was also looking into the Cozumel options. We are trying to decide if we just want to go to Chankanaab National Park and walk around and swim or do the dolphin swims there as well. With a 3yr old and 5yr old, it may be difficult for both of us to do it and I hate to stick my husband with the kids for too long!

 

[CODisneyFans]

Thanks for the warm welcome and the information about Xcaret. It sounds like something we would enjoy, but we will probably wait for a non-cruise visit, when we would have more time.

btw, we also have DD10 Raquel & DD4 Sophia which might be a good match - we just found out about HSM3 being released when we will be on board so I'm sure she will be in heaven

Our DD Nora will be 10 and is concerned about not knowing anybody on board. She is also a big HSM fan.

 

[suziemva]

The first cruise we went on, we stopped in Cozumel. We booked the Sea Lion Show at Chankanab (I know I'm spelling this wrong..) because it was the only thing we could do with a 2 almost 3 year old. What a dissapointment. You were not allowed to watch the dolphin swim going on, couldn't do the beach because we hadn't booked it, and the sea lion show was okay. The host was bilingual which was great but he spoke so fast in his interpretation, we couldn't understand him. The sea lion was really fun but they had this "guy" running around on stage and off during the show and he scared the crap out of the kids!!! He looked like he had blood all over his face and would come creeping around hunched over with his hands out at the kids!! Scared me a bit too because you didn't know what he was going to do!!

Just really creepy!!!

The walk in the park was really nice but watch out for the iguanas! I can laugh about it now but there are some big ones and they're running around like we have squirrels running around!!! Makes you remember where you are.

 

[jns]

Thanks everyone for all the info
Don't think I would do the private tour but would love to give something for the school kids if anyone is doing that please let me know

Just thinking here if we do not get in to costa maya wonder where we will go sea day or another stop

been looking into the Doom buggies sounds like good fun

 

[dizzi]

BYE GUYS!!!!!!!!!

We leave in 12 hours for the airport!!!!!!!!

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN!!!!!!!
is about to be CALIFORNIA REALITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mommy2777]

hope you guys have a blast! We miss you. Remember, don't drink da wata!

BYE GUYS!!!!!!!!!

We leave in 12 hours for the airport!!!!!!!!

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN!!!!!!!
is about to be CALIFORNIA REALITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jns]

BYE GUYS!!!!!!!!!

We leave in 12 hours for the airport!!!!!!!!

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN!!!!!!!
is about to be CALIFORNIA REALITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a great time

 

[PaDisneyCouple]

BYE GUYS!!!!!!!!!

We leave in 12 hours for the airport!!!!!!!!

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN!!!!!!!
is about to be CALIFORNIA REALITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Be sure to send us a link to your Trip Report!

 

[TotallyAngelic]

BYE GUYS!!!!!!!!!

We leave in 12 hours for the airport!!!!!!!!

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN!!!!!!!
is about to be CALIFORNIA REALITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bye Lynn

Hope I didn't miss you! Hope you are your family have a magical time! Hope you don't feel too Dizzi, and look forward to hearing EVERY little detail when you return! Take care!

 

[NewfieMom]

Hey guys...Ivan returned my e-mail today - great news!!


Dear Valerie,

Thank you very much for contating us!

All our tours are ready to go as soon as the first cruise returns to Costa Maya.

Reconstruction is going according to the plans. Two weeks ago, the Tourism Ministry in the State announced that the port would be ready by the end of July and that it was likely that by August the first cruises would return. We are all just waiting until that happens!

For the moment we are already taking reservations. Please feel free to check our different tour options and do not hesitate to contact me in case you need any further details or any kind of assistance.

Sincerely,
Ivan Cohuo


I have read great things about these guys and their tours. I e-mailed him back and asked which tours he'd recommend for groups with kids under 12, and how many they can accomodate for each tour. I also asked him if they could still co-ordinate the school visit - I am sure they could definitely use any extra supplies at this point.

Here's the link to their site again:

http://www.thenativechoice.com/index.php

I'll let you all know what he says about the kids, the school visit, and numbers. You can read all about these guys in many Western trip reports, and on the Cruise Critic "Ports" website as well.

Valerie

 

[jns]

Thanks for sharing your reply with us
this tour looks good
most show it to the boys

great to hear first hand that the port is nearly ready to open up again

 

[TotallyAngelic]

Valerie
Thanks for the info on the Costa Maya tours - it sounds a very interesting option.

 

[Midwest Cruisers]

Valerie- since you are corresponding already with Ivan, could you check to see what their refund policy is for cruises that have to change ports due to weather? Most reputable tour companies will refund all money if the ship does not come to port. Sounds like a good tour though if the details of price are worked out. What is your preference- a pick up at port or all of us meeting them at the Inn? We are a family of 4 with kids ages 3yrs and 5yrs.
Thanks for all your hard work!

Dizzi- cant wait to hear your trip report!

 

[woody73]

. . . Just thinking here if we do not get in to costa maya wonder where we will go sea day or another stop

Last week on the Magic, the Cruise Sales Manager said if Costa Maya is not ready, we would go to another port.

Woody

 

[woody73]

. . . been looking into the Doom buggies sounds like good fun

A Freudian slip?

Woody