OK Western cruisers...excursion opinions please

[DopeyRN]

I am under 1 month away from my cruise and we have booked no excursions yet! I am looking for opinions...what did you do, would you recommend it?

In Key West I was wondering about the glassbottom boat tour...what did you do in Key West?

In Grand Cayman I definitely want to do the stingrays...am looking at Capt Marvin's half day tour...how do you get to CM's? It does not sound like they come pick you up. He is cheaper than DCL.

In Cozumel I want to swim with the dolphins...has anyone done this, who did you do it through, and also isn't this where Sally has the putt putt...that looks nice too.

Any opinions/recommendations are gladly accepted. Thanks in advance!

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Hi DopeyRN. It seems as though there are enough shore excursions to merit multiple sailings - not that Mickey & Company aren't a pleasure in and of themselves aboard ship! lol.

On our first cruise, my then DS9 and I opted for the DCL-sponsored Western Union Schooner sailing. It was terrific and I highly recommend it. The captain and crew were quite informative and, if you expressed an interest, would take the time to explain and/or discuss pretty much any topic. My son got quite a sailing lesson from one of the crew members and she showed him how to make various sailors' knots as well as "help" her with some of the rigging on the bow.

On our cruise this coming August, I made reservations for a different non-DCL shore excursion. My son and I are going to take one of the Eco Tours offered from Key West. The excursion consists of sailing, kayaking amid the mangroves of the Key West National Wildlife Refuge and snorkeling. The tour company we are using is Danger Charters, however, there appears to be quite a number of companies offering similar escapades.

On Grand Cayman we are going to try Captain Marvin's Stingray City Tour as well. They recently e-mailed me information. Their directions were to stroll over to the Waterfront Center upon exiting the tender. Apparently this is 2 blocks to the LEFT of the cruise ship landing.

Sorry, I have no info. regarding swimming with the dolphins in Cozumel. But, yes, this is where Sally offers the mini-golf.

Wishing you a most wonderful cruise.

 

[dizneykids]

has anyone done the playa sol adventure park in cozumel? it looks like a lot of fun. i have 3 boys...10, 9 and 4 and will be on my own with them as dh wants to do one of the mayan ruin tours. any recommendations on those as well?

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

HI BuckaroosDad - regarding the kayaking in the mangorve preserve it looks like DCL has changed their kayaking to include that instead of their previous kayaking tour. When we were looking into this last fall Shirley very graciously checked it out while she was visiting Key West and reported that at that time it was basically a tour through a man made canal through town!

However, Disney Darwin posted a trip report about a month ago ? time flies and reported they went out to the Wildlife Refuge. This is something we've been tracking as that sort of hit all of us as an interesting excursion - we're going with DD 13 and DS nearly 16 at that time. So that would be my vote too if you're into that sort of thing. If not I might not book anything in Key West but just wander a bit and take in the sights then spend some time on the ship.

Deb

 

[mmouse37]

Here are some links to pics of our Captain Marvin's tour this past August. The walk is not bad, but a bit more than your average two blocks. The staff at CM's was very friendly and professional.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/47984596/48721807XZDJuu

http://community.webshots.com/photo/48196942/48731914ZhBAek

When at the site, just click the arrows on the blue bar to see the pics in each link...there are about 4 or 5 pics of the stingrays on each link. The first link also has a few pics of the Magic docked in Grand Cayman harbor.

MJ

 

[disgal1]

great pictures mmouse 37!!
We are thinking about getting a digital camera( especially since I spent close to 300$ on film and developing on my trip to Colorado.
What kind of camera do you have? is it easy for a novice to use?
thanks

 

[December99]

Donna - I CANNOT wait until you get back to find out how you like the cruise and what you did!!!!!! We are going in almost 5 now and I'm getting more and more excited as it gets here!!!! We'll be on the same cruise as mmouse37!!!

 

[KAREN4]

I'm going on the 3/15 Western. I just called (2/3/03) to make excursion reservations. I wanted the Dolphin Discovery Cozumel which was at 10:20am. It was already full! Luckily, they had added additional times, so I was able to book the 12:00 time. Good Luck!

 

[Tink33]

I swam with the dolphins in Cozumel in January. It was an incredible experience. I booked with Dolphin Discovery. The cost was $119 and was worth every penny. The swim takes place in the large lagoon and you spend 35 minutes in the water with 2 dolphins. There are only 8 people in each group so you have lots of structured and free play time. The trainer and photographer were fantastic.

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Hey Deb, thank you for the info regarding DCL's former kayaking tour. A good reminder to check with ANY tour operator to confirm the details of what they are offering. Never would have imagined a man-made channel through Key West...

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

I know, but we were having a really hard time finding anyone with information on this so last fall when Shirley so graciously offered to check on things for folks I emailed her.

She and hubby did quite a thorough checking and you can actually see the waterway on the map she sent of the Key West streets. She strongly recommended against that.

I'm guessing that DCL may have received some rather negative feedback if that was the case because it certainly isn't what it sounds like on the printouts we have on the excursions from last summer when we first booked the cruise. It sounds like you are out in a mangrove preserve with manatees etc around.

Like I said Disney Darwin had a great trip report on this not too long ago, but we are definitely going to check before we book!

You probably said but when are you going?
Deb