lucky1
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- Aug 21, 1999
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We were on the Western 10/17 cruise. Wanted to give a quick update on our shore excursions experiences that we booked through DCL. I have to say we had a wonderful cruise and met some wonderful people
Key West - We did not book anything as nothing appealed to us and just wanted to explore on our own. We excited the ship and found that Mallory Square was not as big as suspected. We walked down Duvall street to the southern most point and found it was full of bars most of the way. Met some very nice locals who volunteer to help out tourists. We then went to the Butterfly concervency and it was pretty nice but very small. They have some amazing artwork. Stopped only to get some key lime pie before heading back on the ship. We probably hit Key West on the only cool day of the year. At least that is what the locals said.
Grand Canyman - Another rainy day. We had book Boatswain through DCL. I am shaking my head when I look at the cost we were charged, but will tell you our story. Our meeting time was at 9:20 in Studio C. As they were telling us about our excursion and who from DCL would be traveling with us, they also told us we would be delayed due to a downpour and they didn't want to put us on a tender. Serveral people left to go back to their stateroom or to get some coffee as they never told us how long it would take. The DCL staff started playing some triva games and giving out some trinkets for right answers... About 30 minutes later we were ready to leave. Several people had not yet come back. Once we go on the tender it started to rain again. They gave us all poncho. At this point it got very confusing, we lost track of the DCL person and they put us on small busses and then told us they would be back at 2:30. At Boatswain it was pouring and they tried to give us a tour, but it was cut very short. Not photo opportunities, like I had seen in the past. We tried turtle watch, but it was raining so hard Our tour guide stopped and then told us to enjoy the rest of the grounds and he got out of the rain. Since it was lunch time we stopped for our "free" lunch and there only a couple of tables that were under cover, the rest were not. The lunch fare was Jerk Chicken, rice and macaroni salad or a hamburger and macaroni salad. We sat as long as we could at one of the few dry tables, but then decided to see if there was someplace to stow our items while walking around in the pouring rain. No place. The lagoons only had a free brave souls in the water snorkling and then the pool was empty.... The lifeguards had even run for cover. We jumped on another bus that was heading back at 2pm when we were so tired of standing around and waiting for our bus. When we got back to the town, it seem to be clear there. When our table mates mentioned that their excruision to rum point beach was cancelled, I questioned the excurison desk on why they didn't cancel this one, since there isn't anything to do in the pouring rain. She said they never cancel excursions. The cost of this was $92/adult. I am sure we would have had a better experience on another day, but really left a poor taste with how DCL handled it. Several people who "missed" the excursion because they were never told when we were leaving, just hung around the ship and they said they were happy they skipped after hearing our experience. I did give DCL a write up after talking with them after my experience. The DCL excursion staff basicly said tough luck because they don't control the weather... Which I guess is true.
Cozumel - Beach Break at Playa Mia and the Mexican Cooking experience, both booked by DCL. DD and I did the beach break and DH did the Cooking experience. I had head there were in the same location and then when I asked at the DCL excurison desk, the CM told me no but then though maybe it was a 5 minute walk. Agghh... DD and I left first and while this was to be a 4-5 hour excurison, we meet at 10:05 and then when we got to Playa Mia at 10:45, we were told to be back at the bus by 2:40. To be back at the port by 3pm. We did not see a DCL member with us. We had our own secition of the beach with chairs and umbrellas (you just have to ask for the umbrellas). All the free drinks you want. The water was wonderful and they had free paddle boats. There was a trampoline and climbing iceberg and slide. We were treated so nice. It never seemed crowded and Lunch was excellent.
The cooking school was right behind the beach so we were able see DH when we walked to the restroom or the lunch area. DH finished up about 2:30 and his taxi was not going to leave until 3:30, so he decided to come back with us on our bus... We just asked our driver and he was okay with that. There was no DCL representative that I was aware of. He said his excrusion was wonderful and fun. They had a great time. About 8 DCL cooks and 12 Carnival cruise cooks.
Definately this is an excruison we felt was worth the money and time. We would book it again.
Key West - We did not book anything as nothing appealed to us and just wanted to explore on our own. We excited the ship and found that Mallory Square was not as big as suspected. We walked down Duvall street to the southern most point and found it was full of bars most of the way. Met some very nice locals who volunteer to help out tourists. We then went to the Butterfly concervency and it was pretty nice but very small. They have some amazing artwork. Stopped only to get some key lime pie before heading back on the ship. We probably hit Key West on the only cool day of the year. At least that is what the locals said.
Grand Canyman - Another rainy day. We had book Boatswain through DCL. I am shaking my head when I look at the cost we were charged, but will tell you our story. Our meeting time was at 9:20 in Studio C. As they were telling us about our excursion and who from DCL would be traveling with us, they also told us we would be delayed due to a downpour and they didn't want to put us on a tender. Serveral people left to go back to their stateroom or to get some coffee as they never told us how long it would take. The DCL staff started playing some triva games and giving out some trinkets for right answers... About 30 minutes later we were ready to leave. Several people had not yet come back. Once we go on the tender it started to rain again. They gave us all poncho. At this point it got very confusing, we lost track of the DCL person and they put us on small busses and then told us they would be back at 2:30. At Boatswain it was pouring and they tried to give us a tour, but it was cut very short. Not photo opportunities, like I had seen in the past. We tried turtle watch, but it was raining so hard Our tour guide stopped and then told us to enjoy the rest of the grounds and he got out of the rain. Since it was lunch time we stopped for our "free" lunch and there only a couple of tables that were under cover, the rest were not. The lunch fare was Jerk Chicken, rice and macaroni salad or a hamburger and macaroni salad. We sat as long as we could at one of the few dry tables, but then decided to see if there was someplace to stow our items while walking around in the pouring rain. No place. The lagoons only had a free brave souls in the water snorkling and then the pool was empty.... The lifeguards had even run for cover. We jumped on another bus that was heading back at 2pm when we were so tired of standing around and waiting for our bus. When we got back to the town, it seem to be clear there. When our table mates mentioned that their excruision to rum point beach was cancelled, I questioned the excurison desk on why they didn't cancel this one, since there isn't anything to do in the pouring rain. She said they never cancel excursions. The cost of this was $92/adult. I am sure we would have had a better experience on another day, but really left a poor taste with how DCL handled it. Several people who "missed" the excursion because they were never told when we were leaving, just hung around the ship and they said they were happy they skipped after hearing our experience. I did give DCL a write up after talking with them after my experience. The DCL excursion staff basicly said tough luck because they don't control the weather... Which I guess is true.
Cozumel - Beach Break at Playa Mia and the Mexican Cooking experience, both booked by DCL. DD and I did the beach break and DH did the Cooking experience. I had head there were in the same location and then when I asked at the DCL excurison desk, the CM told me no but then though maybe it was a 5 minute walk. Agghh... DD and I left first and while this was to be a 4-5 hour excurison, we meet at 10:05 and then when we got to Playa Mia at 10:45, we were told to be back at the bus by 2:40. To be back at the port by 3pm. We did not see a DCL member with us. We had our own secition of the beach with chairs and umbrellas (you just have to ask for the umbrellas). All the free drinks you want. The water was wonderful and they had free paddle boats. There was a trampoline and climbing iceberg and slide. We were treated so nice. It never seemed crowded and Lunch was excellent.
The cooking school was right behind the beach so we were able see DH when we walked to the restroom or the lunch area. DH finished up about 2:30 and his taxi was not going to leave until 3:30, so he decided to come back with us on our bus... We just asked our driver and he was okay with that. There was no DCL representative that I was aware of. He said his excrusion was wonderful and fun. They had a great time. About 8 DCL cooks and 12 Carnival cruise cooks.
Definately this is an excruison we felt was worth the money and time. We would book it again.
Our DD and her fiance had their Key West kayak excursion canceled due to weather and water conditions, but it worked out OK since DH and I had the electric car rented and it was good for 4 people. We spent the day touring Key West and had a blast (although a chilly one)...
I found the lunch not edible. The idea of a macaroni salad set out in the heat 
without any ice left visions of food poisoning going through my head. The lagoon was mossy and slimy with not much to see. However, the pool was FANTASTIC. Too bad we did not see the pool until we had only half an hour left. I could have spent the entire day there (but not at $92 each for four people). Grand Cayman is really a port you can do on your own and not be too nervous and that is what we will do next time.
It was great! If you have never done anything like it, I would say it was worth doing, though it is also very costly. I wear contacts and had some a lot of salt water in my eyes. The guild was fantastic. I believe the guides step father started the business so he had his heart in it. From there we did some parasailing on our own through Fury. At $35 pp it was one of the highlights of our trip. 
