POD1.0 Veterans - What shore excursions would you recommend or slam?

[bigmoonmullen]

Hi there everyone,

In a few weeks us DCL rookies can attempt to book shore excursions.

What would you recommend for couples and/or families and why?

Which excursions did you not like and why?

Thanks for your input,

Mark

 

[kimisabella]

Hi Mark - I know Paul has mentioned this before, but, the Jet Ski excursion was bad. (Paul and Jennie were on the same exursion as my husband and myself). I booked it because we have never ridden Jet Skis/Waverunners before and we wanted to do that, and it was supposed to be an "Eco-tour" of the island.

We all got on theJet Skis and then we took off following the guy in front....at full speed. We never stopped, never slowed down, just went full speed for an hour. My hands got cramped holding onto the handle bars and it just was not a good experience. I did write about it on the comment card they give you at the end of the cruise. Maybe it has changed since then, but, I don't know. You may want to go check out the DCL forum.

 

[winotracy]

**Smarty pants alert**

In Nassau, we always do the sit on the boat, having a cocktail, swimming in the adult pool excursions. This is perfect for adults. Bill sometimes couples this with a siesta.

At Castaway Cay we generally make our way to Serenity Bay, find a couple chairs with an umbrella (a hammock nearby is also a plus) and do some snorkeling followed up cocktails on the beach before a BBQ lunch at the adult only venue.

To be serious now, I have only gone snorkeling once in Nassau but otherwise have never done an excursion there. We have ventured out for rum and rum cake but that was it. At Castaway Cay we have done the snorkel excursion, the snorkel trail and Castaway Rays Stingray excursion. For those who haven't been to Castaway Cay, I usually recommend either doing the Castaway Rays if you really want to do something structured otherwise, I don't recommend excursions your first time there. You can nearly always get snorkel equipment, bikes, rent boats, floats, etc. when you get there. You can always decide when you get there to do those things. If you book them in advance, you will pay for them whether or not you use them.

The parasailing, snorkel excursion (on the catamaran, not on the trail), Jet Skis and stingrays need to be booked in advance as you won't likely get in one of these groups if you wait until we get to Castaway Cay.

 

[DVCsince02]

Parasailing rocked! Highly recommended.

Sting Ray Adventure on CC - meh.... Shelly and I did it together after lunch and it was disappointing. The rays just seemed full from the earlier feedings and didn't want to be "watched" by anyone in our group. Also the water was murky and it made it hard to see them. Plus they feel funny.

 

[jeanigor]

At Castaway Cay:
I parasailed. I enjoyed it. It was just as much the DISers that I did it with as the actual experience though. I think its a been there done that kind of thing. Maybe do it again, but not this time around. I am planning on sight seeing around the island and lounging on the beach.

At Nassau:
I got off to buy a Cuban cigar and have my passport stamped. (And to buy my mom a shot glass from the Harley dealer..) Then got back on the boat. There had been recent reports of Segway robberies and vamped up crime in the city, so I didn't find a need to explore. Probably going to head to Atlantis this time around, if I don't take a siesta in the sun. Depends how worn out I am.

 

[shellyminnie]

Parasailing rocked! Highly recommended.

Sting Ray Adventure on CC - meh.... Shelly and I did it together after lunch and it was disappointing. The rays just seemed full from the earlier feedings and didn't want to be "watched" by anyone in our group. Also the water was murky and it made it hard to see them. Plus they feel funny.

Apparently, they weren't too full from earlier feedings. I almost lost my fingers trying to feed that one! Ouch!!

 

[TXYankee]

How far is Senior Frogs from the Dock in Nassau?

Is there another fun bar near the Dock?

I may get off the ship in Nassau to enjoy an aduly beverage in a new setting!

 

[jeanigor]

How far is Senior Frogs from the Dock in Nassau?

Is there another fun bar near the Dock?

I may get off the ship in Nassau to enjoy an aduly beverage in a new setting!

Señor Frog's is in the Western Esplanade Beach area. Where the ship docks is indicated by the large red "X".

 

[tlcoke]

I asked a similar question last year right after everyone returned from Podcast Cruise 1.0. The responses I got are in this thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2214945

 

[DVCsince02]

Señor Frog's is marked by the letter A on this map (according to Google). Where the ship docks is indicated by the large red "X".

I thought we could see Señor Frog from the ship when it was docked (near the B)? Of course I can't get to my pictures right now....

 

[jeanigor]

I thought we could see Señor Frog from the ship when it was docked (near the B)? Of course I can't get to my pictures right now....

Could be B. That's just what Google said. I'm not like DP who believes everything that Wiki and Google tell me....

 

[winotracy]

I thought we could see Señor Frog from the ship when it was docked (near the B)? Of course I can't get to my pictures right now....

You can see it from the ship. It didn't seem as far as this map, but it could be on the ship side of that peninsula.

 

[momto2inKC]

Apparently, they weren't too full from earlier feedings. I almost lost my fingers trying to feed that one! Ouch!!

We did the stingray excursion on our last cruise and I have no desire to ever do it again! 3 of us at our feeding station got our fingers smashed by those things Worst pain ever!

This time around it's just my husband and I. We're not doing any excursions, just gonna head to Serenity Bay and relax all day long

 

[DVCsince02]

Could be B. That's just what Google said. I'm not like DP who believes everything that Wiki and Google tell me....

You can see it from the ship. It didn't seem as far as this map, but it could be on the ship side of that peninsula.

Here it is! Next to the market.

 

[jeanigor]

Here it is! Next to the market.

Then I will edit the post to read it is in the Western Esplanade Beach area.

 

[georgemoe]

We did nothing but hang around the ship while in Nassua during 1.0 Mark. This time Deb insists a short visit to Atlantis so I'll be grabbing a cab over after breakfast but plan to be back on the ship for lunch and cocktails.

We just rented a couple floats last time on CC and that was it. This time it will be either bikes, kayak/boat, or both. I'll have to remember to take my aqua shoes and might get some goggles. I do expect to go in the water a bit before relaxing with cocktails.

It's really all about the cocktail you know.

 

[bigmoonmullen]

I asked a similar question last year right after everyone returned from Podcast Cruise 1.0. The responses I got are in this thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2214945

Thanks Tracey... will read it too. Mark

 

[bigmoonmullen]

Hi Mark - I know Paul has mentioned this before, but, the Jet Ski excursion was bad. (Paul and Jennie were on the same exursion as my husband and myself). I booked it because we have never ridden Jet Skis/Waverunners before and we wanted to do that, and it was supposed to be an "Eco-tour" of the island.

We all got on theJet Skis and then we took off following the guy in front....at full speed. We never stopped, never slowed down, just went full speed for an hour. My hands got cramped holding onto the handle bars and it just was not a good experience. I did write about it on the comment card they give you at the end of the cruise. Maybe it has changed since then, but, I don't know. You may want to go check out the DCL forum.

Thanks Andrea... Mark

**Smarty pants alert**

In Nassau, we always do the sit on the boat, having a cocktail, swimming in the adult pool excursions. This is perfect for adults. Bill sometimes couples this with a siesta.

At Castaway Cay we generally make our way to Serenity Bay, find a couple chairs with an umbrella (a hammock nearby is also a plus) and do some snorkeling followed up cocktails on the beach before a BBQ lunch at the adult only venue.

To be serious now, I have only gone snorkeling once in Nassau but otherwise have never done an excursion there. We have ventured out for rum and rum cake but that was it. At Castaway Cay we have done the snorkel excursion, the snorkel trail and Castaway Rays Stingray excursion. For those who haven't been to Castaway Cay, I usually recommend either doing the Castaway Rays if you really want to do something structured otherwise, I don't recommend excursions your first time there. You can nearly always get snorkel equipment, bikes, rent boats, floats, etc. when you get there. You can always decide when you get there to do those things. If you book them in advance, you will pay for them whether or not you use them.

The parasailing, snorkel excursion (on the catamaran, not on the trail), Jet Skis and stingrays need to be booked in advance as you won't likely get in one of these groups if you wait until we get to Castaway Cay.

Thanks Tracy... We were considering the parasailing on Castaway Cay but I was also a little leary of the water temperature in December.

Mark

 

[winotracy]

Thanks Andrea... Mark



Thanks Tracy... We were considering the parasailing on Castaway Cay but I was also a little leary of the water temperature in December.

Mark

The water temperature is a little cooler in December, but it wasn't too cold to be in. The first year we went, it was too windy so the water felt too cold (actually the air felt too cold to sit in our swimsuits so we just sat in the sun and I built a sandman) but last year in December the water was fabulous!

 

[bigmoonmullen]

We did nothing but hang around the ship while in Nassua during 1.0 Mark. This time Deb insists a short visit to Atlantis so I'll be grabbing a cab over after breakfast but plan to be back on the ship for lunch and cocktails.

We just rented a couple floats last time on CC and that was it. This time it will be either bikes, kayak/boat, or both. I'll have to remember to take my aqua shoes and might get some goggles. I do expect to go in the water a bit before relaxing with cocktails.

It's really all about the cocktail you know.

George,

I gather no one is allowed to be sober during this trip. I think I'll need some