PodCast 4.0 Chit Chat

[Silverfox97]

Yup. Double portholes, tho, not a veranda.

Can't wait to see those on the Cabin Crawl!!!

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[Silverfox97]

I would love to hear from those that have done a western before. With living near Seattle this may be a once in a lifetime opportunity for us.

So many things we want to do and with the timeframe-- only one thing possible per city.

Skye

Here's what we did in Oct on the Magic:

Grand Caymen - did the Island Tour excursion thru DCL. It was a nice little taste of GC. After, we went to Margaritaville & enjoyed lunch, the pool/waterside at DD's request. Very nice & safe port to walk around & shop (only bought from Del Sol - a "must" for DD). Shopping close to ship, easy walk.

Cozumel - We did Eco Park & Snorkel thru DCL. DH snorkeled & DD & I swam. The beach (Punta Sur) was nice, water nice & clean. Went back to ship after excursion instead of checking out island more; DD was tired & it was raining (as it had been on and off that day).

We are doing another Western on the Fantasy in Oct 2013, so I plan on doing an excursion at Costa Maya then when the temp is more, how shall I say it, "friendly" (LOL). We may get off the ship this cruise since we've never been there, but everyone that has been there (including DCL CMs) have told us there is absolutely nothing right at the port to go walk & explore on our own; Phil (bartender in Fantasy we knew from Magic) described it as a "compound." So, we shall see...

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[WebmasterMaryJo]

When I got married (many moons ago), we honeymooned at Cancun and Cozumel, so I have been to Tulum, Chichenitzá and some other places. I won't do the Tulum tour, but do recommend it for those that have never been to any ruins. It's beautiful.

I've been to the Del Sol store in San Diego, but might go to this one to see what they have.

I am thinking of doing a couple of city tours. I'm on the fence about visiting beaches. I'm also going mainly because it's a Podcast cruise, but I've never sailed the Caribbean before, and don't know if I'll go back, so I want to take advantage of the opportunity. (Of course, Podcast events take precedence )

 

[jessrose18]

We have been moving our trip around to different western dates for 2 years and finally settled on the podcast cruise for the bonus events and fun. (we were on 2.0) So we are definetaly going to do excursions in each port, very excited about gc stingrays! We have never been to Mexico and never gone on a "beach" vacation, can't wait!

 

[Silverfox97]

very excited about gc stingrays!

Definitely on my "to do" list on one of our future westerns - right now, DD us too young & water is not our temp in Dec. My in-laws stayed a week in a condo in GC & swam with the stingrays and loved it!!!

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[NancyIL]

My first western Caribbean cruise was on Royal Caribbean from Tampa in 2005, and it went to Costa Maya, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Belize. At that time, I booked private tours in Grand Cayman (Stingray and Island Tour with Native Way Waterports: http://www.nativewaywatersports.com/tours.htm) and in Costa Maya (Chacchoben Ruins with The Native Choice [Ivan and David]: http://www.thenativechoice.com/index.php). If we were in Costa Maya longer than the measly 5 hours DCL gives us, I'd book with Ivan and David again.

 

[Silverfox97]

My first western Caribbean cruise was on Royal Caribbean from Tampa in 2005, and it went to Costa Maya, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Belize. At that time, I booked private tours in Grand Cayman (Stingray and Island Tour with Native Way Waterports: http://www.nativewaywatersports.com/tours.htm) and in Costa Maya (Chacchoben Ruins with The Native Choice [Ivan and David]: http://www.thenativechoice.com/index.php). If we were in Costa Maya longer than the measly 5 hours DCL gives us, I'd book with Ivan and David again.

Thanks Nancy! I was going to research how to do "sting rays on our own" next year. I'll bookmark that site to check out!!

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[NancyIL]

Thanks Nancy! I was going to research how to do "sting rays on our own" next year. I'll bookmark that site to check out!!

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You're welcome. Another company I've read good things about is Captain Marvin's: http://www.captainmarvins.com/

 

[jessrose18]

I have been looking at nativeway and captain marvins! funny....... i think ill go with nativeway they have a special trip for the fantasy port times and we are the only ship in gc that day! they do a 3 stop tour with 2 snorkeling stops for $40. Lots of diser's vouch for captain marvins as well! 1 other ship in cozumel and 1 other ship in costa maya thats nice there are days where there are 4-5 ships in port in cozumel and gc on the schedule. Anybody else booking Nochi Cocum for Cozumel???

 

[Euphscott]

For those caught up in "it's December, so it will be cold," when you get south into Mexico - it may be a little cooler, but it won't be frigid. Depending on weather, you may very well be comfortable in the Caribbean Waters down south. Castaway Cay may be chilly, but even there it could be manageable depending..

That said, all the ports have dry weather options.

In Grand Cayman consider a trip to Hell, the Turtle Farm, Rum Cake Factories, or Botanical gardens.

In Cozumel, lots of ruins to be found by going to the mainland or renting a vehicle and going to the wild side (eastern edge of the island).

Costa Maya is a little less happening as it's a made up port (built by Carnival to have another place to put in and reap profits on Western Caribbean runs), but it too has some excursions you can take into the mainland and experience some adventure.

Good luck in your search and decisions!

 

[Silverfox97]

For those caught up in "it's December, so it will be cold," when you get south into Mexico - it may be a little cooler, but it won't be frigid. Depending on weather, you may very well be comfortable in the Caribbean Waters down south. Castaway Cay may be chilly, but even there it could be manageable depending..

We were on the Magic in Jan 2011. For our thin FL blood, we were definitely not warm! At CC, DD was playing in the sand & DH went down to get water, and it was freezing. We were certain the only people brave enough to go into the water must've been Canadians!!

Seriously, the people flying in from the north & snow are going to be in heaven!!!!!!

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[NWmom]

I have put my feet in Lake Superior and waded for about 3 seconds before the pain made me get out. Made it 3 minutes in Lake Michigan.

I'm from Miami, living near Seattle. I'm a swimmer rather than a sunbather as I only burn and never tan. Now your limits, lol. Bringing an umbrella to block the sunburns. Most all the water excursions outside state you can not wear sunblock so that concerns me.

For me, I hope the water there will be warmer as I do not swim outside here in the summer (65 degrees or so water temp) over 3 feet or it gets too cold
DD10 does however.
Hubby used to be a polar bear club member and swam in Miami in February in college.

Anyone have any idea what the water temp will be?
That might be a deciding factor in making plans I think.

Grand Cayman- still undecided thinking Stingray, and turtles and dolphins also appeal, but the stingrays and turtles seem the most unique to the area. Would love to also see a reef. Going to check into the links from NancyIL

Cozumel-
I really wants to do Secret River- I am absolutely fascinated by exploring a cave because of Trixie Belden and the Bob-White Cave (Great children's series I read 30 years ago) thinking it will always be that temperature year round.
I also really want to do Tulum, but realizes it is too long a day for dd.
(Really need to come back when dd is older if we ever get the chance and spend a week in the area just exploring all the ruins)

Costa Maya-planning on the Chaccoben ruins there

CC- I have a date with Casey the Cat and just want to explore

St Thomas- thinking of snorkeling with turtles (hopefully I will know how to snorkel by then) and if weather is good going up to Paradise Point to take photos. Taking photos is always on the list.

San Juan- exploring the forts on our own. Getting lunch on our own. Enjoying being a tourista.

Skye- the pale one that glows in the dark

 

[Silverfox97]

Skye,

You probably already know this, but get a rash guard shirt. They go over your swimsuit and are SPF 50. This will help. DD has about 5 of them & I have 2. I don't venture near any water without them. Even in the cloudy on-and-off rain yesterday at Blizzard Beach, DD & I still had ours on. I'm proud to say that at age 5, she's never had a sunburn!! They may double as keeping you warmer as well. Lands End online has them on sale for $21.99 now; kids versions are much cheaper.

Oh the water will be MUCH warmer than 65!!! I remember going to Maine in July ages ago & attempting to swim - I couldn't go in to the Atlantic past my thighs (& that is when I lived in Ohio!!!); I think the temp was ~65. In July. Yikes!! There were not many people in the water at CC in January 2011 when we were there, but it may also depend on outside temp, wind, and whether the sun is out or not. We went on a double dip & the 1st stop, it was sunny & slightly breezy - DD played in the sand & we hung out; although we didn't go swimming, I could see how people coming from 20 degrees & snow absolutely could. The second stop?? Cool, windy & overcast. We didn't even wear swim suits, we wore pants & long sleeves!!! Still had fun - biked, went into Scuttles Cove as a family & dug in sand at Monstro Point together - still a very good & relaxing time. The Magic had to leave early because of an approaching storm, and the folks on the Panama Canal cruise on the Wonder didn't even get to go to CC the next day.

I'll have to remember to bring some cat treats for Casey. We have seen him in most of our 8 stops to CC

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[Aburns8]

I have put my feet in Lake Superior and waded for about 3 seconds before the pain made me get out. Made it 3 minutes in Lake Michigan.

Heck I won't even go into Lake Superior in August. That lake is insanely cold. So is Lake Michigan the further north you are. I am sure that the waters where we are going will be much warmer.

 

[Silverfox97]

Using Google, the water temperatures I am finding in Cozumel & Grand Cayman for both in December is consistently in the 78 - 82 range.

For CC, I looked up Nassau:
Average Dec. water temperatures were listed as 75-78 degrees F and air temperature averages were 72-85 degrees F.

I will be just fine at CC without venturing near the waterline LOL.......

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[NWDAD]

Heck I won't even go into Lake Superior in August. That lake is insanely cold. So is Lake Michigan the further north you are. I am sure that the waters where we are going will be much warmer.

Well I was younger then. We use to have a pool also when I was growing up in Michigan. It never warmed up until August. I must of got use to the cold water.

The water temps in Dec sound good to me. I like the idea of the rashguard shirts. Will have to llok into those.

Really looking forward to vacation this year. I have been working way to much.

Kevin

 

[Aburns8]

Well I was younger then. We use to have a pool also when I was growing up in Michigan. It never warmed up until August. I must of got use to the cold water.

The water temps in Dec sound good to me. I like the idea of the rashguard shirts. Will have to llok into those.

Really looking forward to vacation this year. I have been working way to much.

Kevin

What part of Michigan did you grow up in? They have been having crazy weather this year. They are hotter than we are near Virginia Beach. But then again we are closer to the ocean so we get a breeze.

 

[NWDAD]

What part of Michigan did you grow up in? They have been having crazy weather this year. They are hotter than we are near Virginia Beach. But then again we are closer to the ocean so we get a breeze.

South of Monroe and north of Toledo OH. Along Lake Erie.

Talking with my Dad there it has been very hot and dry. To use his words the corn in the feilds look like Pineapple plants, not a good thing. We have had it good so far in Western WA state. Sunshine and 70's so I can not complain.

Kevin

 

[JACH1976]

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[jessrose18]

On podcast cruise 2.0 we had record cold temps along with strong winds on the cruise. In fact our cc day got switched with our sea day. The sun was out, but it was chilly i wore a hoody and pants, but sitting in the loungers reading a book was still enjoyable. Plenty of kids and adults in the water, I only walked out to my knees though. There is a good chance that the weather could be quiet nice in December, and a good chance it could be colder than expected! I have also been on a rccl in january and the day we were docked on their private island was very warm and the water felt good... (but I am from Minnesota )