Question on recent Tulum Tour

[LadyLt]

The search feature is not working this morning. So forgive me if this has been covered too often. I have an unusual situation. I could not care less about beach time. I don't swim much and I don't like sand on my legs and feet. Go ahead and laugh at me. Castaway Cay was my least favorite part of my first cruise.

I want to take the Tulum tour on my Western cruse, sailing on 1-18-03. I have a degree in Mexican archeaology and spent a lot of time in Oaxauca and the Mexico City area. But I have never been to the Yucatan area. It is a $90.00 excursion but it is what I want to do.

Now, it has been modified to the Tulum and Beach tour. I've called DCL and cannot get a correct answer. How much time of this excursion is not spent on the beach? Do you loose time that could be spent at the Tulum ruins on the beach part?

Any input from anyone of this excursion?

Bianca

 

[Kabuli1]

We did Tulum on the 11/9/02 Western. Tulum was very interesting, but we really, really didn't like the excursion! Our main objection was that the tour company Disney (and almost all the other cruise ships as far as we could tell) contracts with provides a mandatory 1 hour stop at their own private shopping area to use their "clean" restrooms and buy their stuff. This stop necessitated cutting short the time we would have had at the ruins which had restrooms (not as clean) and much more shopping at reasonable prices.

The other problem was that the tour guides insisted that we stay with them the entire time, we were not to go wandering on our own. We could not understand 1/2 of what our guide said, and what we could was mostly about how wonderful he was and how we should remember to tip him. We did leave the group at the first possible opportunity, but the ruins were not "self-serve" as the posted information was very limited. If I were to do this again, I would buy a guide book and ditch the group immediately - but, then, I wouldn't do this on an organized shore excursion again.

In answer to your other question there is NO BEACH TIME on the excursion - as far as I can tell the beach time is taken by the shopping stop. We were told that we could swim at the beach at the ruins when we were done with the tour - but there was no time to do that. Advertising that there is beach time was just not true.

Oh, and another thing, the boat ride from Cozumel to Playa Del Carmen was the ride from hell on the way back - Disney had had to cancel all other boat oriented excursions that day - but we had left very early so the only way to get back to the ship was the catamaran ferry in 15-20 ft seas!! It was terrifying. There were people sick all around us. Now, I know this is not the fault of the excursion co. or Disney - but there is definitely the question of whether it's worth the risk at certain times of the year.

I don't want to be negative, there are many many people who report that this was a great excursion. And maybe some of them will tell you about their experience. I had a wonderful cruise and all the other excursions we experienced were fabulous. The Tulum tour was really the only thing we didn't enjoy. And at the cost- I fell I should share this.

Karyn

 

[Hopkins]

Bianca,

We'll be on your cruise and also the Tulum Ruins excursion. It will be just hubby and myself. The way Disney makes it sound is that the beach is at the ruin site, which is different from what they have done in the past. It was at a different site (bus ride) from the ruins. I know some cruiselines use the beach at the site, so I guess Disney is doing that now, too. I guess? We won't be doing the beach thing, so I hope we are allowed to spend more time around the ruins.

Tina

 

[LadyLt]

That is what is so confusing. The guide to excursions we got made it seem that it was the beach by the ruins and that is was optional. But I thought I remembered an earlier post on this board about someone taking a bus to a beach site nearby. If that is true, I don't want to waste $90.00 on the excursion. I want to see ruins, not more sand.

I asked on the phone this morning when I booked and she read me something from a guide. The wording was a little different from what we got with our documents. But it was still not clear how it was set up. How it was clear that she had never been on it herself or talked to anyone who had been on it. She did say that I had until next Thursday to cancel if I changed my mind.



To the other person who responded. I don't mind if it is a little primitive. I spent a lot of time around Mexican ruins when I was in my 20's. A long, long time ago. And the boat I took last year from St. Thomas to St. John was a nightmare in high seas. So I think I can live through that.

BUT I DON'T WANT TO GO TO ANOTHER BEACH.

Bianca

 

[LadyLt]

Originally posted by Kabuli1
[again.

In answer to your other question there is NO BEACH TIME on the excursion - as far as I can tell the beach time is taken by the shopping stop. We were told that we could swim at the beach at the ruins when we were done with the tour - but there was no time to do that. Advertising that there is beach time was just not true.

Karyn [/B]

I went back and re-read Karyn's post. Maybe that is the answer to my question. I would rather go to an over-priced gift shop than go to another beach. Of course, I would rather have time to just wander around the ruins.

Still, I think I will probably go on the tour now.

Bianca

 

[LadyLt]

Originally posted by Hopkins
Bianca,

We'll be on your cruise and also the Tulum Ruins excursion. It will be just hubby and myself.
Tina

Tina

Hope to see you on the cruise. I am traveling with a group of nuts....... we have fourteen cabins and most of us are all active members of DisneyDollarless. Look for the fifty or so crazy people in matching T-shirts on Deck 10 of the Sail-Away party.

Bianca

 

[Hopkins]

You guys will be hard to miss. LOL!!! Any lime green ribbons? I hope someone on a recent cruise has the latest answer. I think it's the beach at the ruins from the way it sounds. If you want to go, great, if not, more time at the ruins... . That's what we are hoping for. This is what's on the DCL site:

Tulum Ruins and Beach Tour (6.5 - 7.5 hours)

The remnants of a proud and fascinating civilization are yours to explore. After a boat ride to Playa del Carmen, you'll travel via air-conditioned bus to the Tulum Ruins. A knowledgeable guide will escort you through this sacred city and reveal its complex history. While at the Ruins, enjoy use of the nearby beach (approximately 2 hours). Beverages and sandwich lunch provided. An additional fee will be charged for those wishing to bring a video camera. There are areas of rough terrain and strollers are not allowed. Not recommended for children under 8.

Adult Price: $90 (ages 10 and above)
Child Price: $70 (ages 5-9)
Departure Time: 9:40 am

Tina
PS: I'll be wearing a lime green short sleeved sweater with black shorts. DIS colors!

 

[flutter]

Traveling with a bunch of nuts? Hey I resemble that remark
Just 7 more days til I see Bianca.....we will be at the Radisson!!!!
See Ya there
Tracy

 

[zellda]

My husband and I took the Tulum Ruins excursion on our October 2002 cruise. We REALLY enjoyed the whole day. The weather was perfect, our guide was great (very knowledgeable and informative) and we had no difficulty understanding him. We made a stop at the "peepee station" for about 20 minutes, and most on our bus were grateful for the potty opportunity, although the facilities were quite primitive. They make obsidion (?sp) items for sale there, and had local tequila and limes for refreshment. Once we arrived at Tulum, we stayed with our guide for about an hour as he led us through the ruins describing the city as it may have been, culture of the people who lived within the city walls and those that lived in the surrounding areas. Then we were allowed to explore freely among the ruins, taking pictures and looking more closely at areas we had only seen from a distance. There was also a beautiful beach there where we swam for about 30 minutes (there are no changing facilities). The water was fantastic (very warm and crystal clear) and the scenery breathtaking. Lunch was served (Subway sandwich, cheetos, cupcakes with punch or beer) when we returned to the bus. It was definitely one of the highlights of our trip.

If you decide to do this excursion, take water with you, it can be very hot at Tulum, and this is a long excursion. We took 1 bottle each, and could have used another. I would hesitate to take small children on this because it is a long day, probably hot, with a lot of walking.

I loved this excursion and it sounds like you would, too!

Phyllis

 

[LadyLt]

Thank you so much, Phyllis. This is just what I wanted to hear. It sounds like a day that I will really enjoy. And the swimming seems to be optional, not a mandatory trip to a beach. Great!!

I am booked alone at this time. But I think my 20 year old daughter and her boy friend are about to book this tour.

Bianca

 

[pjacobi]

Someone with a degree in Mexican Archaeology might be a little disappointed with this tour. You might end up knowing more than the guide. For example, you probably would know that the obsidian trinkets on sale are not native of the Yucatan Peninsula!

I did the tour several years ago from Cancun. The whole thing was somewhat of a tourist trap. Just try to ignore that aspect and enjoy the ruins, after all, it is a historic place.

After the formal tour, you guide will give you sometime to look around by yourself or to go down to the beach with is only about 500 feet wide between two rock pillars.

Just relax and enjoy the trip!

Oh, and don't let some kid sell you some junk, "Hey pretty lady, you wanna buy this?"


-Paul