Secret River and Playa Del Carmen

[disneypoor]

Hello! We are beginning to think about our excursions for our March 16th 5 night sailing out of Miami. We've been to Cozumel before and did the dune buggy excursion (GREAT excursion!), but we wanted to try something different this time. I was wondering if someone could fill me in on the Secret River? I've read reviews of it online, and it appears to get pretty good reviews, but I really wanted to hear from some fellow DISers. TIA!

Susan

 

[jlwhitney]

Hello! We are beginning to think about our excursions for our March 16th 5 night sailing out of Miami. We've been to Cozumel before and did the dune buggy excursion (GREAT excursion!), but we wanted to try something different this time. I was wondering if someone could fill me in on the Secret River? I've read reviews of it online, and it appears to get pretty good reviews, but I really wanted to hear from some fellow DISers. TIA!

Susan

There have been many threads on this lately if you search for them. Everyone that has ever gone has said its the best!

We did this last April and loved it. It is def the best excursion we have ever done in the Carribbean/Bahamas and you really cant't go wrong.

It is so beautiful and fun and the people that run it are outstanding.

 

[disneypoor]

There have been many threads on this lately if you search for them. Everyone that has ever gone has said its the best!

We did this last April and loved it. It is def the best excursion we have ever done in the Carribbean/Bahamas and you really cant't go wrong.

It is so beautiful and fun and the people that run it are outstanding.

Thank you so much for your response! When I looked online to find reviews, most people said it should be on everyone's bucket list or that it was one of the best excursions they've ever done, so I figured it would be good. Of course, someone also said it was the coolest thing ever and that they even saw a tarantula crawling on the road on the way there. I'm not sure how cool I think that would be.

So glad to hear that you've done it and loved it. It sounds like we made a good choice! Thanks again!

Susan

 

[jlwhitney]

Thank you so much for your response! When I looked online to find reviews, most people said it should be on everyone's bucket list or that it was one of the best excursions they've ever done, so I figured it would be good. Of course, someone also said it was the coolest thing ever and that they even saw a tarantula crawling on the road on the way there. I'm not sure how cool I think that would be.

So glad to hear that you've done it and loved it. It sounds like we made a good choice! Thanks again!

Susan

You def made a great choice. You won't regret it.

Here are some tips (if you want them):

Bring a change of clothes so you dont have to stay wet! They do provide lockers.

Don't bother putting on sunscreen, since a. you will be underground and b. they ask you to shower off before going down.

You can't take anything down with you including cameras
*This is more for safety than anything else and once you are down there it wont take long to realize that most waterproof cameras will not get good pictures anyway.
*The pictures they take are actually pretty nice , I can't remember what they cost...I am thinking it was like $70 for the cd, but you could buy just one print.

The lunch they served is really good

The time you have in Playa Del Carmen varies based on how timing of the group and such. I think we had 60 minutes ish. Which is enough to wander some shops. There is a giant souvenir shop, you can't really miss it. Two stories and has just about everything you can want and decent prices.

 

[disneypoor]

You def made a great choice. You won't regret it.

Here are some tips (if you want them):

Bring a change of clothes so you dont have to stay wet! They do provide lockers.

Don't bother putting on sunscreen, since a. you will be underground and b. they ask you to shower off before going down.

You can't take anything down with you including cameras
*This is more for safety than anything else and once you are down there it wont take long to realize that most waterproof cameras will not get good pictures anyway.
*The pictures they take are actually pretty nice , I can't remember what they cost...I am thinking it was like $70 for the cd, but you could buy just one print.

The lunch they served is really good

The time you have in Playa Del Carmen varies based on how timing of the group and such. I think we had 60 minutes ish. Which is enough to wander some shops. There is a giant souvenir shop, you can't really miss it. Two stories and has just about everything you can want and decent prices.

Thank you for the tips! I'm really thrilled that you said the lunch was good because the one negative I did read on some of the reviews was that the food was not good. We aren't picky, so I wasn't really worried about it, but it's sure nice to hear that someone liked it!

I do have another question--was the water freezing? I've read that it is really cold, and since I'm a big wimp, I want to mentally prepare myself ahead of time if I'm going to go one toe at a time or not.

Susan

 

[jlwhitney]

Thank you for the tips! I'm really thrilled that you said the lunch was good because the one negative I did read on some of the reviews was that the food was not good. We aren't picky, so I wasn't really worried about it, but it's sure nice to hear that someone liked it!

I do have another question--was the water freezing? I've read that it is really cold, and since I'm a big wimp, I want to mentally prepare myself ahead of time if I'm going to go one toe at a time or not.

Susan

They do give you wet suits, but for the most part they are big. But they still help some. It was like freezing..chilly, but you aren't in the water the whole time. Alot of the time you are in ankle deep to no water. And with being underground there is no wind so you dont get that wind chill after wet. Your head never gets wet either. No one in our group complained about the water being chilly. I have def swam in colder lakes and oceans.

My DH is a picky eater and he even liked the meal. There was a variety of stuff including chips and soda. I was surpraised at how decent it was, I was worried it would be gross and I would be hungry!

 

[disneypoor]

My in-laws are also thinking that this excursion sounds like fun. Is this something that older people could do without much trouble? TIA!

Susan

 

[Weedy]

They say you have to be able to walk on uneven ground. No back or knee problems.

 

[disneypoor]

They say you have to be able to walk on uneven ground. No back or knee problems.

Thank you for your fast reply. My mother-in-law had knee replacement several years ago, but I think she'd be fine. She was worried about the swimming, but I went back and researched several earlier posts on the Secret River, and it sounds as if there really isn't much swimming involved. Someone who has done this, please correct me if I'm wrong. Some other posters in other threads stated they couldn't swim but were fine on this excursion due to the limited amount of paddling you have to do and because they had a life jacket.

I'd still love to hear from some that have done this. I definitely don't want them booked on an excursion that will be too hard for them. However, out of all of the excursions listed for Cozumel, my mother-in-law called me (not knowing we had already booked the Secret River) and said she would really like to do the Secret River. I about fell over! What are the odds???

Thanks again for any tips or advice.

Susan

 

[jlwhitney]

Thank you for your fast reply. My mother-in-law had knee replacement several years ago, but I think she'd be fine. She was worried about the swimming, but I went back and researched several earlier posts on the Secret River, and it sounds as if there really isn't much swimming involved. Someone who has done this, please correct me if I'm wrong. Some other posters in other threads stated they couldn't swim but were fine on this excursion due to the limited amount of paddling you have to do and because they had a life jacket.

I'd still love to hear from some that have done this. I definitely don't want them booked on an excursion that will be too hard for them. However, out of all of the excursions listed for Cozumel, my mother-in-law called me (not knowing we had already booked the Secret River) and said she would really like to do the Secret River. I about fell over! What are the odds???

Thanks again for any tips or advice.

Susan

Nope no real swimming more like paddling, and not a whole lot of it either. They will give walking sticks to anyone who wants one. The water shoes they hand out were surpraisngly really good at gripping the ground, but you can also wear your own watershoes, or water sandal things with good tracktion. Basically as long as they give traction you are good.

The biggest worry really is catching your foot on somehting and falling, but this is easily solved with taking your time, watching your footing and using a stick.

In our group people in front were good about telling others of rough spots, as well as the guide.

 

[disneypoor]

Thank you! That makes me feel better. I think my in laws will be fine.

Susan

 

[AnnaS]

This Secret River sounds really interesting. There will be 18 people in our group - age range 20 - 80 - all in good health. I know all of us are not going to be doing all the same excursion in any of the ports - but I am starting to browse some. I am going to google this. Thank you.

 

[CT Mom of 3]

We LOVED this excursion!! They take you down in small groups - it was just myself and kids and 2 other families - we spent a good hour & 1/2 in the river. Lunch was GREAT - my kids still talk about it!!

The only drawback was the ferry ride, and I didn't really like Playa del Carmen much - but the rest of the trip more than made up for it!

 

[sambycat]

we are leaving friday for an 8 night magic cruise and this is on our excursion list. will report back! i too am not excited about the transit time, but it looks like something amazing you might never have the chance to see! actually, i’m glad to read that you don’t have to stick your head totally in the water (i just didn’t look forward to spending the rest of the day looking like a wet dog) but who knew the water is so cold!! i think i will not tell my husband about reading that....

what was the lunch exactly? to me this is a long excursion and i’m vegan and doubting there will be anything i can eat. i’m gonna double check with DCL about how to deal with a special diet request when i can’t take food off the boat. seems like a long day to just pick at potato chips!

anyway, i can report back in 2 weeks!

 

[AnnaS]

we are leaving friday for an 8 night magic cruise and this is on our excursion list. will report back! i too am not excited about the transit time, but it looks like something amazing you might never have the chance to see! actually, i’m glad to read that you don’t have to stick your head totally in the water (i just didn’t look forward to spending the rest of the day looking like a wet dog) but who knew the water is so cold!! i think i will not tell my husband about reading that....

what was the lunch exactly? to me this is a long excursion and i’m vegan and doubting there will be anything i can eat. i’m gonna double check with DCL about how to deal with a special diet request when i can’t take food off the boat. seems like a long day to just pick at potato chips!

anyway, i can report back in 2 weeks!

Can't wait for your report on this!!!

This is not booked through DCL, correct?

I do not swim (as many others) and hate cold water - how cold is it - if I consider it?

 

[sambycat]

we booked through DCL

 

[AnnaS]

we booked through DCL

Thank you!

 

[disneypoor]

I'm interested to hear what they serve for lunch too. Enjoy your 8 night cruise!

Susan