September 29, 2012 - Ropin' Some Magic in the Western Caribbean

[cvance23]

Woohoo we upgraded and now our room num is 7084!!! Love that pixie dust!!!

 

[Texas lady]

Woohoo we upgraded and now our room num is 7084!!! Love that pixie dust!!!

Congrats!!!

 

[cruising5]

trying to get the counter in my signature>>

<a href="http://distickers.com/ticker/"><img src="http://distickers.com/ticker/tickers/2vub0u4uo8n7iyoa.png" alt="DIStickers.com Ticker" border="0"/></a>

Just checking and seeing if this works.

 

[SeeJennyCruise]

Now that we are closer to departure I thought we might revisit everyone's plans for shore excursions. We've got a private charter for Grand Cayman with Captain Michael we snorkled with in 2009. I've not made reservations for Costa Maya or Cozumel. Our adult kids would like to parasail (not a happy thought for me) and jet ski. We'll likely stop by Margaritaville in Cozumel on our way back to the ship because we've been a couple of times and like one of the waiters. So, still considering what to do for Costa Maya and Cozumel beach options.

What are your plans for:

Grand Cayman?

Costa Maya?

Cozumel?

How can I create a blank line?
How can I create a blank line?

 

[Piper]

We're staying on the ship. Disney's idea of an accessible tour is that you use a manual wheelchair (which would mean bringing 2 chairs with me since I don't have the upper body strength required to wheel myself)--folding it up and climbing the stairs onto the bus......not going to happen.

 

[Phelpsie70]

Now that we are closer to departure I thought we might revisit everyone's plans for shore excursions. What are your plans for:

Grand Cayman?

Costa Maya?

Cozumel?

My son and I aren't getting off the ship at Cozumel or Grand Cayman. We've been to those ports before and there isn't really anything we were interested in this time (plus I hate tendering, which we do at GC). Connor and I would rather hang out in a less crowded ship and pools. Though two years ago we did Dolphinaris at Cozumel to swim with dolphins and it was amazing. I highly recommend it! My husband just got his scuba certification so I 've signed him up for the scuba excursions at both GC and Cozumel. Since none of us have been to Costa Maya, we are looking into beaches to do on our own. I am so excited for this cruise, wish we were leaving tomorrow!

 

[kpaulson]

I think we are just going to do the beach breaks at GC and Cozumel...daughter is happy as long as there is water... at Costa Maya was going to stay on the boat or do some shopping until I found a link to this...

http://www.sandalsandskis.com/Tropicante.html

no admittance fee?
$2 per person taxi ride?
$2 Coronas and tequila? (I can't drink anyhow but if I could....)
$25 for an hour long massage?
able to reserve tables/chairs on the beach?
count me in...

So might skip the $66 per person Cozumel beach break and shop there instead... Anyone know if there is decent shopping for souvenirs in Cozumel? Was going to shop in Costa Maya but free vs $66 per person (well okay daughter would be $49) is kinda more appealing

 

[soccermom1422]

After much thinking, research, mind changing, and considering what everyone in our family did/did not want to do this is what we finally decided on:

Grand Cayman - My older 2 boys (13 and 11) are snorkeling.

Costa Maya - Jungle Beach Break - The prices for wave runner rentals and massages were cheaper in Costa Maya.

Cozumel - Chocolate Factory Tour (on our own, $10 a person)

 

[Belle6000]

Now that we are closer to departure I thought we might revisit everyone's plans for shore excursions. We've got a private charter for Grand Cayman with Captain Michael we snorkled with in 2009. I've not made reservations for Costa Maya or Cozumel. Our adult kids would like to parasail (not a happy thought for me) and jet ski. We'll likely stop by Margaritaville in Cozumel on our way back to the ship because we've been a couple of times and like one of the waiters. So, still considering what to do for Costa Maya and Cozumel beach options.

What are your plans for:

Grand Cayman?

Costa Maya?

Cozumel?

How can I create a blank line?
How can I create a blank line?

Grand Cayman: We still can't decide what we want to do here!! We might do the semi submarine thing. We also might just explore on our own. I head they have a good trolley/bus system. Anyone that's been there before...is exploring on your own doable here? There's a car museum we'd like to go to and also the Tortuga rum factory. I'm wondering if we can do those 2 things AND the semi sub tour. I wanted to do the turtle farm, but I think I got outvoted on that one.

Costa Maya: I think we will just shop and go to the beach here. I here this is the best place for a beach massage.

Cozumel: We booked the Mayan ruins tour. I believe it also consists of a tour of a tequila factory and some minor sightseeing. I don't remember everything about it offhand.

 

[riley2008]

Our excursions:

DH and friend are scuba diving in Grand Cayman. No plans for the rest of us.

May look into Tropicante on our own in Costa Maya.

Cozumel - Dolphinaris for all 8 of us and I REALLY want to do the chocolate factory. With 4 large ships in port that date, I thinking it may not happen. (Will give me a reason to go back though. )

 

[TxMermaid1]

Our excursions:

DH and friend are scuba diving in Grand Cayman. No plans for the rest of us.

May look into Tropicante on our own in Costa Maya.

Cozumel - Dolphinaris for all 8 of us and I REALLY want to do the chocolate factory. With 4 large ships in port that date, I thinking it may not happen. (Will give me a reason to go back though. )

I'm diving in GC and Coz. They both have good diving.

 

[TxMermaid1]

BEAUTES AND THE BEASTS EVENT aka CHAMPAGNE GIRLS:If you want to join the fun event of Beauties and the Beasts please be sure to get signed up. Men are welcome to join. If we get enough people wanting to do an actual tasting @ $20 ea. then we will schedule that. Otherwise we will still put on our tiara's and boa'a and gather for a drink of choice. Come join in on the fun!

 

[minniescout]

Now that we are closer to departure I thought we might revisit everyone's plans for shore excursions. We've got a private charter for Grand Cayman with Captain Michael we snorkled with in 2009. I've not made reservations for Costa Maya or Cozumel. Our adult kids would like to parasail (not a happy thought for me) and jet ski. We'll likely stop by Margaritaville in Cozumel on our way back to the ship because we've been a couple of times and like one of the waiters. So, still considering what to do for Costa Maya and Cozumel beach options.

What are your plans for:

Grand Cayman?

Costa Maya?

Cozumel?

How can I create a blank line?
How can I create a blank line?

Not sure yet...
GC - I want to do Stingray city and turtle farm but also the Rum Factory. DH has been to GC so it's whatever I want to do
CM - DH may go diving - he is certified, I am not and he has done scuba at GM and CZM. I had thought about a massage - may try island if they are that inexpensive
CZM - maybe ruins? not sure ...open to suggestions

 

[minniescout]

Hmm...well now the confirmation email says GTY verandah stateroom even tho the lady said 5150... called Disney back... and they said it was entered as guaranteed.... so bleh... will update cabin when possible

I called DCL and asked about upgrades and they told me only at the embarcation - can't do it prior. So I am confused. But it's our first cruise so many I didnt know how to ask right.

 

[kpaulson]

I called DCL and asked about upgrades and they told me only at the embarcation - can't do it prior. So I am confused. But it's our first cruise so many I didnt know how to ask right.

That's not true, I got mine as did a few others... I would call back and ask a different agent. I told mine I saw on cruisefish.net that the prices were lower than what I paid for a room 6+ categories higher. She said she would see what she could do and whooo la got put on a 5a or better guaranteed room.

Try again IMO

 

[CrazyZeus1]

We are lucky enough to.cruise 4-5.times a year, so we have been.there, done that at all the ports. We LOOOVE the quieter boat when.in port...we never leave.the boat . Most cruise staff on the cruise lines think we are nutty for staying on the boat the whole time

 

[TxMermaid1]

I called DCL and asked about upgrades and they told me only at the embarcation - can't do it prior. So I am confused. But it's our first cruise so many I didnt know how to ask right.

Sometimes it is who you speak to but usually it depends on what type reservation you had to start with.

 

[BendeleFamily]

Planning on swimming with the stingrays in GC, taking the kiddos to the beach in CM, and not sure what it if we're getting off the ship in Cozumel. Might go to Chankanaab Park or do some shopping, or maybe just stay on the ship.

 

[Milio99]

We're doing:

GC: Stingrays and RumPoint Beach with Nativeway
CM: Tropicante beach club (kids will probably stay on the ship in their clubs), cheap
massages and drinks!
Cozumel: Paradise Beach on our own. Kids loved this place last time!

 

[kpaulson]

We're doing:

GC: Stingrays and RumPoint Beach with Nativeway
CM: Tropicante beach club (kids will probably stay on the ship in their clubs), cheap
massages and drinks!
Cozumel: Paradise Beach on our own. Kids loved this place last time!

Question on Paradise Beach... I was looking at that one as well, would you happen to remember about how deep the water is out by the slides/toys? Daughter has had swimming lessons and is GREAT in our pool which is over her head, but when we take her to lakes/rivers/open water she freaks and gets clingy/won't go out far.