Skip Port Adventures?

[ArielSparrow]

I've only been on one other cruise - Mexican Riviera with Royal Caribbean. For Puerta Vallarta, we thought we'd just walk around and soak up local culture. We knew a little spanish and would be comfortable doing a self-guided walking tour. However, after passing heavily armed guards to get out the gate, we didn't make it very far before deciding to just head back to the ship (later we saw a walmart from the window of our room - wish I knew it was there because getting aloe vera for less than $12 would have been nice, but I digress). We felt like we were in skid row or something. It was dirty, homeless people, etc. Now, in regular life I am fine with that, but it's not really an ideal vacation spot, you know? Plus, being in a foreign country is not quite like just walking around LA, a city I am used to and in a country I know the laws and customs of very well.

Which is why I'm here - we are taking a western caribbean cruise and were wondering what the options are if you don't book any port adventures. Do you just hang out on the ship? Do people often walk around the towns without a guide? Gosh, I hope I don't sound like an entitled stereotypical tourist right now.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We've done that itinerary twice. You can walk around the port at Grand Cayman safely. It's also quite easy to get a shared cab there and just go to one of the spots on Seven Mile Beach (we went to Royal Palms Club during our stop). You can walk around Cozumel, but there isn't much going on there and you still need to be alert. Falmouth has a heavily gated and secured port area. You do not want to leave that area without being escorted through a port adventure or other private tour guide. We met a private guide there on our first cruise and the security guard at the gate made sure we were safely with the guide before she would even let us out.

The second time we did the itinerary (just a week ago), we simply stayed on the boat in Cozumel and Falmouth and enjoyed the Aquaduck, pools, a less crowded Cabanas, Mid-ship Detective agency, etc.

 

[blabadie]

For our family...given the current situations/warnings with Jamaica and Mexico, we would just stay onboard and enjoy the ship. While statistically I'm sure we'd be fine, those ports aren't enticing enough for me to take the risk. Plus, I'd probably be a bit worried in the back of my mind the whole time and not fully enjoy the excursions anyway.

For us, a Disney Caribbean cruise is more about the Disney experience and Castaway Cay. Plus, we would never choose Mexico or Jamaica for a Caribbean land vacation, so giving them up is not that big of a deal to us personally. Other families may really love them though. We have friends who continue to vacation in Mexico every year, so opinions will vary widely.

 

[YawningDodo]

I got off the ship in Cozumel and walked around for about an hour, then went back to the ship and just enjoyed the lack of other people onboard. Even as a solo woman, I never felt threatened or afraid for my safety while I was wandering in Cozumel. I did feel annoyed as heck by the fact that I couldn't walk twenty feet without someone trying to sell me something, though. I would not bother to get off the ship there again unless I was either on a port adventure or had researched and chosen a specific restaurant ahead of time (my tablemate apparently had a wonderful lunch in Cozumel). The area immediately around the port is completely packed with tourist shops; I'm sure there are great experiences to be had in Cozumel, but you're going to need to have specific goals and/or a guide to get you past the gauntlet of souvenir shops.

 

[starvenger]

There is probably enough around the Cozumel cruise terminal for you to walk around if you want. Same with Falmouth, although I wouldn’t leave the cruise port area there. Shops are pretty much what you’d find around most Caribbean cruise ports though.

 

[YawningDodo]

Belatedly remembered -- there are often all-inclusive resorts or beaches at a lot of these ports where you can get a day pass (Disney includes some of them as port adventures, but you can also book them independently). If you enjoy a day at the beach, that might be a relatively low-cost way to get off the ship and have a good time.

 

[DizFan99]

Hi! We are doing the same itinerary and have lots of plans. I am hopeful things go well. For Cozumel, we're going to take a cab to the Public Beach or the Tiki Beach. We also want to check out Chilangos and the Tamale Lady outside of Chilangos. Also, Guido's Deli at 10 St. N Corner Av. 15, as it comes well recommended. For Falmouth, we are interested in trying the local Jamaican fast food restaurant, "Juici Patties". There's also the competitor, "Tastee Patties". And we want to check out Club Nazz for some food. Staying with our plans for Jamaica, we hope to visit the Bend Down Market (a local flea market) near Water Square in Falmouth. It happens to be busiest on the day we arrive there, I have heard. There's also a Trolly Tour of the town, but we may just go on our own to the same places featured on the tour. We want to go to Burwood Beach or maybe Silver Sands Beach by cab. Also we want to check out the local supermarket on the way back to the ship for authentic jerk seasoning. And we want to go to Pepper's Jerk Center for jerk chicken. We'd love to see the Blue Hole swimming area and waterfalls, but might not make that one. For Grand Cayman, we are basically just going to wing it. Certain we'll find lots to do and see. Enjoy your cruise!

 

[bumbershoot]

We felt like we were in skid row or something. It was dirty, homeless people, etc. Now, in regular life I am fine with that, but it's not really an ideal vacation spot, you know?

Well, a lot of the cruise ports feel different than the US. They are often in areas that are hit by storms often. and they have a different architecture style and way of life. So they can feel like you described. It is what it is. IMO.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

We will no longer get off the boat in Mexico. Just not enough to interest us. Grand Cayman is another story. It is a beautiful island with amazing beaches, and no pushy sales people at the port like a lot of other places. We took the excursion to Rum Point and it was great. I would definitely get off the boat, and if nothing else take a cab to 7 mile beach.

 

[ArielSparrow]

Well, a lot of the cruise ports feel different than the US. They are often in areas that are hit by storms often. and they have a different architecture style and way of life. So they can feel like you described. It is what it is. IMO.

Quite the opposite. It was weird because it felt too much like the US. That wasn't the issue though. We just didn't know what to do and the soldiers with rifles made us feel like we shouldn't be out anyway.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

Quite the opposite. It was weird because it felt too much like the US. That wasn't the issue though. We just didn't know what to do and the soldiers with rifles made us feel like we shouldn't be out anyway.

Its funny, the only place that I saw policemen with rifles was in the French airports. But I agree it was quite unnerving.

 

[kiford]

If you get off at Falmouth, you go into a security controlled shopping/dining area. I definitely wouldn't leave that area on my own and not without an excursion. But if you want to go to duty-free or just stretch your legs on shore or have a snack, the port area is quite nice and fairly new.

We usually do our excursions through DCL. It's convenient, I know that Disney has done their homework and picked reputable and reasonably good tour companies, will get me back on time and has a good cancellation policy. I simply can't be bothered to do my own bookings and I'm rarely comfortable in a place I don't know in just walking about outside of a known safe area in ports.

Last cruise we didn't bother to get off at Grand Cayman. We've been there twice before, seen what we wanted to see and we're not beach people and it's a tender port which is a pain. We had a lovely time just hanging around on deck, eating, going to the movies and doing whatever.

At Key West (where I don't think they go anymore), we did an excursion the first time and went to a little museum close to the port. The second time we just went to a shop at the port we'd been to the first time and then spent the rest of the day on the ship. On our B2B 3/4 day we didn't bother to get off at Freeport on the first leg and only got off the second time to do a gourmet lunch/wine pairing at Greycliff Estates, then right back to the ship (IIRC, it was arranged through DCL so they arranged transportation too). It can be a really nice day onboard when docked. Sit on deck and watch people coming back to the ship, look at the other ships you're docked near. We've been to a number of Caribbean islands so future cruises to those locations will likely be for a relaxing vacation and we'll probably spend most of our time on the ship. Makes a great time to do the midship detective game and the theatres aren't busy at all.

 

[CarrieAP]

Cozumel is wonderful with many activities, makes me wonder why so many folks dismiss it. Many beach options to choose from that are safe and relaxing. Personally we love the laid back feel of Nachi Cocom, an all inclusive day resort. It's a shame to miss these ports. Trip Advisor is great resource for researching excursion and sight seeing options.