Western 7 Day stops -- can you just explore on your own?

[westjones]

We are going on the Western 7 Day cruise in September. This is a BIG slurge for us to go on a 7 day cruise and with 2 adults and 2 kids we find that the excursions really add up fast.

Is is possible to just get off the boat and do some exploring on your own at each of the places (I know Key West wouldn't be a problem, but what about at Grand Cayman and Cozamul)?

What is it like right when you get off?
Thanks!
DJ

 

[catts5]

You can do most of Disney excursions on you own. We are renting a van on Grand Cayman. We will go to the turtle farm, HEll, and see the blow holes, 7 mile beach and lots of beaches for snorkelling.

The best way to find info is to go to :www.cruisecritic.com, select "boards" from the top , scroll down the list to the bottom and select "ports of call", then scroll down to Grand Cayman, or Cozumel . This will bring up a message board like this one and all sorts of questions and answers are there for you to read. I spend lots of time there.

We are doing our own snorkel & discover scuba trip on Cozumel. We are going with Eagle Ray Divers. $45 dollars per person for a 2 reef trip. Discover scuba is $65 person. The entire trip lasts 3 hours and we still have time to do other things.

If I can be of assistance in any way , you can email me at: catts5@foxinternet.com.

Cheryl

 

[catts5]

I forgot to tell you that we also are cruising in September. We are on the September 14 cruise. We also are a family of 4 going with my brothers family of 5. So I can relate to how expensive things can get.

Cheryl

 

[westjones]

Thanks Cheryl! I will look at that discussion list. Hey! We are on the same cruise.

I never thought we would do the 7 day cruise (and I am wondering if we stretched ourselves too far). As the time gets closer, and I am looking at our budget, I am trying to find ways to keep it to a minimum. We LOVE the DCL and have done the 3 and 4 day cruises. Those seem easier to keep cost down because #1 The cost less and #2 You aren't on board as long, so we didn't feel a need to get off the ship (except at Castaway Cay).

My twin girls are celebrating their birthday during the cruise! This will be their 3rd birthday on the cruise. I fear we have started a tradition that none of us want to need!
But next year, we are back to the 3 day cruise again.

Thanks again for the suggestions!
DJ