Western Caribbean Cruise - Beach Day Port Adventure Recommendations

[xfiles3010]

Hi All,
Doing our first Western Caribbean cruise. Looking for Beach Day recommendations for Cozumel, Mexico / George Town, Grand Cayman / Falmouth, Jamaica. TIA

 

[Disturbia]

Hi All,
Doing our first Western Caribbean cruise. Looking for Beach Day recommendations for Cozumel, Mexico / George Town, Grand Cayman / Falmouth, Jamaica. TIA

We did the Cozumel all inclusive beach day and it was good. The beach was rough (April) and life jackets were scarce so the staff was taking it away from chairs/people and putting 20 min time limits. The food was good for the price paid. The kids pool area with a pirate ship/slide was the best place until about 1 pm when drunken adults crowded that space, but that is an issue with entitlement vs resort. It was time to head back anyways by that time. Bathrooms were clean but had signs not to throw toilet paper

Grand Cayman seven mile beach was horrible - skip and stay on board or book an exclusive resort instead. The toilets had no working flush so a staff member had people go on dirty toilets 3-4 before filling a bucket and flushing. No toilet paper. I’ve been to third world countries and this was next level disgusting.

We had paid for lounge chairs for 5, but they gave us 3 and one was broken (one main rod so you couldn’t sit on it). He tried to get us on 2 and we argued for it. The chairs are lined up close to the beach and it’s super crowded (nothing like what you see in pictures online). We made due but wanted to get back to the ship early. The bus stop area had little shade and it was getting scorching hot. The bus was running late (no surprise). Pictures show a kids playground with a slide but no way you can use it without getting burned. We took a taxi who oversold her seats and tried to get our 16 year old to sit on our lap!! We were already 2 adults holding our 5 and 8 year old on our laps on 3 seats (for 5). We didn’t realize she already had customers and was double booking seats (but acting like the company oversold and lied to other customers that we were stranded by the cruise ship-she had yelled for more customers at the bus stop and we boarded when she had 5 seats). 2 customers who had already paid came 10 mins after us (she was not going to refund) and were given 1 seat and one adult sat on another adult’s lap!!

Check out how many cruise ships will be docked the day you’re going. If there are several, I would reconsider going to the public beach

https://www.cruisemapper.com/ports

Jamaica had a level 3 warning so we did not get off the ship. Also Camo clothing is banned (learned that a few days ago)

 

[Calantha]

Looking for Beach Day recommendations for Cozumel, Mexico

We went to the Iberstar Waves All Inclusive through Resort for a Day last year, but I think there was a DCL option too (at least we other guests who had shore excursion stickers there). Pool was awesome, food and drinks were good. Beach was meh (but I got the sense that the beach was pretty mediocre at a lot of other places too). No crazy party scene and good for my then 9 year old.

When we go back next year, we'll probably go there again.

 

[Disturbia]

Also, remember to adjust the time on your phone on Jamaica night. Our iPhones automatically adjusted during our 2 Mexico days but didn’t on day 5.

We had the Royal Gathering booked at 10:15 but thinking it was 9:00 am per our phones we went to Cabanas and ate quickly. There were at least 2 other families who made the same mistake. There was nothing guest services could do because the last one was 10:30 am? We had to stand in line individually. We had met 2 princesses on other nights so we were able to meet the other 4 (yes they had 6 princesses!) but had to skip nap time and it was stressful (lines were 15-25 mins each).

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

We did Nachi Cocom at Cozumel on our own. Reserved in advance, got a taxi from the port there, and another taxi to return. We really enjoyed it. Not crowded at all, calm, peaceful. Enjoyed the drinks and food.

 

[croschek05]

We did the Cozumel all inclusive beach day and it was good. The beach was rough (April) and life jackets were scarce so the staff was taking it away from chairs/people and putting 20 min time limits. The food was good for the price paid. The kids pool area with a pirate ship/slide was the best place until about 1 pm when drunken adults crowded that space, but that is an issue with entitlement vs resort. It was time to head back anyways by that time. Bathrooms were clean but had signs not to throw toilet paper

Grand Cayman seven mile beach was horrible - skip and stay on board or book an exclusive resort instead. The toilets had no working flush so a staff member had people go on dirty toilets 3-4 before filling a bucket and flushing. No toilet paper. I’ve been to third world countries and this was next level disgusting.

We had paid for lounge chairs for 5, but they gave us 3 and one was broken (one main rod so you couldn’t sit on it). He tried to get us on 2 and we argued for it. The chairs are lined up close to the beach and it’s super crowded (nothing like what you see in pictures online). We made due but wanted to get back to the ship early. The bus stop area had little shade and it was getting scorching hot. The bus was running late (no surprise). Pictures show a kids playground with a slide but no way you can use it without getting burned. We took a taxi who oversold her seats and tried to get our 16 year old to sit on our lap!! We were already 2 adults holding our 5 and 8 year old on our laps on 3 seats (for 5). We didn’t realize she already had customers and was double booking seats (but acting like the company oversold and lied to other customers that we were stranded by the cruise ship-she had yelled for more customers at the bus stop and we boarded when she had 5 seats). 2 customers who had already paid came 10 mins after us (she was not going to refund) and were given 1 seat and one adult sat on another adult’s lap!!

Check out how many cruise ships will be docked the day you’re going. If there are several, I would reconsider going to the public beach

https://www.cruisemapper.com/ports

Jamaica had a level 3 warning so we did not get off the ship. Also Camo clothing is banned (learned that a few days ago)

Which excursion is this in Cozumel with the pool and pirate slide and all the beach stuff? Thanks

 

[Disturbia]

Which excursion is this in Cozumel with the pool and pirate slide and all the beach stuff? Thanks

Cozumel Beach Break for Families (CZ15)​

 

[croschek05]

Cozumel Beach Break for Families (CZ15)​

It's not being offered for some reason when I went to book

 

[Disturbia]

It's not being offered for some reason when I went to book

There is probably something similar with food included. If its sold out, you might see some cancellations closer to your sail date (2 weeks before).