Western Carrib. excursion ideas.........

[condorthb]

What was your favorite excurson at each port?

Having trouble trying to narrow down list.

 

[kevdad]

Cozumel: Paradise Beach. It has lots of fun water toys/structures in the ocean (Google it and check out the pictures), a nice beach, great pool and plenty of room to just hang out. When we were there it was absolutely pouring and the kids still had a blast. DW and I stayed under cover at a bar area and enjoyed watching them and a few cocktails. An easy cab ride from the terminal and relatively inexpensive entry fees. The food prices were very reasonable as well.

Jamaica: Blue Hole. Literally last week my DD8 said it was one of the best days of her life and my DS12 talks about it all the time. The jumps were lots of fun and completely at our discretion. DS12 did all of them, the rest of us skipped a few. We used Liberty Tours and had a wonderful driver who also took us to Scotchies for a nice lunch. Not cheap, but certainly an adventure to remember!

We will definitely do both again on our cruise next year.

Grand Cayman: we stay on the ship and enjoy a quiet, peaceful day on board. It also makes it so that we get off the ship every-other-day which we like instead of two shore days in a row.

 

[Scillycruisers]

Cozumel - Playa Mia Beach, similar to Paradise Beach in above post

Jamaica - River tubing and beach break

Grand Cayman - excursion cancelled due to tendering times being shortened so just walked to a beach. Had a great time swimming and saw some amazing iguanas!

 

[Tikitoi]

Cozumel...La Casa en La Playa. Also enjoyed Mr Sanchos. And did the Kaokao Chocolate Factory Tour.

Jamaica...Dunn's River Falls and the Bob Marley Tour.

Grand Cayman...Seven Mile Beach.

 

[dgramling]

2015 we did:

Cozumel - Tulum ruins was nice but didn't seem worth all the travel half hour on the ferry, 45 minute bus ride. The walk around the ruins was brief 2-3 minutes at most of the ruins, then left to go to the beach or return to the market area to shop or eat, then travel in reverse excursion returned very close to all aboard time as guest from the ferries were told to go right to the ship, leaving no time to see the port. Included lunch was a ham sub and chips.

Grand Cayman - dolphin swim and turtle farm, awesome experience very dependent on the trainer and the dolphin assigned to your group, our trainer was very good and our dolphin was very eager. The group next to use did not seem to be as lucky. Downside is they don't let you take gopro's in the water with you and the photo package is very pricey, but how often do you get to hold a dolphin in your arms. The turtle farm is extensive but the included part is limited to only the turtle area, where you can pet and see tons of sea turtles

Jamaica - Dunn River Falls, another great experience. The guides are great and make sure your having a good time. It's amazing how lob and far you climb but you never notice it while your doing it. We went to the top of a mountain to a park where peacocks roamed for lunch which consisted of jerk chicken fairly good from what I remembered but would probably take the option without the lunch as it seemed tacked on to the end

 

[CesD]

Jamaica: Blue Hole. Literally last week my DD8 said it was one of the best days of her life and my DS12 talks about it all the time. The jumps were lots of fun and completely at our discretion. DS12 did all of them, the rest of us skipped a few. We used Liberty Tours and had a wonderful driver who also took us to Scotchies for a nice lunch. Not cheap, but certainly an adventure to remember!

Is there an entrance fee to blue hole? i am reading that there isnt but the driver said it is $15/adult and $10/kids, ( not payable to him). if so, is this separate from the tips you give your guide at the falls?

 

[kevdad]

Is there an entrance fee to blue hole? i am reading that there isnt but the driver said it is $15/adult and $10/kids, ( not payable to him). if so, is this separate from the tips you give your guide at the falls?

Yes, but for us it was included in the price of the excursion. We tipped the guide separately.

 

[CesD]

Yes, but for us it was included in the price of the excursion. We tipped the guide separately.

thank you. i was leaning toward a day pass but your post about how much your kids loved it made me change my mind and go for blue hole.

 

[SonyaShay]

June 2015 we booked all outside vendors

Cozumel- used Island Marketing for a dune buggy tour of the island with a stop at a tequilla factory, lunch and the lighthouse.

Grandy Cayman- used Island Marketing for jet skis to Stingray City, Rum Pointe brach and to play with Starfish

Jamaica- booked with SNL Jamaican Tours (owner is a former DCL CM) for Blue Hole with lunch at Scotchies and some local sightseeing. I was very happy with SNL because he took us to a different area of Blue Hole to begin with. We were the only people in this area for well over 30 minutes. We then took about a 5 minute walk on a pretty decent path through the woods to the other area of Blue Hole that all the other tour operators use. This area was MUCH more crowded. Once we walked back to the van we saw that our original area was still pretty empty. Made for a much more enjoyable day.

 

[condorthb]

Thank you for all of the suggestions.

 

[YayDisney]

Jamaica- booked with SNL Jamaican Tours (owner is a former DCL CM) for Blue Hole with lunch at Scotchies and some local sightseeing. I was very happy with SNL because he took us to a different area of Blue Hole to begin with. We were the only people in this area for well over 30 minutes. We then took about a 5 minute walk on a pretty decent path through the woods to the other area of Blue Hole that all the other tour operators use. This area was MUCH more crowded. Once we walked back to the van we saw that our original area was still pretty empty. Made for a much more enjoyable day.

Hi - sorry to hijack a little here, but I am booked with SNL for this exact thing on our upcoming cruise. I am really excited. Can I pick your brain on some things? Did you like the Blue Hole? How young was your youngest and was he or she able to jump all the jumps? Do you remember what time you got back to port? Would you have added anything else to this? Feel free not to answer this if you don't want of course, but how much did you tip him? I have no clue what an appropriate amount is - Thanks in Advance!

 

[SonyaShay]

Hi - sorry to hijack a little here, but I am booked with SNL for this exact thing on our upcoming cruise. I am really excited. Can I pick your brain on some things? Did you like the Blue Hole? How young was your youngest and was he or she able to jump all the jumps? Do you remember what time you got back to port? Would you have added anything else to this? Feel free not to answer this if you don't want of course, but how much did you tip him? I have no clue what an appropriate amount is - Thanks in Advance!

Absolutely LOVED Blue Hole! The girls were 8 and 7. The 8 year old is a little more adventurous and did a few jumps. Me and the 7 year old just walked into the water areas and enjoyed watching everyone else and splashing around on our own. Our guides at Blue Hole were AMAZING! There were a few places that had large rocks to cross and they each picked up a child and carried them across to make sure they didn't fall.

We had originally planned to add the bobsled to the day but we decided against it a few weeks before the trip in order to have lots of time at Blue Hole. I personally wouldn't add anything so you can take your time to enjoy the water.

I do not remember the exact time we got back to the port but I know we had plenty of time to explore the port area and visit Diamonds International for the free charms. I do remember in talking with them that they already knew our ship schedule for the day without me telling them and I was never worried that we would not be back on time. On our way back to the port Lindsay did detour to show us where Usain Bolt went to school. Something small but showed that he really enjoys Jamaica and making sure that all of his clients have a great day.

With us being 2 families (my family of 3 and my sisters family of 3) we each tipped the guides at Blue Hole (2 of them) $10 and then Lindsay $25 for the day.

 

[CamColt]

Cozumel-Paradise Beach
Grand Cayman- Hell and Turtle Farm tour
Jamaica-we haven't done it yet but are planning to do the Tranopy Adventure.

 

[YayDisney]

Absolutely LOVED Blue Hole! The girls were 8 and 7. The 8 year old is a little more adventurous and did a few jumps. Me and the 7 year old just walked into the water areas and enjoyed watching everyone else and splashing around on our own. Our guides at Blue Hole were AMAZING! There were a few places that had large rocks to cross and they each picked up a child and carried them across to make sure they didn't fall.

We had originally planned to add the bobsled to the day but we decided against it a few weeks before the trip in order to have lots of time at Blue Hole. I personally wouldn't add anything so you can take your time to enjoy the water.

I do not remember the exact time we got back to the port but I know we had plenty of time to explore the port area and visit Diamonds International for the free charms. I do remember in talking with them that they already knew our ship schedule for the day without me telling them and I was never worried that we would not be back on time. On our way back to the port Lindsay did detour to show us where Usain Bolt went to school. Something small but showed that he really enjoys Jamaica and making sure that all of his clients have a great day.

With us being 2 families (my family of 3 and my sisters family of 3) we each tipped the guides at Blue Hole (2 of them) $10 and then Lindsay $25 for the day.

Thank you! great information. I wanted to add maybe some beach time or something but I would like to enjoy blue hole as well and don't want to feel rushed. A nice leisurely lunch sounds good too and if we have something else planned, we might clip something to be able to make it. Thanks again

 

[com_op_2000]

On Cozumel:
DW and I rented a jeep and went out on our own. You can get away to some of the out-of-the-way places and just do what you want. If, you speak Spanish, DW is fluent, it helps as the locals will treat you special and they gave us multiple recommendations/tips/discounts/etc.