Western Excursion Selection??

[patmcg]

Hi!

My wife and I have just received the package for the Western Caribbean’s Cruise excursions for our 12/7/02 cruise. We are both 50 and traveling without children.

Although most if not all the shore excursions look appealing, are there any that we would be wise to avoid or at least arrange on our own?

Neither of us play golf, so we can eliminate that one altogether. Of those that you would recommend which would you place in the “must do” category?

Also, would we be able to have a boxed lunch prepared for us to take along?

Also noticed that the Key West Western Union Schooner Sunset Sail starts at 5 PM and last three hours. Is it really worth giving up dinner for??

Thanks for your advice.

patmcg

 

[ruvidu]

As you may have read in our trip report, we opted to see the sunset rather than eat in AP. It was somthing we had read about and had seen on TV. We wanted to experience it. We did not do the Western Union but did see it go by.

We booked our excursions in KW and Grand Cayman ourselves and had no problems. I can not reccomend Capt. Marvin's 3 stop trip enough. It was $68 for both of us. You can really just walk around Key West and see about everything.

Most folks order sandwiches the night before from room service, put them in Zip Lock bags and take them along. I ordered a cheese tray one night and it would have been perfect to take along if we had brought a small cooler.

We did not hear a person onboard complain about any excursion and we talked to a lot of them.

Enjoy,

Russ

 

[patmcg]

Thanks Russ.

 

[prymsu]

I agree - you could save lots of money, and both Key West and Grand Cayman are easy to do on your own.

 

[keenercam]

If you are adventurous and not fragile-bodied, we HIGHLY recommend the tropical jeep excursion in Cozumel. We had the most amazing time,but it was really rugged--that is what made is so much fun!!! The excursion takes you to a remote beach that is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen in my life. They cooked traditional mexican lunch right on the beach and it was delicious. As you can tell, this was just about the best part of the trip! We also did Captain Marvin's in Grand Cayman and it was AWESOME!!! We had been there once before, but now we will never go with anyone but Captain Marvin's. The guide, Chris, was so friendly and helpful and seemed to have some special relationship with the stingrays that really facilitated getting up close and personal with them. I was worried about getting on and off the boat, but it was effortless.
ENJOY!!
BTW, book as early as possible for the tropical jeep excursion--I have heard it sells out immediately. Call on the first possible day to schedule it, if you want to do it.
Feel free to PM me with any questions.

 

[Wavegirl]

Definitely on your own, its cheaper and you can get better trips as the smaller operaters deal with smaller groups so more personalized.

Grand Cayman Cruise Excursions

This site has great excursions for Cayman from the usual snorkeling, diving to sail boat charters,boat rentals, wave runner rentals, beach horse back riding, island tours and other stuff.

 

[patmcg]

Thank you all for some very helpful information.

 

[Wavegirl]

Always glad to help or at least give my two cents

 

[AnnMorin]

Everywhere else is all set but what to do in Cozumel?? The jeep tour is out as our son won't be ten until Feb and we go in Dec.

 

[prymsu]

i would say the swimming with the stingrays is one that shouldn't be missed!

 

[mcnuss]

We are on the 11/23 Magic and I have opted out of all the DCL excursions. They were so pricey!

In KW, we are kayaking with a company called Island Kayak. DCL would not have let me 8yo kayak and I was not interested in a tour so we will rent a 3 person kayak and do it on our own. We may also do the trolley but will decide day-of. $45 for a half-day rental.

In GC, I've booked a snorkel sail on Red Sail. They came recommended by friends who go to GC every year. I don't like motor boats (the smell of diesel makes me very ill) so that's why Capt. Marvins was out for us. Red Sail offers free lunch & beverages. They operate from the Hyatt , so after the sail, we'll rent chairs on that beach & just hang out. It's $75/adult, $35/kid for a 4 1/2 hour sail

On Cozumel, we'll go to Chankanaab on our own and just hang out there for the day. DD8 & DH like to snorkel. I'll read my trashy novel.

All told, I do not expect to pay more than $250 for all of our excursions - and this may be a high estimate.

 

[maryisme]

Ann,
Check this site out for an ATV excursion on Cozumel Wild Tours ATV Tour. It only gives a minimum age of 16 years old to operate an ATV. I believe your son would be able to be a passenger. BuckaroosDad posted some info on this some time ago on (I believe) the trip reports board. Perhaps this would be a good alternative to the jeep safari. I am considering it for our June cruise as DD will be 8 and also too young for the jeep excursion.

Good luck and enjoy.

Mary

 

[AnnMorin]

I think it may be a tad on the wild side for my tastes, my son would love it but I am more of a ferris wheel than rollar coaster type

 

[maryisme]

LOL Ann! I totally understand. That is my concern also. I'm hoping someone who has done this could shed some light on how rough the ride is. It sure looks like fun though.

Mary

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Hi Mary. This ATV tour is not really rough. I am far from a daredevil and had a truly wonderful time. To delight my son I would purposely expose our ATV to the more rugged terrain on one side of the "pathway" rather than the available "more travelled" surface on the other side. This was personal choice rather than mandatory insanity. The tour operators are very concerned with safety and they realize recommendations fill vacancies better than any other form of advertising.

A good analogy for this shore excursion might well be a couple of rides at Disneyworld. Space Mountain, for example, is thrilling as a rollercoaster, but even moreso based upon setting and creative human engineering. The same for this Wild Tour in Cozumel. It's not just an ATV tour. It's a "Wild" (the setting) ATV excursion in a foreign country along the coast where (creative human engineeringly) the roads appear to be negligable at best.

Give it a try. You'll have a blast!

 

[AnnMorin]

Well that cynches it for me I would rather crawl through fire than go on a rollar coaster in the dark

 

[patmcg]

Buckaroo's Dad

" It's a "Wild" (the setting) ATV excursion in a foreign country along the coast where (creative human engineering) the roads appear to be negligible at best."

OK now you have me concerned. Are the roads close to the coast? What is the elevation? Is this tour for the experienced ATV driver? I am neither fond of curvy road or heights. I also only drive an automatic.

Thanks

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Hi Pat. Sorry, I guess my descriptive capabilities took a vacation when I posted the above. "Negligable" roads was meant in the sense of unpaved. As we rode along, I would do my best to take advantage of any and all bumps, ruts, nooks and crannies to make the ATV even "more exciting" for my son who passengered with me. Yes, you do maneuver along the coast but there is NO "height" to contend with. As a matter of fact, I have a problem with heights myself and would have turned around if it were possible run over any sizeable "edge." The ATVs are very sturdy machines and all of them at Wild Tours offer only automatic transmissions. Lastly, this tour is not really designed for the experienced ATV driver, in my opinion, since children can safely accompany their parent(s) and anyone over the age of 16 can drive. It is an exhilariting experience for a tourist and his/her son/daughter to enjoy and definitely "high-five" each other on the ride back to the ship!

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Here's a web page that better describes and shows photos of the ATV tour excursion...

www.cozumel.to/Tours/wildtours/wildtours.html

 

[maryisme]

Buckaroo's Dad,
Thanks for the detailed description. It looks like we will be booking this excursion .

Mary