Which excursions do you recommend?

[SoThisIsLove]

Hi,

This will be our first cruise ever and our honeymoon. Can anyone recommend excursions in the Western Caribbean that would be nice. We definitely want to swim with the stingrays but are unsure whether or not to use DCL or Capt. Marvins. Also, has anyone done the jeep tour in Cozumel? Is it nice? Any recommendations would be great and helpful. We are a little nervous that if we use outside companies that we will not find them or be left at port. Thanks in advance for your help!

Heather

 

[BP10684]

We went on 8am Disney Reef Sail & Snorkel and thought it was excellent (see my trip report on 3/27 Western - sorry it's so long!). The boat is wonderful - 65 ft catamaran, crew is very nice, they take video you can buy later if you want. They provide snorkel gear, water, lemonade, & munchies and have cash bar after snorkeling is done. Getting up & ready by 8 was a challenge for our family, but won't miss the boat if book through Disney for afternoon one either.

 

[DenverVal]

Here's a DISer who did the Cozumel jeep tour: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=533356. It sounds like she enjoyed it!

 

[traycie2201]

HI Heather, congrats on your forthcoming marriage, we are booking our stingray swim through nativeway tours, they have a website and here is the info on the tour, it is such good value.

Greetings from Grand Cayman...and thanks for contacting us!

The price of our 2.5 hour tour that goes to Stingray Sandbar and Coral Gardens is $30 per person. The price includes: pick up at the pier (our rep.will be waiting for you near the gate that you must exit), free use of all snorkeling gear, food for the Rays, and complimentary punch and bottled water. After the tour you have two options for drop off: back to the pier, or, at 7 mile beach (where you can taxi back at any time for $4 per person).

You will spend about 35 minutes at Stingray Sandbar and 35 minutes at Coral Gardens.

The first tour departs the pier at 8:30 AM Central Time (9:30 AM ship time) and completes at 11:15 AM Central Time; the last tour departs the pier at 11:15 AM Central Time and completes at 2 PM Central time.

To reserve space, simply e-mail back and request a reservation. Include your full name and your tour time preference.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[jrabbit]

We enjoyed snorkeling at Key West (DCL) and on Grand Cayman we did the DCL shipwreck and reef snorkel trip - both were very good. You can't go wrong with Sting Ray City though!!

In Coz. we went to Playa San Francisco on our own and saved a ton of money over what DCL charges. Mr. Sanchos and Chakanaab both are good beachs to go to also (Playa Del Sol is too).

 

[SoThisIsLove]

Thank you so much! I am going to look into all of your ideas!

Heather

 

[kimkatmom]

jrabbit --

Who did you book your Playa San Francisco through?

 

[prymsu]

my husband and son did the jeep tour and they really enjoyed it. I love to snorkel, that i skipped this for snorkeling. According to them, I really missed out on a lot of fun!

 

[jrabbit]

kimkatmom - We went to the beach on our own. Took a cab ($10 or $15 each way). $10 for two chairs, two float and 1 umbrella in the sand. We did not eat or drink the food there (we never have eating in a port) but they had those services and a swimming pool and very reasonable (clean, modern) bathrooms. THey also had jet skis and boats to rent. They did NOT have the big water toys (trampoline, ice berg) like Del Sol had.

We went there on the recomendations of friends who went there and enjoyed it.

 

[jgalecpa]

I heartily recommend Capt Marvins over the DCL tour. The day we were there Capt marvins took us out for a great time.

The DCL people waited for their excursion which never came off because the waves were "too rough" at stingray city.

They weren't even 1 foot, and they people were not told till the last minute.

Capt Marvins was one well run organization, from the store to the transportation to the ship itself and equipment.

Also, I recommend the swimming with the dolphins and sea lions in Cozumel (The DCL) excursion. We didn't go, but our friends did and they raved about it.

Also, The fishing at Castaway cay was worth it, in my opinion (But I'm biased: I'd pay to fish in a bathtub)


Excursion to avoid:

Teen cruise at cozumel. All the kids in our group who went (About 6) were very unimpressed. Especially lacking was the fact it took place through the dinner hours and no provision for food was made except chips.

These are my two cents.

Jim

 

[mamo-4-wdw]

jgalecpa Thanks for the heads up on the teen cruise at cozumel. My DS14 would be so upset with just chips....... while we ate steaks.