caribbean with young kids!

K

kazza

Guest
We are going on a caribbean cruise for the first time at Easter with our children aged 6 and 10. This is our second cruise, first to the caribbean, and we will be visiting Key West, Cozumel, Colon, Orangestad,and George Town, aboard Celebrity Summit. We don't snorkel. Any good ideas for day trips particularly suited to the children? Thanks for the help.
 
C

Camelia

Guest
In Cozumel I recommend Chankanaab Park. It is easy to go to with a $10 cab ride, and the children will enjoy all the big geckos that can be seen everywhere in the park. You walk around a little bit, then get to a lagoon, and beach and snorkel area. You see you don't snorkel, but I assume the children will want to swim or play in the sand. Haven't been to the other ports.
 
N

Nanatravel

Guest
Great itinerary for a family.
Key West: take a trolley tour, let the kids climb up the Lighthouse too
Cozumel: take a taxi to Mr. Sancho's or Paradise Beach club - taxi about $15 each way no entry fee
Colon, Panama; this is where you want to book a ship's tour - we did the ocean to ocean train tour. It is a beautifully restored train ride to Miraflores Lock. You then board nice buses to the locks for a thorough guided tour of the lock working, then reboard for a ride to the Panama Coast. You will get back to the ship about 2 p.m. for a late lunch.
Orangestad, Aruba' walk to the main street and get on a town bus to Palm Beach about $2pp round trip. Ask the driver to let you off at the Holiday Inn.
George Town, Grand Cayman- book a private Swim with the Sting Rays tour; Soto, Captain Marvin, Capt. Crosby have been well reviewed on cruise forums.
Bon voyage
 
R

rshreib

Guest
We have been to Cozumel twice with the kids (ages 6 and 10 too).. Take the taxi to Chankanaab. You can walk around at your liesure, play in the sand, get your feet wet in a natural wading pool filled with fish and snorkel if your kids are adventurous enough. Theres a great little restaurant there with good food too. If you really like water sport, the new Xcaret eco adventure park has just opened and its supposed to be real cool. Its on the mainland but I am sure the kids will have a ball.

On the cayman, take the island tour with the stop at the turtle farm. Its air conditioned riding and stops at a few cool places on the island. Again, if your kids are adventurous enough, then take the swimming with the stingray adventure. Might be a little daunting for the younger one. You can also soend the day on 7 mile beach playing in the sand and enjoying 80 degree crystal blue water.
 
C

Camelia

Guest
We just went to Xcaret Park rshreib mentioned with our 7 year old. It is a great park, but since we booked through Carnival, it cost too much, and we had too little time to spend there. It also takes a while to get there, so I wouldn't do it again. Chankanaab is equally nice, and in hindsight I wish I had gone there again.
 
C

camom

Guest
Karen:

We will be on the trip as well with our children ranging in age from 3 - 13. Have you heard anything about the Panama Canal Ferry Ride? We wanted to take the older children but not sure how they will last for 5 hrs. We also looked at the kayak adventure and 1 hr lock tour from observation deck.

Any ideas.

Thank you
 
K

kazza

Guest
My Mother & Father-in-law have done the ferry ride and said it's very good. We are going with Celebrity and it is showing as a 7 hour trip which we feel may be too long for our boys. We are considering the train ride and have some friends returning from the caribbean today who have done the dome car trip. They are going to adivse us whether it would be a good trip for the children - will let you know!
 
Top