Labadee & Cozumel

C

cruisetogo

Guest
I'll be going on my first cruise and looking for suggestions as to what to do when in Labadee and Cozumel. I've already booked tours in Ocho Rios and Grand Cayman. I heard that shopping in Cozumel is great, but are there any attractions which I should look into. As for Labadee, I have no clue. Your suggestions would be most welcome.

Cruisetogo - Navigator Aug 04
 
G

gsamml

Guest
Labadee is really an isolated beach stop, so there is not really a twon or anything to explore. There is a market place the locals sell their crafts at. You can usually find some very potent rum there and Cuban cigars (some are fakes). Other than that, it is swimming, beach, snorkeling, jetskis...that kind of thing. Very pretty there, but also very poor.

Cozumel is a great place to dive or snorkel. It is some of the best Ihave seen anywhere in the Caribbean. It is also the best stop for going to tour the Myan ruins.

Have fun.
 
P

pandabebe

Guest
Labadee is RCI's private island. The last time I went was in 99 but I remember there were quite a few things to do. The snorkeling is quite good there - a variety of fish to see (but do be careful of the jelly fish) and a couple of sunken tanks and planes. There used to a small life guard station set up in the middle of the bay where they would throw fish food into the water to attract fish - be prepared to be "kissed" by tons of fish!
I also booked the seadoing excursion which was amazing! They take you to another part of the island to a secluded beach where you can hang out for 5 - 10 minues (gorgeous white sands and clear water), and they take you along the shore to see a local village. The excursion was only 45 mins but worth it!

As for Cozumel, there is a lot of shopping but it's all the typical tourist stuff - necklaces, t-shirts, alcohol. If you like to party check out Senor Frogs (a party no matter what time of the day it is). And if you're interested in getting your hair braided it's very cheap in Cozumel (you can get your braided for around $10 and they do an amazing job). My brother did scuba diving in Cozumel and said the water was beautiful!!!

Hope the info helps. Have a wonderinful time on your cruise!
 
C

cruisetogo

Guest
Thanks everyone for your great suggestions! I also heard about tours to see the Mayan Ruins - can anyone comment on this? We're going to do the Stingray City/Snorkelling trip in Cayman Islands and everyone in our family are swimmers except me. I hear the water is at least 10 ft. deep and just wondering if I'll be okay to attempt to snorkel. I'll be wearing a life jacket for sure, but just a little hesitate about trying. Any non-swimmers that have snorkelled and can assure me I'll be okay???
 
G

gsamml

Guest
I went diving in Grand Cayman so I did not get to Stingray City, however my wife and our traveling companions Joseph and Theresa went with Nativeway Watersports. Theresa does not swim very well and is not very tall, but she had no problems getting in or out of the water. Stingray City (where the tour boats stop anyway ) is actually a sandbar and is between 3 and 5 feet deep. And you will be wearing a life vest. So fear not. The other snorkleing stops are between 10 and 20 ft deep. And you will be wearing the life vest. They insit on it. Relax and have fun.
 
P

pandabebe

Guest
The water at Stingray City is pretty shallow. If you're taller than 5 feet you won't have any problems standing in the water. And you don't have to be an avid swimmer to enjoy it. The water is relatively calm and they teach you how to sandshuffle to avoid stepping on the sting rays. However, I don't remember wearing lifevests as a requirement, but I'm sure they have available should be wary of your swimming abilities. You'll have an amazing time. Stingray City was the highlight of my trip. Have a great time!

By the way, my parents went the ruins in Belize and said it was "alright". They said that it was beautiful but the bus ride was too long. If you're going to Belize take the opportunity to swim with the nurse sharks (however you have to be a very good swimmer as the waves can get as high as 3 feet).
 
H

hkolln

Guest
Some suggestions for Cozumel are:

1) swim with the dolphins at Chankannab Park (dolphindiscovery.com)
2) just take a taxi to Chankannab Park and enjoy the beach, etc...
3) Mayan ruins over at the mainland (Be aware you have to take a very ROCKY ferry from the island to the mainland and I got sick so take dramamine if you get seasick)...Tulum is a good one to see and the views from it are bueatiful. I have pics from my cruise in 99 where we went to Tulum at: Http://kollnfamily.com/sensationcruise.htm and just go to the Tulum pics.

As for Labadee I can't recommend anything there. We're going there on our next cruise (Voyager of the Seas) in February and I'd also like some ideas. I LOVE to snorkel so I think snorkeling would be my thing there.

I think this time in Cozumel we're doing the dolphindiscovery swim with the dolphins tour.....

Another thing...We did the stingray/Snorkeling trip with Nativeways in March. I have pics of it on http://kollnfamily.com/Inspirationcruise.htm The stingray sandbar you can stand up in and the water is maybe 3 ft deep. Our daughter, who's 10 and exactly 5' was able to stand in it with no problems at all! The snorkeling part they take you out further so the water is deep...maybe 10-20ft in some spots so you will need a lifevest. They provide them and fins too. We brought our own mask and snorkel but had no fins so we just used theirs.



Post Edited (07-17-04 17:26)
 
Top