Shore Excursions or not shore excursions.

O

Orcrone

Guest
Our son and daughter-in-law are going on the Carnival Inspiration this Sunday (March 28) for their honeymoon :couple to Cozumel, Belize, Costa Maya and Grand Cayman. I know that she would just like to lay down on a blanket on a nice beach somewhere. Having cruised before I know that you can book shore excursions to go to beaches, but you're going to pay $30 to $45 a person. I'm thinking that they can just get a taxi and head to the beach at some or all of these ports.

Does anyone have any suggestions? At which ports will there be cabs waiting. What beaches should they head to, or avoid?

I know that if a shore excursion is late the ship won't leave, but if you go on your own then the ship will sail without you. :mad So I will definitely warn them to make sure that they get back early.
 
K

kujobie

Guest
They don't want to miss the stingray swim in GC. If they book thru the ship, it is a little more expensive but they will be first off in a tendered port. THat means an hour or more advantage over the other passengers. Cozumel is the place to skip the excursions and take a cab to a beach. Cabs are everywhere. I don't know about the other ports.
 
S

Sodey

Guest
I don't know where you get the idea that you can get off earlier with a ship excursion. If you book an independent excursion early in the morning, you can get on the early tenders. We were on the first tender and booked direct with Capt. Marvins.
 
O

Orcrone

Guest
I have to agree with Kujobie. When we were on the Inspiration last year they had people with booked shore excursions meet in the theater and exit the ship first. Perhaps it was different with the ship you were on.
 
N

Nanatravel

Guest
We have cruised all 4 Main Stream cruise lines, at tender ports, ship purchased tours always have had priority. I recommend going to the meeting place and asking the activities director if you can get on an early tender as you have a private tour.

Cozumel; Taxi's are available - go to Mr. Sancho's, Nachi Cochom or Paradise Beach- there is no entry fee. Taxi fare apx. $15 per taxi each way, so try to get someone else to ride with you

Belize; Tender Port and Not a beach destination; suggest a Cave tubing tour with Reggie or on ship. There is little to do at the port and you don't want to walk around outside the port building.

Costa Maya: Don't have any advise

and Grand Cayman: a taxi to the Beach is easy once you tender. The Holiday Inn (hotel name may have just changed, but the cab drivers will know where you want to go) beach is public. Chairs and floats (for rent) as well as rest room facilities are available. Taxi fare about $6 pp. Chair rental $10 including a cold drink. If they have never been to the Caymans, I too highly recommend an early Swim with the Sting Rays tour then go to the beach after. Skip shopping in this port.

Bon Voyage
 
K

kujobie

Guest
I have seen people denied entry to tenders who did not have ship booked excursions.
 
P

pnorth

Guest
I booked on my own and had no problem being the first on a tender off the ship, and also there was another tender waiting for us to leave to take the other passengers to the island. It all went really fast and we even waited for others to join us that had booked on their own also. There was plenty of time, it don't take long to tender in. This was in Grand Cayman and I suggest stingray city tour is not to miss. I went with sotoscruises.com and they were great & small group.
 
J

jlynd53

Guest
If you want to spend a relaxing day on the beach you would need to take a water taxi to one of the Cayes. We did a snorkel trip with Coral Breeze that ended with some free time on Caye Caulker. We loved this relaxed little island and next time we plan to spend the day there. I believe it costs about $20/person round trip for the water taxi and it is about 45 minutes each way.

In Costa Maya I would recommend that they either walk to Mahahual or take a taxi. The taxi is $5/person round trip. This entire little town consists of nice little beach bars/restaurants and would be a great place to spend a relxing beach day.

In Cozumel I would go to Paradise Beach. I have seen nothing but rave reviews about it. Depending on what pier they are at it will cost $12-$15/cab to get there. There is no charge for anything there except food and drink.

In Grand Cayman we went to stringray city so I am not up on the beaches there.

I hope this helps!
 
P

PINEVIEW01

Guest
>>We were on the first tender and booked direct with Capt. Marvins.<<
Same here Sodey! We just went down to the 3rd deck and got on. The People booked with a ship excursion were still in a lounge somewhere:) That was ON the Inspiration.



Post Edited (03-30-04 11:56)
 
D

dwl

Guest
Is it possible to walk up and get on a same day excursion with Capt. Marvins or is it mandatory to book ahead of time? Inspiration-July.
 
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