Cruising to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Costa Maya...are there beaches, shopping within walking distance of port?

Question

I really don't want to necessarily spend the money on excursions when I really just like relaxing on the beaches and doing a little shopping. I figure we will probably do at least one excursion. But if we don't want to, do we have to in order to enjoy each stop?

Answer 1

Grand Cayman is the home of the 7 mile beach and you can take a taxi from the pier and tell them to stop at the very first beach access which happens to be a very small hotel with a nice outdoor bar.  Even public restrooms and changing area.  Great beach access.  Cozumel and Costa Maya is better to pay for the beach break which is safer.

Answer 2

In Cozumel there is shopping right at the port.  When we were there we had to take a tender from the ship to the dock.  You will need a cab to get to a beach.  Don't go on an island tour because there's really nothing to see.

In Costa Maya there is shopping right at the dock and also a beach; not the ebst beach but you can get in the water.

In Gran Cayman, also a place where you may have t take a tender, there is a small town with shoping and restaurants, like Hard Rock.  You can also get on the internet in an internet cafe right at the dock for a much better price than onship.  Be sure to buy some Tortuga Rum cake, and buy some Tortuga Cream Rum, its great.  You have to take a taxi to the Seven Mile beach whcih is about 3 miles from town.

Answer 3

Grand Cayman has Stingray City which is wonderful and you can get on an excursion when you get off the ship, and it costs a lot less than if you were to take the excursion with the ship.  They bring you out to see the stingrays which is about 3 feet of water.  And then you go somewhere else to snorkel.  On the way back they can drop you off at the 7 mile beach.  It is walkable, but not recommended especially if you have to be back on the ship early.  There is also a small beach right at port but it is near the ships so that the fuel from the ships is lingering around.  

Cozumel has a lot of shopping~ right in port.  Which is nice.  If you want to go to a beach then I would recommend renting a car.  If Chaankanaab is open I would recommend going there, however when I went in April they were not open since the hurricanes that ripped through.  

Have fun.