Taking an NCL Western Carribean cruise in April. Was wondering if anyone can share any do's and don't's on

Question

shore excursions.

Answer 1

I have been to the Western Caribbean several times including Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Costa Maya.  

When you get to Cozumel the ship may dock near town (depending upon the cruise line) or at a pier about 5 miles or so from town. There is shopping there at the pier and plenty of taxis to go into town and/or on a tour. We did a tour of the island a few years ago and frankly didn't see anything worth going back to see other than a few nice beaches. Cozumel is known mainly for scuba and snorkel.

There are some Mayan ruins on Cozumel but the better tours (if your ship offers them) for Mayan ruins is the tour to Chichen Itza. That's an expensive all day tour that you have to take a ferry ride for first to get to the mainland. Then a bus ride, about 1-2 hours to get to the Mayan Ruins and pyramid. If you want to do this tour I recommend booking it on line before the cruise because it will be limited AND you will be better going with a tour from the ship than booking one on your own. That's because with the bus and ferry rides you do not want to be late getting back to the ship; they will leave you, but not on a ship's tour. Another great mainland tour that's good (if your ship offers it) is to Xcarat.

http://www.cozumel.net/

http://www.islacozumel.com.mx/

http://www.cancun.com/Mayan_Ruins/Chiche...

http://www.cancun.com/Ecological_Parks/X...

In Grand Cayman you will board a tender boat (one of the life boats or one provided by the port) to get from the ship to the pier. There is a small town with some shopping (buy some Tortuga Rum Cake ... free samples in the shop). You can get to the beach by just walking through the security age at the pier and catching a taxi/mini-van for $4.00 per person each way, (take cash, US dollars are fine). Taxis will drop you at the beach and there are taxis to take you back about any time of day. The beaches have changing rooms and bathrooms, a a snack bar and some souvenir shops. You can rent chairs, mats, jet skis, snorkel equipment and go para-sailing. So you don't need to reserve early for any of these. But if you want to go swim with the dolphins or stingrays you may want to reserve that. There is also a tour that goes to a butterfly conservatory, and another that includes a visit to a town on the island that has the name h**l. Folks on our last trip to Cozumel said the trip to h**l was nothing.  

There are two main attractions in Jamaica. One is to Dunn's River Falls. its a place where you wear your swim wear and walk up a waterfall. Its kinda fun. There will be ship's tours, some combined with a tour of a plantation and Fern Gulley. But you can book a tour on your own or just catch a taxi at the pier for Dunn's River falls. The other Jamaica attraction is a river raft trip (not a rapids trip but a lazy river). Its a nice trip and recommended also. You do not want to go wandering off the beaten path in Jamaica; that spells trouble, people get robbed and coned out of their money.

When we went to Costa Maya we just did a little shopping, mostly shop-looking, at the plaza near the pier.  If your cruise goes to other ports like Belize, or Rouitan I have not been to those.

Answer 2

Research on line what your ship charges for excursions you are interested in. A good website to check out is cruise critic

http://www.cruisecritic.com

You also want to research what type of activities you might enjoy at each port. Compare prices if you are concerned about staying within your budget.

Have a great cruise)