We are going on a Carnival Legend cruise in July. Best excursions?

Question

We are going to Cozumel, Belize, Roatan Island, and Grand Cayman. What are the best excursions in each stop? My husband and I are in our early 40's and like to sight see, snorkel, light water activities, like to see habitat and shop. Cost? How long?

Answer 1

We loved this cruise!  Ports, ship and staff were awesome!

In Coz we did a dolphin swim at Chankanaab, which is a huge marine park.  Check cozumelinsider.com.  Very reasonable (as far as dolphin prices go), great place to spend a day and was our favorite excursion. In GC we did the stingray city (couldn't do the snorkeling because seas were too rough)...very cool! In Belize our excursion had gotten cancelled so we just hung around at the port shops (beware going to the shops outside the Fence...the locals are brutally aggressive in trying to get you to buy).  Next time I would rather go on an excursion away from port.  Roatan was very beautiful and unspoiled (so far), though very poor.  We used Victor Bodden (boddentours.com) where you have your own driver and can customize where you want to go.  West End beaches are nice (just starting to get touristy there).  You don't have alot of time at this port, so it makes it tough.  Do not plan to hang around the port area...it is not the typical port.  Get on a tour and see the island and go to a beach...some parts of the beach you can snorkel from.

If you haven't done so already, I would highly recommend joining Cruisecritic.com (free) and then exploring their threads...they have threads for all ports where you can read what others have to say about independent excursions, etc.  They also have roll calls where you can join the roll call for your particular sailing and get to know people you will be sailing with...we did that and it was great to meet people while you were roaming around the ship who you already knew!!  You will have a ball on this cruise...we loved it so much we are going again next Nov!!

Answer 2

Go to CruiseCritic.com, click on "Boards", then "Ports of Call", then your ports for lots of great advice from experienced cruisers.

Coz and GC are both easy to do on your own.  Belize is more "iffy".  Roatan I'm not familiar with.

In the Coz postings, check for info about Chankanaab Park, Dzul Ha [it's called something else now, but there's probably a reference to its new name on the board].  Those are pretty good spots to snorkel from shore.  Easy to just grab a cab there and back.

GC - You can safely book excursion with Capt. Marvin or Nativeway, as well as others.  I've used both and liked both; preferred the latter, because their trip also went to Rum Point.  Swimming with the stingrays is awesome.  You could walk to Eden Roc [five minute walk to the right as you face the town] to snorkel.

Belize - We did the ship excursion to Goff's Caye and LOVED it.  We did it thru the ship because they pick you up right at the ship and take you to the island - no need to tender in then go back out.  It's worth the price.  Some people like to do the cave-tubing there; I know someone who did it independently and really enjoyed it.  There is also a zip-line excursion there that has gotten good reviews.

Roatan, I know nothing about except what I've read on CC boards, but they also have a zip-line excursion [Gumbalina Park?] but it may be closed now.  There are many spots for good snorkeling from shore.

If you want to shop, GC and/or Coz are the places to do that, although from the little looking around I've done, the prices don't look all that great.  If want to buy something "serious" [jewelry, electronics] shop around before you leave home so you'll know what prices are good.

Keep in mind that if you do excursions on your own, you MUST get back to the ship on time - they will not wait for you unless you are on a ship excursion.  Take the name of the on-shore agent [it's always listed in your daily activity sheet], just in case.  You might also want to take your passport.  There is disagreement about that [risk of having it stolen, etc], but if you do get left behind, you'll need it to get a flight out, for example.  [Unless you can catch the pilot boat to the ship - I've seen it done!]

Have a great time!

Answer 3

Oh that is awesome! We are going on the Carnival Legend in Dec. this year... Friends of ours went a couple months ago and loved the ship. When we go in December we are definitely swimming with the dolphins in Cozumel. People say that is amazing. I also heard in Belize the cave tubing was very fun. From the pictures online, it looks pretty cool. I don't know if you are in to this kind of stuff, but in Belize (I think, not sure) they have the Mayan ruins. I heard that was neat. But it is also fun to go snorkeling. Check out Carnival's website if you haven't already. Have fun on your cruise!! Hope it goes well!!