What to do on a Western Caribbean cruise- Cozumel, Ocho Rios & Cayman Islands!?!?!?!?

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TINKERTOY ..... the 1 & only

I just did the Western Caribbean cruise this past December on a Royal Caribbean ship. The first stop will likely be Cozumel where you can go shopping, or to the beach.

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/Chichen_Itza/

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

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 Hell. Folks on our last trip to Cozumel said the trip to Hell 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.

If you are on a Royal Caribean ship you will stop at their private island at Labidee, Haite for a beach party day. The RC's private island is the best private island I have ever been on. It huge and they have a free tram to carry you from one part to the other. it has multiple beaches so you can swim, snorkel, reserve a jet ski trip, or a para-sailing tour, pay $5 to play in their ocean water park, just lay on the beach (plenty of sun and shade), or do the new zip line attraction (don't know what the cost is) it takes up up a mountain by the beach and the zip line crosses from the mountain all the way across the beach's bay to the other side. besides that the island is nice to just explore. It also has a big craft market on one side.

If you want to do the jet ski, para-sail, or zip line you may want to reserve in advanced because those tours seem to be rather small.

I don't know what the other cruise line private islands offer.

MomSezNo

Have been to all these ports several times. You don't mention what kinds of things you like to do, so it's hard to give specific answers that would apply to you. However....

In Cayman, as others have said, you should go to Stingray City. It's not a "city" at all, or even a developed area. It's a shallow sand bar out in the bay [water will be knee deep to shoulder deep] where the stingrays gather because they get fed by the tourists. It is a terrific experience, even if you're a "scardey-cat" like me. You can arrange for this trip on your own - there are several reliable people who do this trip [Captain Marvin and Nativeway are ones I've used] or if you might have a tight time frame, you can do it through the ship. The ship's tours will be VERY crowded, however.

In Cozumel, Chankanaab Park is beautiful. [They have a website - check it out.] You can snorkel, lie on the beach, take a nice walk past "ruins", etc, etc. This is very easy to do on your own. Just get a cab outside the port and go. When you want to return there will be plenty of cabs waiting. Just don't cut it too close on the time getting back to the ship. Many people like to shop in Coz, which again is easy to do on your own. If you want a less "touristy" experience, go in a block or two from the main drag. Most places will "bargain".

In Jamaica, I would not try to do a tour on my own. Everyone says that Dunn's River Falls is a must-do. It is pretty, but it's also very crowded and unless you like to get wet while climbing up the slippery falls, this may not be your cup of tea. There is a boardwalk you can use to see the falls without having to climb. You might want to consider doing a "party boat" or some such that goes to the falls and back. If you do go to DRF, you can avoid the annoying vendors at the exit by going back to the entrance and exiting there. One thing we did that we really enjoyed was tubing on the White River [not to be confused w/rafting on the Martha Brae]. It was a lot of fun and very easy. If you don't want to go on any excursions, you could walk over to Island Village, a limited-access [no locals] recreation of a Caribbean village shopping area. There is a Margaritaville there, and if you buy a drink [soft or hard] you get a wristband that allows you to use the facilities. It's literally a five-minute walk from the ship - you will still be harassed by locals to buy various things [legal and not] and/or get your hair braided; just politely say "no" and keep walking. Some people like to shop in Jamaica and there is a shopping area in Ocho, but it will be a gauntlet of vendors.

For more info on things to do at these ports, go to CruiseCritic.com, click on "Boards" and then "Ports of Call".

Have a great trip!!

Mike S

We're going to those same exact locations in less than three weeks.

Grand Cayman - Pirate ship cruise, drinks and beach time.
Cozumel - Trimaran to snorkeling, then to a beach.
Jamaica - Local tour of some sights, then a climb up Dunns river falls.

We're also stopping at a place in Haiti for some pure beach time.

Can't wait!

Good luck!

raydiochick

I have been to the caymans several times ...since it will be a cruise and you will be there one day I recommend visit Stingray city (trust me ---I have swam with these 4 times, ppl bring kids out there, and they have been tamed completely or are lame(no barb injured) So despite Steve Iwrins accident (one in a million)

I would go you can request a copy of the video they shoot of everyone playing in the water In the caymans there is nothing better to do check it out online (cayman island website)

brooks112

We went on the submarine reef tour in Grand Cayman - it was breathtaking! Try the town tours and get to know the cities.

cmelendez6604

since u have a few months...def. check out cruisecritic.com....I'm goin on a cruise in less than 3 weeks and have used that web side as my cruise bible!!! LOL....check out the site go to the boards section....u can even talk to ppl who will be on the same cruise as you!!! WOOooOo HOOOooo....HAppy CRUISIN!!

TVL

Cozumel-Shopped for silver jewelry, real bargins

Caymans-Went to a turtle farm and after that a lunch while laying on the beach

Ocho Rios-Rode mopeds/swam

Caribbean to me has the prettiest water around

myraxellenxamos

In Ocho Rios you have to climb the Dunn River Falls. That was great. In Cozumel - swim with the dolphins or just rent scooters and cruise on the island yourself. careful not give boarding passes or credit cards.

parasailing, there is wonderful scuba diving in cozumel when your in cozumel go to carlos n charlies. :)

Mandy

Swimming with the sting rays is really fun in the Caymens. They do try to get you to kiss them (yuck) and feed them nasty little fish
My then-6 year old was afraid though so if you have kids, keep in mind that that might happen.
We went on this submarine in Cozumel that was really cool, but I forgot what it's called :-X

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