Excursions, Cozumel, Grand Cay & Ochio Rios - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

SassySuz · 08-21-2006, 10:13 AM

Okay I know that booking on the ship cost more from past experience. We want to book a catamaran trip in Cozumel or Ochio Rios and are not sure what, when or where? Do you book before hand or wait till you are in port? In the past we just rely on finding someone once we depart ship. My hubby thinks we should do it ahead of time for some reason. All suggestions welcomed. I am really new here and love this site.

LuLu · 08-22-2006, 09:07 PM

Not lots of help because we try to book catamarans through the cruise line because it is so EASY!

Once, in Grand Cayman we booked Captain Marvin's (independent) to see the stingrays.

If you are interested in doing a ship's excursion ....

In Cozumel the "Catamaran Sail, Snorkel, and Beach Party" is fun!

In Ocho Rios the "Party Boat & Dunn's Falls" is also fun!

Hopefully, someone else will be able to help you our with independents in these ports. Have FUN planning!

Sheffie · 08-25-2006, 11:23 PM

In Grand Cayman we booked Captain Bryan's Buccaneer for a fabulous 3 stop excursion. Our first cruise we booked the GC excursion through the ship, and this one was sooooooooooo much better. Here are pictures from that day. We really liked the time of the excursion - we had plenty of time to get off the ship before the excursion, and plenty of time to stroll around town afterward.

In Cozumel, (before the hurricane) we booked a snorkeling/SNUBA excursion. It was wonderful. Here are some pics from that day.

Hope this helps.

JimVrhovac · 08-26-2006, 12:09 AM

Go to the cruise lines site and read over all the ecursions and check out the prices.

Each of these places has a web site. Go there and check out what you are interested in and check out the prices.

It you have and further questions come on line and be very specific and see how much help you get.

Consider this when deciding whether to go with the cruise line or an independent. The ship will wait for you if the excursion was set up by the ship. If not, they have no obligation to wait for you and they have left peope at the dock before. Is the savings worth the chance.......

The dock at Ochi Rios does not have a lot of independents around the dock.

AtGrand Cayman there is a lot of independents around the docks.

Hae not been in Cozumel in couple years.....

Jim & Ruth

beth n rod · 08-02-2007, 05:39 PM

My stupid browser at alllllll of my bookmarks. Very sad....Buy I found you guys again...there was this one link I can't find and it was a site that has all sorts of excursions to different places - it may have had a forum - not sure - it's been a while. I think it had reviews. Anyone got this link?

mel · 11-04-2007, 03:35 PM

I've been doing alot of research on Royal Caribbean's site on excursions. This will be my bf and mine's first cruise. (I'm one of these people who research everything and make sure we get the most for the money and still have fun!!) But I was wondering, how far in advance CAN you make reservations for the excursions AND can you go ahead and pay for them so you don't have all the "bills" from them hitting all at once.

Sorry is if this is a redundant question, I'm pretty new to this, and as I said this is our first cruise. I'm excited, but also pretty nervouse about this.

Mel

Char · 11-04-2007, 03:45 PM

Hey Mel

First, let me tell you that whatever excursions you book online with Royal Caribbean are immediately charged to your credit card, not to your onboard account. So that is a plus for you! Also, if you decide to cancel any excursion you may do so and a credit will be applied to the same credit card that it was booked with.

There is no hard and fast rule on when the excursions will be availabe for any particular cruise. Sometimes it's 6 months out and other itineraries it could be 3 months out. Keep checking for your particular cruise and when they are available you can see which ones are going to be offered on that cruise.

In general, when you look at all the shore excursions on the web site, they show everything that might be offered for many different itineraries. Everything you see now may not be available for your cruise in the future.

What fun you will have planning!

mel · 11-22-2007, 07:44 PM

Char!

Thank you for that information. I'm glad they do that. One of the guys said it can be expensive on a boat, he said he got called down to the pursers office so they could let him know his bill was up to $800. He asked what for and it just the ALCOHOL he had consumed...lol

Char · 11-22-2007, 08:53 PM

Hey Mel

One nice feature Royal Caribbean has is the interactive TV.

You can check your on-board account at any time to see what your charges have been. I usually check ours first thing in the morning and then before we go to bed. If there are any discrepancies you can have them corrected right away and not have to wait till the last day. Keep all of your receipts in an envelope to compare to your account should you think an error was made.

Those bar bills can mount up if you don't watch out!