Cruise Options : need opinions

[KeepsakeGirl]

Hubby and I want to take a cruise next year in March or April and here are the destination choices.

Since we haven't been to any of these places I thought I"d put this out here and maybe some of you can give me feedback. Thanks!



#1
march 25 - 7day cruise the western caribbean from miami.
this goes to Costa maya, mex-, gran cayman islands , and to ocho rios , jamaica.


#2
april 8- 7day cruise the western caribbean from galveston.
montego bay ,jamaica- grand cayman islands , and cozumel, mex. on carnival conquest

#3
april 14- 7 day cruise of the western caribbean from miami
cozumel, gran cayman , and oco rios in jamaica on the carnival triumph ship

[Jeff_Green]

Not a big fan of Ocho Rios so I would say #2

[KeepsakeGirl]

can you give me a reason ocho rios is a no for you?

[Jeff_Green]

I found it to be the dirtiest of all the places I visited in Jamaica. They have a nice falls there and if you are into bargain fleamarketing you may enjoy it. I came how with a couple pounds of Blue Mountain coffee from there but that was the highlight! lol I guess all in all I wasn't that impressed with Jamaica as a whole. Maybe I just had a bad experience... BTW, weed is readily accessible there or so I found out QUICKLY!!!

[Marbean]

Drive to Galveston and take the Conquest. Better than spending money to fly to Miami.

The Carnival Conquest is a five star ship built in 2002, is 110,000 tons and carries 2,974 passengers. The Carnival Triumph is a three star ship built in 1999, is 101,509 tons and carries 2,758 passengers.

In Montego Bay we took the Appleton Estate Rum Tour. In Ocho Rios we took the Dunn's River Falls Tour. There are many other tours from both locations. Parts of Jamaica are in fact very dirty, I used this as a photo op.

In Grand Cayman we took the Stingray City and Island tour. Again there are many more tours offered.

I cannot say enough good things about Cozumel. It is our favorite island. We have been several times from both land based and cruise type vacations. We have been on Cozumel both before and after the bad Hurrricane. The last time we were there (Jan 06) we simply rented a taxi and toured the island. We visited both sides of the island as well as Paradise Beach. To me the whole Island is a photo op.

Costa Maya is a man made tourist trap. However there are some tours that take you away from the port and are very interesting.

Drive to Galveston. I find flying anywhere today to be a pain with bringing alot of photo equipment.

Marvin

[Jay Henley]

I would have to go with no. 2. We went to Costa Maya in Feb. It was okay, but nothing to get excited about. We used to love going to Chakanaub State Park in Cozumel but hurrican destroyed that place but I think it should be re-opening soon. There is another place about a mile further down the road. I think it is called Paradise or used to be called that. They keep that place very clean and immediately re-built it after the hurricane and brought in new palm trees. I don't think the snorkeling is any good at Cozumel anymore due to hurricane destroying the coral.

Galveston would be conveinant since you could drive there and also save money on air flight to Miami. Grand Cayman should be good snorkeling and diving.

Is this your first cruise or have you been before?

I know it is not on your list but we had a great time doing the Eastern Caribbean. And the Panama Canal was a surprise to me. I had a much better time than I thought I would have.

We try to book private excursions ahead of time instead of doing the ship sponored excursions when possible.

[LonestarMan]

Year before last, we were diverted from Grand Cayman to Costa Maya due to a Hurricane. They are relatively new to tourism and were very friendly and seemed to try real hard to please. Not many options for things to do however. We did the dune buggy tour and beach stop. It was very fun and the beach was beautiful.

Made it to Grand Cayman last year. Very crowded, but don't miss the stingrays, very cool. Just like big 'ol dogs. Hurricane damage was still very evident. You are tendered in, then busses to excursion, have fun, return to port, tendered out, very tired. A little better than herding cattle.

Love Coz.. Been there twice and did Passion Island both times. Wonderful beach and free alcohol. Some Hurricane damage from two weeks before we got there, but they were working hard to clean it up. Bet it's great now.

Here's some pics...

1. Rhapsody of the Seas at Costa Maya



2. Costa Maya Beach


3. Costa Maya Dune Buggies


4. Grand Cayman Tender Approch


5. Cozumel - Passion Island


Edit:

Forgot this one.

Costa Maya Port.

[Jay Henley]

Originally Posted by Marbean

The last time we were there (Jan 06) we simply rented a taxi and toured the island.
Marvin

We did similar last Feb. There was 5 of us. We walked to the taxi/rental area and my wife told the guy "How much for air conditioned van for 5 people to drive us around the island" She also requested someone that spoke English okay and had a sense of humor. We requested that the driver not give us a history tour but take us around where we wanted to go. Those history tour people can get really boring. To me anyway. I guess some people like it.

He gave us a young local guy named Victor who was very funny and spoke english as well as us. Instead of being a typical guide he was more like part of our group having fun with us. We would stop along the way at a roadside beverage huts and by drinks or beer and take it with us. I think the total charge was about $60.00 or $70.00. We tipped him about the same since we had such a good time. We hung out at Paradise Resort for about an hour. It does not cost anything to get in and have a nice bar area to go for drinks and food.

Some people like the ship sponsored excursions, but they just seem to regimented for me. I feel like I am in a field trip in grade shcool.

[adirty1]

I am hooked on the all inclusive resorts. I am not the person that likes to be stuck someplace just because i am on their ship. from the sounds of what you have been talking about you two want a romantic vacation. to me the ships just were not that romantic.

check out the sandals resorts. we have gone twice and it's by far the best relaxing time we have had. I would love to go back but this time we are off to Italy for 3 weeks. found a little apt to rent for 800 us a month. If you are dead set on the cruise than i would say number two.

drinks are not included on the ship. we soon found that out when our friends signed the bill for 2000 for just drinks. OH NO.. that would pay for drinks, food, and room at the sandals. Mexico had some nice all inclusive resorts too...I am really thinking of going this year for new years.

[LonestarMan]

Originally Posted by adirty1

I am hooked on the all inclusive resorts. ...

I've been on two cruises now, and think I'll try an all inclusive next time. Hoping to get a little more relax time and just kick around with the locals.

[Marbean]

Jay. My wife and I both speak spanish so no problem there. Just the two of us in a cab and spent about 4 hours for $50.

This shot from the east coast.

[Jay Henley]

Originally Posted by Marbean

Jay. My wife and I both speak spanish so no problem there. Just the two of us in a cab and spent about 4 hours for $50.

This shot from the east coast.

Hey!, that looks familiar.. As many times as we have been there, I should have learned to speak Spanish. Oh' well, they speak English pretty well.

Regarding the all inclusives topic, Erica and her hubby might like that. I dunno. A co-worker of mine likes to do the all inclusives. The one I went on, I got bored with it. But that was a long time ago. I probably need to try it again sometime. One advantage of the cruise is your always waking up at a different port and seeing a new place. It can become fast-paced. Your always doing something. On the ship or off the ship. Yes, the drinks do cost you, but you get some pretty good meals (filet-migon, lobster) on the ship. Maybe you do as well at the all-inclusives. The one dis-like I have regarding cruises is terrible light. My photos are always taken at the worst time (middle of the day)

[MarcoFromHouston]

Originally Posted by Jay Henley

We requested that the driver not give us a history tour but take us around where we wanted to go. Those history tour people can get really boring.

Sometimes I think some of those guides just make stuff up!

[johnastovall]

Stovall's first rule of travel, NEVER GO WHERE THE TOURISTS GO.

Second rule NEVER EVER GO ON A CRUISE. Who wants to be trapped on board a ship with a bunch of American tourists?

Use the cost of a cruise and go to some out of the way place with a cheap airfare that the pilot fish haven't found and enjoy life and see what life there is really like.

[Marbean]

All inclusives are nice. We have tried them but found out that we spend alot of time away from the hotel and eat more meals away from the free hotel food.

As for drinks. When at a hotel I buy a bottle and mix a few in the room. While on a cruise I try to do the same. I bought a bottle of rum in Jamaica for $17 and mixed my own while on the ship. The stewart kept my ice bucket full. I brought a six pack of coke on board and mixed up 20oz a time in my coffee mug and carried it everywhere on the ship.

We are leaving for Puerto Vallarta in ten days and I specifically stayed away from all inclusives. We have a room at the Sheraton Buganvillas for $157 a night which includes a breakfast. We will eat out everyday.

If I ever had a bar bill of $2000 my wife would kill me.