Western Westerdam- Excursions for Cayman and Cozumel

[mpduquaine]

IH
I am looking for information on Excursions for Grand Cayman and Cozumel.
We are adventurous, typically we love the water, we snorkel and love the sun. We are coming from Wisconsin and have had a long winter:(
Any fun excursions for the islands requested.....I have heard of the 4x4 safari, which sounds fun, but would like names please....I heard of 1 that goes 4x4ing then to a beach to snorkel......Help with the fun:)

Thanks!!
Your friendly Wisconsinites

[jfishe]

You do need some sun ! In Cozumel, we did the Tulum Ruins tour. It's a ferry ride from Cozumel over to Playa de Carmen, then a bus ride to the ruins. There is a great little beach actually at the ruins where you can swim and sun. We booked that through the cruise line and we are glad we did ! We were almost an hour late getting back to the ship, but because we went through the cruiseline, they knew we were late and waited for us.. whew ! And in Grand Cayman we did an island tour and the Stingray city excursion. We booked that also through the cruiseline, and it while it was a great time, it seemed kind of 'cattle car-ish'. I think people have had great luck booking excursions like that on their own. You can check out the port of call board for more ideas !! Enjoy the warmth !

[RuthC]

Yes! Yes! Yes! to both suggestions given above. Both tours are very worthwhile.

I have trouble walking long distances and over rough terraine, and I consider the Tulum Ruins excursion difficult. I'd do it again in a heartbeat---it was that good.
Swimming with the stingrays was the highlight of that cruise. I did the HAL tour, but have read great reviews of private tours that have fewer people. Search the boards for more info.

[spcl4cs_gal]

If you would like to go to Stingray City, get in touch with Nativeway on Grand Cayman. They are excellent and will treat you very well. :)

http://www.nativewaywatersports.com/about.html

[Skilla6]

Sting Ray City was AWESOME! We even used a picture from there as our Christmas card! It was a blast and those animals are amazing!

[LAFFNVEGAS]

If you would like to go to Stingray City, get in touch with Nativeway on Grand Cayman. They are excellent and will treat you very well. :)

http://www.nativewaywatersports.com/about.html

Two weeks from tomorrow we will be going to Stingray City with Nativeway. I plan to report from the ship so I will let every one know how it went right away.:)

[Stevesan]

IH
I am looking for information on Excursions for Grand Cayman and Cozumel.
We are adventurous, typically we love the water, we snorkel and love the sun. We are coming from Wisconsin and have had a long winter:(
Any fun excursions for the islands requested.....I have heard of the 4x4 safari, which sounds fun, but would like names please....I heard of 1 that goes 4x4ing then to a beach to snorkel......Help with the fun:)
Thanks!!
Your friendly Wisconsinites

Both Grand Cayman and Coz are excellent for snorkeling. There are a number of first rate snorkel operators on GC. I can personally recommend Capt Marvin's. Many use and like Capt Bryans, too. Marvin offers a half day boat snorkel trip. You visit two snorkel sites and Stingray City. The snorkel stops are Coral Gardens and the Barrier Reef. Virtually all of the operators visit Stingray City, whether you want to or not.:) This is not really a snorkel stop. The "City" is a shallow sandbar. It's so shallow and crowded it's impossible to swim, much less snorkel. If you get in, you're better off not wearing fins. However, tons of people, especially kids, endure the crowded conditons and enjoy handling the Stingrays.
Definitely go with an independent operator in GC if your port time allows. There will be only fifteen or so snorkelers on board opposed to fifty or more on the cats booked thru the ship. There's also good shore snorkeling only a few hundred yards from the tender docks at Devil's Grotto (wear water shoes here. It's all hard pan). If time allows, there are good sand beaches adjacent to town (Seven Mile Beach). Take a look at these sites for snlorkeling GC:

http://www.captainmarvins.com/
http://www.cayman.org/captainbryan/
http://www.edenrockdive.com/

Coz is top ten in the world for diving/snorkeling. I've gone with the ship's tour over Columbia and Palancar reefs. The Fury Cats are crowded, but had good guides and the snorkeling was great. Next week I've booked with Eagle Ray. They use only small boats and come highly recommended. There are numerous locations for good shore snorkeling at Coz. Cozumel Insider is an excellent guide to use for everything Cozumel, including a good listing of beaches. I've snorkeled Dzul Ha (excellent, but can have a strong drift when the wind is right) and Chankanaab which is not as good for snorkeling, but has a good sand beach and is located in a sheltered cove.
http://www.eagleraydivers.com/
http://cozumelinsider.com/

[crusing plantlady]

Stingray City is a blast. We booked through Soto's for $24 last spring, They do two snorkel stops and the sand bar. Very funny and professional and small groups. We are also from Wisconsin, just south of Madison. When are you cruising?

[HMT213]

Hi there,

When are you going on the Westerdam? We are going on the 3/27 cruise too and are from Milwaukee. See you at the airport? :)
~Heather