excursions questions for hal travelers

[cool change]

I know I am supposed to check out the port section for ideas. but I really want to know what hal cruisers think about some things. I hope its ok to ask those types of questions here. I have to admit that I am not the best at remembering to look at the port message board to give adviice. I will work on that. Some ports that concern me for our oct/nov 14 day cruise: do not have much to do other than water stuff. We love doing that, buy I have to know I can find shade in places,( docs orders for this trip) W will at Grand Turk twice. Any recommendations for beaches with shade or hotels that offer quests day passes. Also, Grand caymen is going to have about 7 ships in the same day we will. Sounds like a nightmare, any tricks or suggestions to avoid this ,Costa maya is another port that confuses me. Sounds like just walking around a few stores is limited. So if anyone has done somthing special at these locations would you please share.

[RuthC]

There's not much at Grand Turk. You walk down a long-ish pier, through a building of some sort, then through a shopping area. There is a beach off to one side.

After passing through the shopping area you can head to town; HAL had an on/off transfer bus to town as a shore excursion. That bus also goes out to a nice park area. Unfortunately I can't say much about the park as it just got there when the skies opened with a hard rainstorm!

[torpeedo]

Grand Cayman is a beautiful island with lots of things to do and see. The problem with 7 ships are the crowds in the main area of town. Plus you have to tender in which is a problem too. They are building a pier and not sure if it's ready yet. Probably no. 7 ships and crowds in town is like Christmas shopping at the mall on Christmas eve!
Take a tour in Grand Cayman. We do the Stingray City Sandbar tour and it's great. You are picked up at the pier where you get off the tender and take a bus to the boat that takes you out to the sandbar. There are several tours you can do.
Seven mile beach is beautiful and several tours do a variety of things there.
The shopping is very good too. (If you don't mind the crowds). Some nice outdoor restaurants.

[hammybee]

I have not yet been to Grand Turk or Costa Maya but will be doing so before too long. I think many head to Margarittasville on Grand Turk and snag an umbrella/chair and spend time at the pool or beach. Costa Maya is a manufactured port for the benefit of cruie line passengers. There are many near by beaches that offer chairs and umbrellas for a fee. The Ports of Call board is a reliable source of information.

As for Grand Cayman, it's a zoo when cruise ships are in port. I can't imagine what it will be like to have 7 ships at once. Cayman Island has no dock for cruise ships ( committed to building one in the future). For now, all passengers going ashore need to tender, adding to the mayhem.

I think you best bet is to get a strong SPF sunscreen, wear a hat and more and have a wonderful time.

[pxn748]

Last spring we went to see the ruins at Konlich from
Costa Maya. It was a long day but the ruins were very interesting and we had an excellent guide, we got to see a good bit of Mexico and stopped on the way back at a beautiful restaurant on a lake for lunch. a very good experience. The bus was coll, but the ruins were of course hot and sunny
Philip

[Southbound]

We visited Costa Maya while on the Volendam for the holidays last Dec. and it was the highlight of our cruise. Based on the many recommendations found on the CC ports of call forum, we booked a tour with Native Way (David & Ivan) to see the Mayan ruins and lunch with a Mayan family. The tour is done in a van with a/c with occupancy of 6-8 people, rather than a large group on a bus. It was a very interesting, informative and comfortable four-hour tour, with plenty of time afterwards to shop, explore the village near the pier, and have a cool one under the shade of a palm tree on the beach.:)

[NoNoNanette]

I know I am supposed to check out the port section for ideas. but I really want to know what hal cruisers think about some things. I hope its ok to ask those types of questions here. I have to admit that I am not the best at remembering to look at the port message board to give adviice. I will work on that. Some ports that concern me for our oct/nov 14 day cruise: do not have much to do other than water stuff. We love doing that, buy I have to know I can find shade in places,( docs orders for this trip) W will at Grand Turk twice. Any recommendations for beaches with shade or hotels that offer quests day passes. Also, Grand caymen is going to have about 7 ships in the same day we will. Sounds like a nightmare, any tricks or suggestions to avoid this ,Costa maya is another port that confuses me. Sounds like just walking around a few stores is limited. So if anyone has done somthing special at these locations would you please share.

Hey, Cool-

Costa Maya is one of my favorite ports. If you're into "beach action", walk out of the "complex" to the outside. Ask....you'll be directed to a booth that will arrange you transportation to a cool little fishing village, Majuahal. (You'll be able to see the area from the dock).

You'll pay $2 per person in a van to get there. Taxis only on the way back will be $3 per person. (As of Oct. '05)

It's a funky little strip of bars and gift shops. Beautiful water and CHEAP beer! (No deal on margaritas, unfortunately)

Most of these bars have umbrella tables and lounges right on the beach. To us, this is heaven! :)

As far as Grand Cayman, I'd ask around for directions (SHORT WALK) to Rackenhams. (Something close to that...).

It's a restaurant/bar right on the water. From there, you can climb down their ladder into the water and take a short swim to snorkel a sunken boat.... the same place that organized snorkel tours charge BIG BUCKS for.

The water is fabulous in Grand Cayman, but I find the prices for drinks and food to be horrid.

If you're not into snorkeling, you can catch a cab to 7-mile beach for a day of lounging. (Which we've never done).

I'd suggest that you hit one of the rumcake places early.... plenty of free samples. You can order your cakes and exotic booze, pay for them and forget about it.... they'll deliver the stuff to the ship for you....they have an orange based rum that is fabulous!

Hope this helps, kiddo. :D

[hammybee]

As far as Grand Cayman, I'd ask around for directions (SHORT WALK) to Rackenhams. (Something close to that...).

It's a restaurant/bar right on the water. From there, you can climb down their ladder into the water and take a short swim to snorkel a sunken boat.... the same place that organized snorkel tours charge BIG BUCKS for.

Good post.

The restuarant is Rackhams and the experience is the same as a tour.

[NoNoNanette]

Good post.

The restuarant is Rackhams and the experience is the same as a tour.

Thanks, kiddo! It's been a couple of years! :)

[bruce-r]

First of all, it would help to know a little bit more about you so people can better suggest activities that would actually interest you. Your approximate age and how active you want to be would be very helpful.

Some ports that concern me for our oct/nov 14 day cruise: do not have much to do other than water stuff. We love doing that, buy I have to know I can find shade in places,( docs orders for this trip)In addition to finding shade, I would suggest that you consider some sun protecting clothing. I've had excellent service from www.sungrubbies.com My red head, fair skin son has usually worn a UV protective shirt while swimming and has never been burned when wearing it.

Also, Grand caymen is going to have about 7 ships in the same day we will. Sounds like a nightmare, any tricks or suggestions to avoid this 7 ships does mean a large number of people in Georgetown. A trip to stingray city is the top attraction there and if you want to go with a smaller group, go with a private operator. What ever you decide to do here, be sure to allow plenty of time to get back to the ship. In the afternoon, with that many ships, traffic heading back to Georgetown will be very slow.

Costa maya is another port that confuses me. Sounds like just walking around a few stores is limited. Actually, there is more to a stop at Costa Maya than what you think. There is the cruise line built port facilities which is the fake mexican shopping place that has a large saltwater pool with an expensive swim up bar. The other part of stopping there is the small town of Mahahual. You get there by taxi and you can find them if you walk out the back of the shopping place. We went to Mahahual and spent the day at the beach there. We had a really nice time there. Costa Maya photo gallery (http://www.brobertson.org/costamayagallery/) will show you more of what it there at both places. Also, one of the reasons the port was built there was it's proximity to several Maya ruins. There should be ship's excursions available to go there.

[cool change]

THANK YOU so much for the wonderful replies. I really got some great ideas and will be looking into your suggestions. We are both 40 somethings and we do like to snorkel, but we do need to change it up a bit. I do plan to do the spf, hat thing and just have fun. We have spent a lot of time in the caribbean but needed some fresh ideas. My fellow CC'ers did not disappoint. One question, does anyone worry about eating in Costa Maya? It sounds fine as long as we dont drink the water, but I got sick in Cancun years ago. We will be in Costa Maya on my Birthday and I really dont want to risk an upset stomach.

[NoNoNanette]

I've enjoyed chips, salsa, guacomole and a killer ceviche in Majuahal with no problem. Can't tell you about "real" food, though. ;)