Cozumel tour help, please

[CL2 Mermaid]

Hi,everyone
We will be in Cozumel in early December and would like to take a tour of the Mayan ruins at Tulum. Unfortunately, the cruise line is no longer offering a shore excursion to the ruins because they cannot come to an agreement with a local tour operator. Can anyone recommend a good, reliable tour company at the Cozumel pier who does tours to Tulum?
Thanks and happy sails to you
Bo

[Caribbean Sunsets]

Is there anyone on your roll call that may be planning to go too? I wonder if there needs to be some reading between the lines of why the cruise line hasn't come to terms with a local tour company. Is that a red flag of some sort?

[CL2 Mermaid]

Thanks for your reply. The cruise line told me about the tour problem when I was unable to book a tour they had been listing on their web site only a few weeks before.
It is sure a red flag to me since I chose this cruise because it would afford me the opportunity to see the ruins. I am very disappointed, but I am determined to find another way to do what I have been longing to see.

[Magic City Cruiser]

Originally Posted by CL2 Mermaid

Thanks for your reply. The cruise line told me about the tour problem when I was unable to book a tour they had been listing on their web site only a few weeks before.
It is sure a red flag to me since I chose this cruise because it would afford me the opportunity to see the ruins. I am very disappointed, but I am determined to find another way to do what I have been longing to see.

Here's something to consider: Tulum is on the mainland so there is a ferry/boat and a bus ride. It's quite a long tour. If, for any reason, you don't make it back to the ship in time, it will sail without you. If you book a tour through Carnival, they will wait. I know you have your heart set on Tulum but wanted to make sure you are aware. However, I always book tours independently and have found that most tours will do their utmost to get you back on time.

[knots4crewzing]

Originally Posted by CL2 Mermaid

Thanks for your reply. The cruise line told me about the tour problem when I was unable to book a tour they had been listing on their web site only a few weeks before.
It is sure a red flag to me since I chose this cruise because it would afford me the opportunity to see the ruins. I am very disappointed, but I am determined to find another way to do what I have been longing to see.

Hi, I too, will be very disappointed if in fact this is true. But I was able to make our reservations on line last night for the Tulum Ruins and beach break for RCCL Freedom of the seas for January 2010. I hope they don't cancel because this was the one and only tour that I've been really looking forward to. I don't think I would do this privatley as there are to many connections you have to make. I don't want to chance missing the ship if I did this on my own.

What tour were you looking at because I know there are 2 they are offering. Also what ship will you be on?

Let's hope this was a mistake and we'll get to go.

Liz

[jamstew]

This is something I've done (and would do again) on my own, but not with the time constraints of cruising. Cab to the ferry dock, ferry over to Playa, then the bus to Tulum would take about two hours. By my calculations, you'd only have about two hours at the ruin before you'd need to make the return trip. To me, that isn't enough time to do justice to Tulum, which is one of my favorite places on the planet!