Cozumel

Hi All,

My husband and I (ages 34 and 44) will be on the Epic western Caribbean cruise on March 15. It will be our first cruise and first time in Cozumel. There is SO MUCH we are interested in doing while there. Any recommendations, or things to definitely avoid? We're not really the fancy romantic types.

Thanks!

Sarah

Have you checked NCL's tours yet on their web site. Here's that link (I hope). Do you have any particular interest you would like to ask about? With the short port times for cruises, I would not recommend any tour or event where you drive or operate the transportation vehicle. If you have an accident, due to Mexican law, you might be held as your ship sails away. Also, just too much crazy traffic to compete with. Also, you might take a look at trip advisor for Cozumel recommended tours/activities.

http://www.ncl.com/excursions/search?qs=N%3D4294966303%26Ne%3D8057%26Nr%3DAND%2528p_Record_Type%253ASF%252Cp_Shorex_Status%253AAVL%2529%26Nu%3Dp_Shorex_Package_Id

We were in Cozumel 3 years ago and we did Paradise Beach. Very easy cab ride there...15 min (I think) Nice pool...sipped daiquiris....right on the beach. Also restaurant there as well. It was a cheap day ;) Very nice.

We are going back again...on same cruise you are. Dh said he would be happy doing Paradise Beach again...but this time I have decided we will do Chankanaab Park so the kids and dh can snorkel.

We are going on the Epic in April and we have decided to do Playa Mia this time. We did Paradise beach last time and it was very crowded and had a hard time finding a lounger. The food wasn't that good either. This time we are going to splurge and get the deluxe package with the buffet and unlimited drinks.

A few cruise ago we did a jeep tour and snorkeled; last year we did the Jose Cuervo tequila tasting, a lot of fun!

We enjoyed the Antlantis Submarine tour offered by NCL. We seen a lot of really cool things beneath the surface if the water. Also, I hear a lot of people really enjoy Nachi Cochem, a resort in Cozumel. I believe its $55 per person per day, and inlcudes three course meal and all your booze. Hope this helps :)

We are also on this sailing, and we are going to Mr. Sanchos. It is all inclusive. http://www.mrsanchos.com Have fun!

Hi All,

 

My husband and I (ages 34 and 44) will be on the Epic western Caribbean cruise on March 15. It will be our first cruise and first time in Cozumel. There is SO MUCH we are interested in doing while there. Any recommendations, or things to definitely avoid? We're not really the fancy romantic types.

 

Thanks!

 

Sarah

Amazing Secret River. You are in a cave in crystal clear water and thousand of stalactites. You may need to swim for a short section.

We will be on Epic the week before you and are planning on going to Paradise Beach. We have been there about 6 times and always have enjoyed it. A couple posts ago someone said they had difficulty finding a lounger but when you enter, there is a staff member who asks if you want the beach toy package and what you want to do and then they escort you to a lounger so there is no hunting for one on your own. At least that's how it's been each time I went. I also think Playa Mia and Paradise Beach are only 1/4 mile apart so if one stinks, you could always walk to the other.

Playa Mia has obviously made lots of upgrades and now I am going to have research some more.

If you are just going to walk, brouse, and shop the ocean front main drag, and want a bit of upscale lunch (with a bit of upscale price), Panchos Backyard is very nice. It's about three blocks past the ferry pier. Check trip advisor for location and pics.

We are going on the Epic in April and we have decided to do Playa Mia this time. We did Paradise beach last time and it was very crowded and had a hard time finding a lounger. The food wasn't that good either. This time we are going to splurge and get the deluxe package with the buffet and unlimited drinks.

We did the Play Mia deluxe package and found it to be excellent. There were plenty of loungers on the beach, right at the water edge too, and we thought the resort itself was very clean. We would definitely go back if we are ever in Cozumel again.

A few cruise ago we did a jeep tour and snorkeled; last year we did the Jose Cuervo tequila tasting, a lot of fun!

I will second your reccomendation on the Jose Cuervo tequila tasting. It turned out to be much nicer than I anticipated. When someone handed me a margarita as soon as I stepped off the bus, I KNEW it was going to be a good day! :D

We had a fab time doing the ATV thru "jungle", along beach, and to mayan ruins. $130 for two on an ATV. The 8.30am slot (which was 9.30am ship time, so not too early) it was just our family with two guides.

Afterwards to a hotel for Mexican lunch and pool, included.

I will second your reccomendation on the Jose Cuervo tequila tasting. It turned out to be much nicer than I anticipated. When someone handed me a margarita as soon as I stepped off the bus, I KNEW it was going to be a good day! :D

I must have been on the wrong tour - all I got when I stepped off the bus (actually there were 3 cabs for the tour group of 14) was a stinking lemonade !

From there everything got better - mucho better - and then the better got the better part of me ! LOL !

The tequila tasting tour lasted just under 3 hours and was mid-day with no rush to get off the ship and back after finishing.

A light lunch was served with a complimentary beverage - there was no more tequila left - they were having to go out a beat a agave plant to death to get some more for the next group.

I wasn't paying attention about the part of how they make the stuff - drinking was more interesting.

After the tasting but before lunch a tour of an Arts & Crafts museum was viewed and a walk about the grounds to view many miniature Mayan ruins models.

Before leaving native performers performed a maypole sort of celebration by climbing up a tower and fastening ropes and spinning and spiraling down to the ground.

Bravo-llismo !

A throughly entertaining educational enlightening experience - and YES there was enough tequila and then NO there not enough - I don't remember if I had enough !

I must have been on the wrong tour - all I got when I stepped off the bus (actually there were 3 cabs for the tour group of 14) was a stinking lemonade !

 

From there everything got better - mucho better - and then the better got the better part of me ! LOL !

 

The tequila tasting tour lasted just under 3 hours and was mid-day with no rush to get off the ship and back after finishing.

A light lunch was served with a complimentary beverage - there was no more tequila left - they were having to go out a beat a agave plant to death to get some more for the next group.

I wasn't paying attention about the part of how they make the stuff - drinking was more interesting.

After the tasting but before lunch a tour of an Arts & Crafts museum was viewed and a walk about the grounds to view many miniature Mayan ruins models.

Before leaving native performers performed a maypole sort of celebration by climbing up a tower and fastening ropes and spinning and spiraling down to the ground.

Bravo-llismo !

 

A throughly entertaining educational enlightening experience - and YES there was enough tequila and then NO there not enough - I don't remember if I had enough !

Did they give you that mango margarita at the end, with salt and chili powder on the rim of the glass? Man, it was awesome! That bartender was an artist. The taco lunch was excellent too. I had forgotten all about the acrobats. I think I got too hammered, lol...:D

We did Play Mia in November and regretted it. We found it to be a complete waste of money for the value. If we ever did Cozumel again, we would elect to do a different beach destination or stay on the ship for the day.

We had a fab time doing the ATV thru "jungle", along beach, and to mayan ruins. $130 for two on an ATV. The 8.30am slot (which was 9.30am ship time, so not too early) it was just our family with two guides.

 

Afterwards to a hotel for Mexican lunch and pool, included.

 

ISLAND MARKETING LTD (CAYMAN)-Cozumel Cruise Excursions

EXCURSION:ATV OFF ROAD ADVENTURE & BEACH BREAK

 

This tour looks great! Thanks for sharing! :)

Here's the link http://cozumelcruiseexcursions.com/atvtourCozumel.htm

The Amazing Race. You can't book it through NCL currently, but you can contact them here:

http://theamazingcozumelrace.com/Welcome.html

Depending on your speed, could take 2-4 hours. And it's awesome!

When it's just dh and I we head to the Money Bar. The taxi is $10. The snorkeling is free if you have your own equipment and pretty good. We just purchase a couple of drinks which are reasonable. After 3-4 hours we head back to town and have lunch and just walk, buy something cheap for the kids we left home. Usually we'll stop again after that and have a couple of drinks before walking back to the pier. We do all of this for about $100. Super low key.

Nachi Cocom. Just do it.

We went to Nachi Cocum back in November and loved it. If I were you though, I would check out all of Mitsugirly's reviews. She has been to most of the places in Cozumel. They are extensive reviews that will give you an excellent feel for the location. Just click on the the review below and scroll down and you will see links to all the different reviews.

Have fun!

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2130767

DW and I were in Cozumel off the Jewel in January, and we did the Dolphin Swim and Ride All Inclusive package. We had a great time getting up close and personal with a dolphin, but the "all inclusive" part was lame. The lunch buffet was tasteless and the small bar had long lines and generic brand booze, so we did not stick around after the dolphin swim was over. The dolphin place was only a 10 minute walk from the pier, so after our swim we wandered back along the main drag and found a nice place to have lunch and get some free wi-fi to catch up on emails before heading back on board. If swimming with a dolphin is on your bucket list like it was mine, this might be a good opportunity to check it off.

Wow, thanks everyone! This is exactly the type of guidance we're looking for.

The tequila and chocolate things were definitely in our top five choices. We were thinking about Mayan ruins, but it sounds like there will be a lot to do near the pier. We're doing the para-sailing in Grand Cayman and the tubing in Ocho Rios, so something more laid back I think would be our speed (in terms of being adventurous). The Salsa and Salsa thing looks great (but he's not much of a dancer, haha). The paddleboard and snorkel at Stingray beach was in our top five, too... you can see the dilemma!

Is it possible to do more than one excursion in a day, or is that asking for trouble??

Thanks again!!

Sarah:D

Wow, thanks everyone! This is exactly the type of guidance we're looking for.

 

The tequila and chocolate things were definitely in our top five choices. We were thinking about Mayan ruins, but it sounds like there will be a lot to do near the pier. We're doing the para-sailing in Grand Cayman and the tubing in Ocho Rios, so something more laid back I think would be our speed (in terms of being adventurous). The Salsa and Salsa thing looks great (but he's not much of a dancer, haha). The paddleboard and snorkel at Stingray beach was in our top five, too... you can see the dilemma!

 

Is it possible to do more than one excursion in a day, or is that asking for trouble??

 

 

 

Thanks again!!

 

Sarah:D

It would be tough to squeeze in more than one. The time you have in port is shorter than the sip's time there. It takes a short while after the ship docks to get it cleared for guests to exit. Then there will be a brief line as everyone hurries to exit. And, you must be back on the ship at least 30 minutes before it is scheduled to depart. The time for you to return will be posted as you leave the ship. Don't miss it! Usually, one tour/excursion and then spend a little of the remaining time just shopping or browsing (or drinking) around the port or port town area. In Cozumel, the main community, Punta Langosta is right there at the ship's dock.