ucfchuck

I appreciate the guidance of all 3 of you on these places so much. Genuinely wish I could pay it forward. I'm not that familiar with the Caribbean itself, but I am very, very familiar with all of the Florida cruise port cities-so if you ever need guidance on sights or eats in Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, I am happy to provide it. 

When people talk about private vans (that is exciting to hear, as it sounds like a pretty affordable option), how is the safety factor, seating, etc. for little ones? Specifically, talking about a toddler who is almost 4, here. Would she be allowed, or would we feel comfortable putting her in one of those? As to the first poster, John Bull's, comment about Princess Juliana Airport, the timing guidance is appreciated too-I may look up a specific flight schedule for the day, too, but it it good to know that most (all?) take place in that given time frame. 

Re: Brimstone Hill, it does sound as though it is difficult to get there inexpensively through other means, and so it sounds like the default option might be just taking the excursion from the ship. The only other one I saw on a cursory Google search was from Viator, which is a legitimate company, but it was 67, not that much cheaper, and perhaps more concerningly, had no listed reviews. So just considering that as what it is, I suppose it's not a terrible value since it gets us there, and includes multiple stops as well. 

The one I saw on BVI is an independent one for $40-I don't know how frequently there are issues, or if one were to come up on the earliest trip of the day, if we would have enough time to improvise on getting back. That was sort of what I was banking on-that if leaving by 7:45 and expecting to be back by 10, that if we encountered problems that we could somehow negotiate them in time. The ship doesn't leave BVI that day until 4. 

I hear you on the urbanism and walkability of Basseterre and St. John's overall not being the best, and I will take that into account. The vans to Shirley Heights does sound like a decent idea-I guess my concern again, is without a car seat in a vehicle smaller than a bus if it would feel unsafe? Good reminder on being mindful of waves with the little one too, thanks for that : )

I see people mentioning the water taxi.. is that from Maho Beach back to the ship, or is that from the downtown area of Philipsburg? It does look like only about a 20 minute walk back from the pier to roughly the start of the Philipsburg Boardwalk stretch. That being said, I know it will be quite hot too, and honestly the 7$ spent on that might be fun just for enjoyment of the water taxi itself. 

Antigua is best on your itinerary for colonial history: What is it about Antigua overall in terms of either architecture/sights, or just historical events/context, that makes it best for the history? I see the views from Shirley Heights are stunning, but what specifically makes Nelson's Dockyard special or worth seeing? I do see there are a few architectural landmarks in town, such as Museum of Antigua and Barbuda and St. John's Cathedral, but at the same time, not something that would consume an entire day of enjoyable sightseeing either. I also figured that Charlotte Amalie might have more history/architecture, and Philipsburg more walkability, than either St. John's and Basseterre would have. However, because those are officially two new countries for me, I figured I would check if there was an inclination or leaning on which one was better overall just of those 2 : )

Hello all! Hoping someone will be able to help answer these questions. We are avid travelers, who have been around the world, and have traveled quite a bit domestically even since the birth of our daughter, but this is our first time being on a cruise with her, she is almost 4-we will be with family, but any specific advice for safety and etc. traveling with a younger passenger?

Just to give you an idea of itinerary, we leave on Princess, June 9th out of Fort Lauderdale. So: 

June 8th: Leave from home (near Tampa Bay), and drive to Miami. Marlins vs. Guardians (go Cleveland) at LoanDepot park and some other looking. 

June 9th: Maybe some morning time walking around Fort Lauderdale Downtown or Hollywood Broadwalk, then boarding midday. 

June 10th: Princess Cays. Just a typical cruise island beach day. 

June 11th: Sea Day

June 12th: US Virgin Islands (Charlotte Amalie)-I specifically am doing a snorkeling excursion here, at Trunk Bay. Wife is not interested in water stuff, so just hanging back. We will rejoin after I am back from St. John, and this self-guided walking route: Historic Walking Tour - Virgin Islands This Week

June 13th: St. Maarten (Philipsburg)-Philipsburg itself looks compact and charming to explore. However, we might take an Uber to/from Maho Beach. 

June 14th: St. John's (Antigua and Barbuda)-Here, we might just explore the downtown area-go to the museum downtown and other civic buildings, do some shopping, get some good local authentic food in town.

June 15th: Basseterre (Saint Kitts and Nevis)-Here, I am thinking that Brimstone Hill Fortress is the move-it looks really cool and scenic. 

June 16th: Road Town (British Virgin Islands)-There is an affordable looking boat ferry excursion I found which takes you to The Baths. So probably that. 

June 17th: Sea Day

June 18th: Sea Day

So, I have the following few questions: 

1. I see that the Brimstone Hill tour offered from the ship is $100. I do see one from Viator that is $67. I am not sure if anyone else has done Brimstone Hill and has other thoughts on cheaper providers who would drive you up there/tour on island that would be recommendable. Or if this one is worth just doing with the cruise, since it also covers Carabelle Batik and Romney Manor. 

2. I personally really enjoy seeing the urbanism, architecture, history of the places we visit, really getting to know them. In Nassau, we even toured the government buildings in 2018. Just curious, which of St. John's in Antigua or Basseterre in St. Kitts have a better overall downtown, in terms of overall: Safety, General Urban Realm/Walkability, Food Places, Attractions/Things to Do, and Shopping? 

3. I see there is a bus from St. John's to Shirley Heights-has anyone else taken it? Does doing so feel fairly safe? 

Thanks all!

Hey all!

Thanks for getting back to me. I will respond in order.

JohninDC: Sanborn's is really what I am after. I know very little about Playa Del Carmen other than that it is a mainland resort town across from Cozumel. I remember the ferry across when I went to go see Tulum. I had earlier thought about going to Coba, and still might want to at some point, but for this trip, I am doing the Xunantunich site in Belize instead, and just planning on doing something more foodie based/cheaper in Cozumel. I like ruins, but I think there is something to be said for variety. That said, my worry was that most places in Cozumel's downtown would be somewhat touristy. 

CrewSweeper: That information you provided was what I was looking for. And you seem to know enough of Sanborn's to know what I'm talking about, so I trust ya : ) https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sanborns/@20.6290842,-87.0711726,17z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x8f4e432fb225c6ab:0x731145d27b1dfef0!8m2!3d20.6299377!4d-87.0706254 Here is the current location for the Sanborn's. I see a number of other attractions near there including a Frida Kahlo museum (that is my wife's favorite artist). Is that particularly interesting? Are there other things worth seeing that are cultural and/or historic that wouldn't be found in the San Miguel area?

SmokinMike: Thanks for the recommendations, sounds like you have some good experience there. 

HOSKI: It's pretty enjoyable then and there's various things to see? What types of places would you look at when spending the day, I heard there was some type of market? I'm open minded, but last time we only explored briefly while close to the ship after the ruin tour, and while it was reasonably nice, it kind of felt more like many touristy shops/strip mall type places, but maybe that's because we didn't go out far enough, or were in the wrong area. 

Sid: Thanks for some good local recommendations!

Hello All,

Looking for advice on a day in Cozumel and Playa del Carmen spent eating, walking, checking out cool stuff, that ideally isn't over touristy.

When we visited Mexico City in March, one stop we really enjoyed was Sanborn's. I know full well it is a chain, and I get that it won't have quite the same aesthetic, ambiance, maybe even quality of the Casa de los Azulejos location in Centro Historico, but, it's still Sanborn's. So, getting there might be one of our goals for the day.

That said, our questions are as follows.

1. Safety of walking around central areas of Cozumel/Playa del Carmen in daytime?

2. Ferry service between Cozumel and Playa del Carmen? Cost, logistics, reliability in relation to the cruise ship?

3. Interesting, preferably safe streets to walk around, obviously it will be more touristy than many places in Mexico in general, but some places that aren't quite that way, but still walkable/pleasant to be around.

Thanks in advance!

Haha! Puerto Rico, Cayman and Aruba, while nice, aren't countries, they're all territories belonging to other countries:) : )

But they are all interesting in their own way. Thank you for reporting back! I hope to get to all of them though some will be more difficult than others (Nicaragua is having some stability issues right now, in particular as is El Salvador).

Thank you for your input! Yeah, that seems to be a 2 for 2 for the fact that doing the self guided walk here:

https://www.frommers.com/destinations/belize-city/walking-tours

...is not the best idea. I have been around other LatAm and Caribbean port cities (Nassau, San Juan, etc.) on walks like this and I haven't had much trouble, but I'm getting the impression the city isn't as safe and pedestrian friendly or with as many noteworthy sites as these have.

That said, I know that the cruise excursions might be somewhat overpriced, but whether I do cruise excursion or independent company excursion, I will sign up for something in advance. I haven't decided which yet, though for certain. I know in one of Cozumel or Belize City I would like to a ruin tour, and in the other of the two I wouldn't mind doing something on the water, but I'm not sure which. I'm leaning towards booking an excursion to Xunantunich in Belize City, and doing something water related or just eating at a few places and walking around in Cozumel, but that is not set in stone yet, either.

Just wanted to see how well traveled some of my other fellow cruisers are!

So, there are 21 countries in what is considered North Latin America (Central America/Mexico), and the Caribbean.

So far, I have been blessed enough to get to the following (places where I have seen the capital are starred, also):

Been:

-Mexico*

-Guatemala

-Costa Rica

-Panama

-Belize

-Honduras

-Bahamas*

Additional Non-Countries Been To:

-Puerto Rico*

-Cayman Islands*

-Aruba*

Haven't Been:

-Antigua and Barbuda

-Barbados

-Cuba

-Dominica

-Dominican Republic

-El Salvador

-Grenada

-Haiti

-Jamaica

-Nicaragua

-Saint Kitts and Nevis

-Saint Lucia

-Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

-Trinidad and Tobago

So I've seen a decent bit, but still have some work to do! Cruises go to a fair amount of these, but not all.

I think my favorite place I've been period in this region would be Mexico City, but that is cheating I suppose since not a cruise port, and so I'll say San Juan, Puerto Rico. Part of that perhaps to do with my wife having heritage from there, but also, it's just a nice, well rounded place. San Juan functions as arguably the Caribbean's most complete city, filled with history/culture and other attractions, great food, and the natural scenery of Puerto Rico is spectacular with caves, desert, mountains and rainforest all within an hour's drive of the capital.

My most eye opening experience was in Guatemala, near Lake Atitlan, where I saw very pretty landscapes, but also just heart wrenching levels of poverty that it wouldn't occur to someone exists in North America around 1000 miles from Miami which has one of the highest purchasing power levels on the planet.

Thank you for your input! I certainly will take that into account then. Out of curiosity, was this from the cruise itself, and how long ago were you given this guidance? I certainly believe whoever said it, but I wanted to make sure this was the most recent situation on the ground. That said, I'm not sure the risk vs. reward for a place like Belize City is all that great, as it's downtown likely doesn't have as much character even as a decent sized American coastal town like Beaufort or Galveston (roughly the same, maybe), let alone some of the Great Latin American cities/capitals I've had the chance to visit even right in the Caribbean (like San Juan). I'm very much leaning towards perhaps doing ruins here like say Xunantunich, though I have heard the barrier reef can be quite outstanding here. Is the reef snorkeling here much better than in Cozumel? Or could I just do that there and enjoy just as well? Belize City looks to have the best selection from a ruins standpoint.

I was originally going to book an independent excursion to Coba from Cozumel. However, in doing some more research and seeking additional input, I think I may now be hitting ruins in Belize City (Xunantunich, which had a population at it's peak of 200K, about 2/3 of ALL OF BELIZE'S present day population). Chichen Itza is by some considered the New York City of the Mayan world, that said, it's 3 hours out, so unless your content with rushing around the whole site in an hour? Better to save your money. I've bemoaned in other threads the fact that cruise lines rarely if ever offer routes that allow one to stop at Progreso (which has best access to cenotes, several biosphere reserves, gorgeous towns like Merida and Izamal, and some of Mexico's most acclaimed ruin sites, like Chichen Itza and Uxmal and dozens of others. It's a hub of sorts.

However, on that, I plan to just take matters into my own hands. We have a family cruise planned this November that hits Grand Cayman, Roatan (Honduras), Belize City and Cozumel, but at some point in the next several years, I plan to simply spend around 4-5 days with the lovely city of Merida, capital of the Yucatan region as my base, and stay in an AirBNB. Ultimately, everyone can make their own decisions, but Chichen Itza looks to me like a place I'd want to stay a minimum of 3 hours at. So, I'd rather get a feel for some of the closer to the coast ruins that actually allow time and don't take up the whole day (on a previous trip, we quite enjoyed the ruins of Tulum), and go to the most famous inland ones later. That's if I ever get over my obsession/admitted snobbery with DF (Mexico City) though. Even though I just went in March, it is certainly the most vibrant, exciting cultured, varied offering city I've seen in Latin America (and top 5 in world), and I'd probably choose going back there over hitting a number of other places for the first time. Anyways, I know that's longer than you probably wanted but I digress.

Short version? Tulum (not that big but a gorgeous setting), Chacchoben (Costa Maya), and Xunantunich (Belize City area ruins in general), would be my top picks for a cruise like this. Cheers! : )

https://www.frommers.com/destinations/belize-city/walking-tours

How is the situation on the ground in Belize City of late, would walking around and hitting these spots during the day be pretty safe overall, from your perspective? Otherwise, are there potentially local tour guides that would be willing to take you on a route similar to this for perhaps a nominal fee (like 20-25$ pp. for 2 hours?) I personally think it would be great fun, however I have unique tastes as I understand it, and most tourists that go there aren't going for the architecture and the history. I want to see a proud former capital of a country, and see how it has adjusted since the hurricane, and how it has and can use it's major tourist amenity (Mayan ruins/barrier reef), to transition itself into a cool and relaxing little base town for adventures. That said, if anyone also has recommended food stops, coffee shops, etc. I'm interested in that as well as most places in town have a limited number of Google reviews. FWIW, I may be doing an excursion here and not even have time to explore the town, but at the same time, I'd like to have the option as well.

Thank you all for your thoughts on Belize and the Belizean ruins. I'm trying to plan the trip holistically, so we do something different with each day. My thinking to this point had been:

Miami-Sail Out Port: Where we'll get most of the urban/city break portion of the trip in

Grand Cayman-Beach Day. Kinda relaxed, maybe just strolling up 7 Mile Beach

Roatan-Hiking and sightseeing at Carambola Gardens

Belize City-Snorkeling on the barrier reef*

Cozumel-Coba Pyramid*

However, the fact that the Belize ruins seem to possibly be more impressive and also offered by the cruise line gives me 2nd thoughts. That said, I don't know what I'd do in Cozumel if not doing pyramids-another beach day? Or perhaps something else exciting? A food tour, or perhaps something on water here, like a helmet dive, or the submarine ride? Trying to decide, but we do have plenty of time to do so! I just like to establish a plan in advance. Thanks again!

Thanks JohninDC. Unfortunately the only option that appears to leave me with is Tulum. Which is nice, but at same time, we have already been there. I know there are Mayan sights on the mainland, but from what I understand they are not particularly elaborate and one could finish seeing them in perhaps a half hour or so. That said, I am still weighing that as an option in combination perhaps with something else. The idea of taking a submarine or a helmet dive are modestly appealing to me, but I am not scuba trained/can't justify that cost, and I'm not that much of a beach person either honestly.

That is a good point. Though, will the ship move to Cozumel time or will it simply stay at EST for DST? We are sailing in Thanksgiving week November. As for where are ship is going to be docked, I really don't know. Is it possible by contacting Carnival to find out in advance?

That's a good point. Well, what they mentioned on the excursion guide, is that we could shorten our trip in order to potentially get back in the time we need. So, perhaps only 90 minutes at Coba, which would still seem to be enough. Thanks for the bike recommendation-what all else do you recommend seeing there, besides getting to the top of the pyramid? That is of course a major part of it's appeal. Sounds great on the Horchata! Thank you!

Unfortunately we aren't going to Progreso... I wish. So, you would say the Belize City sights are better? The ones we would have the option to go to (from the ship at least) include Xunantunich, Lamanai, and Altun Ha. Heck, it almost looks like Tikal (3:54 per Google), would be doable if someone had a truly full day there. If you think any of those are better, I will bear that in mind. Thanks!

I'm thankful for the diverse perspectives in this thread. You seem to confirm one of my major concerns, ferry logistics can be a problem. More than before, I'm beginning to consider your idea of pursuing the Belizean ruins if they are more impressive/more convenient to the port. I guess the reason I had thought of Coba while in Cozumel is that as far as nature is concerned, I prefer more rugged stuff/mountains over beaches, and Belize City seems to have more "other" stuff I could pursue for my tastes. For example, the city itself, while by no means any must see world city, was a national capital for a good length of time, and has a functional "true" downtown. It appears to be perhaps not unlike a smaller version of Nassau, if my memory serves me correctly. It also has what appears to be the most impressive sites for doing snorkeling/snuba tours. I suppose if we do ruins in Belize, we do have some options in Cozumel, and while it's touristy, one could certainly still do worse than walking through shopping areas, and eating significantly better tacos and produce than I am used to having. It's just that Cozumel isn't exactly the most authentic place lol.

So, it seems like the most popular Mayan ruin trips for visitors to Cozumel are:

-Tulum (Impressive with the view by the water)

-Chichen Itza (Far, but THE esteemed Mayan Site, and a must for some)

-Coba (A bit more under the radar, can climb to top, very impressive still)

In terms of impressiveness of sites, it would seem to go

1. Chichen Itza 2. Coba 3. Tulum. I would guess Tulum gets the most tourist traffic though followed by Chichen Itza (though much of that is not from cruises)

I enjoyed Tulum, but at same time I've already been there. Also, visiting Teotihuacan inland, apart from of course the pretty waterfront setting, was on just a totally different scale (literally perhaps 50-100x the size and depth). Chichen from what I understand would provide a similarly thorough experience, but personally, I'd like to do that full justice and not the 6 hours on a bus and one hour of rushing around the cruise offers.

Therein lies the appeal of Coba. It does appear to be about a half hour further off than Tulum, but yet still 45 minutes on each end shorter than Chichen Itza would be, making a day trip doable even with the limited amount of time within port (8-5). It looks more impressive than Tulum with the high pyramid, and more remote/authentic than either of the other two, best of all, allowing you to hike to the top.

Previously, when looking at Carnival's excursions (we have a trip booked for fall), I saw that they had an excursion over to Coba, but I no longer see that listed, perhaps lack of popularity, or not profitable enough. However, I do see one listed from Playa del Carmen. A 6 hour trip which claims to include 2.5 hours (plenty of time!) at Coba site, however, it does include the ferry across. The logistics it includes in the schedule would be

8 AM: Arrive Cozumel

9 AM: Ferry to Playa del Carmen

9:40 AM: Meet Group/Depart For Coba

11:30 AM: Arrive at Coba (Google Maps agrees, with about a 25 minute margin)

2 PM: Leave Coba (it doesn't mention lunch, and says a tour guide once there is $30)

3:45 PM: Arrive at Playa del Carmen (about a 20 minute window on this end)

4 PM: Ferry to Cozumel

5 PM: Ship Leaves Port

This does seem to be a good option for doing this site, and mentions a cost of $67 USD pp (not bad, though a tour guide would cause it to be perhaps 82 pp with 2, 77 pp with 3, and so on), but I guess I do have my questions about whether this is the best option out there, and if this would perhaps be too risky/cutting it too close (perhaps we tell them we only want 90 minutes at the site in order to not risk making it back? With the goal of getting back to Playa for the 3 PM ferry instead?) When we took our Tulum excursion the ferry was included so I am not sure what the logistics are of getting a ticket whether doing so in person or in advance, and whether we would get shut out if we weren't there early. Anyone else that has experience with this, your advice would be appreciated :)

So glad to hear that you enjoyed your visit! Thank you for the report regarding the town of Progreso itself, truly sounds like a genuine place, and so sorry for your loss but thank you for being so transparent in sharing that. Sounds like the town itself is even worth longer than simply heading up to the beach in the evening to hang out/have dinner/stroll.

Another point of interest near here (showing how much of a nerd I am), is the Chicxulub Crater. It was the asteroid which most believe caused the extinction of the dinosaurs (one of the most significant events in the biologic and geologic history of the earth, of course). It actually is out in the water near the coast of Progreso, and perhaps there would be some interesting diving near the site itself though I'm sure 65 million years of water pressure has certainly had it's impact on the site to make it less than visible. There is an exhibit on it on display at the also outstanding I'm sure Museum of the Mayan World like 20 minutes from Progreso port.

In any sense, thank you for sharing your experiences in what sounds like a very authentic and atmospheric town. Just one more reason to visit this area. Personally, I've decided that I somehow need to get to this portion of the Yucatan sans cruise, because I'd probably need at least 4 days to see it well (one day for Progreso/coast, at least one fully day and esp. evening where it gets most vibrant, around Merida, at least one day for ruins, and perhaps another day beyond that for the charming smaller towns and biosphere reserves/caves/cenotes in the area. You can actually stay in restored 17th/18th century mansions in Merida for around 100$ from AirBNB and live like royalty for a few days I'm sure (Merida was a major boomtown and one of the richest cities per capita in the world during some portions of previous centuries.). I'm all about it. You can even watch a recreation of the old Mayan ball game out in the center square in the evenings, sans human sacrifices of course : ) I plan to hit the area as well!

If a place was truly so unsafe that there had ever been a group of cruise ship excursions held up, or something of the sort, or that much of a crime spike otherwise, cruise ships would simply stop going there (see, Acapulco). Rationally speaking, if you go with a ship excursion, or even if the independent excursion you book appears to be somewhat reputable (read the reviews, determine the professionalism displayed by the website, etc.), you should be fine. People often worry about crime when the reality is there are much more significant things to worry about.

That said-obviously take reasonable precautions while there, and don't make yourself a target, wander aimlessly, etc.

It does appear to me that Jamaica in general is poorer than many Caribbean countries, both in terms of GDP Per Capita and HDI. For example, Jamaica is at 5K compared to say, Panama and Chile which are at around 15K. And more poverty isn't necessarily directly correlated, but can have a negative impact on the state of safety, and general feeling of a place. Falmouth around the harbour looks to have some heritage (or rebuilt, I don't know) architecture that looks nice enough to appeal to tourists looking to wander from port. However, it's clear that isn't the state of reality for the country as a whole.

https://www.google.com/search?biw=1066&bih=530&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=BqjlWooryP6PBIGtrvgJ&q=kingston+jamaica+streets&oq=kingston+jamaica+streets&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0.1792.3060.0.3179.8.8.0.0.0.0.184.780.6j2.8.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.8.779...0i67k1j0i8i30k1j0i24k1.0.XMOgF1R-dBg

Kingston, the capital for instance does not look remotely appealing... even compared to the lower end of the LatAm spectrum... it also happens to rank as the 16th most dangerous city by homicide rate in the world... then again Saint Louis is 13th and I feel okay there in main areas, but still, it generally does not look like an inviting place.

Bottomline, stick with a tour group whether a reputable independent company or cruise line, or if wandering, stick within a quarter mile of the port, and you shouldn't have anything to worry about.

No worries on typos, totally understand.

As per music, this list should get ya started: https://www.timeout.com/miami/music-nightlife/best-jazz-clubs-and-latin-music-clubs-in-miami

Totally understand on walking. The good thing about Brickell is there are a number of options within short walking/transit distance.

Hop on Hop off would be good! As per a tour going to the Everglades and Biscayne (do you mean Biscayne Key, Bay Boat Ride, National Park with island/reef?), those are both unique landscapes and pretty within, but it partially depends on whether you are more wanting to see natural landscapes or the urban aesthetic of Miami during your time in town and what is more of a priority. I'm sure you will have a great time either way!

I'm not taking this cruise at this time, but I'm curious to see what you find here as far as interest/rates. It would certainly be worth maybe a few extra dollars, if that even was the case, to allow oneself more than the hour or so I hear they actually allow you at the sight. Spending a few hours at the sight, then lunch afterwards in Valladolid before heading back? That'd be more like it. What do rates look like?

Just finished up a WAY tl;dr post on Miami below, so, if you don't mind, I'm just going to share this here for this one : )

https://www.frommers.com/destinations/new-providence/walking-tours

Maybe visit Watling's Distillery, as well, along this route?

Hello! So it looks like the other cruiser answered stuff about booking, tours, arrivals etc.

I'll try to provide what I can about Miami. Keep in mind, if you aren't from the Southern US, the heat/humidity in Miami at this time can be near unbearable. So, definitely pace yourselves : )

Can I ask about your interests? What types of things do you and your husband generally enjoy doing when visiting a city for travel/in general? I'll give some feedback on a few neighborhoods that are sort of "Central to Miami", but keep in mind, while it has a decent southbound rail line and one that connects to the airport, plus a few scattered pretty walkable neighborhoods, it is generally a driving person's city, and while there certainly are interesting attractions, it's not necessarily the most immediately visitor friendly city out there.

Miami Beach (Flamingo Lummus)

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Flamingo+%2F+Lummus,+Miami+Beach,+FL+33139/@25.7819388,-80.1435321,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x88d9b48c2c14f429:0xdd3033e39ed40fbc!8m2!3d25.7794347!4d-80.1344842

Flamingo Lummus is the name for the generally most walkable stretch of South Beach and the one many think of when thinking of the area. It is considered a world capital for Art Deco architecture (in fact, there are self guided, and guided walking tours that you will find easily with a Google Search), and it also does have a few decently important cultural venues (most notably, the Frank Gehry designed New World Symphony building which often has outdoor movie screenings in the evenings.). That said, for being considered the most walkable neighborhood in the south (WalkScore.com), behind the French Quarter, it is not necessarily so much a sightseeing district. The primary charms are shopping along Lincoln Road (pedestrianized center), and probably some boutique shopping on smaller side streets, surrounding that, the beach (obviously), nightlife (varying kinds, but with an emphasis on high end nightclubs, and I'm not sure you are partying types?), and food (all kinds really, but with an emphasis on iconic/nationally renowned places for varying Latin cuisines and Seafood. You can find surprisingly reasonably priced and authentic places for both among the chaos if you research well enough.

Downtown: The business, transit, etc. hub for the area. Very much a mixed bag. There is a shopping area called Bayside along the water which is extremely touristy, with a park next to it that runs along the intracoastal. In addition, just to the north is the Miami Heat arena, and past that you will find the city's art, science museums and performing arts center. Also, the Freedom Tower, which now acts as a museum/art gallery, and is historically considered the Ellis Island of the South/Latin America. However, while these places are all on/near the water, you won't want to go too far west from here, as if you do you'll wind up in Overtown, which is considered one of the city's more dangerous neighborhoods. The CBD itself (where the tall buildings are across from Bayside away from the water), doesn't have a ton of obvious attractions, and to be honest has a somewhat gritty feel (though you should feel completely okay during the day), and it does have a number of cool historic buildings to check out and local restaurants/coffee shops mixed in. Follow this route if you want to explore Downtown outside of Bayside: http://www.miami-beach-travelguide.com/downtown_walk.html.. I'll include Brickell in with this as well, because it is connected to downtown by a free elevated monorail service, and is just across the river (which is also scenic to walk on). Brickell is known for having many of the city's highly acclaimed high end restaurants, and shopping complexes. Even if just window shopping, Brickell City Centre may be worth checking out over other local malls as it features postmodern design, and won't be as hot as the other two. I believe there are even hotels directly connected to the mall, which is also a transit center, so it give you an easy and safe option for staying/exploring while in town. You could probably even catch the Two Day Hop on Hop off bus route from right here.

Little Havana: Southwest 8th Street doesn't feel unsafe to me, but it also doesn't have a clean/whitewashed feel either, so it will give you somewhat of an idea of local life. I suppose one could call Versailles touristy, but the prices are great as is the quality, and it's truly an iconic eating experience. That said, the center of Little Havana neighborhood would probably be along Southwest 8th, between SW 13th and 19th (maybe don't walk that whole stretch though. It's not unsafe to, it's just that you'll be crossing streets and seeing certain nondescript stretches with Burger King, Domino's, etc. ). There are two stretches I would focus efforts on. One is between 18th/19th, where you can check out the Bay of Pigs Museum/Library, El Rey de Las Fritas (an iconic Cuban diner most famous for the torta burger), and maybe the neighboring supermarket or bakery. The second section of interest (perhaps more), would be the block between 14th/16th, with the Calle Ocho Walk of Fame (where you can get a picture with the "star" of Gloria Estefan or Julio Iglesias), watch the domino players in Maximo Gomez Park (about as Miami as you can get outside of catching Jai Alai somewhere), Azucar Ice Cream and Tower Theatre (I'm sure there are good restaurant spots too, but I'll let someone else pick those). There aren't a ton of places to stay around here, so, if you're looking to check this out, it will probably be as a day trip from downtown (or if you're looking to save money/stay in a quieter place, the airport area.)

Wynwood: This area doesn't have a ton of hotels either, it's main draw is being kind of a new/hip alternative to South Beach, but not on the beach of course. While there is certainly a trending young social scene, it is not as wild and crazy over here as Miami Beach would be. It is also the largest contiguous collection of grafitti murals of any city in the world, I believe, though I don't know if that claim is fact checked on their part. While I haven't been, I've heard nothing but positive things, and there are plenty of nice cafes/restaurants, shops and art galleries in the main section.

Airport/West Side (Sort of middle/upper middle class area west of airport, where there are a number of hotels at a decent value. Not a ton happening here, though Dolphin Mall may be a nice visit for rain or excessive midday heat, but it's quiet, more value for hotel than you may get in other areas, and not terribly far from any attractions unless you decide to be on the road at rush hour.

Miracle Mile/Gables: A few miles south and west of the main section of Havana, it's kind of a garden style suburb, nice enough main street with some shops, dining etc. It does not have as much unique personality/flair as some of the other places I mention, but it does feel nice and safe overall. If you are visiting Coral Gables area, perhaps visiting the University of Miami Campus or the Biltmore Hotel (esp. a beautiful piece of architecture), would be worthwhile. Or the Venetian Pool, for a few bucks you can swim in I believe maybe still the largest public pool in the US. I believe it is even spring fed. Another nice thing about these west side neighborhoods is that the Everglades, or Key Largo for snorkel/scuba, or the fruit farms of Homestead, are reasonable day trips.

Coconut Grove: The neighborhood in Miami that I plan to stay in next time I visit (in an AirBNB, as hotels are limited). It has a nice pedestrian area, with perhaps more of a uniform, historic streetscape than anywhere else I've found in Miami. It has a clean feel, but without feeling whitewashed, and also a kind of Bohemian/Latin flair. It is quite close to other urban neighborhoods including downtown, but is also easy going further out to suburbs. The prettiest beach I've been to in FL is at Cape Florida State Park at the end of Biscayne Key, and this neighborhood is right near the bridge for that (about a 25 minute drive). It is pretty cool that you can get to a place like that which feels almost like a private beach in the Caribbean if you time your arrival right. Really a top experience in the area. You're also very close to the Vizcaya Mansion and Gardens, which IMO at least so far is the best individual attraction I've seen in Miami. Really gorgeous and distinctive.

Don't rule out outlying areas if none of the places I mentioned match your tastes. The Palm Beaches provide a totally different atmosphere despite being an hour away. Kind of private/high fallutin I guess you could say, but overall the general atmosphere there is just quite nice. Fort Lauderdale is a bit of a combination between Miami and West Palm. Perhaps a bit bland, but more urban than WPB, and with a more clean feel to it than you'd find in Miami. If you decide to spend time here (it's only a 30-40 minute distance), then maybe take a canal tour. Hollywood Beach is pretty neat too, has a bit more of a California beach town style than most in FL with cafes/breweries and stuff directly on a boardwalk facing the beach. Probably my favorite beachfront area in FL.

If transit to the port is a priority, I would recommend staying in Brickell. This should do: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Aloft+Miami+-+Brickell/@25.7628134,-80.1984805,17z/data=!4m11!1m2!2m1!1sHotel,+Brickell!3m7!1s0x88d9b685c2158a49:0x51ffc1c66e85928e!5m2!1s2018-05-31!2i2!8m2!3d25.7640277!4d-80.1969418 I'm sure you'll find plenty happening within walking distance in this spot. Within a couple miles of port but yet will have a clean/safe feel to it.

Let me know if you have any additional questions! I actually live about a 40 minutes south of Tampa Bay, but Miami is only about 3 hours, and since it is kind of the closest "major" city to where I live now, and I have some affinity now for the Latin Food/Culture present there, I do feel a sense of ownership over it. I can honestly say I wasn't at all a fan the first couple times I visited. Found it characterless/horribly planned. However, on more recent visits I have come to appreciate more of it's urban charm (re: maybe mostly food, but who's counting), and I think it's taking some steps in the right direction on city planning, plus there's some cool architecture/sights beneath the facade. Need to plan another visit at some point (maybe even just a long day trip), as I can say that I haven't even done a number of the things I recommended to you (Wynwood, etc.) Bon voyage!

Thank you for responding!

So, I have to agree with you on your point, re: there not being much of a demand for Progreso, because A) I don't think many people fully know the offerings of the area, B) I think those that do, in many cases seek to visit Merida, archaeological sites in area, etc. independent of a cruise ship and C) I think cruisers like you and I and a few others seeking experiences like this, are in the minority, esp. on the Caribbean routes, where many just want to have a drink in hand, be on the beach, etc. (nothing wrong with that either, I might add!)

Why do you think tourists primarily feel uncomfortable in Progreso, compared to other ports? Is it simply American sensibilities and what has been heard in the media, and thus angst about visiting somewhere that isn't obviously directed at tourists? Or is the port itself actually a bit more rough around the edges? I guess part of the reason I am seeking guidance also, is because of the limited time offered in Progreso on these routes, I am considering booking an independent trip to the area (not so much Progreso, though). Did your mother, when she visited, travel independently? My plan was to stay in an AirBNB sorta like this: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/14168241?location=Merida%2C%20Mexico&s=oLhcZinA (yep, places like THIS are UNDER 100 a night), and spend roughly 4-5 days in the area, maybe taking a couple day trips while there to Chichen/Izamal/an ecological reserve. That said, I see you are planning on taking cruises there to see those sights.. Is that due to a general preference for cruising? (On a number of existing Caribbean routes, the cruising in general is the biggest draw, so I understand that), or is there something about the area that would give you pause in booking a more extended trip on land? You have more insight than I do, so I am curious. From what I understood, Merida was one of the wealthier cities of Mexico, and from a crime standpoint, I believe among major US cities the only ones with around as low or lower a rate currently are Portland, Seattle and Manhattan (Merida is below the US national avg.).

I was in Guatemala, maybe a little over 10 years ago (in mid to early high school, so I wasn't quite as cultured up then as now, but still curious enough). I don't remember our landing port, but I believe what we did that day was take a bus several hours inland (significant portion of day), to Lake Atitlan? From there, we were on a boat ride (which was pretty, but I believe the surrounding volcanoes were shrouded in fog, and on the other end, we went to a little village, and spent some time at a resort there. What I can tell you is that village had perhaps the most desperate poverty I have ever witnessed, by a significant margin (infrastructure, etc.), and the most aggressive peddlers/people trying to sell things I have ever seen. While I appreciated gaining the authentic experience, it was disheartening to see things in such tough shape there, and I believe our bus even had an armored patrol with it. I don't say that to knock Guatemala, as LatAm in general can be a significantly mixed bag. I would totally be down to return at some point to maybe see Tikal, explore nature, the stunning town of Antigua, and even some of the capital, which I believe is a mega city now at the regional level. That said, I don't believe very few if any ships stop there now.

Quite enjoyed Costa Maya, though. Had an incredibly laid back vibe. Maybe not a historic place, but pretty hard to beat a beach all to ourselves under a shaded tent, a significant number of tacos, other snacks, and drinks, and free kayak and bike rental for under 25$ for both of us!

Mexico City, while obviously it wasn't universally so (decent number of rough around the edges parts, and the outer end of town to the north has hillsides filled with housing that calls Rio's favelas to mind, mostly lower income people from smaller areas around country hoping for immediate opportunity), but I felt an UNBELIEVABLE sense of affluence and sophistication in the five square mile radius of Centro where we spent most of our time. And not just in a few areas. You could certainly believe the place had an economy that was roughly the same size as Hong Kong or Houston in real dollars, higher if measured in PPP terms. It would be hard to describe the atmosphere there, at least compared to any other LatAm city in North America that I've seen. It felt safer and more bustling than most major cities I've been in, and maybe it's just the way they wanted it to be seen, but it seemed like the economy was booming and there was a burgeoning middle class at a growth rate I'm not sure any US city could match right now. It really made me eager to see more of the rest of the country, truly.

That's a great route. And you certainly shouldn't rely on them. The biggest magic in truly experiencing a destination is wandering around independently, and observing locals, scenery, without entirely knowing what is coming. That said, of course, with somewhat of a plan or guide, too (esp. for Havana).

Self guided of Key West. Should give you a good idea of where to meander. If you are looking to hit a beach and see a major engineering feat while there, perhaps there are excursions from town that would take you out to Bahia Honda State Park and 7 Mile Bridge? I don't know that, but it wouldn't surprise me. If you are history buffs, the Harry Truman, and Ernest Hemingway house tours may be worthwhile.

https://oirf.org/page.php?p=pelican

As per Havana, gorgeous, and high on my list. Though I don't think I'll be going with a cruise because they seem to upcharge prohibitively so for any itineraries involving Havana (perhaps this is cheaper, but I haven't seen any for under $700 pp for 5 days which is insane). Anyways, it is one of the prettiest cities of the Western Hemisphere though. This company seems to offer 3 Walking Tours that say Free Self Guided, but I'm sure they appreciate perhaps a 10-20$ USD tip pp on there. Which you can understand, because it's still quite reasonable, and otherwise would be unsustainable.

https://strawberrytours.com/havana

Make sure to cover your bases before visiting though, if you plan to get off independently without an excursion I'm not positive of this but I believe you might need to apply for some type of Visa in advance, or at least have information available to pay once you arrive. Perhaps someone more familiar could help elaborate on this. Safety-wise, there shouldn't be much concern, it's probably safer than most cities in the world considering how harsh punishments are for crimes against foreigners, and how well policed everything is (at least from what I understand). With that said, obviously have some idea about where you are going still, and if you don't want to be pick pocketed, simply don't carry things loosely, leave them out, etc. Not sure that's an issue, but that would be the biggest one because from what I understand personal crimes there are slim to non existent. You should have no trouble wandering anywhere during the day, in fact, tourists are encouraged to even visit the area west of the Capitol to see the startling difference between it and the super well preserved, white washed center. A car ride as you mention is a great idea, and there really is a lot to offer. You could hit bars such as La Floridita that Hemingway and other famous people used to frequent, you could eat at a paladar, which is basically a non-government owned restaurant (they are growing), and the food is authentic and of a higher quality than otherwise. Just look up best Paladars in Havana, and you'll have options. There are unique art installations such as Fabrica de Arte Cubano, or Fusterlandia, they offer tours around to said places I am sure, but also you could take a car ride over the west part of town, I believe that is where a lot of the mansions are. There are cabaret shows at certain hotels like the Hotel Nacional I think, you could go up to where I believe is a hillside that has a fort, a place where Che Guevara lived, and a Christ the Redeemer statue overlooking the Havana skyline or harbor, and I believe there is an evening cannon fire visible from that area. Baseball is the National Pastime as it is here in the states, so you could catch a game in the evening depending on the ships policy/if there is a curfew/how late it would be. Even just wandering around the Malecon, especially in the evening when a lot of locals come out, may be a treat.

Here are some other videos for context and to give you some ideas. Enjoy! I think it is such a blessing to travelers that such a historically and architecturally stunning city is visible once again.

https://mylifesamovie.com/25-awesome-things-to-do-in-havana-cuba/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g147271-Activities-Havana_Ciudad_de_la_Habana_Province_Cuba.html A number of these are buildings within the Old Town that are generally free to simply wander into and admire.

Interesting to hear! So it's more of a limited infrastructure question than perhaps cruises not wanting to stop there more. I was curious about that, so I am appreciative for hearing that. Obviously, I don't know if Mexico (esp. this region) economy is in a position to do that, but I would think business people in Merida (capital of Yucatan state, just south as mentioned) would perhaps be more proactive about getting a ship port down there. I think a lot of people, upon seeing how many outstanding ruins, a beautiful historic and authentic center, natural reserves, and other small quaint towns, would quite love visiting as an alternative (or in combination with) the more touristy Cozumel/Cancun area. But I think the problem in hand now would be lack of awareness due to lack of resources to get there, BECAUSE of limited tourist infrastructure to begin with. Thanks for clarifying, and I am glad to hear you enjoyed it!

Glad to hear that I was of help! I hope you and your family has a wonderful trip and enjoys all around!

I can definitely understand where you'd say Chichen Itza (or Uxmal and other places I mentioned, for that matter) is too long drive wise for one day. Hence, my reasoning for why there should be a cruise that is more catering to the "cultural cruisers", that perhaps does an overnight in Merida so that one can do Chichen Itza justice as you say, and also perhaps leaves time for checking out Merida (especially by night, seeing the live music, eating street food on the plaza, wandering the cobbled streets, and seeing/cheering on the traditional Aztec game (minus the brutality) live in the square, would be an EXPERIENCE! I would certainly eliminate a number of those destinations on my list then though. I'd focus my efforts perhaps on Merida then, out of all the ones I mentioned. It's only a 30 minute trip by bus or taxi.

In fact, here is a possibly outdated thread on how best to get there:

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=781433

I think your whole family would probably (more than a bus excursion) enjoy just taking a trip down and wandering around down there for a few hours, it would really be a unique experience I'd think. The downtown from pictures, looks possibly analogous to Charleston, SC, but perhaps older, and more vibrant/distinctive for kids. In fact, as luck would have it, there even is a McD's, right next to the main square (Plaza Grande), pictured here (and of course, perhaps more other tasty food options for you guys!)

: )

https://www.google.com/maps/place/McDonald's/@20.9664992,-89.6235318,19z/data=!4m8!1m2!2m1!1sMcDonald's,+Merida!3m4!1s0x0:0x6d290d07eb7d3636!8m2!3d20.9659248!4d-89.6235131

Edit: One more tip. Dzibilchaltun ruin site is only 20 minutes from the port, has a visitor center explaining things, a cenote for swimming, and is likely less crowded than other sights would be. I'm sure even local taxis would take you up there relatively inexpensively.

I do plan to go there at some point, as the town, coupled with amazing surrounding attractions seems like a great trip. That said, I absolutely fell in love with Mexico City when I was there a couple weeks ago (much more compelling than even Paris IMO), and so that, along with a few others that I haven't yet visited (Cusco, Havana, Iquitos, Bogota, Guanajuato are highest on my "list" in LatAm) though somehow, I get the sense that my ability to hit places/budget might change once kids are factored for sometime in the next few years lol.

I like the idea of more cruises hitting Progreso/Yucatan region, and doing so as an overnight, but a number do overnight in Cozumel, correct? I suppose I could still do all that I wanted from there, it would just be a significantly longer drive (I did enjoy Tulum, but I've heard that further inland places are less busy and more impressive.)

Interesting to see this different perspective. So, the beaches in Progreso may not be up to the standard of what you'd generally be looking for, but isn't there sometimes more to a destination than that?

Merida, as mentioned below, is a thoroughly impressive and unique historical city, with lower crime rates than any other significant city in Mexico (and most in the states). Here is a list of things that one can do within the city (of course, a few look like it would be necessary to be there in the evening, or longer to enjoy, but still:)

http://www.roamingaroundtheworld.com/top-5-things-to-do-in-merida-mexico/

-90 Minute Free Walking Tour

-At least 5 Free Museums just in the Immediate Downtown

-Something Happening in the Plaza Basically Every Day

-Amazing Food Scene (Both street and formal)

Merida is no more than 30 minutes from Progreso, so I am certain whether with the cruise or otherwise, there is an excursion willing to take you there.

https://www.google.com/search?biw=1641&bih=803&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=h0DLWt-CCYS5ggeU-LywCA&q=Merida+Mexico&oq=Merida+Mexico&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0l10.16557.17250.0.17440.6.4.0.2.2.0.102.370.3j1.4.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.6.407....0.lLAbiBmUOYk

Then there is Chichen Itza, easy proximity to there, and considered one of the 10 Most Impressive Ancient sites on the planet (Howard Hillman has it rated ahead of such places as Petra and Cappadocia)

https://www.google.com/search?biw=1641&bih=803&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=mUDLWoO9He6iggeC96q4Bw&q=chichen+itza&oq=chichen+itza&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0i67k1l3j0l7.125262.128162.0.128282.20.11.5.4.4.0.178.1202.6j4.10.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..1.19.1371...0i10k1j0i5i30k1j0i24k1j0i10i24k1.0.lTHZyjiVL5A

I'm sure there are excursions going there as well as to Uxmal and numerous smaller sites, with cenotes which are super cool underground pools with mind blowingly clear water.

If you want a smaller town, there is Izamal, the Yellow City, and also a UNESCO site I believe:

https://www.google.com/search?biw=1641&bih=803&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=GkHLWpeLJuiJggeQyaLYBw&q=izamal&oq=izamal&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0l10.103262.104043.0.104216.6.6.0.0.0.0.135.443.2j2.4.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..2.4.441...0i67k1.0.7qWW7yZpkW8

And the aforementioned pink lakes of Las Coloradas:

https://www.google.com/search?biw=1641&bih=803&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=g0HLWtXpM-a1ggfp0LH4Bw&q=pink+lake+mexico&oq=pink+lake+mexico&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0l2j0i8i30k1j0i24k1l2.28409.30263.0.30743.16.16.0.0.0.0.316.1881.8j6j0j1.15.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..1.15.1878...0i67k1j0i30k1.0.z9b4WuJtIKI

(This place is further afield though and thus may be too much for a day trip.)

So, there is certainly an array of options here. If you are more of just a lounge at the beach or do those types of things at every port person, Progreso likely isn't for you, and there are different strokes for different folks so I can respect that. But otherwise, I would encourage you to check out the many different things this area has to offer!