heels_fan

@Bluewake Oh no! I hate to hear that. I was wondering, if perhaps, we paid more because of the reservation, but I guess your experience answers that question. The gentleman did try to ask me, "how long would you like to keep the cart?", to which I replied, " the rental is for the entire day"... and he smiled sheepishly. Again, I believe that booking ahead of time cut down on what could have been any funny business about the return time. 

As @CruisingWalter mentioned, I do wish there was some sort of oversight regarding the rentals. I don't necessarily want it to run through the cruise lines, though, because then it will be even more expensive. I'm not sure of the best solution.

I hope you enjoyed your time exploring in Bimini!

I am happy to report that we successfully rented a golf cart that was operational for the full extent of the day. The cart was in pretty good shape too. Nothing at all rickety or dirty about it. It even had off-road tires.

What may have helped us have a successful experience is that I reserved the cart online through BMB carts. I then asked the jitney driver who at the cart lot was a rep from BMB and he pointed me in the right direction and let that gentleman know I had a reservation as well. I believe that prevented any uncomfortable haggling and set the stage for a smoother experience. 

On 5/26/2023 at 3:05 AM, jon81uk said:

if you’d stayed for the whole show there is a large audience participation section in UntitledDancePartyShowThing and a really sweet slow dance from the performers that makes me cry. Plus a fabulous section with a live singer. The dancers who do the show are great and the main point is to watch them.

The dancers were fabulous! I also really appreciate that they were diverse. Maybe I was tired and dreading the trip home the next day. But according to the description, I thought there was going to be more participation. I likely misinterpreted. 

@CruisingWalter I'm glad you enjoyed that. 😄 When we get home, I will likely try to review the whole voyage and the other shows. Tonight, we went to "Untitled Danceshowpartything". It reminded me of a junior high school dance, because everyone was standing around, and I think the idea was for them to dance, but no one did. They just stood there... awkwardly. Thank goodness we were in the "escape seats"! 

Thank you! I have read the awful reviews, but have read some good ones as well. I can walk forever, but my significant other cannot. I guess we will see what tomorrow brings.

Hello! I'm onboard the SL right now & we dock in Bimini tomorrow. We are hoping to rent a golf cart and have several questions for anyone who has done so before or has stumbled upon this info elsewhere:

1. Which tram stop should we use?

2. Are there plenty of carts available? Do we need to get off the ship super early to grab one? 

Thanks in advance for any information you can provide!

I'm onboard right now and saw it last night. I fully realize that people have different tastes when it comes to entertainment, but many people on our voyage have not cared for this show. The performers are talented, but the show itself is just woefully bad. It reminds me of a drunk sorority girl, who is trying too hard to get attention. The show is just trying to too hard to be funny or kitschy or shocking... or something... and keeps falling flat. Several people actually got up and left during the performance I attended. The highlight was probably the keyboard player. Either him, or when it was over. I hope you enjoy it more than we did or that it has been replaced by the time you sail.

@marysb I am so jealous (in a friendly way, of course!) that you were able to go out with Cabo Nature! We were originally scheduled with them, but time change/time zone confusion between the cruise ship & land forced us to cancel. I am so glad to hear that you had a lovely time. We will definitely check them out in the future if the timing is conducive.

@Mike45LC Thankfully, we did see a few whales. It was certainly a very cool experience. I wasn't able to take photos, due to the conditions, so I see that as a reason to absolutely return and seek out a company that can provide a much better experience. 😄

@CruiserBruce My apologies for the poor writing style. Admittedly it was late and I was rambling, rather than writing for clarity. 

Part of the problem was that I really have no idea who this outfit was. We literally just met at a random point and then loaded onto a nondescript boat. I do, however, blame a lot of what happened on myself - for not doing more research. 

What you say regarding life jackets gives credence to my notion that what we experienced cannot possibly be normal. I am a strong swimmer and would normally not think twice about not having a life jacket. However, we were being tossed all over the boat, to the extent that a few people stumbled and caught themselves on the edge. I would not have been surprised to see someone go overboard. I know the sea conditions cannot be helped, but I feel like a decent captain could adjust to keep his passengers safe. 

Like so many others, when our ship anchored in Cabo, we wandered off the tender boat, through the gauntlet of people offering different tours, and around the marina, until we found the person through whom we wanted to book our whale watching tour. (When in Rome, right?) The gentleman was very nice and walked us back to the place where the tour company was located. There, we met another exceptionally nice gentleman. I thought he would be our boat captain, but boy was I wrong. The time came to board our boat, and we all excitedly made our way down the ramp and onto the boat. Right away, it became clear that the boat was going to be very crowded, and families were trying to figure out seating. In the confusion of things, I got separated from my boyfriend. I started to turn around to head back to sit with him, and suddenly felt someone push me from behind, and say, "keep moving, lady". I was pretty shocked, but didn't want to cause a scene, so just did what had to do to get out of the way and circle back to where my boyfriend was and grab a seat. Turns out the rude guy was the boat captain. Yikes. And now we were taking off before everyone had lifejackets. Double yikes. For a few moments, it was unclear as to whether there were even enough life jackets for everyone on the boat, but eventually enough were found. Seats, however were another story. When we left the dock, there were exactly zero extra seats. Then we stopped at the beaches and took on additional passengers. These folks had nowhere to sit (which wouldn't matter eventually anyway). Once we passed the infamous arch, the captain kicked up the speed and we started to get splashed a little. Ok, no big deal. Absolutely to be expected on a boat ride in the ocean. But then he really cranked the speed up and to make a long story short - we were all entirely soaked and miserable. Not just a little wet. Not just a little uncomfortable. But we were all as wet as if we had just taken a shower and the water kept pouring in on us - sometimes smacking different passengers in the face. Most of us had come prepared with jackets and water shoes, but we would have needed wetsuits to be comfortable for this excursion. I felt most sorry for those with little kids. The couple beside of me had two little girls that were probably 3 and 4 years old and one of them cried during most of the trip. All of the passengers were standing, huddled together in the middle of the boat, in attempt to not be showered quite as much. That resulted in people being thrown back and forth into each other, as the boat bounced over the waves. We all continued to be soaked and thrown around for the next hour. Of course, I don't expect to go out in a boat & stay bone dry with no movement, but what we experienced can not be the norm, or no one would willingly take this trip. When we FINALLY made it back to the dock, the captain uttered his first words of the trip... to ask for tips. While doing so, he was standing on the seats, and reached down and grabbed the ponytail of braids of a young lady who was on board and sort of shook it. I guess he thought it was playful, but it was weird and incredibly disrespectful. This poor girl was livid. She was trying her best to keep her cool, and just wanted off of that boat - like all of us at that point. What we had hoped would be a memorable - perhaps once in a lifetime - experience, was really just a bad memory. Of course, it's sort of laughable now, but I worry that those with young children or medical problems, etc., could find themselves in some real difficulty if stuck in a similar situation. I hope you all have much better luck than we did!

We have also been to the Humane Society to volunteer and take donations on several occasions. I would suggest just taking items that are small enough to fit in a backpack, and as someone above indicated, there is a wish list posted on their Facebook page (which you can access via the website). The hours that volunteers are needed, as well as volunteer activities can also be found on their website. If you are interested in visiting, you can reach out to Laura via Facebook and she will answer any questions. This is one of my all-time favorite cruise-related activities. I really just can't say enough good things about the work this organization is doing. 

3 hours ago, jean87510 said:

Does your boyfriend own transition sunglasses? My husband uses them when we have excursions like this, then when we snorkel, he just takes them off and puts his mask on. Other option is a prescription mask if he really cant see. I wear my contacts with my mask and honestly just close my eyes if water comes near my eyes. I've done this for over 25 years and never lost a lens.

 

It is possible that he may get a wave splashed in his face with the stingrays. I am not telling you what you should do but if it was me, I'd just wear glasses or if he has them transition glasses. 

Hi jean87510. Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately, because of the eye condition he has, glasses will not correct his vision & he cannot see at all without his contacts. He's had two cornea transplants and his contacts cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $6,500. He is super-protective of his eyes, and the thought of losing his contacts makes him incredibly nervous, so I definitely don't push the issue. A lost contact would ruin his vacation. Thanks for the heads up about the possibility of a wave splash at Stingray City. I'll see how he wants to handle that. Happy cruising!  

Hi folks. Does anyone know how to book a tour that does just Stingray City? (and does not include snorkeling, etc.) My boyfriend has extremely expensive contact lenses and cannot snorkel. He's also never been to Grand Cayman, and is interested in taking in as much of the island as possible, so I'm trying to find a tour where we can head out and catch the stingrays and then check out the island and 7 Mile Beach on our own. Every tour I've looked at so far includes snorkeling or a stop at a smaller beach, etc. Thanks in advance for any info or insight.  

That is a terrific idea of my autistic daughter wasn’t terrified of dogs! But LOVE the idea we like to volunteer. I make my kids do it several times a year. Just need to find out where Disney ships dock.

 

 

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Ah yea, I don't guess that would work, if your daughter is afraid of dogs. :) Perhaps there is another volunteer opportunity? This link should help you determine where your ship will dock: http://ports.cruisett.com/schedule/Mexico/155-Cozumel/March_2018/ Whatever you decide to do, I hope you have a most wonderful day!

Going on a Disney Cruise Feb 11. We have been to Cozumel 12 Times. We usually do shopping and Park Royal for the day. We also aren’t to been beach our kids don’t like the sand . Any ideas on new things to do? How far away in Cancun?

 

 

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Hi. I've been in your shoes before, and found myself headed to Cozumel last July - and we hopped on the ferry to PDC. It was a nice day. However, when I found myself headed there again in December, I started looking for something REALLY different to do, and discovered something that turned out to be one of my favorite cruise days ever. If you are up for this sort of thing, may I suggest that you consider visiting the Humane Society of Cozumel Island to volunteer. We took some dogs out for their daily walk, and then met all of the puppies, and got so many sweet puppy snuggles. We also inquired ahead of time as to their needs, and were able to take some small items to donate. We were able to walk there from the Puerta Langosta pier in about 15 minutes, and then back into town (to the intersection by the Harley Davidson and the Carl's Jr.) in about 10 minutes. We still had time to have lunch and relax on the beach for a bit, and then head into San Miguel for some exploring and a drink. I truly can't say enough good things about this organization, and how much remarkable work they do with little resources. The Humane Society can be reached via Facebook or their website. I figured the extra walking equals extra margaritas or chips & salsa, right? Win-win! :D

Thanks for the info! We'll reach out to Laurita and let her know that we are coming. Just purchased 20 new dog collars that we'll bring with us to Cozumel. Hope to have some great memories to share when we get back!

Awesome! I can't wait to hear all about it. Please send Laurita and Tony my best. Have a safe and wonderful trip!!

Sounds like a great experience. My wife and I are considering this in March during our port day in Cozumel. We plan to buy some collars to donate. Any tips for our visit to the Humane Society?

 

Thanks.

Hi JPackerFan! Thanks so much for considering this! I really just can't say enough good things about this organization. The people there and the work they are doing made such an impression on me. You can find more info on them via Facebook - just search for Humane Society of Cozumel Island, or they have a website which can be found by doing a quick Google search for the same. If you are able to contact Laurita prior to your arrival, she will be waiting for you. It may take a few days for her to reply (she's pretty busy!), but her English is wonderful and she is so gracious. Please feel free to let me know if you have any specific questions, and especially let me know how your visit goes! Happy cruising!

As an animal lover I thank you. That's so kind of you. My wife and son volunteer at the local Petco cleaning out the cat cages for the cats that are up for adoption. My boys and I are big Tar Heel basketball fans here in PA. Not having their best year but there's still time to improve. When it comes to football it's all Penn State. We will be in Cozumel in April so may check this out. We do have reservation at Mr Sanchos. How long were you there helping?

Hi! The shelter opens every morning at 9:00, and they clean from 9:00 until 11:00 each day. Then, they begin walking dogs at 11:00. We explored the port, took a leisurely stroll through that side of town, and then showed up at 11:00 and stayed for about an hour and a half. We had plenty of time to have lunch on the beach, do some shopping, and have a drink after we finished up there. (Keep in mind that Cozumel is in the Eastern Time Zone - I don't know where you may be leaving from, but leaving from New Orleans, this worked in our favor.) If you're not able to spend much time there, they have a wish list of supplies that they need, and some of them are very small (read: easy to transport) and we can get them much easier and cheaper here in the states. We took them a bag of leashes and collars. They need things like zip ties, bandanas, q-tips, and even tape and super glue. You can find all of that info on their facebook page. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post a link here, but it is listed as Humane Society of Cozumel Island on Facebook. Thanks for considering helping out! I hope you have an awesome trip & GOOO HEELS! :D

I love that idea. i'm going on a cruise there next month, I think I may do this too!

I think you will really enjoy it if you decide to go! And depending on your time in port, you will likely have plenty of time to do something else as well. Contact Laurita at the Humane Society, and she will be waiting for you. Have a wonderful cruise!

Hi folks. I know a lot of cruisers have been to Cozumel multiple times and despite the variety of activities available, are still looking for something just a little bit different or new to do. That was the case with my boyfriend and I on our last trip. I came to this board searching, and on the recommendation of a fellow member here, we decided to spend part of our day volunteering at the Humane Society of Cozumel Island. This was truly the highlight of our cruise! We spent part of our time taking some of the dogs out for walks, and then we met all of the puppies, and got so many sweet puppy snuggles! Everyone at the Humane Society was incredibly friendly and gracious. We were able to walk to the shelter in about fifteen minutes from the Puerta Maya pier, and then walked back into town in ten minutes or less (to the intersection by the mall where the Carls Jr. is). We STILL had time to catch a cab and relax and have lunch at the beach AND then go into San Miguel for shopping. I would like to encourage anyone who may be thinking about how to spend some extra time in Cozumel, and isn't afraid to try something different, to consider swinging by the Humane Society. You can contact them ahead of time via Facebook or their website. Or feel free to ask any questions you may have here, and I will do my best to answer. These folks do so much good work with very little resources, and I truly just can't say enough good things about them or about our experience there that day!... Who doesn't love puppy snuggles and extra walking equals extra chips and salsa or margaritas, right? It's win-win! :D

Sorry I didn't make it to the Cozumel Humane Society yesterday. Things got busy and I lost track of time. How did it go? Would love to hear a report back so maybe others can read it and think of it as their next short excursion on our beautiful island.

 

Betty

Hi Betty! We walked over to the Humane Society last Saturday, and had the most wonderful time! We met Laurita, who then introduced us to Tony. Tony went with us to walk a total of 8 dogs around the neighborhood. The dogs were much better behaved than the mischievous beagle we have at home! When we returned, we got to play with and love on about a dozen puppies. They were all so cute and affectionate - they just couldn't get enough snuggles. Everyone we encountered was so friendly. We talked about it for the rest of the week. We also brought a bag of leashes and collars that I had been collecting over the past month or so (when I would see them on sale, I would pick up a couple). Laurita was so grateful! Since then, I have communicated with Laurita several times, and have inquired about encouraging others to consider volunteering during their time on the island. I would highly encourage it, but don't want it to be any kind of inconvenience for the Humane Society. I really just can't say enough good things about the work they are doing there!... Also, when our time at the Humane Society had come to an end, we were able to walk back into town within ten minutes, and STILL had time to catch a cab to the beach AND enjoy a bit of shopping in the city, before getting back on our ship. So, no one should worry about not having enough time to do something else after doing this visit... Although they may not want to leave these sweet pups!

Hi all... Does anyone know if there is anywhere in Progreso to rent bicycles for a couple of hours? Thanks in advance for any information!

I am recuperating from knee surgery right now so have no plans to be over there. I have sent Laurita a Facebook text letting her know that you would like to visit and have sent an e-mail. I am not sure if I can be there on the 30th. Maybe.

Hi Betty! Thank you so much for sending that Facebook message. I heard from someone at the Humane Society today, and am making plans for our visit. I hope that your recovery from your surgery is going well. I've had three shoulder surgeries in the past year, so I somewhat understand. If you are able to make it over on the 30th, I'd love to meet you! If you'd like to connect via email, you can reach me at "hollyshuford at yahoo dot com". Thank you again!

Yes they are open on Saturdays and even Sundays. Our saving grace as no vets work on Sundays and so many beloved pets have died on a Sunday not knowing this. Us included in December 2014.

 

Where are you from? Your posts don't show this.

Hi Betty. I have tried contacting Laurita via email, as well as their Facebook page, but have had no luck. I know they must be very busy. Do you expect to be at the shelter any time in the next few weeks? Thank you!