Excursion question

[canalwen]

We have been looking at the excursions on the Carnival web-site. If an excursion says it is a 7 hour excursion, does that include the travel time to get to the place. For instance, the Tulum ruins tour from Cozumel says it is a 7 hour tour. Is the time spent on the ferry from Cozumel to Playa Del Carmen and then the hour on the bus to Tulum included in the 7 hours quoted?

We will only be in Cozumel from 7 am to 6 pm and the ladies on the trip would like time to shop. Has anyone done this tour or does anyone know if there will be time for shopping upon the return from the tour? Any help would be appreciated.

[tef43]

The times listed on the Carnival website are typically "total time" including transportation.

[sgriff17]

From the time your little tired feet leave the pier, to the time they touch back down. :rolleyes:

 

How ya hanging TEF? Ever put in that Marley-esque Lido deck music you promised!?

[tef43]

How ya hanging TEF? Ever put in that Marley-esque Lido deck music you promised!?

Some of it, but waiting on *your* Pepsi caps to do the rest. :p

[canalwen]

Thanks for the replies, I appreciate it.

So being in port for a total of 11 hours, assuming we dock on time, taking a 7 hour excursion, having to be back on the ship 30 minutes before sailing time, should allow us at least a couple of hours to browse the shops?

We are also going to be in Belize and Costa Maya and there are excursions from both of those areas to ruins (not Tulum of course). I know I have read that sometimes the ship cannot dock in Costa Maya due to weather conditions and I know that Belize is a tender port so perhaps we may not be able to stop there either. If the husbands really want to do ruins, do you think it would be best to stick with the Tulum tour in Cozumel just in case?

[serene56]

. If the husbands really want to do ruins, do you think it would be best to stick with the Tulum tour in Cozumel just in case?

 

 

The tulum tour is nice but for a 7 hour tour where the most of that time is spent on the bus-- I would visit the Alta Ha Ruins for almost 50 % cheaper. and that gives you back tourin gtime in Cozumel.

[samscruiser]

Of all the ruins we have been to, Tulem was by far the most impressive. If you are only going to see one set of Mayan ruins in your life, it should be Tulem.

If you are going the in the middle of the summer, it will be hotter than hades though.

You can see most of what's available for shopping in Coz within walking distance of the pier.

Your bus to Tulem will stop at a little place that have shopping stalls and you can practice your bargaining skills. There are also shopping stalls at the parking lot at Tulem, along with a pay toilet.

[ppeckham]

We have been looking at the excursions on the Carnival web-site. If an excursion says it is a 7 hour excursion, does that include the travel time to get to the place. For instance, the Tulum ruins tour from Cozumel says it is a 7 hour tour. Is the time spent on the ferry from Cozumel to Playa Del Carmen and then the hour on the bus to Tulum included in the 7 hours quoted?

We will only be in Cozumel from 7 am to 6 pm and the ladies on the trip would like time to shop. Has anyone done this tour or does anyone know if there will be time for shopping upon the return from the tour? Any help would be appreciated.

 

I've actually done this tour twice. It all depends upon the start time of the tour and the people on the tour.

 

The first time the Inspiration stopped near Playa. Those of us going on the tour took a short tender ride to the mainland to catch the bus. The ship then went onto Cozumel. By the time we completed the tour and ferried back to Cozumel, we still had about an hour and a half to shop and catch a cab back to the ship. Remember the captain requests everyone to be back about 30 minutes before you are scheduled to sail.

 

The second time the Conquest actually docked in Cozumel. We then caught the ferry to the mainland. That tour actually stopped at a jewelry "factory" on the way. About half of those on our bus preferred shopping and really didn't care about the ruins. They were late returning to the bus. Once we were at the ruins, the guide took us through the ruins and then gave us time on our own to explore and return to the bus. Again there are vendors back at the parking area. Once again, the shoppers were late returning to the bus. The ferry took us directly to the ship this time. We had about 20 minutes to shop at the duty free shops at the port. Not much shopping time.

 

If you do take the Tulum tour, wear your swimsuit. There is a small beach at the site. After walking through the ruins, you'll want to cool off.

[canalwen]

Thanks for all the responses. We had thought about the Altun Ha and River Wallace tour from Belize, but Belize is out last stop and in the event that we can't tender that day due to weather, the men would have missed seeing any ruins. That could be not good, so I guess we will stick with the Tulum tour and hope for a little shopping time when the tour gets back. Thanks again for all your help. This is our first cruise and we are trying to get things figured out well in advance.