jas283a

Glad to hear I’m not the only one who thought this. It was fine, but nothing to write home about. We didn’t do Lety’s, we did a dock one. But I don’t know that it would’ve been much better or different from what I saw. 

On 3/23/2022 at 11:54 AM, snoopycr said:

We're a group 3. which is the better deal and overall experience for of the ruins. Private tour or with a large royal group 

 

Our 1st time in Costa maya. Is it better to do the tours or hang out at the beach? 

 

All comments and suggestions welcome. 

I was just there this week. We went with Native’s Choice (just Google). We had a fairly quick port stop and they were very conscientious of our all aboard time, made sure to modify things as needed without ruining experience , etc. My wife is a nervous Nellie and was very reassured by how well they handled everything. She was comfortable which is saying something. We were even back earlier than promised, plus I love that they’re a local company and I think their guides are too notch. And the groups tend to be smaller even if you done do private tour. Our guide Edder and driver Miguel were amazing! We’ve used one time before, experience was amazing both times. 

On 3/24/2022 at 9:02 AM, traceytd said:

 

 

I was wondering if Europe ports are like the Caribbean in regards to grabbing a cab at the port and doing your own thing? Are there any taxi offering excursions like in the Caribbean? I don’t think I would use them if the excursion is far from the port but if they are reasonably close i’d be willing to use taxis for excursions.
I will be with my husband and my son and daughter-in-law, it would be nice to have a small excursion that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg LOL

Thanks 

Tracey

I planned many excursions on our own when we went to Greece last summer. We used a couple of different ways to get there. Hop on/Hop Off bus, taxi (if close), train, water taxi, and of course walking. Kind of depends on what port and what you want to see. It’s more overwhelming at first compared to Caribbean cruise (where everything catered to ships and their schedule). But oh so rewarding, had a blast and such a different experience. 

We did a similar one in Cabo and had plenty of time both ways. 

54 minutes ago, thewynn said:

What were the prices like for a la carte? Admission, seats/umbrellas, etc? We are really thinking of going to Sanchos because of reputation but also daughter wants to ride the horses but we don’t really need the all inclusive. Thanks. 

@C-leg 1 shared the menu. Admission was free or cheap, I can’t remember but there was an implied expectation you order some good/drink. We had chips guacamole and nachos I think. It was delicious.
 

You also had to order per price activity, but there was no expectation there. Did one for my youngest, we mostly just snorkeled, had a great time. We were put an separate area away from all inclusive, but still had an umbrella we could use/share. Also we’re able to use restrooms and changing area no extra charge. I don’t drink and had my children (wife with MIL), so the all-inclusive didn’t make sense for us. But still had a great time. 

We actually did Crete on our own and it was pretty easy. We were in Heraklion and did a Hop On/Hop Off bus to take us to all the sites and spent most of the time in Knossos and the Archeological museum in Heraklion. You could hire a guide, but we didn’t need to. Everything was translated into English. 

22 minutes ago, biggytaz said:

Pre and post cruise  hotels all booked, now off to research ports of calls. My wife and I have not been at all so we are looking for the historical highlights, interesting foods and wines and in general the must sees in this area. Thoughts on these ports and any recommended tour vendors in these ports. in rome we will be there the day before (arriving at 8am) and the day after in barcelona.

I think we are just going to do our own walking tour in rome that way we can go at our own pace since we will be getting in in the morning and may crash early from jet lag.

 

I appreciate all your help.

 

Mat

 

Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy 07:00 PM
 
10/2/22 Naples, Italy (for Capri & Pompeii) 07:00 AM 06:00 PM
 
10/3/22 At Sea
 
10/4/22 Crete (Heraklion), Greece 09:00 AM 06:00 PM
 
10/5/22 Kusadasi, Turkey (for Ephesus) 07:00 AM 02:00 PM
 
10/6/22 Istanbul, Turkey 09:00 AM 06:00 PM
 
10/7/22 Mykonos, Greece 12:00 PM 09:00 PM
 
10/8/22 Athens (Piraeus), Greece 04:00 AM 07:00 PM
 
10/9/22 Santorini, Greece 07:00 AM 07:00 PM
 
10/10/22 At Sea
 
10/11/22 Kotor, Montenegro 07:00 AM 03:00 PM
 
10/12/22 Sicily (Messina), Italy 12:00 PM 08:00 PM
 
10/13/22 Naples, Italy (for Capri & Pompeii) 07:00 AM 07:00 PM
 
10/14/22 At Sea
 
10/15/22 Barcelona, Spain

We did Greece last summer, so that's the one I could help with the most.  In Crete, I would definitely do a Hop On/Hop Off bus tour to see the sites and get around.  We went to Knossos palace (an archeological site) and it was amazing (it's outside of town, but the bus takes you there), we also really enjoyed the archeological museum there (which is actually back in town).  There were other things we could've seen, but that filled our day quickly, the open air bus did help give us a feel for the town.  We just wandered and explored in Mykonos and Santorini, in Santorini we went to Oia first by water taxi and then took a bus back to Fira where you go back to the port by cable car.  I heard that the beaches are really good in both, Mykonos a traditional beach and Santorini has different colored sand because it's volcanic.  For history, in Mykonos, we were going to go to Dellos, which is an ancient ruins site, but we got off the boat too late to make the ferry over, but people we talked to said it was amazing and similar to Knossos.  Athens is where our cruise started so we had some more time, but you of course have to see the Acropolis, but make sure to save some time/money to go through the Acropolis museum that they have just down the hill from the Parthenon.  You have to plan carefully to give yourself time to do both, which we regrettably did not do, but just seeing from the outside it looked amazing (even outside, you're walking on glass floors looking down at very cool features) and everyone we talked to said it really added to the Acropolis experience (because that's where they stored all the artifacts collected from the Acropolis).  There were many other things we could've seen and done in Athens, but you only have so much time (and we had jet lag...).  

I know for NCL, we went last July and we were able to do private excursions no problem (when we booked it, it was not that way, but changed between the time we booked and the time we sailed).  I don't know what RCL might or might not do, but I would make a general comment that Greece was one of the most lenient on the continent as far as protocols and I think will be the most accommodating to have tourists spend money with their vendors in their country.  

3 hours ago, vanchelle said:

We have a jam-packed itinerary this Summer. I’m preparing for it to be very hot- it’s the 3rd week of June. 
In a perfect scenario, we will visit every port and enjoy either an excursion or DIY a visit. But I like to have a plan b or c in case we’re tired, sore, sunburned or just needing a break and want to stay in ship. 
 

which would you skip? (Potentially)?? And why?

 

Kusadasi 6am-1230 pm 

same day Patmos 630pm-midnight 

 

Rhodes 8am-6pm

 

Mykonos 7am-4pm

 

Argostoli 10-6

 

Corfu 7-3

 

Santorini 1230-930 

 

decisions…..😂

 

 

Yea that’s rough. 😂 However we did Greece last July and had a port every day it was a little exhausting and very HOT. I will say don’t miss Corfu, our favorite by far, my wife keeps trying to buy a house there!  We also did Rhodes, Mykonos, and Santorini. If I had to rank our top 4, Corfu, Rhodes, Santorini, and Mykonos. The last 2 are beautiful backdrops, but very trendy touristy (we loved the history/culture of travel more). I would visit all 4 but you could spend less time in Santorini/Mykonos and still be alright.
 

We actually needed a break by the time we got to Mykonos and 2-3 hours was good for pics and a gelato or two. Another thing to note, everything will take awhile in Santorini so you can’t do that one “fast”, especially if you go to Oia (where all the photo spots are and people watching the Instagrammers has its own entertainment value). So I would keep that in mind. Don’t know about the other islands. 

On 2/16/2022 at 12:53 PM, leisuretraveler223 said:

Haven't done Cozumel in years.  Just the wife and I in for one day in September on Allure.  Looking for a nice beach or resort (even for a fee) to chill out and relax.  What are your Cozumel go-to choices?

There is the ever popular Mr. Sanchos.  What's nice about them is they do all-inclusive with food, drinks, and activities or a la carté where you can just pay as you go with whatever activities, food, or drinks you order.  I went with my kids and I don't drink, so we paid for 1-2 water activities and some food (nachos I think), and got to enjoy the beach.  They still gave us great service and we got to use some amenities still, like the restroom to change.  Depends on what you're looking for.  

8 hours ago, Pesh115 said:

We are taking our son (age 9) on his first cruise for Spring Break.  Fingers crossed no Covid between now and the sailing.

 

Any recommendations for trust-worthy, reasonably priced non-cruise excursions in Costa Maya? 

 

Thanks in advance.

I would look at the offerings from The Native's Choice.  We used them last time we were in Costa Maya and they were great.  We're doing a ruins tour through them with our 12 year old, but they have a variety of tours available if you look on their website.  And if the ship's schedule isn't compatible with tour, they won't even let you book it, and their rates are half of what they are through the ship.  Highly recommend!

I think what Bruce said earlier is probably accurate, the later you go the less you see.  I might reach out to a independent tour operator in Cabo and get an idea from them.  They could give you an idea, and let's face it, one of these companies is one that Carnival uses.  

1 hour ago, vanchelle said:

Hey there! I’m looking for tips/advice on where to stay pre-cruise! Any hotels or areas that you’ve loved (or hated so I can avoid;) 

we cruise in June- First time to Athens and plan to have 2 nights pre cruise. 
thanks!

Through the cruise line (NCL), we stayed at the Grand Hyatt Athens. It was a pleasant stay in a decent part of Athens. Wasn’t right next to the Acropolis, but not too far away (you could walk, but it would be a decent walk). Great views, comfy rooms, nice pools, and a nice restaurant. 

19 minutes ago, jslev9 said:

My wife and I are sailing on the Carnival Pride's May 19, 2022 sailing and will be in Corfu on Monday, May 23 (9:00 AM - 6:00 PM). We're hemming and hawing about what to do and think we've settled on a plan but would love some feedback on it! As of now, we're thinking of doing a morning tour at the Governor's Olive Mill and then self-touring the Old Fortress / Corfu Town. Realizing this isn't a port we know much about, does this sound like a reasonable day in Corfu or is there something else we should be considering? 

There’s so much to do there it’s impossible to see it all anyway. I think that sounds like a good plan. Corfu was our favorite of the Greek islands. Corfu town is amazing and we didn’t even get to see the fortress. 

43 minutes ago, Jeafl said:

I do see that Carnival offers a whale watching excursion, but I have read that the whales are pretty much gone by then.  It's not a cheap excursion, so I do not want to waste my money if the whales are pretty much gone by then.

How late in March? When we went in March 2 years ago, it was around the 21st and we saw plenty of whales. 

6 hours ago, crewsweeper said:

Cozumel requires extensive travel to any ruins.  Ferry rides, bus rides, wait times. Long day.

Contact Native Choice and go on one of their tours out of Costa Maya. 

100% agree.  

3 hours ago, Dvrgrl38 said:

I just saw that the US has recently issued level 4 “do not travel” recommendations for Mexico.  I realize these are recommendations, not rules, but I was wondering if anyone cruising from US ports to Mexico had any concerns from this?

 

source:

https://www.traveloffpath.com/u-s-issues-level-4-do-not-travel-warning-for-mexico-and-14-other-countries/
 

One thing to consider is that by the same standards, the US has been at a Level 4 as well.  So I don't see much of a difference if I've been living in it for the last little while.  If you can't tell, I myself am not too worried about my cruise next month.  

20 hours ago, Alabama Alan said:

My 21 year old daughter and I will be in Belize and she has requested cave tubing with zip-lining if possible.  I see that combo offered by various vendors and am mostly looking at Cavetubing.com (Butt's Up) and cavetubing.bz  

 

Their prices are similar (.com is advertised $10 cheaper) but the provided lunch is a tamale vs the stewed chicken, rice, and beans of .bz

However, from the descriptions I'm assuming they use two different zipline courses since .bz has constructed on one their own property.

 

Does anyone have a comparison?  I realize it will be a more abbreviated tubing trip to include both but she has never done either and wants to experience both.

I might also look up and ask King David Castillo which you can find by Googling King David Belize Tours. We’re going in March, I believe that’s an option you can do, and he’s great at communication, so you would be able to find out right away. 

26 minutes ago, Lorey2007 said:

Any chance there are tours operators right off the tender that you can get to do whale watching and see the arch? End of February.

I don’t remember any, but you can use a water taxi to get where you need to go in the harbor. 

Just for fun, looked up Celebrity info and what you are saying is correct for Celebrity.  So I guess they're both different.  🤷‍♂️

11 minutes ago, Cruisegoer said:

Yes I think it's new, I cannot imagine that it's specific to cruise line.

I actually wouldn't be surprised if it's different depending on the cruise line.  They all have different protocols, even ones in the same corporate family.  Here's what it says about restrictions for Carnival (I just looked it up), their big thing is vaccinated can do what they want, unvaccinated have to do bubble excursions or can't get off.  :

SAFE SHORESIDE EXPERIENCES

Vaccinated guests may participate in Carnival-operated tours and independent sightseeing. Unvaccinated guests cannot go ashore in the ports of call on their own. Guests may only debark in the ports of call if booked on a Carnival-sponsored bubble tour. However, if their cruise visits a private port of call, such as Half Moon Cay and Princess Cays, unvaccinated guests may go ashore on their own or purchase any of our tours.

It will be necessary to follow the health protocols for every port we visit, which are under the control of local authorities and subject to change without prior notice. Guests must come prepared to follow local guidance pertaining to mask wearing, physical distancing, testing/health screenings, etc.

NOTE: The requirements for the destinations we visit continue to evolve. Please review the requirements for unvaccinated guests in the ports of call listed below:

• San Juan – Based on our agreement with the destination, guests will have to remain on board
• Limón, Costa Rica – Guests will have to remain on board
• Grand Turk – Guests ages 16 and older will have to remain on board
• St. Kitts – Guests ages 12 and older will have to remain on board
• Bonaire – Guests ages 12 and older will have to remain on board
• Tortola – Guests ages 12 and older will have to remain on board

This might be new, but I booked with an independent tour operator in Belize (for our cruise in March) and there seemed to be no indication of bubble excursions and the like.  I also know someone who just got back from a cruise in Belize and it didn't seem to be an issue.  It also might depend on the cruise line, we are sailing on Carnival, and my friend was also on that line.  

That is awesome to hear. We are using King David in March to see howler monkeys and cave tubing (my wife and I are both educators, so we are also bringing supplies). Glad to hear it was an amazing time, now I’m even more exited for our trip. 

22 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

I would think the Great Barrier Reef would be the world's aquarium...at least from my experience. 

 

"Worth it" is a totally personal judgment. We have snorkeled many places in the Mexican Rivera, (although, notably, not Loreto)and don't any more because the poorer visibility makes it not "worth it". That doesn't mean some of the specialty things like the whale sharks aren't special and interesting. But overall, compared to snorkeling in many places in the world, the Mexican Rivera is just not all that fantastic. Our most recent visit to Cabo was in March, and the water was pretty cool.

 

There will be whales around in March. 

It’s not as clear as other areas we’ve been for snorkeling, but it sounds like others know some good spots. On the whale watching, we went mid- to late-March a few years ago, and we were able to see whales just fine. We went out of Cabo

We had considered doing the Hop on/Hop off bus in Tallinn, as that was a very enjoyable way to get around other cities when we did our cruise in Greece.  Pros/cons, any thoughts by those who have gone?