aghajanian2000

Anyone have any ideas about this?

7 minutes ago, crewsweeper said:

See poor reviews of this place on TA.  Appears that taxi drivers are redirecting people here. Map indicates it's between Chank and Paradise Beach.  Should be in the same zone as Chank and PB so not sure why some of these folks are saying taxi prices at port were too high. Maybe thinking these were per person not per taxi.

Funny, I just happened to have read those recently. Not sure why people were so mad. Like one poster wrote, for 20 bucks you can't complain. It ain't the Hyatt. Our taxi driver (not at the port) had a laminated flyer and did recommend the place, but we discussed various options with him for 5 or 10 minutes and then decided to check it out. We could have left immediately had we wanted to. Also, a lot of cruisers and tourists ended up coming by and staying. The only real problem was the nasty rocks in the water, but they can't control that and it's probably like that all over the island.

It was fine. It is small. The dining area is outside so you don't get any relief from the stifling heat. For a reasonable price you get access to chairs, umbrellas and a few different types of water vehicle (hayak, paddle board, etc.) as well as their water toys. Small beach. Rocky sea floor was a problem. 

It was simply the name of a resort. Are you asking about an actual aquarium?

What's the deal with tipping on Caribbean port excursions? We recently came back from a cruise and we had arranged all the activities ourselves, rather than through the cruise line to save money. But we hadn't factored in tips. That's sort of a hidden cost that drives up the already expensive cost of tours to crazy amounts of money.

Unrelated question, but how come people on these boards have commented about the nature of postings on Saturdays? 

Cozumel was the only stop where I didn't book anything in advance. When we got past most of the vendors in the port, someone who worked for the city in a booth asked us if we needed help. I hadn't realized there would be city employees there (unless this was a scam- who knows?). He directed us across the street to a place called Islenos Tours. I wasn't sure once I got there how they were any different from any other excursion company. But through them we organized our day with horseback riding and a few hours at a small resort called Aquarium. There didn't seem to be a lack of options.

19 minutes ago, scpirate said:

Yep plenty of people selling excursions at the pier.thats who I buy from.i get off the ship and question the drivers and look to see what they are driving.i got put in a 1990 dodge van I didn't think was going to make the trip one time.

But you still think it's worth it?

On 6/12/2019 at 7:45 AM, crewsweeper said:

Best way to see difference is go to vendor's website and then Carnival's excursion page and compare. IF and a big IF the two excursions compare pretty darn close to what's included and the vendor price is lower, Carnival does have a price match guarantee.  Can be a bit tricky to get, as I understand it.  Never used it.

 

The biggest hangup with ship excursions is the crowding.  Too many people, versus smaller groups for individual vendors.  With any snorkeling excursion from the ship, you get herded about and are often forced to hang back with novice/slower snorkelers and stay within a designated area.  With stingrays it's just a bunch of people on the sandbar scrambling to pet one of the creatures for a few seconds. 

Isn't the stingray business cool?

On 6/12/2019 at 7:25 PM, shipgeeks said:

We've noticed very little price difference between ship excursions and the same ones on the tour websites.  For example, in Alaska, a train tour was $100 through the ship, and $99 through the company.  Similar on some of the Carib excursions.  

I went on to read some articles and it seems there is as much as a 50% markup sometimes, so I'm not sure what you have been experiencing. 

4 minutes ago, bookbabe said:

 

You’re going to have a hard time finding a company that will do both the stingrays and the Crystal Caves.  The stingrays are out in the ocean about a 15-30 minute trip from the dock, which is usually about 15 minutes from the port.  The caves are on the north side of the island, about 40 minutes from the port in the opposite direction as the docks the stingray tours leave from.

 

And if you want a really good tour for the stingrays, your best bet is to read the various reviews online and in this forum, and then book something in advance.  If you just want to see the stingrays and really don’t care about quality of the experience or crowds, just book at the pier or through the ship, which is much easier.

 

George Town is where the tenders from the ship dock.   Just get off and walk around to your heart’s content.  It’s mostly high-end and/or tourist-focused shopping and restaurants, and it’s all very easily walkable and very safe to DIY.  Other than one museum, all of the tourist ‘sights’ will be outside of the downtown area.

 

What you might find easiest is to book a combo tour via the ship, if one is available, that combines a brief island tour with a brief trip out to see the stingrays.  That won’t take any research at all, and it will let you see the highlights with the least amount of advance planning.

 

Thanks for the advice. Any idea what percentage of markup Carnival might be doing on their excursions?

I'm also confused because if I were to look up all the different tour companies for all the activities in each of the 4 islands we're visiting it will be very time-consuming and stressful. Is there really no way to just walk up and book them?

I'm also confused because if I were to look up all the different tour companies for all the activities in each of the 4 islands we're visiting it will be very time-consuming and stressful. Is there really no way to just walk up and book them?

I'm also confused because if I were to look up all the different tour companies for all the activities in each of the 4 islands we're visiting it will be very time-consuming and stressful. Is there really no way to just walk up and book them?

I'm also confused because if I were to look up all the different tour companies for all the activities in each of the 4 islands we're visiting it will be very time-consuming and stressful. Is there really no way to just walk up and book them?

3 minutes ago, ABQrobin said:

 

You can only book Carnival on the ship.  The independent companies I would contact from home before your cruise.  Lots of recommendations here on CC for excursions.  Do you have an idea what you want to do in Belize?  

Start reading the posts here on CC and get an idea what is available, also look at the cruise website at "shore excursions" and see what they have. 

Yes, as my OP states: City tour, Maya Ruins, Cave tubing. I can find out what cruise offers but want to avoid their services on the principle that they will be unnecessarily marked-up.

Can we book on our own from the ship or do I have to do this from home?

Does Ambassador not go to stingrays? Been to crystal caves?

Are these ones you've experienced? Do I need to set this stuff up ahead of time online, or can I just go to their booths in port? 

How much time do you think we should leave for ziplining? We only have from 10 to 6. Also, I read chair lift gives great views. Why no good? Lines too long?

Thanks friend. I would imagine there wouldn't be so much risk though. I mean, you get off the ship and there are probably vendor buildings all around the port that have to be licensed, right? There will be lines of people at each. The info on what the excursions would include would be up-front. If they are regular vendors, they should all be playing by the rules. It's not like we are going to wander off into the town and make excursion arrangements with some guy on a street corner. I am wondering more what the price and quality differences might be between all the vendors at the port and which ones we should go towards and which to avoid. Your tip about the individual boards was most helpful. I have posted in them and hope to get responses today!

Traveling through Carnival to Cozumel. Don't want to get overcharged on excursions by buying from ship. Activities we want to do are: 

Horseback riding, Jeep tour (with activities).

Which vendors have good deals and are professional? Which should be avoided?

Traveling through Carnival to Belize. Don't want to get overcharged on excursions by buying from ship. Activities we want to do are: 

City tour, Maya Ruins, Cave tubing.

Which vendors have good deals and are professional? Which should be avoided?

Traveling through Carnival to Roatan. Don't want to get overcharged on excursions by buying from ship. Activities we want to do are: 

Chairlift to Mahogany Beach, West Bay Beach for snorkeling at corral reef, Gumbalimba Park, Ziplining.

Which vendors have good deals and are professional? Which should be avoided?

Traveling through Carnival to Grand Cayman. Don't want to get overcharged on excursions by buying from ship. Activities we want to do are: 

visit George Town, Crystal Caves and Stingray City (have read about Captain Marvins). Which vendors have good deals and are professional? Which should be avoided?