Margaritaville

[lisak1]

We will be in Ocho Rios from 8:00a - 3:30p. We would like to spend some time at Margaritaville. Is there enough to do there (and at surrounding shopping areas) that we would have enough to do, or should we plan on something else as well? [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif[/img]

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[twinkletoes4445]

That's a long time to be in Margaritaville (IMO). If you have never been to Dunns River Falls, I personally think it is a must (I was told the same thing by a friend of mine who has been several times).

We scheduled the morning with a guide (Lewis and Ionie McBeam) and they took us to the falls, a tour of the area, Fern Gully, Soni Plaza and then dropped us off around noon or so.

We ate lunch at Margaritaville, but I wished we would have went to the Ruins or Bibibips. Margaritaville was fine, but it was sort of like an Applebees or Chili's.

Your guide will take you to one of these restaurants as part of your tour, if you want.

Then after seeing the sights, you can loll away the afternoon at Island Village/Margaritaville, and then mosey on back to the ship just prior to sailing.

There are shops at Island Village and Margaritaville has a restaurant, pool, slide, beach things like that, but I would get out and see the area and then finish my day there.

Here's Lewis and Ionie's website: [url="http://www.ocho-rios.com"]www.ocho-rios.com[/url]

email them at...
[email]queenmcbeam@cwjamaica.com[/email]

We had a wonderful time with Lewis. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]


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[lisak1]

i am sure Dunns River Falls are beautiful, but I am thinking that the crowds of people are going to make it not so enjoyable, and also not everyone in our party is up to the climb. I might think about one of the other tours though.

thanks for your response!

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[campne]

We spent the day at Island Village and Margaritaville. Walked over around 10:30 and left just after 2pm.

Our family had a blast! Kids loved the beach and waterslide. Wife loved the margarittas and waterslide ;-)

Marc

[lisak1]

That's the answer i hoped to hear, campne! thank you. That's just how i hope to spend the day there.

The falls sound like they will be very crowded, and a bus sightseeing tour just doesn't appeal to me that much. It will be my birthday on the day we are in Ocho Rios, and i wanted to have a nice time without alot of running around.

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[twinkletoes4445]

Whatever you choose, I hope you have a good time and have a great birthday!

As for crowds, we didn't encounter any at the falls. We arrived prior to the large cruise tours and our kids climed the falls (we followed along on the stairs and took pics). We had no desire to climb, but kids had a good time.

Margaritaville was packed though (wall-to-wall inside the restaurant area). You might be able to secure a better spot than we did by arriving early. It's a very pleasant place though. Lots of shopping and Margaritaville is a hopping joint! Our kids had a ball.

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[IDcruising]

Margarittaville will be wall to wall with people from the cruise everyone who does not go on a tour usually ends up there. it is fun kids love it but if you don't like crowds it is not for you.

DMH

[lisak1]

I'm hoping to get there early... and avoid the worst of the crowds.

thanks for the warning, ID. I appreciate it! We'll take it as it come, I guess.

On another note, i saw at Island Village that wave runners were available for rent on the beach. Has anyone done this, and do you know the cost?

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[twinkletoes4445]

When we were walking down the pier, we saw an opening, and a man with a clip board. It looked like you could schedule a wave runner with him there (there was also a line of people). We didn't pay too much attention to what was going on, but this might be another option if you aren't able to rent one at Island Village. I didn't see wave runners there (but that doesn't mean there weren't).

I don't know the cost, but usually they are $55 or so for 30 minutes (two people can ride-at least that's the price we paid in Cozumel).

Have a good time! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]


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