NCL Star Western Caribbean Question

[tripletsmommy]

Hi I am sailing on the NCL Star in the Western Caribbean and was wondering has anyone sailed this before? I want to know what there is to do on the COSTA MAYA, MEXICO port. I have 4 young kids and we were actually on this same cruise last year and did nothing on all of the ports except for the COZUMEL port. So we are going to try it again. But not sure where to find info on this, any suggestions? Thank you! Will appreciate any tips/suggestions.

[peg013]

Lots of choices here:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=169

[VideoTech]

We've done the Western Caribbean run on NCL several times, and I have to say that Costa Maya and Cozumel are my least favorite ports...but that's mostly because, living in Texas as I do, a Mexican gulf coast port isn't all that unusual for me.

 

With that said, I do know that there are some excellent Mayan ruins that can be toured from Costa Maya. Others have reported they've enjoyed the beach break at one of the resorts in the area.

 

If you're going to Roatan, you should definitely try to get to Tabyana beach. This is a great beach for an introduction to snorkeling. You can swim in off the beach to the reefs just a few yards offshore, and the snorkeling is excellent. It's easy for young kids..we took our 9 year old Grand Daughter there, and she had no problems with the swim and absolutely loved the snorkeling!

 

You can do this one on your own, or through the ship. Snorkel gear is rented at the Tabyana beach resort that the ship's excursion goes to. The ship's excursion throws in a lunch, which is nothing fancy, but it hits the spot after a morning at the beach.

 

In Cozumel, with kids, I'd highly recommend the Dolphin encounter at Dolphinaris. Again, we took the 9 year old and she loved it..but all the adults loved it to. Another alternative is the little Nautilus submarine that you can ride in down to the reefs. Kind of like Disneyland, but for real..down 150 feet. Reefs were no where near as nice as Roatan, though, but the kids would love the submarine.

 

If Belize is on your itinerary, that's a harder one. Belize has the second largest barrier reef in the world, and the snorkeling is outstanding. But it's ocean snorkeling, with current and swells that you don't get at Tabyana in Roatan - it might be tough for younger kids. I can't tell you about anything else at Belize, as that's all we did there.

 

Hope this helps, and enjoy your cruise!

[RickB56]

Do Maya Chan Beach in Costa Maya!

[mitsugirly]

We have done these ports before and we are doing them again in December.

 

Although everyone likes to do different things, I can only offer what we did if you are interested. If you tell us what your family likes to do, then it would be easier for people to recommend things.

 

This was our day at Maya Chan in Costa Maya

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=30654861&postcount=12

 

and here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=30659482&postcount=21

 

In that review above, I forgot to add the link to all of my pictures that day in the review. So you can find them here: http://kimbakersphotography.smugmug.com/Other/Maya-Chan-Costa-Maya/19114854_hGv9K9#!i=1488089867&k=hc4cBmX

 

 

In Roatan, we booked with Victor Bodden and did the zip and dip. This is the zip: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=30662590&postcount=23

 

This is the dip: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=30663211&postcount=24

 

 

In Belize, we did the cavetubing with .bz http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=30667696&postcount=44

 

 

In Cozumel we went to Chankanaab (this place is paradise!): http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=30683350&postcount=59

 

 

We also did the dolphin swim that is located at Chankanaab: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=30692077&postcount=65

 

 

 

We loved Chankanaab so much that we went back for a second round again 6 months later: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=33274360&postcount=48

 

I hope you have a lot of "reading" time. :D

[blindrid]

You can also check out trip advisor to see what interests your family. I am doing Tabyana beach (again), drink beer in Costa Maya, Cozumel haven't figured out yet, Belize - probably snorkel.

 

Obviously, I do not have kids in tow.