Your favorite thing to do in Western Caribbean ports (Labadee, Falmouth, Cozumel)

[stefani_]

Hello CCers!

 

I'm looking for your input on what you like to do in the Western Caribbean ports (Labadee, Falmouth, and Cozumel). I am interested in perspectives in terms of excursions, just exploring the port without an excursion, local food, and shopping. (For example, are there nice beaches in any of the locations which don't require joining an excursion to get to?) This list is not exclusive so feel free to provide any and all of your input on the ports!

 

We will be cruising 12/15 on the Allure (first time!) but are planning to spend most of our port time on the ship to enjoy its amenities unless there is something really spectacular to do in-port. As of right now, we don't have any plans for excursions but we do plan to disembark to walk around, at least for a while, and we would appreciate having some idea of what to do!

 

Thank you :)

Edited December 11, 2013 by stefani_

[Yorkvillain]

Labadee - over the water cabana at Nellie's Beach

Cozumel - Nachi Cocom

Falmouth - stay on ship

[dacsmom]

I really like Chankannab in Cozumel. A quick taxi from the pier and they have snorkeling, good beaches, dolphin and manatee swims. Search on the Internet for the Chankanaab Park and it will give you all the information

[bilyclub]

Walk over to the Carnival Pier in Cozumel. It's a lot nicer than the International Pier.

[hollon]

I loved swimming w/ the dolphins, I do hope more people respond, I'm going to these ports for a third time and a little bored, can more people help out :)

[micmacmissy]

Labadee...free day...just relax on beach

 

Cozumel...Nachi Cocum

 

Falmouth...we did Chukka Beach (meh) and are looking for something good to do on our upcoming trip...any suggestions?

 

And I'll add one to your western itinerary...

 

Grand Cayman...any good water excursions that don't involve stingrays???

[Gilly's Daughter]

we will be doing this itinerary for the first time in April.

 

So far we plan to do the following:

 

Labadee - beach cabana at Nelsons booked

Cozumel - dolphin experience with our kids (6 and 8)

Falmouth - thinking of a day pass t Hilton Rose Hall but at $400 for 4 of us still not sure if will be worth it.

[NanaL]

Cozumel Nachi cocom. Trip adviser has lots of reviews.

 

Labadee Over the water cabana.

[stefani_]

Thanks for the responses everyone! Hoping for some more if anyone with experience wants to share what they did. :)

[Host Faith]

Welcome to Cruise Critic!

 

We enjoy a cabana on Labadee. If you can snag one on Barefoot Beach (suite beach)- even better.

 

I like to hire a driver in Cozumel (link here). They'll take you wherever you want to go. Next month we're using their service to head to the less inhabited side of the island, stopping at Playa Bonita for lunch and Playa Palancar for some beach time. Then heading to Chocolateria Isla Bella to buy some chocolates.

 

Last time I used Toursplaza, we went to San Gervasio Ruins, the Tequila Factory, and Mr. Sancho's. You can read about the great time we had here (start at post 256): Liberty Review

 

Falmouth- We stayed in the port area and had some jerk chicken and beef patties. I was expecting at the time we stopped there (on the Allure) so food was everything to me, lol.

Edited December 11, 2013 by Host Faith

[danyelle]

I've only been to Cozumel and our faves to do there are:

 

2 tank dive

ATV excursions

Snorkel off the beach at one of the beach clubs

 

in that order

[Lionesss]

Labadee

We have done and enjoyed:

Zip Line

Dragons breath coaster

Water Jet Skis x 3

Did not like water slide waste of money!

Jamaica Man"

We enjoyed

Dunns river falls with caves

Zip lining x 3

Cozumel:

Enjoyed Chakanaab swim with dolphins x 2

Snokelling x 2

Bored when we did

Just shopped

Enjoy

We love Western

Sea Ya

[SEM4236]

If you're very active, try Fly Boarding in Cozumel!

[balcony4u]

We just got back from those stops!

 

Our favorite was Secret Falls with Liberty Tours in Falmouth! So worth the trip!!! It was my husbands favorite excursion!

[Big_G]

Labadee - Beachin' it

Cozumel - Nachi Cocom for the beach & La Casa del Habanos for cigars

Falmouth - usually stay on ship but might check out the new Margaritaville. Would love to do the Appleton Rum factory but it's a day trip and RCI doesn't run an excursion there.

[stefani_]

(If I didn't respond specifically to you, I did still read your post! Thanks everyone, it's all useful information.)

 

Welcome to Cruise Critic!

 

We enjoy a cabana on Labadee. If you can snag one on Barefoot Beach (suite beach)- even better.

 

I like to hire a driver in Cozumel (link here). They'll take you wherever you want to go. Next month we're using their service to head to the less inhabited side of the island, stopping at Playa Bonita for lunch and Playa Palancar for some beach time. Then heading to Chocolateria Isla Bella to buy some chocolates.

 

Last time I used Toursplaza, we went to San Gervasio Ruins, the Tequila Factory, and Mr. Sancho's. You can read about the great time we had here (start at post 256): Liberty Review

 

Falmouth- We stayed in the port area and had some jerk chicken and beef patties. I was expecting at the time we stopped there (on the Allure) so food was everything to me, lol.

 

THANK YOU for all this detail! I went to check out your review and I must say I love reading about your trips. I'm going through the Allure one now since that's the ship I'll be on :p And I LOVE chocolate, so great to hear about that place! Thank you!

 

Any recommendations on best places for jerk chicken?

 

Labadee

We have done and enjoyed:

 

Zip Line

Dragons breath coaster

Water Jet Skis x 3

 

Did not like water slide waste of money!

 

 

 

Jamaica Man"

We enjoyed

Dunns river falls with caves

Zip lining x 3

 

 

Cozumel:

Enjoyed Chakanaab swim with dolphins x 2

Snokelling x 2

 

Bored when we did

Just shopped

 

Enjoy

 

We love Western

 

Sea Ya

 

Did you book water jet skiing through the cruise ship? I don't see it on the shore excursions document from RCL's website!

If you're very active, try Fly Boarding in Cozumel!

I am active and I will definitely look into this! Have you done this before? Did you book through RCL?

Edited December 11, 2013 by stefani_

[lakelorain]

Mexican Cooking Class in Cozumel(RC excursion) was a ton of fun and we actually learned something. Free drinks included.

[GTO-Girl]

Labadee - over the water cabana at Nellie's Beach

Cozumel - Nachi Cocom

Falmouth - stay on ship

 

Exactly what we did.......:D

[Highlander]

In Cozumel,

Our favourite thing to do is to rent a car and tour the island

with stops at Punta Moreno, Coconuts, Playa Bonita and Rasta's similar

to the Bar Hop Tour (http://cozumelbarhop.com/route.aspx)

We then drive along to Paradise Beach to spend the balance of the day

before returning to the ship.

Cheers,

[Tweety63]

Four summers in a row, we've done the western cruise; twice on the Oasis and once on the Allure and the Freedom. That being said, our favorites are:

 

Labadee: Dragon's Breath Zipline every time! Just awesome:)

Parasailing was wonderful here also; felt very safe

 

Falmouth:Mystic Mountain with the bobsleds and great jerk chicken!

Dunn's River Falls is a must at least once

 

Cozumel: Amazing Race was really fun, well run and takes you to places you

wouldn't normally see on a touristy excursion

[stefani_]

Thanks for all the tips everyone! I'm greatly interested in a food excursion or anything related to food, really... so if anyone has tips on that, please do share. :)

[voyager89]

There is not so much you can do at Labadee but hang at the beach, do the ziplines and roller coaster. Have not been to Jamaica but at Cozumel I would take the ferry to Playa del Carmen. That is a MUST see, the 5th avenue is like a way cheaper St Maarten´s frontstreet. Love it love it.

[sn2792]

Thanks for all the tips everyone! I'm greatly interested in a food excursion or anything related to food, really... so if anyone has tips on that, please do share. :)

 

We have gone to Pancho's back yard a few times for lunch. Last time we went to LA Chosa. We plan on going back there again. It was less expensive than Pancho's and delicious. You need to take a cab to get there.

[Host Faith]

(If I didn't respond specifically to you, I did still read your post! Thanks everyone, it's all useful information.)

 

 

 

THANK YOU for all this detail! I went to check out your review and I must say I love reading about your trips. I'm going through the Allure one now since that's the ship I'll be on :p And I LOVE chocolate, so great to hear about that place! Thank you!

 

Any recommendations on best places for jerk chicken?

 

 

 

My pleasure, I'm glad it's helpful! Thank you so much :)

 

There's a restaurant (The Spice Kitchen) at the port that's pretty good. If you want to leave the port area, Scotchie's is the place to go. It's a pretty long drive though. Check out the Jamaica forum for more information.

[DonTreadOnMe]

 

Awesome place!!! (Xel Ha)