Trying to figure out excusrions/where to

[WolfgangJT]

HI all.

 

First off, we are a family of 4...2 adults, and 2 children, ages 7 & 9. This will be my wife and children's first cruise (7 day Labadee (Haiti), Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel).

 

We have been looking around at various Excursions we want to do and have come to a dilemma...hoping people can give some advise.

 

1. My wife's favorite mammal has been the dolphin. Obviously, I want her to experience the Dolphin push/pull/swim. From various reviews, I've been seeing Cayman and Cozumel ones are good, but seems Cayman's is liked better for the picture pricing vs Cozumel).

 

2. We want to do snorkeling with the kids, however, there are limited ones where the restrictions on my daughter's age will allow. I've also read several say both Cayman's and Cozumel are good for snorkeling, but seems many like the Cayman's the best. The snorkel one we are looking at in the Cayman's is the USS Kittiwake/reef snorkel excursion, the one in Cozumel is the Fury catamaran snorkel with the inflatables beach break (only main one that seemed to not have a restriction of 8 yrs or older and had good reviews).

 

3. Cruise ports in at 8:00am, ports out @ 4:00pm (in the Cayman's)

 

Now to the questions.

 

I originally started thinking we could possibly look at doing both excursions on the Cayman's, one in the morning, one just around/after lunch. That way we do both in what several are saying is the better place for both.

 

However, I've been torn realizing it would not allow really any time to see the island at Georgetown (beyond the excursions...which both seem to include or be around 7 Mile Beach).

 

So the questions

 

1. Does anyone have any experience in doing 2 excursions in one place (booked through the cruise line for the guarantee of making back to the boat)? Can it be done, or do times usually never line up to do so? And obviously, the time would be used up on the island, so would it be worth it, or do people think you "need" to allow time to explore the island a little. Trying to figure out what would be best, especially with kids....and the fact that it is the one island where you can really walk around without the crime issues.

 

2. What are people's opinions of the snorkeling one vs the other. If we opt out of doing 2 in one day, is the snorkeling in Cozumel (the one young kids can do) good enough to give a great experience, or would the Cayman one be the way to go?

 

3. The other option would be to move the dolphin experience to being in Cozumel so we could snorkel in the Cayman's, then have the rest of the day to see the island. The big issue is Cozumel is the last stop, so if weather doesn't permit that stop, we would lose out on the one we've been wanting to do (especially my wife)...not my favorite thought to do, but that contingent on a worse case scenario. So, what are people's opinions on the dolphin push/pull/swim in both locations? Is one a must vs the other?

 

Any help/opinions would be appreciated.

Edited March 22, 2016 by WolfgangJT

[southnam]

We did the exact itinerary as you on RCCL FoS a couple years ago. Had kids age 3,5,7. In Cayman we did the stingray, snorkel, starfish tour with nativeway tours. Week rated company with great reviews. They were great to work with as we booked for a group of 12 to get discount. Our group was only one in boat so had the full attention of the captain. Much better than the huge tour groups. Kids loved the stingrays and starfish area. The water was a bit too scary for my kids as they don't swim when we got to the snorkel area. I did it for a bit and it was beautiful. My 2 cents...

 

 

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[NightOne]

 

Any help/opinions would be appreciated.

 

 

First things first:

 

I thought the same thing on my first cruise: "Hey this ends at this time and we can do another excursion!" Booked them and they did NOT work out. I would never try that again.

 

1 Excursion per port

 

Second:

 

It sounds like you want to do some snorkeling and Grand Cayman is a fine place to do it. There may be better places in the world but the water around Grand Cayman just blows me away. You have to do an excursion that gets you in the water there. Also, the bucket list item in Grand Cayman is Stingray City and every tour is going to include that. I agree with the other poster and would highly recommend either of these Nativeway tours:

 

Rays, Reef and Rum Point tour or Stingray Sandbar, Coral Gardens

and Star Fish Snorkel tour

 

Finally:

 

You're probably not going to want to hear this but if your wife's favorite mammal is the dolphin then the best thing she can do is not do a "Swim with the Dolphins" excursion anywhere ever.

 

See:

 

Swimming with dolphins

 

Behind Your Swim With The Dolphins

 

and

 

The Cove (Documentary)

 

Just my opinions :)

[cb at sea]

I have to agree that seeing dolphins in the wild is a wonderful thing, but the captive "push/pull" things...not a fan...I feel so sorry for those poor animals!

[WolfgangJT]

Thank you everyone for the feedback so far. That Nativeway Tours look really nice...definitely better priced than what the cruise line offers. Thank you very much for the suggestion. This is definitely something we will look into.

[beckstarbaby]

This post makes me feel guilty, I just booked a dolphin encounter in Cozmel :(

 

 

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[NightOne]

This post makes me feel guilty, I just booked a dolphin encounter in Cozmel :(

 

 

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Not too late to do the "right" (at least in my opinion) thing.

 

You can always cancel the excursion and pick something else.

 

Hey, until I was educated about the situation I might have thought it was a good idea too. Now I know better. :)

[mamieof3]

Hi WG, One thing to consider is you are more likely not to make GC than Coz due to weather. I didn't look at the links posted about Dolphins so what I am going to share is just personal experience. DH and I took our DD, SIL, DS, 2 yo grandson and 7 yo grand-daughter on a family cruise. My precious Grand daughter wanted so much to swim with the dolphins. Our Grand-daughter had the time of her life, it was like she connected in a way that only kids can. Watching her talk to the dolphin and caress it was magical. The dolphin and my grand daughter were so gentle with each other. It literally took our breath away, It was nothing like I expected, truly a spiritual experience. Just as a side-note, we lost our grand daughter in a 4 wheeler accident a year later. I will always see in my minds eye the wonderful time she had with her dolphin and know that I made at least one of her dreams come true. Janie

Edited April 1, 2016 by mamieof3
incomplete sentence

[capricorn548]

Dolphin experiences are cruel, try sting ray city instead if she is an animal lover. I think it's the best thing the island has to do honestly. That or swimming with horses.

 

 

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[NightOne]

... I didn't look at the links posted about Dolphins so what I am going to share is just personal experience. ...

 

I will always see in my minds eye the wonderful time she had with her dolphin and know that I made at least one of her dreams come true. Janie

 

 

Janie,

 

Sorry for your loss. Truly.

 

You associate a wonderful memory with this specific event for the obvious reason.

 

Several years back my wife won a qualifier slot tournament at Harrah's casino and was given a trip to Las Vegas to compete in the Millionaire Maker tournament. (1/262 chance of winning $1,000,000) We decided we should invite the parents along since they rarely saw each other and I didn't see my parents more than once or twice a year. So me, my wife, my Dad, my Mom, and my Wife's Mom (My MIL obviously) went to Vegas. (FIL did not care to go) One night we are all sitting at The Range Steakhouse in Harrah's eating dinner when a woman comes over and asks if she can take our photo. My Dad asks "how much for the picture" and the woman replies with $10 or $15. Before anyone else can say anything I say "Absolutely and we will take 3". After she leaves to go make the photos my Dad asks me "Why would you pay so much for a picture?" I responded with "When is the next time all of us will be together for dinner like this?"

 

To answer that question: Never

 

My wife's Mom passed away a year or so later. My Mom passed away a couple of years after that. It is impossible to make that exact photo at this time. We still have that photo displayed in our house (as does my Dad at his house) and I will always have it to remind me of all of us together that night. Does it have anything to do with casinos, Las Vegas, steakhouses, or slot tournaments? No, that was just the context of the event and it was really about our connections. Every time I see it I have a wonderful memory of that night. My wife came in 250th place or something like that in the tournament. :)

 

So this doesn't change the facts about Swim with Dolphins programs. You can refuse to read the information and pretend like it doesn't exist. There are people out there who don't believe we walked on the moon (or deny worse events). That doesn't make it the truth and while I understand your wonderful memory of your event it doesn't change what Swim with Dolphins programs are about. (Or why I feel people should not support them)

 

Best wishes

[mamieof3]

Hi Carl, thank you for sharing your story, I can see you can relate. I know you are correct even though I didn't look at the links. My grief is still such that I can't watch news programs or anything that shows suffering. I totally respect you for your strong stance and standing behind that strong stance and I appreciate it. I just selfishly can't watch the videos because I can't risk it putting a sad aspect to what has become a very treasured memory. Carl, I can tell you 'get' it because of your story and I do ask you to forgive my willing ignorance at this time. I will get better and in the meantime our world is better because people like you care enough to take a stand. My sincere condolences on your losses and, again, thank you for taking your time to share. Janie

[capricorn548]

The thing I love most about cruise critic is that people are genuinely nice and I never see anyone become rude during a difference of opinion. Thanks to all for making this forum a pleasant experience! [emoji122]

 

 

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