So much fun, we're doing it again! (Need help with ports again, please.)

[Lady_Jag]

As I stated in a previous post, my mom is unable to walk long distances or stand for long periods of time. She is very much anti-beach as well, because she doesn't like wearing a bathing suit, and hasn't worn one in well over a decade.

Last month, she sailed the Carnival Glory with me, my DH, our 3-year-old, and a family friend. Everyone had a FABULOUS time, and I made sure (thanks to the good folks at CC) to have a few handicap and toddler-friendly activities lined up for each of our Eastern Caribbean ports. Everyone had a blast! So much so, we've all booked the Carnival Dream for a Western Caribbean route in May 2010.

So here I am again, asking for some information on activities that we can do in the following ports. My mom can walk and uses a cane, and on our last cruise, she declined the use of the wheelchair we brought for her. So even though we will have a wheelchair for her to use, we can pretty much count on her not wanting to use it in port (or on the ship for that matter! :p)

 

- Cozumel, Mexico

- Belize

- Roatan

- Costa Maya

Of course, with the cruise being so many months away, our itinerary is subject to change based on medical and political issues in the proposed ports, but I like to start gathering my info asap so that I have a good plan with several options.

[crewsweeper]

Can you give us a brief listing of what activities you did on the E.C. itinerary? Might help in doing things other than tours.

 

Off the top, I'd recommend hiring a driver in Cozumel with a van to accomodate everyone. Gerri is the go to guy there. See the Cozumel boards for contact info. I think it's cozumeltaxi dot com. You go through Mike in the US and he'll arrange with Gerri/Lazarro to drive you around. I'd recommend driving over to the eastern side of the island, maybe going to the lighthouse (a bit of walking here), having a nice lunch on the beach at Chein Rio or Playa Bonita, then Gerri knows some good shopping places outside the typical tourist stuff at the piers.

 

Similarly in Roatan. Contact Victor Bodden re an island tours, and seeing his animals and cashew trees. Like Gerri, he'll work with you on what you want to do. All his drivers/guides are good.

 

In Belize, I'm not sure. This is a tender port. Long tender ride. Pier area is small. Not easy access away from it (IMO). Horse draw carriage tours maybe? Mayan sites are long bus rides and entail a lot of walking and climbing.

 

Likewise, Costa Maya doesn't have a lot right around the cruise dock. THere's a nice little area about 3 miles south called Majahul, shops and restaurants along a malecon (paved walkway). IIRC, this is also a tender port. Maybe one of the closer Mayan sites would be a shorter bus ride and not as much walking.

 

Take a gander at the port threads and see if there's something that grabs you.

 

We're "Dream"-ing this itinerary in January, I could check some things out for you if you'd like. For instance, we're looking at the horse drawn carriage tour in Belize. We don't want to spent the entire day at Mayan ruins again. And could go to Majahul in Costa Maya.

[Lady_Jag]

Crewsweeper,

Thanks for the advice! I'd love to hear about your Dream cruise in January, as well.

 

For our last cruise, here's what we did:

 

Nassau - I stayed on the ship, because I had been there so many times and our stay wasn't very long. My mom went into port with our friend and my DH, and they walked around looking at shops, most of which were closed because it was Sunday morning.

Mom stopped in a Burger King to use the bathroom, and said it was so disgusting she almost threw up. She decided to wait on a bench for the other two explorers, and while she waited, two woman sat on the bench next to her and started chain smoking. None of the 3 explorers in our group were impressed with this port and returned to the ship by noon.

 

St. Thomas - I had planned for us to go to Coral World, then maybe a little shopping in Havensight. It rained heavily the minute we stepped off the ship, and everyone looked at me like "what do we do now?!?" I gave them 3 options - Find a cab to take us to Coral World as planned; Take Conrad (Spidey tours) up on his St. Thomas tour offer; or Stand in the rain asking each other what to do. :D

 

We chose the St. Thomas tour, since it was the most direct means of getting out of the rain. Conrad took us all over, and then dropped us off at Havensight for some shopping. We did stop at Mountain Top (this was the week before it was destroyed by fire), and my mom stayed on the tour bus because she couldn't manage the climb to the shops. Conrad, our tour guide, stayed with her and chatted. I kept my daughter entertained in Havensight while the rest of the group shopped.

 

St. Marteen -

I had planned for us to go to the butterfly farm, then over to the zoo/park, then back to Philipsburg for shopping. Instead, we took the water taxi over to Philipsburg right away. Hubby and our daughter went off to the beach, while mom, our friend and I went on a long shopping trip. We walked all OVER, and wound up at Rima's on Pondfill Rd., which was quite a distance from our starting point.

 

Mom had her cane, but I could tell she was about to wave the white flag before we got to Rima's. She made it all the way to Rima's, though, then took advantage of the "husband chair" set up inside. After a short rest, she had a great time buying souveniers and gifts for people on her Christmas list. About 2 hours later, we left the store with a bunch of bags and much lighter wallets. I found a bus that would take us back to the water taxi in Philipsburg, (and we paid only $6 for the three of us).

 

Back on the main drag, we stopped at a local joint for lunch. Mom ordered just a basket of french fries and a Diet Coke, because she was afraid that her stomach might not be able to handle any of the local food or water. When we were finished, we made one more trip out to Front Street in search of Mr. Tablecloth, where Mom was thrilled to find some great deals on Linens.

 

So that's the Eastern port recap. As you can see, Mom is big on shopping, but not too many other "active" or beach excursions. She will probably watch a show, maybe even visit a zoo/garden/park because she likes to watch my daughter experience such places. On board, Mom LOVED tea time and our lunches in the dining room. She's not really a gambler, as she doesn't like cigarette smoke and most casinos are smokey.

[crewsweeper]

You keyed a memory chip :D. Belize City has a zoo. Something akin to a game perserve. There are Belize City excursions off the ship that include a visit to the zoo! Leave time for the Wet Lizard and conch fritters before getting on the tender.

 

Victor Bodden's Roatan tours go by his place and he has monkeys and birds. Fin N Flippers island in Roatan is very close to the pier and has shady areas where you can sit; reasonably priced food; the water is fairly shallow out from the beach, so some of your party can snorkel over the coral without having to venture too far.

 

Outside of Cozumel, not too much shopping in these port other than the same old same old shops in every port...t shirts, knick knacks and jewerly!

 

So just to recap our current plans for the W.C.: Cozumel- island tour with Gerri that we had to cancel this past spring. Roatan--either Victor or Fin N Flippers. Belize--undecided except for Wet Lizard, which we missed last time because of delays in the Mayan Ruins excursion. Costa Maya, either a sort Mayan Ruin tour or Majahul, or both if time.

 

I'm not big on Nassau either. I think Atlantis is overrated as a day tour/stop. I'll probably go to Fish Fry and try out a couple of local hole in the wall eateries. DW wanted to do the Mountaintop in St T. but now we'll have to choose something else. I wanted to do the yacht racing but they don't let us deaf guys on board:( even if we've sailed IOR racing yachts as crew in the past. Trying to sneak on the America Cup boats in St Maartin, but will probably look at Bernard's tour as long as there's a stop at Huggies ($2.99 for 2 beers a cigar!)!

[allentownahoy]

I was in Costa Maya on HAL in Dec. and am also limited in my walking ability.

 

First, unless Carnival is different, this is NOT a tender port. The pier is long but there is a trolley to take you back and forth.

 

At the end of the pier they have built a lovely area with pool, loungers, water views,restaurants and bars as well as large colorful market area mostly filled with local vendors. Trust me you can spend hours and tons of money if so inclined-prices are reasonable and they do barter here just as in Majahul.

 

We also went to Majahul by taxi. The beach there is beautiful. There is also shopping but it is spread farther apart and if she sits down anywhere people will want her to buy food and drink. I know many will disagree with me but if mom's main interest is shopping there is ample opportunity by the pier and it is easier to take a rest.

 

My hubby went to the ruins and loved them but said there was much walking involved and I would have ended up sitting by myself waiting for him and the others.