Lbrussel

6 hours ago, ArmchairQB said:

Don't forget a waterproof camera.  Enjoy.

Thanks. Definitely won’t forget that. It’s in my amazon cart right now. 😊

Emailed Mystic Snorkel and got information regarding their tour. Like the information he provided and book a tour with them. Looking forward to doing it. Can't wait.

6 hours ago, Whyamionland said:

We are using them next week and they seem to be super accommodating in our communication. Our friends with three small children used them in March and had an amazing tour. I can let you know when we get back how it went! 

That would definitely be fantastic if you could let me know how it went. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. 

Enjoy your cruise. 🙂

57 minutes ago, travelingtink said:

I also used Mystic Snorkel and had a good experience. There was a large group so Coochi divided us in to 2 boats. I was solo and ended up with a family of 4, so just 5 of us on the boat. The current was so bad that day that we only did 2 stops, but I don't fault Mystic for that. They offered to stop but the other family I was with we so sea sick that I declined. 

Thanks for information. I really appreciate it. 

From both of the reviews, Mystic someone I’ll be contacting. I like the fact they didn’t overload the boats and they have alternatives plans if needed. 

1 hour ago, ArmchairQB said:

Check out Mystic Snorkel.  We were in Cozumel in early May.  I booked them because I did not want to be in a large group.  They only book small groups.  Here is a overview of our morning with them.

 

- Booking was easy by email.  Deposit by PayPal.  USD Cash remainder when you arrive.

- Taxi from port was easy and inexpensive. $10USD  with tip.

- Cucci from the company called out to us as we were walking towards the boats.  He then guided us to the pier where they dock.

- He gave us the bad news.  The other group had missed the ferry and we were on our own. lol

- They fitted us with equipment and even had prescription glasses for my wife and daughter.  The equipment looked new.

- The boat is not very large.  As we left the marina we could see the other larger boats also hiding out to the reef.  But smaller boat means faster speed and after a minute or 2 we lost sight of the pack.  To get in the water you go over the side - you can go feet first. Getting back on board is by ladder over side.  A bit tricky to get your fins off and climb the ladder but the guide and driver will help you.

- We were offered life vests but for some reason didn't take them.  I am still not sure why.  We are strong swimmers but my girls had never snorkelled before.  Best decision ever.  The guide will throw a life ring in the water with you and honestly we all floated with little effort. (just stay horizontal most of the time)  I have always found the vests to be a pain.

- We went to El Cielo first.  Amazing.  Not much to see other than numerous starfish but worth the quick stop.

- Columbia reef - amazing - and the best snorkelling I have done anywhere (I've been to Playa del Carmen, Key Largo, Anguilla, Jamaica).  There is a current so you literally just hang horizontal and drift.  The guide (we had Sebastian) will point out eels, pick up a conch shell for you, etc.  We saw 2 green sea turtles, barracuda, sting rays (small ones) and teams of fish that will surround you as you swim.  The other groups were here - swimming in circles, if they weren't lined up to get off the boat.

- Palancar was next.  This is more for divers as it is deeper water with more elaborate coral.  The depth makes it hard to get a good snorkelling experience.  Sebastian asked if we wanted to try something else and we said yes.  So we went to 4th spot.  Lots of fish again.

- They then dropped us off at Albertos Restaurant for lunch.  (literally on the beach)  This is maybe the owners place, not sure?  The food was authentic Mexican (my MIL lives on the south Texas border) and a little cheaper than the cruise ship pier area.  However the taxi ride was about $25+tip wiping out the savings.  They will drop you on the beach anywhere on the way back - Paradise Island, Mr Sanchos, no problem.

- I tipped the guide and boat driver $20 each.

- We also had fresh fruit and soft drinks.  The fruit was really good, especially the mangos.

Thank you so much. That’s sounds exactly what I was looking for. I especially like them offering a different spot to snorkel at. I’ll definitely look them up. 

1 hour ago, PlopPlop said:

Last year we did the monkey and sloth with an island tour. We contacted Daniel Johnson directly for our tour. He runs Daniel Johnson’s monkey and sloth hangout. The prices were very reasonable. Just google him and email for a tour option. They are very fast to respond to emails. They have a lot of options for a tour and will pick you up right outside the cruise terminal gates. We had the best time! It was amazing. We felt very safe and never felt like we were going to miss the ship. We didn’t do the zip line because I’m chicken. You just tell them what you would like for your tour and I’m sure they will make it happen. We stopped at the chocolate factory and I can’t wait until we go back this summer to stock up again. Our tour guide even stopped at a local grocery store for us to buy more candy and coffee. It truly was a once in a lifetime oppertunity and we plan on taking our son next year for his high school graduation. 

 

We we are passing on doing it this year as we will be doing it next year. This year we plan on getting a taxi to the chocolate factory and stopping at Monkey LaLa to get a drink and face my fear of heights by conquering their zip line. I hear it’s a good way to ease into it for chickens like me.

 

Sorry I don’t have all the details of the particular tour you are looking at. When I was looking into Daniel Johnson I made sure to read all the reviews on line and his ethical treatment of the animals in his care. The sloths are not in a cage and can come and go as they please. The other animals in the cages are there as they were once ‘baby’ pets that grew up. He gives tours where he teaches the local school children why animals are meant to be wild. You can bring your cameras and video cameras and the employees will take pictures for you. 

 

I hope one this helps and you have a fantastic time!

Thank you so much. I think that’s the name of the tour I was looking for. I just couldn’t find it in the board here when I searched for it. 

Had anyone here ever dealt with Roatan Anderson Tours? They have an excursion I was interested in. 

Thank you so much for the information. It’s very helpful. 

I saw a post from another member that when they were in Roatan, they did a zipline, saw the monkeys and sloths then ended at a beach for the rest of the day. I think along the way they also stopped at a chocolate factory as well. I can't remember what the tour operator they used. Does anyone remember who is was?

Thanks in advance.                                                                             

Thank you so much for the info. I’ll just look for a different company. It sounded like a lot of fun, I just don’t want to be on a boat that’s too crowded. Also thanks for the info on El Cielo. 

My husband and I are taking our first cruise. We’re really interested in going snorkeling in Cozumel. We found excursion thru Shore Fox for snorkeling at 3 reefs in Cozumel. El Cielo, Colombia and  Palancar that’s thru Shore Fox. 

Has anyone had experience using them or doing this type of excursion? Or can you suggest another excursion or operator? 

We’ll be on Harmony of the Seas Aug 18th cruise. Thank you. 

27 minutes ago, Nic6318 said:

 

Hi there

 

Yes... those companies are all as you say "middlemen". 

 

You can visit TripAdvisor as suggested for ideas, as well as just doing a web search..."tour operators in xxx" etc. Once you have some idea about what would like to do or see, check on the "port of call" threads on this site to ask what experience others have had with any given operator. You will get many other ideas. Many times if all you want is a beach day, for instance, it's just a question of which beach, hop in a taxi, and go. There is not always a need for a tour operator.

 

hope this helps

have a great cruise

I actually have ideas what things we want to do. It would be snorkeling, zip lining and ruins (not all in one place or time), so I definitely would need get have a tour set up. I'll check the port boards here to see if anyone has done ones I like or maybe they'll have done ones that I didn't think of before.

This place and everyone here are so helpful. Can't wait to sail.

Thank you so much, Essiesmom. So technically those sites are the middlemen. The actual operators would be some one else. 

I thought I had already joined the roll call for my cruise when there was an app for Cruise Critic. I probably mixed up two different apps. I'm heading there now.

Thanks again.   

We’re getting ready for our first cruise in August on Harmony of Seas. Having problems deciding on which excursion operators to use. We’re visiting Cozumel, Costa Maya  and Roatan. I’m worried who to book with. I don’t want to get ripped off. 

Which excursion operator is reputable? I’ve seen Shore Fox, Viator, Shore Excursions. Does anyone have advise? Or know if a better company to use? 

Thanks in advance for any help. 

Never dawned on me that sunscreen could damage the coral. Since I burn like a lobster (northern European ancestors) I will be looking for the reef safe sunblock. Is there a particular brand that any one could recommend, so I make sure I've gotten the right one?

10 hours ago, beerman2 said:

Most cruise lines suggest after 12:00 flights. Port Canaveral is about an Hour to MCO (Orlando). Combine that with all the Disney people flying home , you definitely want to be at MCO at least 2 hours before flight.

 

if you can find a return flight around 1 , to me that's perfect. Why be rushed that last day? 

Thanks, that great info. There's actually a flight that goes out about 1:25 that I was looking at. It would work out just right.

Thank you so much, Voelfgar, that's exactly what I wanted to know. The flight going down was easy to figure out since we'll stay at the airport hotel Saturday night and catch a shuttle to the ship on Sunday morning. It was trying to determine the flight going home time period. I didn't want to make it where there'd be a chance of missing our flight. But I didn't want to book anything too late either.

Really appreciate the help.

We’re doing RC cruise in August that docks in Port Canaveral. We’d then catch a shuttle back to Orlando airport. I don’t want to take a chance of missing our flight. 

I’m trying to figure out what time to book a flight out to NYC at. Would it be safe to do late morning or would that be cutting it too close? Or is afternoon a better bet? 

18 hours ago, SRF said:

Drink packages will typically be cheaper before the cruise. 

For RCI, anything (drinks, dining packages, excursions) booked before sailing is paid for at the time of sailing.  Anything booked on board it charged to your on board account.

If you pre-pay your gratuities, they will be paid at time of final payment.  If not, they are added daily to your on board account.

 

 

I saw from other threads to keep an eye out for sales. I've been checking once a week to see if they're on sale yet.

Glad to know what will be paid when. It helps budget what I need by the time of final payment in May.

On ‎10‎/‎17‎/‎2018 at 4:31 PM, cb at sea said:

You will still want cash for ashore....it's quicker and easier if you're making a small purchase than dealing with a credit card.  There is a safe in your cabin to store you cash and valuables  If you plan on gambling, cash is the way to go!

Thanks so much for the info. I saw from other posts that it's safer to use cash on shore then taking a credit card. So I definitely plan on taking an amount of cash with me for purchases on shore. Plus have a certain amount set aside for gambling, that keeps me from going crazy when I play. Its the same habit I have when I go to casinos at home.  

Army brat here born in Germany. I did not use my German birth certificate to get my passport, I used the papers my parents had to register my birth abroad. That actually shows I am an American citizen. Make an appointment with your passport off and see what happens. They will tell you if it won't work.

I an army brat too, but born in Japan on the army base. I couldn’t find a copy of my birth certificate (that’s what the problem was).

Luckily I found out yesterday that my parents did registered me with consulate before they came state side. That the update I meant to say, that I received my CRBA, which is then likely the same document you have. That’s what I needed so I can can get my passport.

What a load off my mind. [emoji5][emoji5]

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Thank you so much. [emoji846]

 

 

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Just a quick update. I sent a request for the consular document and crossed my fingers that they’d find I was registered.

Received great news today. I have my copy of the birth abroad document I needed. Now I can apply for my passport.

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Just a thought about buying the drink package on board. When I bought mine I went ahead and bought early when I saw it on sale. Then it went on sale even lower so cancelled and bought at new price. Eventually price went back up to onboard prices. I saved a couple hundred dollars buying it before the cruise. My experience.

For us it was difficult to hit the break even point, but we did it. The convenience of having it was awesome though.

I’ll start looking at the pricing now. Especially since I found out they can change at any time. Thanks

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Prices and packages vary from line to line, but I generally find for light to moderate drinkers that the drink package doesn't make financial sense. I do understand paying for the convenience though if you think you'll be close, or the concern that you won't purchase the drinks if you have to pay "full" price.

 

 

 

On our last cruise my husband and I drank as much as we wanted, including trying some drinks that sounded good (one was, one wasn't). We drank significantly more than at home, but still only in the moderate drinking category. Combined we didn't even spend as much as a drink package for one of us would have been.

 

 

 

My advice if you want the "freedom" of a package but not the price tag is to load cash (or check) to your sailing account - if your line allows - in the amount you are willing to spend on drinks. You won't have a bill at the end since you pre-paid, but if you don't drink as much as you think (tired, sea sick, just don't feel like it) then you would get the money back or have it applied to other on board expenses.

 

 

 

Have a great cruise:cool:

Great idea about a sailing account. I just figured since I have a dedicated bank acct for this trip that I’ll make sure there’s extra money in it.

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Hi Lbrussel (thread starter) ....

 

You are a breath of fresh air. :*

 

Love all you want to know is what to expect that are extra rather than trying to find a way to avoid them like so many others.

 

Look forward to having a GREAT cruise! (y)

Thank you. [emoji5] I can’t wait for this cruise.

I just hate to have sticker shock at the end of the cruise. Definitely want to make sure everything is covered. And every one here helps so much.

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