LaShelle2

It seems the owners of the island are actually DISCOURAGING cruisers from going there because of a dispute they are having with Carnival. I would read the disclaimer on the Passion Island website. :mad:

quoted from Passion Island site...

"Carnival cruise lines are now run by their former “accountant”. In order to maximize their profits; which is a never ending task. they have entered into an exclusive agreement with Passion Island. This means that they can charge their passengers a premium price for the excursion and pay Passion Island a fraction of that price. This of course is very hard on Passion Island and good business for Carnival. Passion Island hopes to make it up in volume (which also means more people crowding the beach).

If you were to reserve the very same tour as a guest of a hotel your price would be much less, you would spend an hour more on the Island, and Passion Island would make a fair profit. Carnival has been doing this with just about every tour operator at one time or another, but the tour operators are too scared to do anything about it.

So if you are on a Carnival cruise ship you cannot make your reservation through anyone except Carnival.

IF this policy upsets you as it does just about every vendor on Cozumel, there is something you can do about it. You can reserve another excursion. The water around Passion Island is not suitable for snorkeling because it is located in an area of turbid waters. So if you are looking for an alternative you can always go on the 2 reef snorkeling adventure tour. Or you can pay a much higher price to eat and drink more after coming off of a ship that feeds you as much as you want anyway.

If it sounds like we are not happy with the way Carnival is doing their business here on Cozumel, it is because we are. And so are many other vendors. The only difference is that we do not rely on them to make our living, and we believe in informing our island guests as a service to everyone. No matter what you decide to do; we want for you to have the very best vacation possible while on our paradise island!"

:o

Which cruise line are you sailing on. I was recently able to price match a shore excursion with CCL using their guarantee. That way you have the safety of being with the ship and save $$$ too.

Also, check your roll call to see if anyone else on your sailing is going snorkeling. You can join them. I would be afraid to snorkel solo. Just does not seem safe. :rolleyes:

The adult menu is very kid friendly, burgers, nachos, chicken fingers, etc. I am sure they will give you an extra plate to split a meal between kids. The portions are generous.

Your kids will likely have so much fun on the water toys, they will want to skip lunch anyway. :p

Pack some snacks, chips, crackers, etc. if they are super picky.

Has anyone visited here? It is $79 with Carnival and $35 direct with the resort. How much would cab fare be?

Also, is it a nice resort? We are trying to get away from the relentless vendors on the beach close to the port. It ruined our Progreso day our last visit. They are BAD with constant begging and selling.

So do the Allstate ecards get emailed to you instantly?

 

 

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YES!! It took about 10 minutes to sign up and redeem points which I used to pay down my balance; Easy Peazy... :D

Adults only and no smoking on the entire ship.

People tend to dress more formal on the 7 night cruises than the 3 days. Which ship are you sailing?

Is there anywhere to park other than the port? We do not need a hotel room, as we live close enough to drive straight to the port. I have had no luck finding an offsite parking lot or hotel where we can leave the car without an overnight stay.

You can adjust them up or down or have them removed if you wish.

I was on Magic recently and did not have fttf. I never had to wait in long lines and boarding was a breeze. Don't stress if you can't get it.

I prefer to dine with just the 2 of us, but I understand others enjoy meeting new people. What are your preferences? Pros, cons, etc.

If cost is a consideration, the Orlando area hotels will be much more affordable. You can overnight in Orlando and catch a shuttle to the ship the day of embarkation.

If you prefer to be closer to the port, I recommend Country Inn and Suites. It is closest to the port, and if you're lucky, you can get a room with a view of the ships in port.

Staying in Cocoa Beach will give you some beach time before the cruise too, which would be nice.

There are plenty of hotels both close to the port and in Orlando, so you have countless options.

Happy Cruising! :p

There are 2 of us. The lowest I've found is $60 total for both of us 1 way.

I'm in need of transportation recommendations to get us from the ship back to the airport in Melbourne, FL (MLB).

I've already booked flights. It was $100 cheaper than flying from Atlanta to Orlando oddly enough?

A 1 way car rental is about $80.

I would like to know of any taxi, UBER, or shuttle services that will be cheaper. It doesn't need to be glamorous. We just need a basic ride to the airport. We don't mind a shared shuttle as long as it gets us to the airport in a timely manner.

After the ship docks, it can take a couple of hours to get off depending on which group you're in. Try not to book a return flight before noon to be on the safe side.

It looks to me that this balcony cabin is below the Lido Marketplace under a dining table area that is carpeted. I've stayed in similar located cabins on Freedom and Breeze and never experienced noise from above.

 

Then again I have never been sound asleep or even in my cabin the middle of breakfast, lunch or dinner time.

Thanks for your reply. Feeling better to know it's not noisy

So why did you choose a gty cabin?????????????????

It was booked under a military rate. The price was really low. :o

I was just assigned cabin 9431 on the Magic. I see this is below the Lido deck, and I am concerned about noise. I called customer service and was told I am stuck with it. :mad:

I have booked Guarantee with RCI, and they allow you to change if something is open in the same category. Is this not the case with Carnival. :confused:

Please share your opinions of these 2 islands. We would like to relax, have a few drinks and maybe a bite to eat. We LOVE clear water and white sand.

Also, can Starfish be booked by private vendor or is it only available via Carnival shore excursions?

If you book a spa treatment like a massage will you have access to the cloud 9 spa area afterwards?

I always book private excursions. They are more affordable than booking with the cruise ship, and often allow more time to enjoy the port. Check out the ports of call forum for advice on reputable companies. Plan to get back to the ship an hour before the deadline to allow for any glitches in traffic, etc.

RoatanEventsDotCom has affordable renewal packages. Contact them and explain you do not need the license and minimal decorations. They may be able to cut the cost even more. Its about $400 on the website. :p

Don't do Belize on you own. It's not very safe. The other ports are fine.

I booked a balcony and am curious if you can get stuck with a cove balcony on a GTY rate? As long as it's a regular balcony, I think we will be fine.

I take a walk around the ship to get photos before it's crowded. Go to the dining room and check table assignments - I hate dining with strangers, so I request a table for 2 if they've put us at a large table. I head to drop off carry on stuff as soon as the rooms are open.

I dread the muster drill, and don't think I really get truly excited about a cruise until it's over. I wish they would come up with a way to do this at home as part of the online check in, maybe by watching an online video to get cleared.