Booking excursions with Carnival or is their other reliable options?

[hopefrog]

I am looking to book the Carnival Conquest to Montego Bay, Grand Caymen and Cozumel in January. It has now come down to what to do for excursions. I would like to have them lined out before the trip to insure that it will be as worry free as possible. Most of the excursions I think are reasonable but the Montego Bay ones seem a little pricey. We have a 7 year old and she loves the beach. Are there other sites to book reliable excursions ahead of time? Also, is it possible to reserve a massage treatment at the ship spa ahead of time?

[LHT28]

In Grand Cayman you can just take the bus to 7 mile beach if you just want beach time or walk left as you exit the port there is a small beach there about a 1/2 mile

 

Go to the ports of call forums for other suggestions guides etc...

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=587

[CruiserBruce]

If you look around the boards, you will see the topic of booking your own excursions independent of the cruise line is discussed every day. It is referred to as DIY- do it yourself, and is quite popular.

 

However, it takes some reearch and planning. The best place to start is the Ports boards, as LHT28 as mentioned. You will see private tour venders commonly mentioned there.

 

Another important place for some reading is your roll call, here:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=327

 

Those are the Conquest Roll Calls, just select your sailing. Find out what others on your cruise are doing.

[cb at sea]

Definitely research your ports....most of the things you want to do don't require an excursion AT ALL! Easy to do beaches on your own. The exception may be Jamaica....many folks are a bit wary of DIY there....so, get yourself a guidebook, read it, figure out what interests you, and the book will allow you to see the easiest, cheapest way to go about it!

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

We never us the cruise line ..

[panoramaofthepast]

Try Island Marketing - I have had good luck with them in Cozumel and Roatan.

[Keith1010]

I would visit each of the port departure boards for the Islands you are stopping at to get some good ideas. You can easily do things in each of these ports on your own or through the cruise line.

 

Keith