Excursion Help - Underground River or Amazing Secret River?

[RobynFL]

Can anyone tell me what is the difference between the two?

[iujen94]

I'm also trying to figure out the answer to this. The Amazing Secret River is just the caves and takes 7 hours. The Underground River and 5th Avenue Shopping includes 90 minutes of shopping time yet takes 6 1/2 hours. Is the difference just more time spent in the caves being visited? Is one set of caves better than the other? Thanks!

[The Phoenixx]

Has anyone been on either of these excursions that can offer some input? Honeymoon cruise in May and we are excited about trying new things together.

Thanks.

[wildcatcruzer]

Did the Amazing River excursion through Carnival, we loved it.

[Pacificlander]

I'm curious about these also. One says the activity level is mild and the other

say moderate. Anybody been on the Underground River Cenote"?

[ABQrobin]

We did the Underground river with lunch and 5th ave shopping. LOVED it. BUT you have to wear a floatation device and you are floating in the dark, in water over your head for much of the time. It was a blast, but not for everyone. The guides are awesome, the food is served in a cave after the 2 caverns are toured and wonderful. We would do it again in a minute.

 

Friends onboard did the other one, and hated it as they were walking in waist deep water and had to wear hard hats. Don't know if it was really bad, or they were just being dramatic, but they said they didn't enjoy it at all.

 

MY video of our excursion:

 

there is a little walking, some stairs... but doable for anyone if you want.

[Pacificlander]

Thanks for the quick response!

[lose2cruise]

Thanks, ABQRobin! That video and your review are really helpful. This excursion, underground River and 5th Ave shopping, is the one we are interested in. How long is the free time afterward? What is the shopping like? And perhaps a really dumb question: I see everyone with their phones out in your video. Where do you put them to keep them from getting wet? :)

 

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[iujen94]

We did the Underground river with lunch and 5th ave shopping. LOVED it. BUT you have to wear a floatation device and you are floating in the dark, in water over your head for much of the time. It was a blast, but not for everyone. The guides are awesome, the food is served in a cave after the 2 caverns are toured and wonderful. We would do it again in a minute.

 

Friends onboard did the other one, and hated it as they were walking in waist deep water and had to wear hard hats. Don't know if it was really bad, or they were just being dramatic, but they said they didn't enjoy it at all.

 

MY video of our excursion:

 

there is a little walking, some stairs... but doable for anyone if you want.

 

 

Also wondering how long the shopping portion was. My family (especially my sons aged 9 and 12!) aren't so excited about the shopping. Would it be possible to ditch the group after the cavern and take the ferry and a cab back to the ship on our own?

[ABQrobin]

Also wondering how long the shopping portion was. My family (especially my sons aged 9 and 12!) aren't so excited about the shopping. Would it be possible to ditch the group after the cavern and take the ferry and a cab back to the ship on our own?

 

We had a little over an hour to shop. Plenty of time.

No, you cannot ditch the ferry and come later.... we actually arrived right when our ship was listed to depart. They held the ship for us and for another group that had done a mainland tour.

[iujen94]

We had a little over an hour to shop. Plenty of time.

No, you cannot ditch the ferry and come later.... we actually arrived right when our ship was listed to depart. They held the ship for us and for another group that had done a mainland tour.

 

Sorry - my question was confusing. We would actually be interested in skipping the shopping altogether and trying to catch a ferry on our own right after the caverns portion is done (so we'd actually come back earlier than the tour group). Just wasn't sure if this would be possible. Thanks!

[ABQrobin]

Sorry - my question was confusing. We would actually be interested in skipping the shopping altogether and trying to catch a ferry on our own right after the caverns portion is done (so we'd actually come back earlier than the tour group). Just wasn't sure if this would be possible. Thanks!

 

I am not sure... The Guide did not give us our return ferry ticket until our meet time at the dock. Maybe he would give it to you early, but the ferry only runs hourly anyhow, and there are 2 different companies that alternate. Not sure if your tickets would be valid for a diffenent company. Just sounds like a mess to me.

Honestly, it is only an hour or so... you could buy snacks, sit at the waterfront stage, listen to music, watch dancers, etc.

 

 

Oh..... and I just thought of something. If your ship is at Puerta Maya or Internaational pier, you would definitely not want to do this. They are south of town, and ferry goes to the ferry station in town. UNLESS it is chartered by a cruiseline for excursions, then it goese to YOUR ship's pier.

Edited February 1, 2016 by ABQrobin