queenpailhead Posted August 8, 2019 #1 Share Posted August 8, 2019 So, I just booked the Legend western Caribbean cruise. Due to several unforeseen circumstances, we're now on a major budget for this cruise. I'm on the lookout for reduced price Carnival gift cards, checking my AmEx card regularly for their Carnival sales, and flying on a combo of points and companion certificates (2 full price, 4 "free"). We will have some OBC though. Can anyone give any tips/tricks for cheap excursions in Belize, Mahogany Bay, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel? 2 adults, 3 teens and a preteen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sra12574 Posted August 8, 2019 #2 Share Posted August 8, 2019 Depends what you like to do . Mahagony bay has a free beach . If you have at least your own snorkle and mask you can save the money it would cost to rent them . Most places that rent the masks will charge what you pay at walmart for one you can keep . Grand Cayman if you were to do snorkling theres a couple spots right near the port that you can rent a locker and snorkle from shore . Theres a restuarant I think it may be called paradise that they feed fish scraps that they clean so it it attracts some fish . You see some big tarpon there . Some people skip going ashore in Belize . As far as getting the advice for the legend . Its always good if you can get to read other peoples trip reports but since the Legend will start doing the western soon , it may be good to read some reports for the Miracle because that is the ship the legend will be replacing on that route . The legend has better amneties then the miracle though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wardamnweagle Posted August 8, 2019 #3 Share Posted August 8, 2019 I researched found a small restaurant in Grand Cayman (sunset house?) that offers snorkeling just off the patio as the restaurant is part of a resort for divers and they train in the water next to the resort. We had planned to go there for lunch and snorkel, but the water was too rough to tender... Also, Stingray City had an excursion for $40/person which is pretty cheap as far as excursions go and was actually what I was lookin forward to most on the trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NebraskaSatellite Posted August 8, 2019 #4 Share Posted August 8, 2019 On Cozumel, you can take a taxi from the port to Paradise Beach and get in for $3/person if you spend $10/person on food and drink. Taxi will run I think $30 each way for all of you. So $140-ish for the group plus tips. You can get a wristband to climb the inflatables in the water for $18 each, which also gets you out of the minimum food spend. Not much snorkeling to be had, but shaded chairs on the beach and a nice pool. Food was good. No vendor hassles, safe area. No waits for taxis either direction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vtoria98 Posted August 8, 2019 #5 Share Posted August 8, 2019 In Cozumel we always bring a cooler, head to their Walmart equivalent and load up on beer water etc. Depending in the port u dock this might be walking distance. Then we catch a cab to Money Bar, buy a drink or two and there are free chairs, wifi and awesome snorkeling. We bring our own gear but u can rent almost anything there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moondog73 Posted August 8, 2019 #6 Share Posted August 8, 2019 Best advice is research, research, research. Look at the port of calls boards here on CC and check tripadvisor as a starting point. Google shore excursion for xxx. Also, it is always much cheaper and a better experience not to do any ship sponsored tours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wardamnweagle Posted August 8, 2019 #7 Share Posted August 8, 2019 1 hour ago, vtoria98 said: In Cozumel we always bring a cooler, head to their Walmart equivalent and load up on beer water etc. Depending in the port u dock this might be walking distance. Then we catch a cab to Money Bar, buy a drink or two and there are free chairs, wifi and awesome snorkeling. We bring our own gear but u can rent almost anything there. Doing this next time. We snorkeled and met the operator at the marina. While we waited i went into one of the shops and got a beer, a Dos Equis. I put it on the counter expecting $3-4. When he said “uno” I said, yes, just one beer. He repeated and I realized he meant $1. It was just a relieving surprise after the cruise ship prices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vtoria98 Posted August 8, 2019 #8 Share Posted August 8, 2019 17 minutes ago, wardamnweagle said: Doing this next time. We snorkeled and met the operator at the marina. While we waited i went into one of the shops and got a beer, a Dos Equis. I put it on the counter expecting $3-4. When he said “uno” I said, yes, just one beer. He repeated and I realized he meant $1. It was just a relieving surprise after the cruise ship prices. Honestly we bring a cooler everywhere now. You can always find a store on the way to anything to get your own refreshments. We always buy something where we end up but we like to not just save money but have our own stuff with us no matter what we decide to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Host Carolyn Posted August 9, 2019 #9 Share Posted August 9, 2019 As mentioned above, the individual ports of calls boards here on Cruise Critic will have a wealth of information. I'm leaving this post here because you are going to all these ports but if you have specific questions about a non-Carnival excursion suggest you post it on the appropriate port board! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbylah Posted August 9, 2019 #10 Share Posted August 9, 2019 Depends what you mean by cheap. You could stay on the ship for nothing and enjoy the reduced amount of people. For me it is about the value of the experience compared to the cost. For example, paying for a taxi to get the family (2 adults, 1 teen, 2 preteens) to a crowded, average beach annoys the heck out of me, but paying $100 per person for a really great excursion is money well spent. As an example, our last trip to Cozumel we did the Rio Secreto Underground River excursion. That was better value for money than going to all of the other beaches on the cruise by itself, where we spent more on taxis back and forth and drinks/food. The kids still talk about that excursion, but not the cruise. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g150812-d1075137-Reviews-Rio_Secreto-Playa_del_Carmen_Yucatan_Peninsula.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darcy03231 Posted August 9, 2019 #11 Share Posted August 9, 2019 Grand Cayman - Walk down to Eden Rock. You can snorkel right from shore. They do locker and snorkel gear rentals. Roatan - Just go to the beach at Mahogany Bay. Belize - We get off the ship on the first tender, go to the water taxi and spend the day out on Caye Caulker. Drinks and food are very reasonable there. Just make sure you get back early enough to catch the ship. Cozumel - Here's another vote for Paradise Beach. We really enjoyed our day there. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daddyfto Posted August 9, 2019 #12 Share Posted August 9, 2019 On 8/8/2019 at 3:39 PM, queenpailhead said: So, I just booked the Legend western Caribbean cruise. Due to several unforeseen circumstances, we're now on a major budget for this cruise. I'm on the lookout for reduced price Carnival gift cards, checking my AmEx card regularly for their Carnival sales, and flying on a combo of points and companion certificates (2 full price, 4 "free"). We will have some OBC though. Can anyone give any tips/tricks for cheap excursions in Belize, Mahogany Bay, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel? 2 adults, 3 teens and a preteen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daddyfto Posted August 9, 2019 #13 Share Posted August 9, 2019 Moby Dick Stingray Tours Grand Cayman.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out of Iowa Posted August 11, 2019 #14 Share Posted August 11, 2019 I second Daddyfto's recommendation of Moby Dick's stringray city tour in Grand Caymanl. It is one your kids will talk about for years to come. Cozumel is a very easy town to just walk around in! Plan on cab fare into town (it can be a blistering hot walk). Take yourselves on a "self-guided tour" of the Mega Store (a bit like WalMart), pick up some snacks after your kids try to decipher the Spanish on the labels in the grocery aisles, see the fountains downtown, haggle with a street vendor for $1 necklaces, stop to watch the scuba school students in the sea, wander through the market area. Roatan - absolutely stay in the free beach area and enjoy splashing in the water and soaking up some sunshine at the sand. Belize - I've never stayed on the ship during a port call but this is one (of two, the other being Jamaica) that I would consider enjoying the solitude and less-crowded day if you don't want to part with any money whatsoever. Investigate the port area (within the fence) and get back on board....could take you an hour. Maybe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lasvegascruising Posted August 12, 2019 #15 Share Posted August 12, 2019 Money Bar Beach Club in Cozumel has been our choice. We bring our own snorkel gear, order chips and salsa, a frozen drink for myself and a few beers for hubby. I think it is a great spot for relaxing. They do not have a sand beach but as soon as your legs are in the water you can see fish swimming around. We have never brought our own drinks but if it is allowed, great. Just order chips and salsa like we do. We spend a few hours just hanging out and the servers have always been very polite and give great service. I love it there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasalth Posted August 13, 2019 #16 Share Posted August 13, 2019 I would say if you want to and/or are willing to spend $ on something, I would suggest doing it in Belize. While things can more than change since we were there a few years ago, it would be the place I would seriously have to consider taking a ship excursion from when we go back some day. And I would be hesitant to go w/o my DH and now my 2 DS's with me. They were smaller then, but now that they are 21 and 17.. I would feel safer with them around! A good example is our great guide who the cave tubing company called in for us because they overbooked on guides. He was the son of the owner of the big eco-extreme tourism in Belize. Like.. the ones who repel down 200 ft into caves to dive/swim/camp/rock climb for weeks tours. He was worried about time because it might be getting to dusk when we got back to the ship and outside is not where you want to be in his opinion. If you are really going on the cheap, I would say use it as a nice quite day to enjoy the Legend. Alas she isn't big and has amazing things like others, but she is my favorite! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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