Going with 2 young children

[tw67]

We will be going on the Enchantment at the end of August with our 3 and 8 year old sons. They are very active children, will tolerate a beach for a short time period and they prefer pools over beach. Since our ship is the one that goes to Cococay instead of Beliz, they will be having a beach day that day, I don't feel the need to do the "beach day" excusion that the ship offers, since I think it will be wasted on them, and I don't want to over do the beach when they will be on one two days later for the whole day.

 

So I am looking for ideas for the day. I am not saying the beach is totally out, but I refuse to pay for the excusion from the ship when I am not sure how long my kids will tolerate it!

 

I was thinking what a great day to stay on the ship since most people will head off, but I do feel the need to visit the port since we don't get there every year!! As you can see, I have a lot of internally fighting going on in my head on what to do that day!!

 

I will listen to all ideas!!

 

Thanks so much!!

 

Teresa

[cozgal]

I think Playa Mia has a pool, playground,zoo and the beach if you decide to do that http://www.playamia.com/index.htm...

perhaps they may like playing minigolf...

http://www.czmgolf.com/index.htm (pictures are pre-wilma)

 

It is hard to find something that will appeal to both ages but hope these help!

[lisaland15]

Hi Teresa--We've gone to Paradise Beach twice--once when the kids were 14 mos. and 9 yrs. and then 2 mos. later. Taxi is about $14 one-way for a family of 4 and to use the water toys, it's $8 per person. We spent 3-4 hrs. there each time. Minigolf was very reasonable, too (in downtown Cozumel).

 

Here are some things my little one did:

 

http://community.webshots.com/photo/382240390/1232320394061183369HBJOIT

 

http://community.webshots.com/photo/382240390/1232321247061183369vRtEaP

 

And some things my older one did:

 

http://community.webshots.com/photo/382240390/1232320230061183369wZcGin

 

http://community.webshots.com/photo/382240390/1232320280061183369tseMGC

 

They both liked Minigolf, too:

 

http://community.webshots.com/photo/212146923/1212159512061183369wPHFCn

[madisonswims]

Hi Teresa--We've gone to Paradise Beach twice--once when the kids were 14 mos. and 9 yrs. and then 2 mos. later. Taxi is about $14 one-way for a family of 4 and to use the water toys, it's $8 per person. We spent 3-4 hrs. there each time. Minigolf was very reasonable, too (in downtown Cozumel).

 

Here are some things my little one did:

 

http://community.webshots.com/photo/382240390/1232320394061183369HBJOIT

 

http://community.webshots.com/photo/382240390/1232321247061183369vRtEaP

 

And some things my older one did:

 

http://community.webshots.com/photo/382240390/1232320230061183369wZcGin

 

http://community.webshots.com/photo/382240390/1232320280061183369tseMGC

 

They both liked Minigolf, too:

 

http://community.webshots.com/photo/212146923/1212159512061183369wPHFCn

 

Thanks for sharing your pictures! I am taking my eight year old daughter on a cruise and we plan to hit Paradise Beach. It was great to show her your pictures. She is so jazzed now!

 

I happened to notice the picture of the shark. Did seeing the shark concern your son at all? In Cozumel we are taking a 3 reef snorkeling tour. I sure hope that if we do see a shark that it will not stop my daughter from enjoying the tour!!!

[tw67]

Lisa,

 

Thanks for sharing! I am considering Paradise Beach. We will be in Pompano for a few days before the cruise, and then on the cruise we have Coco Cay, so I hope they don't get too beached out!!

 

Thanks!

 

T

[lisaland15]

Thanks for sharing your pictures! I am taking my eight year old daughter on a cruise and we plan to hit Paradise Beach. It was great to show her your pictures. She is so jazzed now!

 

I happened to notice the picture of the shark. Did seeing the shark concern your son at all? In Cozumel we are taking a 3 reef snorkeling tour. I sure hope that if we do see a shark that it will not stop my daughter from enjoying the tour!!!

The picture with the nurse shark was taken on a tour in Belize. Nurse sharks is considered relatively harmless unless provoked. We weren't worried--we thought it was cool!

 

And this was really cool, too--a sting ray tour in Grand Cayman:

 

http://community.webshots.com/photo/510615571/1510649289061183369aWkDAf

 

http://community.webshots.com/photo/510615571/1510650088061183369ocFHKW

 

My hubby and son did see a little shark at Paradise Beach, but it was pretty far out. And, of course, my son proceeded to yell out half across the beach with people on it "Mom, a shark!!" :eek:

 

tw67--I think most kids are "fish" at heart, love being in the water, and can't have enough beach days. I think, too, beach days give the kids a chance to really play after being "confined" on the cruise ship. :)

[schweer432]

Hey lisaland15, who did you use for the String Ray tour in Grand Cayman?? We will be there in January and I want to choose one that will be good with my kids (5 & 9).

 

Thanks, Misty

[lisaland15]

Hey lisaland15, who did you use for the String Ray tour in Grand Cayman?? We will be there in January and I want to choose one that will be good with my kids (5 & 9).

 

Thanks, Misty

Hi Misty,

 

Here's the website for the tour we took: http://www.nativewaywatersports.com/shiptours.html#RRR

 

You can find a bunch of reviews on Nativeway in the Grand Cayman section of Cruise Critic. My hubby, son, and I thought the stingrays were great, but our very cautious 2 yr. old wanted nothing to do with them.:(