Expert: Linda Date: 5/29/2008 Subject: Land Excursions
Question QUESTION: Can you recommend and reasonably priced land excursions for 2 adults and 2 children (14 & 11) on Ocho Rios and Grand Caymen? Thank you
ANSWER: For Grand Caymen, google Captain Marvin. He's an excellent vendor, great boats, less expensive than the cruises and only 10-12 people on the boat. You can book on line, but you don't pay till you get there. Leave the dock, turn left, cross the street and walk about 5 min and you'll see Captain Marvins. You go inside, pay and they take you in a van out to the boat. With his tours, they are small, friendly, you get to snorkle on the great barrier reef as well as swimming with the stingrays. He'll also do a video which is well worth the money and catching the faces of your family with the rays. He gives you food to feed them. Lots of personal care. the ship tours are HUGE, way too many people to suit me. Depending on the time of year, try for the earliest you can get, less people and not as hot. We've used him as well as a host of others.
For Ocho Rios, depends on how athletic you are. Doing dunns River is the "in' thing to do. You go by boat to Dunns River, then climb the falls. It' fun, but the water is COLD. If you do that I suggeswt you bring an old pair of tennis shoes you wear for the climb, then pitch them. The rocks get slippy. Being Jamaica, I never recommend tours on your own, it's just not a safe enough island at this point. There are also some trips inland to some botanical gardens and ususally the ships offer a large selection of tours. For more ideas, log on to cruiscritic.com. join, it's free, then navigate to message boards, then to your cruise line. You can see lots of posts there for the excursions that others have done, you can also ask others what they liked and didn't. It's a great site.
Ask away if you have any other questions. You will have a great cruise, I'm sure.
Linda
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi again. We are going on the cruise to enjoy the boat. So was thinking about scrapping land excursions since its only a 5 day cruise. Are there things to do on the ship while others go on excursions? I am hoping it would be a great time to enjoy the ship more
Answer For the kids...not really, they'll be bored. I'd see if I could have them go on the excursions thru the kids club.
Now, for the adults, I think I'd still do Captain Marvins for Grand Cayman. If not, still get off the ship for a bit, town is walking distance, there are some great spots to get a drink, lunch, listen to some music, then since you're alone without the kids...take advantage. I'd go back to the ship, put on bathing suit, get a glass of wine,beer whatever, then go to the hot tubs, have a drink and have some quality time with spouse. Then I'd go for dip in the pool cause it won't be crowded. You could also use your excursion money and have a his and hers massage (always less expensive on a port day then an at sea day)
Depending on the time, you can catch a movie, or my goodness...take a nap with no phones/fax/TV. Also you can pick up before port games or cards to play. It depends on what you 2 like to do, but do have the kids do something or they'll drive you nuts and you 2 won't be able to relax.
