Expert: Barbon - 2/12/2002

Question
We are scheduled to sail on the Century on June 8th as a family group of 13. Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman Island, Cozamel and Key West are our ports. Can you suggest good activities? Should we use the scheduled trips thru the ship or is everything available when you get off for much less $$. We want to go snorkeling at least once and maybe horseback riding in addition to sight seeing. Any specific suggestions on the ship?
Thanks, Donna

Answer
Hi Donna,
  We have been on the Century twice, once during its first year in service and again last year.  Last year we did the Western Caribbean and stopped at the ports you mentioned with the exception of Grand Cayman because the water was too rough to tender there.  We have done the Western Caribbean a few times and I can suggest a few things in several of the ports.  Before I do that I will answer your question about excursions.  We really do not do excurions when doing the Caribbean, however we do not dive or snorkel.  If I were going to do these activities I would do them from the ships excursion.  The reason for this is that I would want to know that my timing was in relation to the ship's docking and would not want to end up on an excursion which may or may not return on time.  Also by doing the ship's excursions you go as a group which is also nice.  In Key West I would do the conch tram tour on my own.  We did that last year and it was really nice.  It is an open tram that gives you a complete tour of the island.  The nice thing about this is that you can get on and off of the trams anytime you want.  For example if you buy tickets to the Hemmingway House tour you can exit the tram there and pick it up to complete your tour.  I believe the trams stops at 5 or 6 places which you can get on and off.  There are trams constantly running.  You can keep getting on and off the trams until you have completed the island tour.  In Cozumel we went to the Presidential (or Presidente, cannot remember the exact name) Intercontinental resort which is located near the pier. There was a small fee to use their beach and pool area.  You may also want to do the "tourist thing" there and walk the downtown shopping area.  In Grand Cayman we usually shop and go to the Marriot on Seven Mile Beach.  (Even though we did not stop there last year we have been there on other cruises).  If you don't make it known that you are not staying there you can use their beach facilities.  In Ocho Rios we just remained on board the ship.  I don't know which dining seating you have selected but we prefer the late seating.  We find we do not have to rush back to port from whatever we are doing, and like to relax on board late in the afternoon.  With early seating you have to rush back to the ship from port.  
I hope this information helps a little and if you have any further questions, just e-mail me.
Barbara
Barbon2@aol.com