This will be our first Caribbean Cruise and we need help selecting excursions. We are from Houston, so escaping the winter is not the issue, but seeing clear water is! We want to snorkel, and are considering getting scuba certified before our Christmas cruise, but I'm not sure my 11 yr old can handle it. So, I need advise: snorkel okay or go with scuba?
Next: what excursions to take? I don't want ALL water stuff, but what to do where? I hear that Jamaica is too dangerous to do independently, and that we should take a cruise excursion. Need LOTS of advise. PLEASE!
If your 11 year old is affraid of diving, don't force the issue. Break him/her in on snorkeling first, then the fear may go away. If he/she is ready to try it, make sure you have a few open water dives under your belt before going on a boat dive. In Montego Bay, I would strongly suggest going with an organized tour. Jamaica is a beautiful island, but a very poor island. They will want to sell you drugs, hair braiding, junk, etc. Stick with a tour, or do an all inclusive. In Grand Cayman, Stingray city is great. We also did a snorkel/dive on a couple of wrecks that were near the dock where you tender that were great. 7 mile beach is beautiful as well. In Cozumel, Xel-ha is great for watersports, the snorkeling is awesome. We did a swim with the dolphins in Chanakaab (sp?) Park pre-hurricane that was amazing. The park is re-opened now, not sure if the dolphins are back. But it was a nice way to spend the day. There were a few beaches and snorkeling spots, but the snorkeling in Xel-ha was better. We did a half day Tulhum ruins and half day Xel-ha, that was a taste of both. Personally, I would rather have spent more time in Xel-ha, but I love snorkeling. Best wishes and have a wonderful cruise!
Thanks everybody! Well, at least Grand Cayman is set. Looks like stingrays are a must. We haven't decided on the dolphin swim or just snorkeling in Cozumel. Hubby wanted to see the ruins, but I was told the buses in Mexico are a nightmare, lacking shock absorbers. My husband has a severely bad back and this scared him to death. Anyone have a comment on that? As for Montego, well, I want to zipline through the trees, but I doubt anyone else will. And we may like to snorkel, but we HATE beaches. I know, I know, I'm sick. But a redhead and beaches are no match. As it is, snorkeling is risky, and that is a short time. Anyone done the raft float down the river? My m-in-law might like that.
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