Mad OYE !!! WWYD??

[sailingrose]

Just make sure the operator is talking ships time vs. Island time. From what I've heard on cruise boards, Nativeway does a great job. I've done stingray city and loved it. My daughter wanted to feed them in the worst way and then chickened out. I have some nice pictures and memories of our trip there.

Jeff is right, GC is expensive. Don't plan on doing your shopping there. Your going to Cozumel if I remember. Better shopping port then this one. We have seen all that Jeff mentioned and liked each of them(I liked the Rum tour too! LOL) when our kids were younger but not much on the island now for us to do and not worth my tender time, but if you haven't been there, it's worth it.

Do go to Bernard Passman or Richard's Black coral store and have a look around if you have time. The stuff they can make out of black coral is amazing!

[cruisinmama]

I'll have to check on the times ..also they changed our Port, we don't do Cozumel anymore which we have never been too also....We now go to Costa Maya which we plan to just walk around and sight see ourselves..

Off to check the times..

Thanks :smiley:

[teacp]

IMHO I think the swimming with the stingrays is the most exciting thing to do in GC and if we went again I would definitely do it again. But that is about all I would do except walk around the area where they tender you in.

[cruisinmama]

I'm really looking forward to the Stingrays..should be fun... :smiley:

[boba]

:cheesy: :cheesy: Cruisinmama, we were there last month did the stingrays and the reef. If you've never done it, you should. I actually liked snorkeling on the reef better than the rays, but both were great. :smiley: :smiley:

[cruisinmama]

Thanks for the post.. I am really looking forward to it...hope we get off in time. :wink:

[Dan]

The other thing to consider is the relatively high number of times ships don't go to GC due to high winds preventing tendering. Seems to happen more there than other tendering islands. Make sure you aren't out your money should the ship not be able to stop there.

If you think the dollar sucks "big time" you should have taken some cruises 5 or 6 years ago. try forking over $1300 at the bank and getting handed $750 US LOL.

[schatje]

You must go swimming with the sting rays. This was our all time favorite thing thus far on our cruises. We are planning to go back next year. One of the handlers said "who wants a sting ray message" I ofcourse being the adventurous type piped up and said "I do". To my surprise he picked up the stingray and placed it on my back....the thing floppy around for a few seconds..I still have not forgotten that experience. I would do it again in a heartbeat. My advice is not to try and plan too much on this island. Getting on and off the tender is tricky in rough water and can be time consuming. Just enjoy whatever you decide to do because you may never pass that way again. :)

[cruisinmama]

Yes we would really like to do this Tour as you right Mary we may never come that way again..

I did ask the Tour guide and if for some reason we can't get it we are not charged..its just getting off the ship in time..lol..

Ouch on the dollar back then.....We did the UK last summer now thats smarts for money..

We had lunch for 6 of us,, nothing special, burgers and fries and I think I had a veggie burger.. once it was converted from Pounds to Canuck funds.. $ 175.00 dollar lunch owie... :shocked:

But I'd go back again.. :wink: was wonderful...

[jbond]

Another alternative would be to not book a tour with anyone and wait until you get off the ship. There are lots of offers on the dock for visits to Stingray City and the sandbar.

Our experience with GC is that it is usually calmer in the morning than in the afternoon. We got back to the dock one time and there was no ship! Because of the high swells, they had moved the ship to Spotts on the other side of the island. We were met by an RCI rep and bussed over, but it does make check your watch.

I agree with everyone else that the stingrays are quite an experience.