Thanks for any opinions or help you can give me. We will be traveling with 2 teen daughters on NCL Dream on Feb 17. I heard you could just walk from the pier to a beach where we could rent gear and snorkle off the beach. Is that true? Where do we leave our "stuff"? Are there lockers? Do you "rent" hammocks and beach chairs? Am I being too cheap? Is it better to go to a hotel and pay to use their facilities? We really just want Shade and snorkling. Also is it safe to eat the food at the vendors at the beaches? Thanks so MUCH- eileen

eilyann, you can get a day rate at Paradise Beach. It is basically a resort without the hotel rooms.

You can order food from the couple of restaurants, snorkel, use the water toys, have drinks at the bar, use the locker rooms, shower, etc.

Here is the link:

http://www.paradise-beach-cozumel.com/

Very nice place.

Just remembered Chankanaab Park. Didn't go there but it came highly recommended.

http://www.cozguide.net/chankan.html

Chankanaab had great snorkeling when we were there.

Thank you Thank you both for your replies! Now I'm wondering if there are great beaches to snorkle at close to Progreso? - Eileen

The snorkeling was GREAT off the beach of the InterContinental. I don't believe that beach is private.