carniva cruise key west and cozumel in august 2014
 

Hi travelers,

Me and my girlfriends with our kids (ages 2-15) total 8 in our group are going on a carnival cruise to Key West and Cozumel. I need suggestions please as to excursions we can do with the age group that we have. In Key West (7:30- 4:00 PM) we are thinking of doing the conch tour, any suggestion of a cheap and reliable tour guide? We also want to just lay on the beach and let the kids play and swim, we don't like to party and we don't like crowded places. Any suggestions of a kid friendly beach(free) that we can have lunch by the beach in Key West? We are also up to any other suggestions you may have for activities (6-7 hrs.)

We also would like to explore Cozumel, our ship docks at 1:30 PM-10 PM. We like to try the Tulum mayan ruins and explore the beach below it. Are there any souvenir shops near the Tulum ruins? Are they expensive? We are thinking of renting a Van and a driver ($250 for 6 hrs. for a  party of 8) to take us to Tulum and any nearby beach to swim and have dinner, is that a reasonable price? My other concerns are that we will start in the afternoon and not sure how late Tulum is open and if we have enough time to get there and do some sightseeing and swimming and shopping. Is there any other activities we can do at night that is ideal for the kids? We also would like to try great authentic Mexican cuisine preferably seafood. We like the mom and pop restaurant vibe by the beach and do not care for 5 star treatment.

Also, I have heard that there are a lot of taxi or tour guides in the pier where Carnival docks or by the ferry terminal at Cozumel or Playa Del Carmen that will offer you their services at a much cheaper price than the ones advertised in the internet and we have someone in our party that speaks Spanish but I don't know if this is true and safe. Would anyone recommend that we try that instead?

I apologize for asking too much questions and any suggestions will be much appreciated.

Thank You,
Ana

We were just in Cozumel on a Carnival cruise last Thursday. First, taxis - once off the ship you'll have to navigate a walk thru the large Duty Free shop then run the gamut of shops and restaurants before making your way to the taxi queue. The prices are posted on large boards and can only comment that a taxi with 2 or 4 is $8 USD total each way, not sure of the cost of a van but there were plenty available so you shouldn't have a problem and the taxi lines move quickly. To get to Tulum you'll need to go to the ferry terminal in the center of Cozumel and take a ferry to Playa del Carmen, sorry can't give you an idea of how often the ferries run or how long each trip would take. As to getting to Tulum from PdC, again, don't know the exact timing but it will take a while. Personally, it sounds like a lot for a short time in port, but of course it's your vacation, be sure to find out what time you have to be back on the ship also. We were in Cozumel during the day, left port around 4-4:30 pm I think, but we had to be back aboard at 3 pm. Just remember, they will not wait if you're late unless you're on Carnival scheduled excursion.

I hope this doesn't sound like I'm trying to talk you out of your travels to Tulum, it is beautiful and I'm sure you'll enjoy, just be realistic and make firm plans should you decide to go.

Enjoy your cruise.

I just responded to another Cozumel request the other day, and it works here as well. Search the Fodor Cozumel forum for TC's tips, go to Fodor's destination guide and search this forum for Cozumel. There are ruins on Cozumel similar to Tulum so you might consider that especially since you get in to Cozumel "so late".

I think by the time you leave the ship, go thru the duty free shops, get a taxi, get to town, get the ferry, take the trip, you still need to get to Tulum and the site closes at 5. It will be very tight, rushed at the site and don't think its feasible. You need to find the ferry schedule and how to get to Tulum to see if it works.

Cozumel ruins are close to where the ship docks, so I would take a taxi there, do those ruins for the afternoon and come back to the ship to drop the younger ones off as I think they will have had enough by then. Then there is town for anyone interested from about 6-9p.

I just responded to another Cozumel request the other day, and it works here as well. Search the Fodor Cozumel forum for TC's tips, go to Fodor's destination guide and search this forum for Cozumel. There are ruins on Cozumel similar to Tulum so you might consider that especially since you get in to Cozumel "so late".

I think by the time you leave the ship, go thru the duty free shops, get a taxi, get to town, get the ferry, take the trip, you still need to get to Tulum and the site closes at 5. It will be very tight, rushed at the site and don't think its feasible. You need to find the ferry schedule and how to get to Tulum to see if it works.

Cozumel ruins are close to where the ship docks, so I would take a taxi there, do those ruins for the afternoon and come back to the ship to drop the younger ones off as I think they will have had enough by then. Then there is town for anyone interested from about 6-9p.

Key West really isn't a "beach" place, but there are a few places you could go. Here's a link to a description of the various beaches around Key West. I would say that Higgs Beach sounds closest to what you want.

http://keywest.com/beaches.htm#.U-VIEfldVIE