We will be sailing on the Mercury during President's week. 3 adults, 3 children and are mainly interested in getting to the nearest beach and hanging out there while the ship is in Port. What is the easiest and least expensive way for us to do this in all or any of these ports? We speak Spanish, are experienced travelers and are not afraid of public transportation. Thank you.

IMHO the best place in Cozumel is Chankanaab Lagoon located 10 min from port and available via taxi. You can snorkel in the lagoon and it is wonderful! The botanical gardens are beautiful. You would need to check and see if there is a beach appropriate for small children who cannot snorkel. The lagoon has very safe waters and you can rent equipment there. Go to Google and type in Chankanaab Lagoon Mexico and see what you think.

Yes, Chankanab is the best place but San Francisco Beach is a close second- cabs are everywhere and can take you from one to another. Just stay where you are happiest.<BR><BR>Grand Cayman has a public beach on 7-mile beach- in town find the jitney stand and they will take you there.<BR><BR>Never been to Progresso.<BR><BR>Have fun!

Hi Nina,<BR><BR>I presume Celebrity will have a complimentary shuttle to the beach at the end of the pier in Progreso. I was on two other cruise lines that did.<BR><BR>It is a very nice beach but has no facilities. You can not walk there since the pier is very long.<BR><BR>The complimenary shuttle also takes you to the town.<BR><BR>Enjoy your trip.<BR><BR>Paul

Thanks so much Paul. Just the info I was looking for. I don't mind not having any facilities, we just want to play on the beach and swim!

Paul was the only one worth thanking?

Mea Culpa, thanks everyone, it's just that Paul answered 3 other questions I posted here as well.

We were on the Grandeur last week (got back yesterday) and went to Chankanaab. We had a great time! DO NOT take the ship excursion..do it on your own. The ship wanted $99 to get you to the park and back, the entrance fee, and the cheaper of the parks two dolphin 'encounters', which was $49 if purchased at the park. For $49 you get in the water with the dolphins and stand along the side of their tank. Kisses are exchanged, you pet them, they roll over in your arms and do a few tricks. The one for $119 is called 'swimming with the dolphins' and in addition to the above, you actually get out in their tank with them and they somehow propel you through the water. Anyway, if you do on your own what the ship charges $99 for, it will cost you about $64. (Taxi averaged out to about $5 RT pp, the entrance was $10.00 pp (the 4 year old with us was free) and then at the park you can choose from several extras. They also had a sea lion show that I think was $5).<BR><BR>And if getting in the water with the dolphins is not in your budget, they have a pier all around this activity and you can stand just above where all this is happening. It was great fun just to watch! <BR><BR>One more thing..and I just don't understand this. The ship's daily bulletin said that the taxi to Chankanaab Park was $15 pp, one-way. Well, someone had told me AND I read on this forum that it was about $2. I thought maybe it was a misprint so I asked and was told the same thing at the pursers desk! How could they be so far off, surely not to just promote their excursion!<BR> <BR>Just for the record, we liked the Rhapsody better than the Grandeur. We were on the Rhapsody in May and feel it is a better maintained ship. A couple of times we had trouble finding a clean table on the pool deck and in the solarium which never happened on the Rhapsody. I don't think our cabin(s) were quite as clean on arrival, and - starting the evening before we docked - we all felt that we had become old news. Everyone just seemed 'different' and, yes, we did tip everyone..over the recommended amounts. It was like, out with the old and in with the new! which I never felt on any other cruise. Have any of you encountered this?<BR><BR>And my family asked me if I knew what these people got in the way of a salary. Does anyone out there know?<BR><BR>MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!!

About $60 per month and they have to pay for their own laundry, housekeeper and drinks.<BR><BR>Paul

Paul, that's awful. I just told my husband and he is shocked. One daughter got chummy with her room stewardess and asked her out-right and was told (she thought)$50 a month which we all said must be a misunderstanding (which is why I asked). I guess it wasn't.<BR>Our waitress had 3 tables (7, 6 &amp; 8) and that is such a hard job..how she carries 18 (I counted) dinners on her shoulder is beyond me! Anyway, we think her table of 8 japanese did not tip her. There were no goodbye's and thank you's and she seemed a little down in the dumps. I would be too! And just before Christmas!!