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Cruise: Cozumel

post #1 of 13
9/10/09 at 8:42am
Thread Starter 
Leaving for a cruise on Saturday, a friend is getting married on the cayman islands, blah blah. We are stopping in Cozumel for several hours, question is. Anything great that I dont need to pass up? Never been before, so ideas are welcome.

Thanks
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post #2 of 13
9/10/09 at 12:00pm
I guess the cruise ships are starting to return there . . . My favorite boutique there is the Tanya Moss jewelry shop. Her stuff is very nice, and pretty affordable. Your wife or girlfriend might really like a Tanya Moss necklace.
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post #3 of 13
9/10/09 at 1:20pm
Snorkeling is a good idea, but be wary of the trips offered by the cruise ships -- may be a disappointment (targeted at beginners). Looks for something you can book on your own. Cruise forums may be more helpful.
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post #4 of 13
9/10/09 at 1:31pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bartolo View Post
I guess the cruise ships are starting to return there . . .

My favorite boutique there is the Tanya Moss jewelry shop. Her stuff is very nice, and pretty affordable. Your wife or girlfriend might really like a Tanya Moss necklace.

Yeah the short cheap cruises are all about cozumel nowadays.
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post #5 of 13
9/10/09 at 2:04pm
I went on a great party boat called the Fury. Highly recommended.
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post #6 of 13
9/10/09 at 4:01pm
supposed to have really awesome diving if you're in to that.
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post #7 of 13
9/11/09 at 1:25am
Almost forgot about the Donkey show
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post #8 of 13
9/11/09 at 3:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by GQgeek View Post
supposed to have really awesome diving if you're in to that.

I've been to Cozumel several times for week-long diving trips. The diving there is good, but can be VERY challenging. There often are EXTREMELY strong currents there, and I've first-hand witnessed several almost-disasters because the divers were ill-prepared in many ways, including for the current and for surfacing far from the boat. I've seen a diver who didn't surface and was believed to have been lost (with the divers daughter in tears on the boat) only to have the boat captain spot his bubbles. (He got separated from his group so just 'stayed put' in 50 feet of water.) I've seen divers who surfaced well away from their boat almost cut in two by boats passing by who didn't see them (the divers did not have a surface marker). And I've seen divers who hadn't dove in years inflate their bc's in 70 feet of water and pop to the surface.

Many horrors of diving in Cozumel.
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post #9 of 13
9/11/09 at 4:14pm
My experience has been different from Bartolo's (maybe I've just been lucky). Great diving, not dangerous or challenging compared to other places I've been. Probably a moot point if you only have a few hours. Snorkeling is a good call. No need to book anything, I'd say. Very nice snorkeling just off the beach between the spot where the cruise ships dock and the little town square. The little town is nice enough, but fairly touristy if you don't have time to explore the back streets and get to know some locals.

Day trips to Chichen Itza (sp?) can be cool, but you probably don't have enough time.

IMHO, Cozumel is better suited for staying a few days or week, alternating diving/snorkeling with exploring and just drinking/eating/chilling. For a few hours, I'd either play in the water or just wander the town and maybe find a comfortable place to eat or drink, whatever suits your style.
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post #10 of 13
9/12/09 at 2:04am
Grab some fajitas at what claims to be the oldest restaurant on the island (can't recall the name). It's off one of the main streets at the back of the town square, which is a very short walk from the cruise ship pier. They make an excellent mojito as well.

You'd probably also enjoy renting a scooter for the afternoon and taking a little self-guided tour of the coastline.
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post #11 of 13
9/13/09 at 4:09pm
If you have time for dinner off the ship, I heartily recommend Sorrisi. It's an Italian restaurant in town, but a bit upscale with wonderful whole fish. They also have homemade gelato and other desserts if you just want to stop in for something sweet.
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post #12 of 13
1/18/11 at 6:50pm
Off topic but looking for a proxy going to Cozumel. Looking for a tshirt that I missed getting on a trip there in Dec.
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post #13 of 13
1/18/11 at 7:14pm
If by "a few hours" you mean the typical in at 7-8am out at 4-5pm schedule that most of the cruise ships keep then I'd recommend taking the ferry across to the mainland and going to either Tulum (if you want a bit of the Mayan...Chichen Itza is much better, but too far for a cruise stop) or Xel-Ha if you prefer water.

Xel-Ha is a major water-type park that follows the estuary of one of the rivers there into the sea, so the snorkeling mix of fresh/brackish/salt waters is pretty amazing. Incredible snorkeling. You can walk up river, get in and just float downstream with the current. Great fish and other sea/river life there.

The cruise ship probably has excursions you can buy to these places (and others as well). It will be slightly more expensive through them, but they have the advantage of working with various tour guides, etc. all the time so they know which ones are reputable/reliable. Also if you get delayed somehow (flat tire on the bus, or whatever) they are a bit less likely to leave you in port.

Remember, if you miss the ship THEY WILL NOT WAIT FOR YOU.
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