MO & LO on the go!

Does anyone have any experience with https://cozumelcruiseexcursions.com?  We are looking at booking with them and are looking for other people's experiences.  Specifically the XRAIL Buggy Adventure that includes a stop at the Jade cenote.

https://cozumelcruiseexcursions.com/cozumel/xrail-jade-caverns-off-road-cozumel/

We did the trikes!  Lots of fun and saw lots of the island!

Made this video of it!

6 minutes ago, KJ777 said:

What is this bar code trick?  I think I'm late to the party as usual.

I second this.......missed out on what this is.  Our son has a balcony guarantee room on Wonder in 2024 so really curious

We have our first back to back cruise scheduled for 2024 on Wonder.  We are getting the refreshment package on the first half but curious if anyone knows if the cups will work on the second half again still?  Looking for ways to cut costs.........

we have used shoreexcursionsgroup.com

not sure if they have what you are looking for but worth a try. 

2 hours ago, RCL_Cruiser said:

Not the answer I am looking for! 

Hmmmm.....interesting response......

I did a quick google search for "how to contact Royal Caribbean" and got many different options to include "online chat".  Snail mail addresses, emails (several), many phone numbers, and social media accounts all available also.

Hope you get the answer you are looking for

The jet skis are fun.  Not as expensive if one person is a passenger and other drives.  Quite expensive if all 4 drive.  I believe you can switch drivers in the middle so each get a chance.  Many videos out there on youtube of it.  We have one here:  https://youtu.be/3dkUCgCJmMk .  This will give you a good idea what it's all about.  Jet skiing in the ocean was quite fun

As long as someone in the group photo has the package you are good.  We did this on a large family cruise and tried to make sure that one person with the package was in most photos

28 minutes ago, foxrunner said:

How do find the plane? We have found all the artificial reef buoyed sites. When I have asked the lifeguards they say it has been removed.

Thanks  

Oh, maybe it was removed, we haven't been since 2020 before covid.  We couldn't stop on our 2023 cruise because of weather.  It was literally in the middle of the bay from what I remember.

agree, do this all the time

We also bring a sound machine too.  Love it!  

We never do mytime dining because we always see the lines of people waiting.  Get a traditional dining time.  They have two options and they are decent options.  I never understood the need for mytime dining......but that's just us and how we cruise.  Dining complaints always seem to come from mytime dining too.....not traditional dining.

Having been on smaller, older ships and now larger, newer ships......it's like comparing a 2023 Porsche SUV to a 2012 Ford SUV......You have to manage expectations and be prepared for things not to be quite as nice and grand.  The newer large ships are just really awesome!    Starting on one of the best and then switching down would be hard.....we did it the other way and glad we did so we can appreciate what each ship has to offer.

Hopefully next time is better and the tips on this site can help with it

On 7/2/2023 at 7:33 PM, SpeedNoodles said:

Don't pay any attention to the percentage off.   Just look at the price.  If it's an excursion that you want to do, book it (they sell out frequently).  Then just keep an eye on it - check your Cruise Planner frequently and don't only look during published "sales".   You can then cancel and immediately rebook it at the lower price (or call, to be sure you get it).  Some of the BEST deals that I've gotten on shore excursions were random price drops between published sales.

I second this!  Sometimes the percentage is higher off but the price went up the percentage is based off.  Look at the final price.  And look often as they change ALL the time.  Also agree not to wait too long, the good ones go!

On 3/24/2023 at 7:38 AM, MO & LO on the go! said:

We just did a catamaran/snorkel/beach in January through shore excursion group and enjoyed it.  Currently making a video of some of it and will post it so you can check it out for yourself.  We would recommend it, staff was very friendly and made good rum punch

Here is the video as promised!  

We use our own snorkel gear at Coco Cay and all snorkel excursions.  Much nicer than what they offer!  I usually don't use life vests if they don't require it and Coco Cay does not require it but you need to pay attention to the water conditions.  Some times it can get pretty nasty there.  Chill Island is the best spot in my opinion and has things in the water to see (plane, etc).

Also, if you book a Royal excursion they guarantee you will get back before departure.  If not they hold the ship (if not too late) or get you to the ship/next port another way.  A friend was brought out on a boat to catch the ship that had left port because they were late and the ship left.  They boarded as it moved.  Peace of mind!

duration broken down to travel time and actual excursion time

We have Starlink at home and experience a lot of this on a daily basis, just not quite as severe.  We sometimes get buffering on our youtubeTV because it slowed down so much.  We see speeds fluctuate from 30-300MB and we aren't moving.  Also depends on the weather.  Starlink is also mostly geared to the northern area so far so I imagine the satellites are not as plentiful near the equator (as mentioned it's still being built).  Starlink is not amazing but when it is all you can have......it's AWESOME compared to other options.  I imagine as they continue to build the service it will get much better.  I live in an area where lots of people have it and they are throttling heavier users and charging more than other less heavy use areas.  With the newer satelittes (when they do it) going up it will get much faster, more reliable, and handle more capacity and I am sure that will help sailing starlink!  On our cruise on Oasis in January 2023 I found it way better than Voom but did have some times it just flat out SUCKED!

We just did a catamaran/snorkel/beach in January through shore excursion group and enjoyed it.  Currently making a video of some of it and will post it so you can check it out for yourself.  We would recommend it, staff was very friendly and made good rum punch

On 3/22/2023 at 6:07 AM, TexanTwoStep said:

Haha, that looks like fun if the surf wasn't 6 inches tall

It was a good place to start!  Anything bigger would probably have been very intimidating!  Can’t start with 10 foot surf

We had never seen anything like this before and also couldn't find anything on it so we made a short video of it when we did it January 2023.  We enjoyed it and hope you did it and enjoyed it too!  Hopefully RCCL keeps this one on the list of excursions!

We did these two in February 2020.  We enjoyed them both.  The trikes in Aruba were not RCCL but the cave and beach in Curacao were RCCL.  The walking around at the shops in Curacao was a short walk from the pier.  Hope this helps

And

Here is a video of our vlog of our excursion (Bonaire Land and Sea Adventure) in Bonaire!  We did not get to do too much exploration on the island beyond the excursion because it was ALL day but we saw a lot of the island while on it.  Video shows some of the nicer things of Bonaire!  We barely even did any shopping because of the time constraints and the fact that we were in the sun ALL day.  That wiped us out pretty good.  

Sorry I have neglected this blog since getting home.......LIFE!!!

So I mentioned a few posts ago, we had lots of "firsts" on this cruise that we kept noticing and commenting on together.  Here are some of the firsts that we experienced:

-larger waves (we have been lucky i think so far on this)

-me getting sick

-our main waiter in the dining room getting sick and out 5 days

-eating in the windjammer for dinner vs the main dinning room

-vlogging our cruise

-head waiter being SUPER involved in our dinner service (like taking our order)

-booking a non-Royal Caribbean excursion

-cruise director got sick and missed events

-dinning room did not have the usual singing and dancing night, and where they have the presentation

-having Johnny Rockets

-not being in a suite since our honeymoon 23 years ago  

-did not go straight from cruise ship to airport and go home

-getting off the ship was not smooth and was a nightmare (did not get off until approximately 1030)

There might be more that I can't remember right now...I will keep thinking of things and add in future posts.  Still want to get my recap of stuff but it might just be recaps as I post other stuff

...And for the record I am STILL sick even after going to the doctor.....UGH!

On 2/16/2020 at 6:54 PM, Sweety said:

We like to go home after the cruise also. Need to get ready for the next cruise. Is LeeAnn Chin still in business? I need some wings.

They are still in business but LeeAnn Chin sold it years ago and passed away not too long ago.  Depending how long its been since you have been there you might see some "changes".  They started a thing years ago where they weigh your food, which drives me nuts when they scoop food off your plate!!!  Food still tastes delicious though!!!

19 minutes ago, Sweety said:

My husband loves the Oreo shakes at Johnny Rockets. When I visit next cruise, I stop and get him his shakes before I tell him how many cruises I booked.

Good plan!  The deliciousness is very distracting!