My wife and I have booked our maiden voyage/honeymoon on the Legend for sept. 14 of 2008.  Needless to say, we are VERY excited. We opted for the Western Carribean trip (Belize, Hondurs, Cozumel, and Grand Caymen) and yes I know I slaughterd the names of our destinations.  We have even decided to sacrafice our yearly trip to the Minnesota state fair.  So what I ask of anyone who cares to share is, what are the things on the ship, shore excursions,or whatever that we just can't miss.  any input would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks a lot!

In Grand Cayman we took the Hell - Turtle Farm - Sting Ray City tour it was fun, I enjoyed mailing postcard back to some people at work postmarked from Hell.  In Honduras we went to Gambina Park and spent the afternoon on the beach.  In Belize we went cave tubing and it included  a nice lunch with some swimming also.  Cozumel went to Tulum to see the ruins, an ALL day adventure.  We booked through Carnival prior to the cruise.  With the exception of Tulum, I would do them all again.  Tulum was interesting, but it was loooooonnnggg.

 On board I highly recommend the Captains reception on formal night.  and dancing.

In Grand cayman we went shopping and then to Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville. Had a fabulous time wandering around.

On ship there is tons to do. The captains cocktail party was a blast!!!!

In Cozumel Try the 4X4 jeep adventure you do the driving (not sure if just 2 of private jeep or with someone else) you go to the mineral caves where you can opt to swim in the mineral lake (wonders for the skin but cold) or walk around the lake then off to the beach at Playa Mayo for beach time lunch and a litltle shopping back to the jeeps and return to the ship (there is a walk of about 4 or 5 blocks from pier to jeep parking but not bad) you use to get back early enough to go out and do a little shopping downtown too...

Grand Cayman: we too took the City tour, hell, and sea turtle farm with a stop at the Tortuga rum factory for a few free samples of rum and rum cakes and shopping

I have not been to the other ports listed but enjoyed the two I have been at hope you enjoy your cruise

P.S. a suggestion to you as first timers make the time to go to the port talks they will give you some tips as well as any promo specials and stores offering discounts...we got things like 5 t-shirts for $10 and $5 diamond earings (chips but still real) and $5 tourmaline studs (very nice) and a list of stores that will give discounts if you show your sign & sale Card. I also got a free Pereo when I bought $25 worth of items from a certain shop. Its well worth the 45minutes the talks take..P

In Roatan, Honduras, HIGHLY recommend the dolphin encounter -- it takes place at Anthony's Key Resort (pull up their website at anthonyskeyresort.com).  Absolutely the most beautiful place I have ever seen in the Carribean -- you'll want to spend an entire vacation right there!  We had a great time with our dolphin, Gracie, and were able to interact with her alot more than at Discovery Cove in Orlando from a few years back.  Also spent time at Tabyana Beach after the dolphin encounter -- very nice, the water was calm/wonderful but somewhat too crowded for my liking.

Have a wonderful time!  Personally, I like just being on the ship the best!

Others have mentioned going to the Captain's Cocktail Party, but haven't seen any mention of the photo stations.  There will be maybe 15 different portrait stations set up around the promenade deck as well as in the atrium where you can get formal portraits taken.  GET AS MANY TAKEN AS YOU CAN STAND AT AS MANY STATIONS AS YOU CAN FIND!!  These portraits cost NOTHING to have taken and then you've got PLENTY to choose from when it comes time to buy one (or more).  They're almost always 8 x 10s and cost around $22.00.  Note 1 - DON'T buy extra prints, you can always scan the photo you buy and print extras yourself (don't believe the warning about a watermark showing up if you do this - it's BS!!)  If you REALLY feel like it, you can find a link on this site or on seauonboard.com to download the copyright permission if you're going to have this done at a printer's - really don't need it if you're doing it with your own computer.  Note 2 - DON'T buy the black and white prints (just about any photo software can convert a color photo to a black and white).

Another don't miss in Cayman - assuming you like Rum, gotta get some Big Black D i c k!!  It's a rum made ONLY in Grand Cayman and only sold there.  There are 2 stores within walking distance of the pier that sells it - you can tell you're there when you see the statue of the Pirate, Big Black D i c k, pointing the way into his store.  Go there first as they have to package and deliver your purchase to the ship - you can't take it with you.  As with any on-shore alcohol purchases, the ship will hold them for you and bring them to your cabin the night before your return to port.

Another note - be sure to keep some cash on you to tip the porters when you get back if you have lots of stuff to maneuver - and don't count on the ship-board ATM for this on the last night - it will be out of cash.  Best to keep some stashed away from the beginning!  My dh and I made this mistake and had to scrape change on our return from Victory last year!

We are booked to go to Tulum (ship excursion).  I almost cancelled it because It takes all day but the pictures I've seen of the ruins look so interesting.  You guys that have been, is it worth it??????? 

The bus ride was not something that I would let stop from going on the excursion. It was long but we stopped on the way there and on the way back, some shopping and cold drinks. The ruins themself were great. Also take your swim suit or just wear it. The beach is beautiful and has a nice clear sandy bottom. I really enjoyed the ruins and the guide was good. Plenty of time to enjoy the site after the guide is thru with your group.

MNaerosmithguy:

We have even decided to sacrafice our yearly trip to the Minnesota state fair.

Hmmmm, Minnesota State Fair ... Caribbean Cruise ...

what are the things on the ship, shore excursions,or whatever that we just can't miss.

A hundred people will have seventy-five different answers.

We do the art auction on the boat, but lotsa people think that's tedious. 

In Cozumel I like to wander around, do nothing planned, have lunch at a teeny tiny cantina a few blocks off Melgar, wander in and out of the shops the Mexicans go to and practice my Españolish.  [Cervesa first, then el baño].

Actually, that's what I prefer to do all over the place.  See locals in their environment, not in the artificial environments they make for us Americans who tend to view their countries as amusement park rides.

But ... probably ... eat at least one local meal -- fried plaintain is better than it looks.  [Plaintain is a fancy banana].  And try a local beer everywhere you go.

when doing an excursion, what it is the latest i should be back at the ship? i've heard that the ship is docked in cozumel. does this mean you can walk on and off as you like? tks!

tammylynn

I think it's an hour (maybe Half Hour) before the published departure tiem. The capers newsletter the nite before will have all this info listed. Make sure your watch is set to same time as the ship is using!  If you go on an Excursion booked thru Carnival, relax and enjoy - they coordinate with the ship to make sure you're back in time(they held the ferry for our excursion last time in Cozumel). 

Yes - when you dock you come on/off as you wish; some return to ship for lunch, we prefer to find a local's place and have lunch there. There are three docks at Cozumel - one right in town where you can walk off and be in town, the other two are a Taxi ride into town. 

The ruins at Tulum are MUCH better than generally advertised, but the tour does take most of the time in port and does involve a sometimes choppy ferry ride from Cozumel to Playa del Carmen (bring tip money for Tour Guide & Tour Motorcoach Driver, Ferry Attendants on return trip, and Bathroom Attendants at the rest stop & Tulum.  there are food and souvineer shops in the parking lot at Tulum, you get about 2 hours there, one hour guided and one hour on your own - hit the beach (no facilities).   ken

Hi MNaerosmithguy,

Grand Cayman--we liked the swim with the stingrays. The combo tour with the turtles and a visit to hell is nice but the stingray city sandbar tour seems to spend more time in the water with the rays than the combo tour.

Cozumel--we liked the Atlantis sub excursion and just walking around visiting the different shops looking for silver jewelry. Carlos and Charlies had good Margaritas and the food wasn't bad either.

Roatan Honduras--we liked visiting Tabayana Beach. You can relax on a great beach or just walk into the water if you want to snorkel

Hi, we recently cruised on the Legend.  It's a great ship.  The bar at the back of the ship is awesome and a great place to hang and meet people.  They also have a pretty cool sing along bar that was alot of fun.  In Cozumel..... we have been there 4 times, and I can tell you.  The Nachi Cocum Beach Club is the place to go!  You can check it out online ahead of time. They have their own site.  The Beach Club has its own private beach, bar, restaurant, pool, hot tubs, entertainment, the beach chairs & palm unbrellas are free.  You can hang on the beach and the staff will bring you drinks and food.  No cost to get in.  But you do pay for the drinks and food.  Prices were real reasonable, they also had a massage tent if you wanted to get a massage.  I can't say enough good things about this beach club.  We got off the ship, hailed a cab and told the driver to take us to the nachi cocum. Cab cost $4.00 per person.   It's about a 15 min ride away from the dock.  Then we went back to the ship showered and went to Carlos and Charlies!  A trip to Cozumel isn't complete unless you've been to Carlos & Charlies.  One of the best hot spots in the carribean.  Congratulations and have a great time.  Visit Both of these Cozumels spots you won't be sorry. 

Everybody is posting such helpful and interesting answers about shore excursions for these honeymooners (congrats to them!)...I will also be cruising for the first time in November with an Eastern Caribbean itinerary:  Nassau, St. Thomas, St. Maarten...I would love some similar advice about shore excursions and can't-miss-activities at these ports