We love to cruise and want to try a differant itinerary. We will be on our third Cozumel and Progreso cruise come Dec.09. Looking at summer 2010 while prices are great. Either Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel OR Belize,Isla Roatan and Cozumel. Both ports are within driving and either of the ships will be great we know. A side note -  I like ports for "life experiences" I don't care about the shopping if it's there great if not o well. Some people don't like Progreso, we've been twice as of now and have enjoyed it for what it is. Not one of my friends can say they've been up close and personal with Mayan Riuns 500yrs.BC. Do you know what I mean now about "life experiences?" We love Cozumel also,I hate it for my friends and family who I know will never get to see such beauty. It truely makes me sad, pictures do no justice of snorkling in" windex! I think you fellow cruiser know what i'm looking for so please, tell away!!! Thank you for your time and opinions in advance.

 My vote goes to Montego Bay and Grand Cayman, We are make your own tour kind of people, and we have seen things that no guided tour could provide. The beauty and peace of The Grand Caymans, can not be beat. While everyone is heading to HELL, Go the other way and fine the real HEAVEN... I know you will not be disapointed! Enjoy!!!

If it were me, I'd choose the Belize, etc. rather than the one that includes Grand Cayman.  Not that I don't like GC (been there twice), but it just seems that the amount of time spent on the island isn't worth the trip.  Between waiting to catch a tender (there and back) and the short amount of time in port, unless you do a planned excursion there's not enough time to really "get to know" Grand Cayman.  Also, it's a fairly modern, commercialized port that seems to cater more to the shoppers and the folks wanting to swim with stingrays than to those who want to experience a different culture. 

LOL - well, there ya go!!  Two different answers within 2 minutes of each other!!  Soo, as you can see everyone's got a different opinion.  Now YOU get to sort it all out!!  Just an aside here, you might get more response if you post this in one of the main forums rather than under Freeport, Bahamas forum.

redheadsail:

Some people don't like Progreso, we've been twice as of now and have enjoyed it for what it is.

redheadsail:

We love to cruise and want to try a differant itinerary. We will be on our third Cozumel and Progreso cruise come Dec.09. Looking at summer 2010 while prices are great. Either Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel OR Belize,Isla Roatan and Cozumel. Both ports are within driving and either of the ships will be great we know. A side note -  I like ports for "life experiences" I don't care about the shopping if it's there great if not o well. Some people don't like Progreso, we've been twice as of now and have enjoyed it for what it is. Not one of my friends can say they've been up close and personal with Mayan Riuns 500yrs.BC. Do you know what I mean now about "life experiences?" We love Cozumel also,I hate it for my friends and family who I know will never get to see such beauty. It truely makes me sad, pictures do no justice of snorkling in" windex! I think you fellow cruiser know what i'm looking for so please, tell away!!! Thank you for your time and opinions in advance.

You may like Progresso as a "Slice of Life" destination.  We certainly did.  To get a feel for the city, we took the double decker bus tour around the city for a few bucks.  Then, rather than visit the local Starbucks, we went to the local coffee shop on the corner and listened to the Canadian Snowbird residents talk, as well as the locals...and watched the school kids walk by...just another day in the city.  It was really....well, cool.  Not AS touristy.  I hope you like it, too. 

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?token=770188493114%3A517922054

-Stephanie