From: pamh@sco.COM (Pam Hassell)
Subject: Caribbean Cruise
Organization: The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc.
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1992 22:47:37 GMT
Keywords: caribbean cruise 


In article <1992Aug6.165643.14026@lamont.ldgo.columbia.edu> you write:
>My husband and I will be cruising to the Western Caribbean for our
>Our stops include Cozumel, Grand
>Cayman, Montego Bay and the Bahamas. Is there anyone out there that has
>previous cruise experience? I'm looking for any information, on what
>sights to see at each stop, good snorkeling suggestions, etc.

In 1991 I took a cruise on a Norwegian Cruise Lines ship called the Starward
to the Bahamas, Jamaica (Ocho Rios), Grand Cayman, Cancun and Cozumel.  I 
didn't particularly care for the cruising part of the vacation, but I enjoyed 
several of the ports.

Bear in mind that you won't have all that much time to spend at any given
port, if it's a week-long cruise.   Here are my recommendations:

Cozumel:

This is a very nice little island.  Shopping is good (prices on liquor,
crafts and silver are good).  Snorkeling and diving is supposed to be 
very good - but not as great as Grand Cayman (see below).  There are
a number of good restaurants in the town square area which is where
you'll find the big white-washed clock tower. (nice picture)  We made
the mistake of taking a day trip to Cancun instead of going directly to
Cozumel.  I didn't like Cancun at all, although to be fair, I only went
to what's called "Hotel Row" right in the middle of town.  You may dock
at Playa del Carmen to let folks off for their day trips.  Playa del
Carmen is a sleepy little town with pretty beaches and clear water.

My favorite port of all was Grand Cayman - a diver's delight.  I think
we were allowed 5-6 hours there, and we ended up on 7-Mile (really)
Beach which is a quick taxi ride from Georgetown where you'll be coming
in.  Georgetown is quaint and well-kept...and fairly expensive, as is
just about everything on Grand Cayman.  I remember we stopped at a small
restaurant with a nautical theme which was to the right of the dock in
Georgetown.  We had conch soup there, and it was very good.  If you're
interested in snorkeling, I'd go to 7-Mile Beach, and swim out about 
50 yards or so & voila! - fish everywhere.  I took along a Kodak dispo-
sable underwater camera which took some beautiful pictures.  The water
is *spectacularly* clear, and there are beautifully colored corals and
of course, fish.  I didn't even make it all the way out to the reef
in front of the Holday Inn (it was still a sandy bottom), and fish
surrounded me.  They were very curious - especially a certain large,
flourescent purple striped Queen Triggerfish.  The longer I floated
there on the surface, the more fish gathered 'round.  Also in front
of the Holiday Inn on 7-Mile Beach, you can rent wave runners (sit-down
jet skis), paddle boats and other water gear.  I don't dive, but if
the snorkeling's any indication, the diving is superb!  I hear they
have a few really nice wrecks to dive if you're so inclined.

Also on Grand Cayman, there's the Turtle Farm, which is what it sounds
like - a farm of large sea turtles.  If you're the adventurous type of
snorkeler or diver, you might want to live dangerously and go to Sting Ray
City, where they've actually trained the rays to eat directly from your
hands!  I read that the experience of diving there is outrageous...the 
rays suck their food up into their mouths, and once they smell it, they'll
go all over you like a big vacuum cleaner, sucking on your hair, etc., 
trying to locatet the food!  Eeeeew..

Also popular is a trip to Hell, Grand Cayman.  Yes, there's a city actually
called Hell.  Most people send postcards from there.  I wouldn't waste
my precious time there though...I'd rather be in the water!  If you want
to shop, there are some fair deals on gold and British goods in Georgetown.

Ocho Rios:

Jamaica is an extremely poor country - be prepared to be practically assaulted
when you get off the boat there.  Many people took day trips offered by the
cruise line which took them on a tour around the island in air-conditioned
vans and buses.  Silly us, we hopped off the boat, got approached by 20+
cab drivers offering to take us on a tour of the island, and eventually
decided on one.  (Certain taxis are licensed by the govt there & they're 
the better ones - I think they all have either red or yellow license plate
frames).  The driver who took us was named Bertie, and he's been driving
taxi for a long time there.  Bertie took us to his friends' roadside stand 
in the rain forest, where we bought a T-shirt, and he got a small kickback.
Then he took us to the Carinosa Gardens, which I would highly recommend.
Beautiful plants, flowers, and birds.

I won't go on about Jamaica, but be forewarned, be careful with your valuables
while you're there, and don't travel around at night, especially in Kingston.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Have a great trip!

Pam
-- 
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"Some mornings it just doesn't seem worth it to gnaw through
 the leather straps"   -    Emo Phillips