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The newer shore excursions don't interest me too much (which is good, considering I'm overbudget and don't get paid for the week off).

I wanted to see overall what people might be doing. I'm thinking I will do the beach party if there's a fair amount of us going, else I avoid sun, water, people, beaches, and other places where I'm not allowed to set people on fire.

Beach party looks good. Def swimming w/w the dolphins. Wanted to see Mayan Ruins but I guess not! It's only a $5 surcharge for booking while onboard right?

Decisions, decisions.

Heavily leaning toward Uxmal in Progreso, most likely with the ShoreTrips people. Cozumel, might do the Playa Mia (possibly with ShoreTrips, but one can easily do it on your own). One thing about the Playa Mia is that it's like a $15 cab ride each way, kinda sucks.

Key West, gettin' crunk, eating conch fritters, Hemingway museum, maybe pirate museum.

Nassau, nothing really seems interesting. Will probably just go to a beach.

Key West- Waverunner and Parasail
Cozumel- Submarine and Dolphin Swim
Progresso- Beach!
Nassau- Keeping options open as it's the last port of call

Not doing either of the Mayan ruin tours- one is 90 minutes each way and the other is a little longer. Would rather soak up some rays on a beach of pristine sand...

well let's see...there are 4 of us going and so far nothing booked for key west, cozumel 2 of us are doing fun in the sun, 1 doing 2 stop snorkle and one doing 2 tank dive, nothing yet for progresso, but my friend is thinking about chitzen itza until i told her it was a long bus ride....and bahamas we have 2 doing the americas cup and my husband is gonna scuba.i might try to check out that atlantis place....

Yeah, I'm having some second guesses as far as what to do in Progresso. I like hanging out at the beach as much as the next guy. The ruins sound interesting but not sure if it's worth the money for a relatively short amount of time. Argh! Anyone gone to Chichen Itza or Uxmal from Progreso? Is it worth it?

from cruise critic...............Though much less popular than Chichen Itza or Uxmal, the Mayan site of Dzibilchltun is just 15 minutes from Progreso. Dzibilchltun is actually the largest, and probably oldest, site discovered so far. It was an important ceremonial center in the Mayan world and is ideal for Progreso passengers who want to visit a Yucatan archaeological site without spending an entire day. ............that Dzibilchltun sounds pretty cool and it is close!!!!

Well I'm not sure if we'll even wake up in time to do any shore excursions, but we'll see...

My husband and I were thinking about Atlantis in Nassau too.

We're definitely doing Tulum at Cozumel. I think that's all we have down so far. :( I had other excursions in mind for the original ports but now, I'm not so sure anymore. Oh well, more $$ for booze!

I'm pretty sure I and my friends will go to Tulum and Key West has some pretty cheap drinks if you know where to go. I just happen to know where some great happy hours are.

Okay, finally decided on Uxmal in Progreso and signed up.

Hmm, it says there's a minimum number of people to operate. How do we know if there will be enough people? Is it refunded if not enough people sign up?

Thanks!

if the minimum isnt met.. then you are refunded.

If you are going to Tulum.. YOU NEED TO BOOK NOW if you are using shoretrips.com - which most of us are.

I am going to Tulum.. I wont even get off the boat in key west.... unless i go parasailing.. i hate key west.

lol

I will probably get off in Progresso and go shopping on my own. Progresso has awesome bone resin statues that I collect. All morbid of course.. and you can haggle down the prices. Plus its duty free.

People.. do NOT go shopping in Nassua! Contrary to popular belief.. it is extremely expensive and over inflated.

Your best places for shopping are Cozumel (Silver).. and Progresso.

Crystal & myself will try to do Tulum with everyone in Cozemel. Shoretrips

Key west will be a quick bar hopping excursion for us so I can hit my favorite bars there.

Nassau we are doing the Pirates historical tour. Carnival excursion.

The other mexican port is still up in the air so far to bad we cant do a party there like we had scheduled in Costa maya before it was destroyed.

My husband and I are doing Tulum in Cozumel, Atlantis in the Bahamas and bar hopping in Key West. Still not sure about Progresso though.

just to reiterate - it's a $5 charge for booking the shore excursions while onboard and not in advance right?

Wrong.

The charge for booking shore excursions lately is only by Shoretrips.com - NOT Carnival. Once onboard. you can only book the shore excursions through Carnival.

Shoretrips was offered because Carnival refused to keep our group of miscreants together.

If you book now for shoretrips - they are waiving the late booking fee until next week because of our canceled ports by the cruise line.

I wanted to remind everyone.. If you miss Tulum in Cozumel, then you are missnig some of Mexico's major Mayan ruins.

Just outside of Tulum is a small bazzare and some eateries... They also do Mayan shows out there. Just an FYI.

*we just booked:
Tolum in Cozumel and Chitzen - Itza in Progreso... through Shore Trips... we're waiting on the Carnival itinerary update to book the others*

I think in Nassau my husband and I are going to try to get into the waterpark. Can you use your travel-agent powers to perhaps get us more info? I think it is restricted to so many people on cruises a day :(

AS far as I know, it is not open to the general public.

here's their number:
Atlantis Phone:
888-528-7155 or 954-809-2100

My friends and I are booked on the submarine in Cozumel, but that's it so far.

The beach party in Cozumel is great I've been there before. If the autograph thing goes quick there is a pub crawl in the keys.... I just wait til it comes.... and ya can't go wrong with snorkeling

I officially booked the beach party and the ruins in progresso.

I wasn't going to do progresso but so many 'senseitive' friends have suggested I must check it out and feel some things out.

Hrm....that sounds awful. Who's going feeling with meh? :P

I just got back from Key West earlier this week. I had way more fun than I thought I would. I thought I would hate it, but it does have alot of interesting history. Key West has a very nice, very old cemetery (it is the second oldest city in FL). It is even rumored to have a vampire crypt in the cemetery. The ghost tour was loads of fun, but it doesn't start until 8pm. There is also a Ripley's Believe It on Not and a really good homemade ice cream shop right next door to it. The Hard Rock Cafe has a really good twisted mac and cheese.

In Key West I plan on taking a cab to the East Martello Museum to attempt to take photos of Robert the doll (it's a haunted doll and supposedly doesn't like his picture taken and will mess with your camera if you try to take his picture). Then I would like to go to the original St. Paul's Episcopal church and try the ticket office challenge (10 children died in a fire in the building and they say if you put your hands through the ticket slot they pull your fingers and your hands get either hot or cold). Read more about some of the haunted sites at www.hauntedtours.com.

I also won a tattoo contest while I was there. I won a free navel or nipple piercing which I don't plan on getting. If anyone wants it hunt me down and the first person who finds me can have it. Keep in mind that you aren't supposed to swim for 2 weeks after a piercing.

I'll have Key West info with me. I have maps, brochures for the cemetery (it has descriptions of some of the more famous tombs), etc. if anyone is interested. I also have lots of photos of the cemetery. If anyone wants to go the museum and share a cab I'd love the company.

Might be up for that. I wanna do a little drinking but there's only so much one can do....

I know one thing; I'm gonna sit on my balcony, smoke some good cigars, drink some good booze, and enjoy the ocean view and have some peace and quiet for part of the cruise!

With the change in ports we hit, I am going to sign up for the zipline/cave tubing excursion. It was the one shore thing that I wanted to do in the first place. I am glad to see it's back on. And I guess I will wait to see what else shoretrips has for the other ports. I still want to see mayan ruins damn it!

The BEST Mayan ruins on this cruise with the New Itinerary is the Tulum Ruins. I cannot stress that enough.

Most people who miss these ruins, later regret that.. so that is why I keep stating it.

I dont want anyone to say to me: "why didnt my travel agent tell me that!"

I was just on Shoretrips and it looks like the change has been made. But as of right now only one excursion at Roatan and Freeport....

Roatan and Freeport are fairly small. You might have to wait for Carnival to announce their shore excursions.. which they havent done yet for our sailing.