All 3 of us have different opinions on Jamaica. My personal opinion is that its a dump and if I never see the place again that will be fine by me! 
I was always apprehensive about going to Jamaica mainly about the security. Arriving in Ocho Rios and the scenery looked really nice. The island did look nice. 
We got off the ship very quickly and got straight on to one of the waiting coaches to take us to the Bob sled and Dunn's Rivers Falls. The climb to the top of the mountain for the bob sled run was on a ski lift type of ride. It was really good, just above the trees and amazing scenery. Half way up it started to rain. It was not too heavy and did not last long. It was so warm that the rain cooled us down. Once at the top we got to go in the bob sled's. I have to admit to thinking the ride was far too short. It was fun but it was over before you knew it. 
We had lunch in the restaurant at the top of the mountain. It was jerk chicken. This was the smallest ever piece of chicken. The jerk sauce was too hot but that's just because I don't like hot food. 
After lunch we went to Dunn's Rivers falls. 
I think this is where Jamaica fell apart for me. We had to wait in a huge queue to get to go up the falls. Once our guide had spoken t someone we suddenly were able to go up. I can only assume some deal was done! 
We got to the bottom of the actual falls and it was very pretty. 
To climb the falls we had to hold hands. In my opinion this is dangerous. When you fell (and you are going to fall.) your natural instict is to put your hand out to stop you or balance yourself. I found it better to just let go. 
The climb is quite hard work at times but also quite rewarding. We all agreed afterwards that we are happy that we did it but would not do it again. 
I think that sums up Jamaica for me. Glad I went there and saw it but don't want to go back. 
Maybe seeing different parts of Jamaica and with more time may change my mind but right now I have NO desire to go back. My g/f and her son would go back. Each to their own. 


Ocho Rios

We really like Grand Cayman. It is a lot like our own island of Guernsey apart from the heat ! 
We went on the Atlantis submarine and this was really good. We saw quite a few fish in a way we would not normally see them. 
The trip under the sea did not last very long but it was probably long enough as it got hot and I suppose there are only so many fish you can see. 
After that we got on a coach to go around the island. We stopped off at the turtle farm. This was really good. Nice to see how important the turtles are to the Caymanians. 
After the turtles we got on a coach to do a bit of a tour of the island. The driver was very good in explaining what we were seeing and within reason stopping when there was something to see or photographs to take. We stopped off at a rum shop on the way and bought some which was later delivered to the ship to be given to us on the last night of the cruise. 
Then we went to hell! Its a crop of rocks really. That's about the only way to describe it. It is still impressive. They are volcanic rock and form a strange pattern. There is a post office there where you can send a postcard stamped from hell. 
We took a bit of a detour on the way back to the ship and saw where some of the more wealthy camanians live. 
All in all Grand Cayman is a really nice place and I can't recommend it enough. 


Grand Cayman (Georgetown)

I was not too sure what to expect from Cozumel but it turned out ot be a really nice island. We walked off the ship and as there is a pier were straight into the excursions area. Grand Cayman uses tenders which is a shame. 
There was a band playing and it was hot. We completely forgot it was Christmas Day ! 
We had booked a beach buggy tour with lunch. 
We were met by our guide and taken to our buggies. Well death trap is the first word that springs to mind ! There is obviously no kind of MOT or USA equivalent in Cozumel as the buggies were obviously well used. I guess there was not a lot of traffic and we were not doing high speeds for the most part. We drove for a few minutes and stopped to have a photograph taken of us in the buggy. We carried on driving round the island in convoy. 
Our first stop was to look at some Mayan ruins and to climb up a wooden tower to look at the view. It was spectacular. The island is really flat so its easy to see a long distance. 
We drove some more to where we would have lunch. We drove down a really bumpy road (dirt track anywhere else in the world) and the buggies engine died! It seems that an electrical connector had come off the engine somewhere. The guide soon noticed we were missing and he gave us his buggy to continue and I gave him a lift to the beach where we had lunch. We had organised for another buggy to be sent to the beach for him. 
We were able to go for a swim on the beach instead of snorkeling. The weather was said to be too bad for snorkeling! We could not argue as we are not the trained snorkelers. 
After eating a small lunch we got back into the buggies. We stopped at a light house and climbed to the top. The view was amazing. We could see the nice clean white beaches which no one was allowed on as it is protected for the turtles. 
We got back into the buggies and took a detour to make up for the snorkeling issue. We went back to the ship a longer way which meant we drove round just about all of the island. 
While driving I was hit in the sunglasses by a stone flicked up from one of the buggies in front. Thankfully I was wearing sun glasses or that would have been serious ! It took a big chip out of my lens so if it had hit my eye ouch ! 
We drove down a really straight piece of road and just about flat out in these buggies at I think about 60mph (speedo does not work) then stopped at a shop to look at the usual tourist type of gifts. After a few minutes we went back to the ship. 
As there was still time before getting back on the ship we did some shopping. 
We then decided to have a drink in the bar right next to the pier where we had to go to embark. 
So we drank beer on Christmas day looking at the ship while listening to someone play silent night on the steel drum. 
Cozumel was really nice. I would like to go back but I am not sure there is a huge amount more to do or see. 



Cozumel

One thing that is really impressive on the ship is that as soon as a mess is made there is a member of staff to clean up.Josh (girlfriends son) had a soda card (bought from one of the bars on the Lido Deck) and a waitress came to see him every evening to see what he wanted to drink.

Carnival Conquest Review

Christmas on the Carnival Conquest

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