OT: Cruise question

I'm getting excited - got my passport on the way, my part of the room paid for, thinking about what I want to bring!

I've never been on a cruise before (can you tell?) so I'm wondering - is it better to book a port excursion through the cruise line or just go on your own? Anyone been on this cruise before and have opinions? I was kind of thinking of doing the shopping excursion in Cozemel. Miranda told me I should just shop at the port in Progresso.

Any ideas?

I am not going, nor have I ever been.  But what I have heard is if you go out on your own and get back late, so sorry, you have to find your own way to the next port to catch up with the ship.  If you go on the ship excursion and they run late, the ship waits for you.

From what I've read, even if the excursion runs late, they don't wait for you!

Here's a place to get almost all the answers to any questions you might have!!

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=9

They have forum's for all the different cruise lines plus all the ports you go to.

LYNNE-I'msure the experts will jump in..but in the meantime...STEPH told me not to book anything in advance.She said we'll "play it by ear" and come out cheaper and have more fun. I'm trusting her COMPLTELY

I have been on 8 cruises- carribean, alaskan and meditteranean.
I have done it both ways- ship excursions and on our own.
Ship excursions- easy, well planned, no thinking required. More expensive
On your own- takes planning ahead of time- not ever a good idea to just go with whomever is at the dock-

Shopping excursions are great- however, almost always they take u to the highest priced, tourist areas and the ship gets a kick back from those merchants. Just weigh that factor in.
Have a blast.
Cruises are the BEST way to travel.

You should come with me to the zip line! I can't wait for that excursion-but we haven't booked it yet.

Thanks Alissa but I'm WAY too old to try the zip line! LOL

If you are going to zip line in Jamaica be careful.  My brother and his wife and friends just took a cruise 2 weeks ago.  They zip lined in Jamaica and when they got home they had charges of over $700 on their debit card.  No one else in their group was done that way.  My sister-in-law has had nothing but trouble getting the money back.  They just keep telling her that the money has been returned but it hasn't. 

We are only going to Mexico so zip lining in one of the 2 ports- both offer it so I just need to decide which one.