lifes-a-beach

Thanks for your reply.  I can imagine that the dust could be bad if it were dry.  As it was when we were there the entire place was a mud hole from the tropical storm.  I didn’t mention this in my original reply but the very first ship to go there was a few days before our stop and we were told they had a rather large parade and celebration in the town square with guests of honor including the mayor and the ship Captain.  They really wanted to make it work but I don’t even see it as an option now.  

I hope you have have recovered from the dust and will enjoy many other adventures.

My SIL is our travel agent and works for one of the large online agencies.  She has told us that she doesn’t get her commission until and unless the traveler takes the trip, and then weeks or months later.  At any given time she is owed hundreds or thousands of dollars in commissions that she will not be paid if she were to resign.  Her commissions, which are the lions share of her pay, are held hostage against her departing for another agency or job.  In addition, if we see a deal on her day off and call to speak to someone else it is a mark against her.  I know, this makes no sense but it’s a fact.  If she wasn’t employed there we would not use them.  As it is we book 3 or 4 trips a year with her and if we end up cancelling the 3 we currently have booked I will make sure she gets whatever commission she would have been due.  This is a very cutthroat industry.  If you have a relationship with a particular person at a travel agency and have to cancel you may consider helping them out.  It might be the difference in paying their bills, or their children’s medical care, or not.

On 1/27/2019 at 11:26 AM, rharvey999 said:

I promise that after we return the second week of February I'll give you what we found.  We have only scheduled about an hour and a half historical walking tour.  I am confident we will find out more.

I hope y’all had a great time.  I had forgotten about this thread but look forward to your perspective. 

Sorry, I just typed a long response about the Paradise Beach in Cozumel. N/M. 

I’m currently making all of my life plans based on what CNN, FOX, MSNBC, ESPN, ABC, CBS, and NBC tell me.  This includes travel, investment, medical care, large purchases and especially religion.  

Ok, no I’m not.  

If I were going to spend $10,000 on jewelry of any kind I would spend it at my local, trusted jeweler in my home country.  

I can only tell you that I’ve done it off the beach just down from Paradise Beach.  A short distance to your right there is a boat lane buoyed off so small boats can get to the beach.  We approached one of the vendors and I think paid $50 for 15 or 20 minutes in the air.  Paradise is a 15 or 20 minute cab ride from the port.

Blue Key is a little quieter, even now that they have introduced an all inclusive area. We have gone there for many years, last time in April 2019.  Snorkeling is not great compared to other ports likely on a cruise that stops there.  The food is very good.  We get ceviche and guacamole but I have looked at other menus items being delivered and it all looks very good.  As mentioned above, check out mitsugirly’s reviews for more.  

Firefly, my hat is off to you for your commitment to your parents.  I wish mine had lived longer but cigarettes took my mom when I was 23 and my dad a little over decade later.

Three cruises booked as well as a r/t flight to Seattle with my daughter for baseball.   No intention of cancelling and I’m much more concerned about the flu or a bad cold than this coronavirus. I was reading something the other day and it mentioned how nasty the top edges of airplane seats are since everyone touches them as they make their way down that narrow aisle.  I never thought of that before and will be washing my hands more on future flights.  

For us it’s a numbers game.  We already have three cruises booked this year, in addition to a week on the beach on South Padre Island for my birthday and a baseball trip with my daughter to Seattle.  If we did a balcony every time we couldn’t afford so much travel, cruising and otherwise.  Nothing against balconies, just not in the budget.  As a side note, of the two times we have had a balcony, one the next door neighbor smoked cigarettes constantly and the other someone was smoking pot so it wasn’t enjoyable some of the time anyway.  YMMV

I gotta say, for all the talk about adult only cruises, I'd be just as interested in an alcohol free cruise.  A bunch of drunk adults are on a whole different level of unpleasant than the same number of even not-too-well behaved children.  

20 hours ago, damdifino said:

I am a 100% disabled veteran. However, I do not require special accommodations. Is there a cruise line (Alaska and Caribbean especially) that offers discounts for me?

Thank you for your service and sacrifice and welcome to Cruise Critic.

I don't know but you can probably email them and get an answer.  They have responded to my inquiries in the past.  I do know the only difference is that they give you a bus boarding pass when you check in so probably you can just pay the difference.  I'd email them and ask though.  Use their contact page:

https://www.ezcruiseparking.com/contact-us/

13 hours ago, TravelinGert said:

I suppose when someone gets themselves elected grand pooh-bah of cruise wear they can police it. I can tell you if they do elect someone to police it that'll be the last I'm on a cruise.

Someone at Carnival did.  “Studies have shown” that if more people become offended by rules fewer of them will go where those rules apply.  Less people will mean more empty cabins, thus lower fares.  “Studies have also shown” that if a departure port is seen as a chaotic mess fewer people will choose to use it.  Same result.  So shout it from the rooftops:

 “Carnival cruise line is a bunch of stuck up snobs who won’t let you wear your F*** THE POLICE tee shirt and Galveston is completely disorganized with horrible traffic and long lines!”

Just doing my part for lower fares from Galveston where we sail from 4 or 5 times a year.  

You know what, I think you’re right.  It was. Victor Bodden driver and maybe Bananarama. Been a few years.

When people talk about safety I always think about murder, kidnapping for ransom, sexual assault, things like that.  I am a retired law enforcement professional and in my experience lots of victims are somewhere they have no business being, and/or doing something they have no business doing.  My wife and I have been all over Roatan, east west and central, for years and I have never once felt unsafe.  Property crime can happen anywhere and is sometimes, but not always, the result of someone’s relaxed caution with their items of value.  Use common sense like you do at home.  I was born and raised in Houston and there are several parts I avoid during the day, not to mention at night.  Same with most U.S. cities.  So don’t go where you have no business going.  Don’t get falling down drunk.  Don’t buy drugs.  Pay attention to your surroundings.  Stay with people you trust (and I would include Rony’s, as well as Victor Bodden in that characterization), don’t flash expensive jewelry or large amounts of cash.  Sound familiar?  Yeah, same as at home.

As you can see, the reef is a bit closer to the beach the further down you do.  Mayan Princess at the top of the picture is a pretty good walk from Infinity and points further down.  Not too many boats except where you see them near the pier in front of Infinity, although you should always be looking out for them.  In my experience the snorkeling closer to the beach is pretty good from about Paradise Beach down to the end of the beach.  The calmness of the water will depend largely on the wind and weather conditions.  Tabayana is just down from Infinity and, while there may be a boat traveling that stretch, i haven’t felt unsafe in the water there.  There are pools at Paradise and Infinity but not at Tabayana.  Food is subjective so I will only say that I was disappointed in the food at Paradise.  Food is expensive all along the resort areas but what we had there wasn’t very good.  We don’t drink so I can’t comment on any of the all-inclusive options.  As for transportation, we used Shoreexcursioneer for our trip to Paradise 2 years ago and their service was excellent.  The motor coach was nice and with the usual exception of stupid people showing up late and causing delays it was a good experience.  We have also used Victor Bodden just as a driver and very much liked that process.  The one time we went to Tayabana was first thing in the morning and when it got to be lunch time I was done snorkeling so we had the driver take us to West End Village for lunch.  Lots of good restaurants there.  Good food for a bit less money although, when you factored in the cost of the driver the cost was probably about the same.  It really all depends on what you want to do.  

My advice is just get in multiple cabs all at the same time.  It's a 20 or so minute ride so what difference would it make?  If you intend to get there early I seriously doubt they will be full.  My wife and I are not AI folks either and have never been turned away either because it was full or, since they started AI, in favor of AI customers.  I can't imagine them ever doing that.  You can continue to read this sub-forum for every alternative there is but we have never needed one.  In fact, the times we have gone elsewhere we ask ourselves later why we didn't just go to P.B. which we always love. 

First off, Roatan is not Cozumel.  It’s not even Costa Maya.  Cabs are not regulated and, while you may find a reasonable fare over to West Bay beach, the return trip may not be so reasonable.  That said, I love Roatan as much as, or more than any other island.  There is no comparison to the snorkeling from the beach anywhere I have been except perhaps Cemetery Beach in Grand Cayman.   We have used Victor Bodden several times.  His “Best of” tour is really just having a driver for the day. Tell the driver where you want to go and to hang close for when you’re ready to go somewhere else.  We have snorkeled West Bay Beach and Half Moon Bay over by West End Village.  Both were top notch.  There is a restaurant in West End called El Bosque that has always been excellent.  There are a number of other restaurants in West End that I have heard good things about.  Last year we ate at the restaurant at Paradise Beach Resort on West Bay and it was not good.  Overpriced tourist food.  If you really feel adventurous you can snorkel West Bay for a few hours in the morning, then head east to Temporary Cal’s Cantina. It’s a hike over there but we really love it.  Local place sitting atop a hill with outdoor seating overlooking the Caribbean.  

We also did a ship excursion years ago to Maya Key, a private island near the airport.  Very nice day with a small pool and snorkeling from a very long pier that takes you right out to the reef.  The food was good also.  

Keep reading this Roatan forum for lots of other good ideas.  Many folks speak highly of Rony’s Tour service and we used Shore Excursioneer the time we went to Paradise Beach Resort.  While I can’t recommend the resort, the service provided by Shore Excursioneer was excellent.  

I second Paradise Beach.  Been going there for close to 20 years, long before the amazing pool and restaurant that’s there now.  It’s definitely worth the cab fare.  Also to add to what others have said about safety, Cozumel is very safe.  Take some sun block, a good book and a little cash and let Mexico do the rest.  

Walk all the way out to the parking area where the tram loads and you will see the gate that leads out to the street.  Go through the gate and there will be a guy there who coordinates the taxis.  It’s a hike but most of the hike is getting out of the port area.  We do it every time we go there though.  

You may also consider driving to the terminal and dropping off your bags and family, then driving to the parking lot.  I have been doing that for years and find the wait, particularly other than Saturday and Sunday, to be reasonable.  I’ve walked to and from EZ cruise dozens of times by myself without bags.  Just remember to keep your passport and boarding pass.  By the time I get there my wife is through security and waiting for me.  I also keep an umbrella and/or one of those 99 cent throw away rain ponchos handy for both arrival and when we get back.  I walk to the lot and drive over and pick up my wife and bags.  

I’m pretty sure is was Norwegian but it might have been RCL.  I wouldn’t do this one with a private vendor.  I think we’ve only done 3 ship excursions; Panama Canal on a passenger ferry, zip lining in Jamaica and this one.  I forgot to mention that the boat ride was a blast.  On the way there we stopped to see wildlife and other sights.  On the way back it was just a run.  

This is one of the very best excursions we have ever taken.  The bus ride included a very good speaker who gave us history and current affairs of Belize. There was another guy seated up front that was operating the bus door.  He was quiet on the bus ride and then on the boat ride too.  I wrongly presumed he was a staff member of the transport company.  Once we got to the ruins he was introduced as a Doctor of Mayan Studies who had been to nearly every Mayan site in the world.  It was an amazing trip and we sent out kids on it the next year when they were in college.

Get you some Deep Woods Off wipes from Amazon.  Spray just goes everywhere.  Mosquitoes are vicious!

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