TwinCruiserMom

Finally!!

 

After numerous requests before my last visit to Cozumel, which were ignored, I finally received confirmation for my upcoming trip that day passes are still available for sale in the lobby for $40pp, to include food, drinks and towels. No mention of snorkel equipment this time so I don't know if that has stopped or if it was an omission.

Thanks for the update. I had a great time at the Park Royal several years ago and the price has not changed in all that time.

Were they allowing people to get off the shuttle just outside the gates to the navy base or did you have to ride the shuttle all the way to Mallory Square?

Also, on the way back, can you pick up the shuttle just outside the gates?

Thanks!

Does anyone know if option 2 - pay as you go, includes WiFi, towels, and snorkeling? I emailed them a couple days ago and have not heard back.

I have to agree about Princess and their International Cafe. Fabulous!

HAL really does have limited selections from about 2:30-5:00 just when people are coming back from their excursions. They could learn a thing or two from Princess in that area.

Does anyone know if punch or lemonade is available in the lido on the Nieuw Amsterdam? We never had that choice on the Maasdam or Veendam and we don't care for iced tea.

I was wondering, when you pay your entrance fee do they give you a ticket or receipt? We were planning to take the bus there and walk straight out to the beach and go down a little ways to swim and lay a towel on the beach. After that we were going to go back and have something to drink and use the WiFi.

When I walk back in through the beach, how to I prove I paid earlier?

Also, do they sell cans of soda and if so what is the cost?

Thanks!

I looked at the Cozumel port schedule for this week and it has the NA at Puerta Maya. I am surprised at this as in the past HAL has docked at the downtown pier. Kinda messes up the plans to just walk to downtown when we are there two weeks from now.

Is this their normal docking position now? I guess I better just make plans for either docking position.

Thanks for the update. Have any of the staff said when the renovation will be finished?

Have the renovations been completed? We are staying there in December and would love to see pictures of the changes.

I have walked from Princess cruises terminal 2 to the 17th Street area and that was hectic enough crossing the streets. I would never walk from the midport area to 17th Street where the hotels are located.

The area is very industrial with no sidewalks along the port roads. There are huge oil holding tanks and tractor trailers going in and out. The is a working port not just a cruise port. So even if you could walk a mile toting your luggage would you want to walk on the same road with trucks, busses and taxis everywhere?

For safety sake, take a taxi as they are very reasonably priced and you will be at your hotel in no time.

The only way to get your boarding pass is to go through the online check in process. You will need that boarding pass to get into the secure port area. It does make it easier on embarkation day to have all the particulars taken care of.

Thanks for posting these! It is very helpful for planning our evenings.

I think we will check out the museum in the afternoon. Thanks for the suggestion. In the morning we thought Playa Azul would be nice for a few hours as they do not charge a fee. Just have to buy food and/or drinks.

Would love to hear from someone who went to Playa Azul.

I have taken up to a size 24" suitcase through the scanners. Anything larger you would want to check with the luggage handlers.

We are docking at the downtown pier 10am - 11pm. Interested in reviews for Playa Azul as it is a bit closer than the southern beaches and most likely less crowded. Just looking for a place to relax and maybe snorkel without spending a ton of $.

Also, any idea what to do at the pier area? Not interested in restaurants or tons of shopping. Any museums nice churches, etc?

What happens if you are docked at outer mole?

Can you get on at stop #3 or do you need to take the bus to the mallory square area?

By the way, which company does the shuttle run from outer mole to Malloy square area?

I am also debating between Oli's Trolley and the Acadia National Park tour bus and I am leaning toward the bus. We will do the 2.5 hour tour on either.

Can anyone else give an opinion on these tours and which is the best? I would imagine there are many of us trying to decide between the two. I certainly like that the bus tour lets you reserve now and pay later.

Beacuse we are flying out of the US, we have to be at the airport 90 minutes before our flight. We have to factor in that time. So I will ask the question a different way: what is the reasonnable time one can expect to arrive at the airport ? Thank you

I have done self disembark before and been to the Fort Lauderdale airport around 8am (we took a taxi) If I was flying out of the states, I would probably book a flight at 12:00 or later as you just never know what tie ups you will run into.

I think you will be very surprised at how small the cabins really are. I really do not know how your room steward would be able to cram the rollaway between twin beds. Even if it would barely fit, which I doubt, he would have to crawl all over the twin beds to wedge it in there.

The only place I have heard of them putting rollaways is by the desk in front of the balcony. You will have very little room to maneuver at all with the bed in the room.

When you get to the cabin, have the room steward lower one of the pull down bunks and look at the safety rails etc, and see if there is a chance you would let your 5 year old sleep up there. They are very comfortable, much more so than a rollaway, and kids your child's age sleep up there all the time. If your child is the type to roll all around on the bed, you would be better off with the side rails on the bunk.

Good luck!

OP - that is a real eye opener. I have never been interested in Bingo, but we always run across people in the elevator in a scurry to get there on time. It is sad that the cruise line can't make the pay offs a little better for the passengers.

My DH is 6'4" and he does not feel closed in either. We have had a balcony and an inside and the showers are a little tight for him. We have a travel trailer and his head brushes the ceiling, but that does not keep him from camping.

I also think the ceilings in the cabin are a standard 8' or slightly shorter. If your friend can sleep in a standard hotel bed, he will not have any different situation on Princess. With the twins put together, he could always steal part of his wife's side (I am sure she is used to it :) )

What about using the showers in the gym area that are open to the public? They are very big - similar to those in your normal gym. There are many large people who prefer to bathe there as the cabin showers are small unless you get a mini or suite.

Every other place on the ship will allow a ton of head room and will not be an issue.

It would be great if they could try a short cruise to see how it goes. Good luck to them and I hope they are able to find a cruise they enjoy.