c-leg5

Thanks for your review. As I said when you first asked about it I don’t remember anyone going there in 20 years of reading reviews so good to hear of somewhere different. I am not sure it would be what my daughter is looking for but will show her the review. Is there a pool at the facility as well? Any food and drink for purchase? Did you take a taxi each way and did you manage to stop anywhere else? Since they have a similar name I wonder if they used to run the Xtrem at Chankanaab as well. That doesn’t appear to have reopened from my research.

@jbrinkm Have you done this excursion yet? Any reviews or reports? Trying to decide between here or see if Xtrem has reopened at Chankanaab.

I wouldn’t risk booking day of on a cruise ship day to fit in with your schedule, unless things have changed. Of course in December you may have weather challenges.

Price is per taxi. Price on board at the port. Approximately $25 each way depending o pier.

Thanks would love to know if they allow you to use the pesos menu. We have had problems with that in Costa Maya before.

Interesting. Is that a copy of the actual menu you were given last year, a random photo you found on the internet, or a copy of the “locals” menu which we all know is not a available to everyone? We generally pay in pesos when possible but obviously that would depend on how old that menu was and exchange rate. Do they take credit cards for payment?

You have to have your B2B linked at guest services and then they leave a letter in your cabin with procedures. You can do that before or on the ship during first leg. If you purchase on the last day of first leg you are often able to just leave the shop with your purchase.

Just trying to prepare you. There is a big difference between city prices and a Mexican beach bar! Obviously from the infrastructure it is not a bargain location and I am glad it seems to have survived through Covid.

As I stated above you need a conference call with ALL involved parties on the call at the same time.

Sorry to hear after all your planning. It seems to have been happening much more often this year. You would have had a good idea of sargassum just sailing into the area.

I believe the food and drink menu is still online but no prices. I have been trying to get to Hayhu since it opened but have never had a port stop with appropriate hours to warrant the journey or prices. However I have corresponded with them several times. You are correct prices are high. My prices are from early 2019 and probably not particularly relevant now but we always use “a beer and standard meal” as our baseline for comparison - in 2019, beers were $5, cocktails $10+, hamburgers were $15-20, tacos $10-15. Local friends in Costa Maya highly recommended back then but they had their own transport.

I agree pricing for 6 adults isn’t too bad, although looks a little crowded for that number. I don’t know if they have extra loungers available. We are generally just two people and the differential from entrance fee is much greater. Also if children are included it is a long way back and forth to activities and the value of cabana is reduced. It is easier for us with kids to have a palapa on the man-made beach and use the sandy cove area for direct access to the water. I agree for a group of adults looking to relax it could work. I think you may have to use their dining and bar services within the cabana area.

Daughter just had same problem from another ship. I suggested a conference call with all parties CR, TA , customer service and that got it sorted. It may be more complicated with international involved but there has to be a booking number that can be tied up. Is your TA in UK or USA? As I suggested to her I would decline having booking owned by TA next time. There has always been a record of that on our Next Cruise bookings but I have never had CR involved.

Not sure how ship sponsored would be any safer. Often times in Cozumel transport is via taxi due to union rules, sometimes union approved bus. Fare is included in price but you still travel by taxi. violence in Cozumel is not directed at tourists but just like anywhere you could get caught up in crossfire. This is just as possible on ship sponsored or independent excursion. I would let each family do what they are comfortable with. You are never going to find something suitable for all ages. There are always going to be some who want shorter/longer, quieter/more active, AI/PAYG. The more people the more difficult it will be. I don’t know how many your group involves? Perhaps time to get a private driver and have a sampler day with a custom tour? We usually use ToursPlaza. You could even drop some off for one activity while others do something else within reason if locations are close. Unfortunately in July you are likely to have sargassum on east coast but Punta Sur may be an option but certainly wont tick all the boxes for everyone. It certainly won’t t suit those who want a quick 10 minute ride to the nearest beach with a pool. One problem with Cozumel is that there are many options for all budgets. Many ideas were shared at the beginning of this thread.

There is another one that will probably confuse “foreigners”. I like white gravy but never understood the popularity of chicken fried steak.

LOL I think it is “fixed” every year until the next rain storm! It has certainly been much better in recent years than originally but it depends what you are expecting.

We took the Royal transfer to Newark in May after a repositioning and late flight and had a comprehensive tour of Manhattan, mostly narrated sightseeing from coach, with brief stop at Rockefeller center and longer unescorted stop at 911 memorial. Finding luggage in baggage claim and finding the coach was a little chaotic. The coach was late leaving but was able to extend time, with everyones approval, and provide s full tour.

They have a restaurant in town. They tried to open a location on east coast but never happened. They have a location next to Iberostar as crew said but it isn’t generally a cruise ship stop. It is very basic. Supposedly does good fish suppers at night but I often read about overcharging. I don’t know if there is any truth to that only reviews I have read. We went once many years ago. It was VERY quiet, almost too quiet but we didn’t have any problems with our bill.

$13-15, price on board at the port. located south of Chankanaab . Google maps will show location and virtual street map. it has a website.

I “lost” several items that were left on hangers during the transfer and would never leave them hanging again without a lightweight garment cover keeping them together with a new cabin tag attached. I know many people report a better experience and I followed the regular advice but this was my experience

I have never seen an official board at Costa Maya probably because destinations are limited. We did get charged slightly more once, a few years back when we went just beyond the malecon but it was agreed in advance. I just assumed that was a different zone and acceptable. I presume there is a taxi union but it has never been clear and years back people used to talk about the “yellow” taxis snd the “white” taxis. Maybe @crewsweeperhas more insight as he knows more locals? I assume you are just going into Mahahual and not an outlying location? Personally I am very disappointed in business practices there in general since cruising resumed. I have a very uneasy feeling about monopolies and corruption in the area and we no longer go to town on every visit, as we always used to. $4pp is already way more than the distance warrants and it is ridiculous to ask $16 each way for a taxi for four to town. We will no longer share a taxi there and continue to pay $8 for two, just as it used to be $8 per taxi. I haven’t heard of anyone having problems beyond that but as always I would check and agree fare before departing and take a photo of taxi number.

LOL taxi fares in Cozumel are supposedly regulated snd all drivers should have a card with the fares in their taxi which they should be able to show you on request. As far as I an aware there has been no official increase for several years but many do try to make up their own unofficial exchange rate and paying in pesos is no where near as advantageous as it used to be if they think you are a tourist. That said prices are always higher from certain locations, cruise ports certainly, but also hotels, probably Mega, and if you call the dispatcher. Prices are still available posted at the port and should be agreed before leaving. Stopping a taxi in the street offers more room for negotiation but $9 does sound low and $12 more likely.

No trolley and taxis are $4pp each way. The taxi now stops just inside the port entrance.

In the original days of Fins and Flippers the water taxi departed from a small jetty in Coxen Hole that you could walk to just outside the port. Now I understand Anthony Key uses the marina that you need transport to get to. Getting there might not be too bad but I have never trusted taxis in Roatan especially for a guaranteed return. The water taxi from with in the port is so simple it is our excursion of choice with young children.

The description is from the website booked directly through Anthony’s Key. I presume it is fundamentally for land visitors to Roatan. My friend was recently on a sailing where Maya Key was sold out through the ship and briefly booked the pass directly. She has been to Maya Key before and didn’t realize the additional hassle involved getting to and from their dock. One of the beauties of booking Maya Key through the ship is the simplicity of getting to and from the island all included. She cancelled and took a different excursion independently.