Costa Maya Dec 26, 2005 Grand Princess

On my recent Grand Princess voyage, Costa Maya was the first stop. We weren't the first ship there, but did have a prime parking space.

There were a couple of other ships there - Carnival Liberty

and Rhapsody of the Seas

I had not made plans ahead, so headed ashore to see what I could see...

ok..

The salt water pool was nice..

Could see the ships

From higher ground

Directly behind the "village", there isn't much...

There are the obligatory arts and crap stores..

I walked around for a while and then signed up for a $15 snorkel trip at this booth.

There are at least two companies doing similar tours.

There is a call center/internet biz at the village

They wanted $6/hr for Internet access as I recall.

Some posted taxi rates:

Another view from the pool

Aha, I see the phone/Inernet place charged $1.50/minute to US

I didn't see the cigars stored in humidors...

More ships

It was $5pp rt into "town" $3 for the bus there and $2 for the taxi back.

Tequila Beach Club...

There is some turtle grass there, but why do you think it is called turtle grass?

It isn't that far from the ships

The $15 snorkel boat...

Looking back at Tequila Beach Club

Equipment they supply if you need

Zoomed in on the ship from the pier...

That has got to be uncomfortable

The snorkel trip didn't leave for another hour or so, so had some time to kill..

The town itself doesn't seem to be that much...

to be continued...

Morning Z......best stuff I've seen on Majahual yet. Do you plan on doing similar on Belize?

One question totally irrelevant to this......we are trying to set up a get together on our cruise and was wondering what time Muster is scheduled for the Grand.

Thanks

Mike

www.homepage.mac.com/csealove/

In Belize did a ray snorkel thing so never set foot on ground on the Grand Princess cruise, but will be posting pics from.

The "mustard" drill is scheduled for 3:45pm with a secondary one at 5:45pm for late comers. It was pretty much right on schedule for us, but depends on how smoothly embarkation goes.

More pic posting will have to wait until tonight - time to make the donuts.

:) Wonderful pictures! Thanks.

WOW! What a fabulous review!! I LOVE your photo story! Thanks! Looking forward to seeing MORE :D

Great pics, but you can see exactly why the beach is better in the town of Majahaul than it is at Tequila Beach Club.

Great pics and you answered a few questions I had. Thanks!!

Mary....just noticed on your cruise history you went on the Rhapsody about a month before us and now about a month before on the Grand. Funny how cruise cycles work:)

Mike

www.homepage.mac.com/csealove/

Great Photos Z!! You can wear jeans at my table any day. I hope we get to stop, as the Grand skipped this port this week. Was the booth that you booked your snorkle trip at the dock/village area or in Mahahual?

TxMary we'll see you on board. Have you checked in on the roll-call?

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=201861

Mary....just noticed on your cruise history you went on the Rhapsody about a month before us and now about a month before on the Grand. Funny how cruise cycles work:)

 

Mike

So, where are we going next? ;) :D

TxMary we'll see you on board. Have you checked in on the roll-call?

Hey Snoozeman. I haven't checked the roll call. I have been as lazy on planning this cruise as I intend to be on board!! :D All the sudden, it has dawned on me that we are leaving in a little over a week. I'm thinking I ought to put a little thought into it! I'll have to stop by and give a "how-do" at the roll call. We can't wait!!

Mary.....kind of thinking Panama on Celebrity next..........

Mike

www.homepage.mac.com/csealove/

PS.....I think a lot of us can just quit taking pics and when we want to show someone the cruise we can just pull out Z's;)

Snoozeman,

Where did you see that the Grand skipped Costa Maya last week and what was the reason. I looked at Cruisecal.com and it showed they were there. But that might just be the schedule they were suppose to have.

Thanks,

SDcruiser2

Z - thanks so much for the Costa Maya pics. Very helpful for a couple of Arkie newbies.

The Grand stopped in Playa this week - was scheduled to go to Costa Maya - not enough speed and time to make it - it left Galveston late.

I was the Grand last week and can assure you it stopped in Costa Maya.

The snorkel trip booth I signed up at was in the cruise port "village" with another booth near the bus ticket booth just outside the village if you missed the first. And perhaps more booths I didn't trip over. Also more than one operator, but I think they all go to the same place. The snorkel adventure I did you could really do on your own just swimming from shore but watch out for boat traffic.

One reason I signed up was cause I needed somewhere to store my stuff anyway and would rather leave it on a boat while I snorkeled in stead of on shore unattended.

Any that you consider, not only ask the price, but also the departure time, and I suppose what is included. Also, any in the village have pictures showing what the boat will look like and where you will actually snorkel. Don't be shy about asking.

Mary.....kind of thinking Panama on Celebrity next..........

 

Mike

Sounds good to me...:D

The beach part of Mahahual "proper" seemed much more crowded to me..

But also was where the action was...

Buck a beer!!!

Massages seemed to be a common theme...