c-leg5

Are you wanting something cultural?active? food? drink? Beach? is it Spring Break or Easter? what age range? Have they canceled all mainland excursions?

Many people do two TA’s in one year. Usually one outward and one return. Often those people live 6 months here, 6 months there! It is like an onboard social club! It eliminates air fare if they are staying. Others buy a RT air fare to cover the One-way fares in between if they are returning to their home country. Both legs are not necessarily with the same cruise line. The unusual current situation is the Adventure of the seas EB in October 2024 for dry dock and lots of people are doing that sailing and then taking various sailings back on the usual fall WB’s. A few even do two trips in one direction, which always surprises me.

Yes it does but the OP was looking for somewhere quieter away from the WJ. I am not sure they were even intending to have drinks.

IF you can get the taxi to go down Calle Atún as far as the malecon, then Malecon21 will be right there. We find they generally drop you on the main, through road (Calle Sardina) and then it is behind their associated hotel, Noah. I would check price with dispatcher and driver before leaving. Take a photo of the taxi # (in case you leave something, but also as a deterrent) and pay the driver. I have never paid the dispatcher. Small denomination, untorn bills since they won’t have change. It is not customary to tip taxis in Mexico but is expected in areas that cater to US tourists. If they overcharge then we don’t tip. Unfortunately the taxis, and Costa Maya in general, have become very greedy and we have been very disappointed in the port since cruising resumed. Hope you enjoy your day. If you go to Malecon21, I look forward to your updated report to let us know how things are going now.

Presumably they just pass the fee on?

I can’t comment on Hayhu since I haven’t made it yet. I am not sure what provisions they have for a group that large. I see you were looking at Maya Chan so timewise distance isn’t much different. It is slightly further away but they take a different route. Biggest factor to consider looking after 70+ year olds and toddlers will be distance to walk along the pier, through the port and out of the port to transport. There is a defined charge for taxis of $4pp each way to the malecon. It may be different if it is a large taxi cab but as far as I know, Costa Maya still doesn’t have a board with posted charges so best to confirm with taxi dispatcher before you leave. Malecon21 is at the southern end of the malecon. All taxis stop on the road one block inland since Malecon is pedestrian-only. Ask to be dropped at nearest road, probably Calle Atún and when you get out you have to walk one block towards the ocean. Beware of vendors trying to misdirect you to their location. Take a copy of Google maps or map from their website and check for the Malecon21 sign when you arrive. Malecon21 is not large (like most clubs in Costa Maya) and I think you would need to pre-book to see if they have room for that many people. Krazy Lobster is the only large beach club. I am not sure if they do reservations to get that size group together.

20 people is a large group for any of the Costa Maya beach clubs at such short notice during Spring Break. I think Maya Chan has an area where they generally put bigger groups and it must already be taken.

Thanks I thought it must be. I didn’t remember it looking like that.

white on yellow is not the best color. To be honest I am not sure I saw umbrellas. Someone else would have to confirm. We haven’t stayed that long and have just used tables, chairs and palapa. I like shade.

Did you try their website? http://thekrazylobster.com/USservices.html As stated these services are free. Menu also posted on website, again in pesos. Be careful some beers are large and small eg coronitas.

USED to be the case.

……….Italian (too late to edt!)

Malecon 21 (as the name suggests) is on the malecon, the mile long paved pedestrian way through Mahahual next to the beach. Malecon21 is toward the southern end, Krazy lobster occupies quite a length in the middle. The ends of the malecon tend to be quieter. It is about a 10 minute taxi ride to the malecon. Taxi dispatch keeps moving but it will either be at the exit to the port or just outside. The pick-up for Maya Chan is a short walk outside the port to their check-in area. You can put all three places into Google Maps to see relative positions, distances and routes. You can even do a virtual drive all the way to Maya Chan down the unpaved highway. Krazy Lobster, Malecon 21 and Maya Chan all have websites with photos. Malecon21 was our go-to spot in town pre-Covid when it was new and the boutique hotel was still being built. At that time there were no off shore baffles installed by the government. I would imagine they extend the length of town but I don’t know for certain. Someone else would have to confirm. We have only called in briefly once early after cruising resumed and service was not good at Malecon 21 but recent reviews suggest it has picked up again. I am glad it has managed to survive and I would certainly try it again. TripAdvisor reviews are good - take that for what you will. If you have been to the website for Malecon21 and see the different package levels you will see a link to the menu and prices. I see the listed menu is currently in pesos (not sure why they are displaying that when package prices are in US$), so you would need to convert but I am fairly sure that is the tourist menu and not the local discounted one. It is not a cheap beach club but we drink buckets of beer and I recall the prices being average and worth it for the loungers and ambience. Of course perhaps it is more popular now - it was very new when we went and it was just getting established pre-Covid. (I have just checked again if you go to the “Beach Club” tab the link to the menu there displays prices in Us$ and pesos.) The owner of the hotel is (was, if not still the same?) and the menu is a little “fusion” and not typical Mexican beach club food so depending on your taste that may be good or bad! We enjoy it. As I said, it has been a while since we were there but the restrooms were some of the best on the malecon. Distance to Maya Chan is not a deterrent in itself. They have been in existence a long time. However we have had some bad port hours on recent visits arriving in port after noon. We found we didn’t want to eat lunch half-way through the afternoon so between arriving after our “biological” lunchtime and it going dark early, the day felt rushed. YMMV. If you haven’t been to Costa Maya it is a long walk from the ship, along the pier and through the port to transport and on the return.

Hi Mitsu I don’t recognizze the first one is that the marina north of town?

So the total amount was the same? Just broken down differently?

That’s certainly efficient! Let us know how it goes compared to the other clubs you have visited. It has been a while since we were there. The only negative I have heard is to watch your check and they try to push packages, which is OK if you want them.

Have you booked excursions on Cococay? Although several hundred $$ seems an excessive tax. Do you have a cabana?

Where are you sailing TO? Shouldn’t your query be addressed to the TA to ask what/why they are charging extra?

At Maya Chan you will have good food (albeit a limited buffet of freshly made local food), good service and a private pre-designated area for your party. There are various palapas for different size groups. It is 20-30 minutes from port so you need long enough port hours to make it worthwhile (IMO). You are served chips snd salsa on arrival and buffet lunch is ready later depending again on your port hours. Because it is out of town it doesn’t benefit from the protection of the baffles installed off shore to protect the beach like the main malecon, from sargassum. The water at Maya Chan generally has sea grass in the water and if the currents are such, also sargassum, which washes ashore. They work diligently to collect it but sometimes it is so extensive (usually a little later in the year) that it is a losing battle. It is quiet and no vendors. It has kayaks and paddle boards included. Krazy Lobster is PAYG large beach club, on the malecon, shoulder-to-shoulder with all the other beach clubs. It has a good reputation for reasonable service at reasonable tourist prices and honest pricing, which isn’t found at all places along the malecon. It is a busy beach club mostly tables and chairs but loungers are available. Since Covid it has expanded along the waterfront taking over other clubs so shade and restroom facilities vary depending on your actual location. None of the restrooms are particularly “good”. It does have the benefit of the offshore baffles which were helping although later last people were saying the water was very cloudy - maybe due to silt or perhaps the rotting sargassum breaking down and filtering passed the baffles? We enjoy Krazy Lobster for a short beach break. It is not my idea of relaxing as it is busy and you are continually approached by vendors. For a longer, quieter stay on the Malecon we prefer Malecon21 which has a minimum charge credited back to food and drink. It has different package levels on the website and may have AI, I am not sure - we are not big on AI. All clubs along the malecon are reached via a taxi at $4pp each way. sargassum is a problem at all east facing beaches throughout the Caribbean.

Keep in mind it will be hot and humid in June. Go prepared.

Unusual for it to affect the west coast but as I am sure you are aware we suffered the same fate on one of our visits to Nachi several years ago and then had a completely clear day in Costa Maya. All depends on the storms. The winds and currents seem to have been bad the last few weeks. Whilst Nachi made a half-hearted attempt to clear it half-way through the day we were there I got the impression because it is unusual they didn’t have the manpower or resources to make a real effort. Sargassum is much more prevalent on the east side of Cozumel but again not much effort made to clear it since it is not where most tourist $$ are spent. It is unfortunate since the natural beauty of the east side is its main attraction when conditions are right. I have read this is forecast to be a bad year again judging by the blooms in the Atlantic. Time will tell how much comes ashore but you are correct we have generally found February to be relatively clear. We have seen it in March. It seems like it is becoming more prevalent year round.

Sorry there was such a line for taxis. We would have walked out onto the street if we were in that situation at International but not sure how easy or useful that would be at Puerta May since you are at the end of the run. On my old photo from puerta Maya the three southern clubs are one listing and Paradise and then Chankanaab are a separate lines at a slightly lesser price. It makes some sense to have put Paradise with the others but makes no sense to put it with Chankanaab. Also that is a huge increase in price for taxis to Chankanaab? I have to wonder what is going on with the taxi unions. I am already disappointed with the taxis in Costa Maya (Costa Maya in general actually) but it sounds like Cozumel has problems too.

Paradise Beach, Playa Mia if you want water toys. Hotel day pass if you want pools, activities, non-motorized toys, Cozumel Bar Hop if you want something different in the quieter side away from the other ship crowds.

I think you are probably correct. I think they are just a large group of like-minded cruisers that know each other and therefore it is difficult to infiltrate them on mass. They are approachable away from the group syndrome. They also tend to usurp the concierge services.

It may well be not exclusive to Galveston but there is definitely a “clique” phenomenon from Galveston that I haven’t witnessed elsewhere - Florida, California, TA’s. I have heard there is something similar amongst regulars from Bayonne but I have only sailed into there once on a repositioning ( from Galveston) not a regular sailing so cannot really say if that is true. I may notice it more because Galveston is my local drive-to port, therefore the vast majority of my sailings are from there and so maybe I notice the same faces more? However, I can say the phenomenon existed long before Pinnacles! The circle have just become Pinnacles over time. I haven’t witnessed it on suite lounges I have been in because most were not conducive to the chair circle formation.