c-leg5

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.

I don’t disagree with any of what you described but I also think it is predominantly a “Galveston thing”. We have never seen it on sailings elsewhere and it is not as obvious on smaller ships out of Galveston. I think it has more to do with the circle of regular cruisers out of Galveston than Pinnacles in general. I am surprised you are only just noticing this, since it is also your local port. This behavior has been occurring for at least the last 10+ years as the group progressed through Diamond, Diamond+ etc. For a while some did oscillate between suite and Diamond lounge and obviously now that isn’t as easy. We eat later and so sometimes I am reading in the Diamond Lounge late afternoon with a coffee. Members of the circle begin to descend just before 4.30pm to take up their positions and you can feel the glares if you are sat in their prime real estate. I am not sure your actual status is important, just whether you are a “member of the group” or not, although as I say most have reached that higher level now.

Thanks I find this very surprising and a retrograde step from the previous terminal. people have implied disembarkation is very easy at the new terminal. I am surprised that is the first time I have heard this mentioned.

I don’t think anyone was implying it was relaxing “in a quiet way” at night (well, after 9pm it is) but some people do enjoy meeting up and chatting with friends, old and new, over drinks without a background band. How easy it is to that is very dependent on the ship and itinerary. Different people enjoy different venues which is fine. We often take snacks out to the overflow and last sailing hardly used it at all during HH because we enjoyed live music elsewhere.

It used to be this way in the old terminal before it was revamped. We haven’t been to the new terminal. Are you saying they didn’t install the zig-zag Disney type ramps in the new terminal? I have seen serious mishaps at airports and at the old Galveston port where people have had accidents with luggage on the escalators which makes it very dangerous for the people following, in addition to the passenger themselves. Given the very high percentage of guests that self-disembark I would be surprised if they hadn’t taken this into consideration in a new terminal.

“Relaxing” is during the day (especially when weather is inclement) not at night when bar services are required. It is generally relaxing during the day but there are exceptions.

More like 30-40 minutes but very dependent on day of the week and time of day.

You are not going to fly from UK to Hobby very easily.

I did clarify above that may be the case. I have never noticed an actual sign. I usually just point or self-serve!

Yes the recipe has certainly changed. I used to overindulge, now not so much!

I have never noticed it called that but I think you answered your own question.

Whilst I stand by my opinion, I was perhaps a little harsh since there are many adaptations of regional recipes on the ships.

I like it too and it is nothing like any stollen I have ever had! I usually find it in the promenade cafe.

A naturalized citizen?