c-leg5

Accepted? Expected?

Yes for Malecon 21 you will take your own taxi. We haven’t been in the last year but I believe the taxi dispatch may have moved back outside the port gates but cannot confirm. Hayhu seems to arrange taxi transport and confirms on WhatsApp, not sure where they meet you now but they will confirm details. Hayhu will be a 20-30 minute ride each way so make sure you have long enough port hours and ship time vs local time.

I have that price on my photo from 2017. There are several reports of increases but I haven’t seen any photos from each of the three piers. Cruise ship piers have always had their own rates compared to outside the gates!

Thanks good to know. I have never been to an AI that didn’t “allow” tipping. I enjoy resorts for an occasional change but I begin to feel too confined quite quickly.

Surely that depends on which resort and which cruise line? Are you comparing similar price points?

It says two lounge chairs - no day bed like some?

Are you saying it is not available for this sailing? I thought you could book as a solo sometimes but you needed to call and couldn’t do it online or have they stopped it altogether? Wasn’t this the problem @firefly333 had when she booked a solo guarantee expecting a regular inside and double points but then got allocated a studio and only single points?

I agree taking up a lot of space and not for me. My thoughts were, why would I want to look at the tubes of the slides and not the ocean. Also that too deck can get a lot of wind - do you get a refund in inclement weather.

Pez Quadro can be busy and exoensive. It attracts a lot of entertainment staff from the ships at a discount so be forewarned. If you want somewhere quieter we prefer Malecon 21 which has different price packages. The beach clubs are all shoulder to shoulder along the Malecon. There is no difference in access to anything especially stalls and roaming vendors, third party operators for massage, bikes, snorkeling etc. North and south ends tend to be slightly quieter. Unless it is your first time and you want the experience of out of town, I would stay at the port or the malecon with those hours, from past experience of those port hours.

Nachi Cocom, although sand can be soft and shelving can be a problem depending on storms.

Are you able to share names or approximate prices? I am interested to hear if prices really are increasing.

I am not sure why Costa Maya has such awful port hours for so many ships. I am not sure if it is to get a double load 7-12 and 12- 6/7/8pm or to spread out crowds, one in the morning, one in the afternoon. There are very limited activities from Costa Maya and from experience I don’t find the late shift to be worthwhile for AI locations out of town - it is not my normal eating time and it goes dark early. The malecon has some restaurants open for late dining because they have guests from small boutique hotels but many beach clubs will close. Our go-to on the malecon would be Malecon 21 but we like to relax YMMV. I used to be with @crewsweeper and recommend getting out of port at least to the malecon for some drinks and beach but my opinion has changed since the reopening after Covid. I find Mahahual very disappointing now and would stay in port with short hours. Your hours are more difficult since you are staying even later than ships we have been on but I am not sure how much will remain open and whether it is worth giving up free food on the ship for.

Harmony has docked. I think it depends which pier some times.

Yes certainly possible, and much more likely in summer - not impossible in winter. However sometimes the cruise schedule sites are out of date, so you generally need to check several if it is important and sometimes people forget to check three piers on Cozumel so it is something to consider if you are depending on numbers. In summer ships are likely to have more kids - more people at family sites but in general Cozumel is much quieter in summer - for a reason! Spring Break (March) Paradise and Sanchos have reportedly only taken AI and capped numbers some years. Just trying to point out there are several factors to consider when asked the question “ how often does this happen”.

I am not sure if it is due to the increased number of ships scheduled to dock there, or the orientation of the piers, but there seem to be an increased number of ships cancelled since the pier was extended.

It will largely depend on time of the year. one other ship total seems very low for Cozumel? I understand you can phone before arrival on the day to check, or have a back up plan in place.

Thanks, then it definitely sounds he was trying it on and unfortunately you got a “bad apple”. Sounds like you did all you could and he didn’t care. I just checked on the scuba board and there is even a post from today saying no official increase.

Yes that is what has been reported. there is usually a 5 person rate then 6-8?

I had suspected this was the likely scenario as that is much nearer to the 6-8 person rate. I assume the party of 4 got in a taxi van? Officially if the taxi van is next in line at dispatch they should charge you the 4 person rate. If you stop a van on the street all bets are off and you would have to negotiate - it depends how much they want the fare. However, yes, always good idea to confirm price before leaving and take a photo of taxi number “ in case you forget something” and yes, I suspect the driver was trying it on. People have reported there has been a price increase although strangely I haven’t seen anything official but it stands to reason since the last increase was 2016.

We have had drinks in Viking Lounge before now. I remember distinctly because the barman put soda in my gin instead of tonic! You just have to check your app to see what is open.

The WJ. is a place for food . The bars are a place for drinks. Depending on the weather many prefer to be outside after eating or getting “bargains” in the promenade, arranging dining, spa treatments. Like most things on the ships, different people have different priorities.

Thanks! Everyone gets a free margarita at Krazy Lobster so no benefit there. I understand there may be some “fun” factor associated with a golf cart but really the only convenience seems to be the stops on the pink road certainly isn’t cheaper than a taxi (which is overpriced in itself now). I don’t think any of the locations on that map have an “entrance fee” but I am sure you probably got a welcome drink at each which might not be standard at all of them. I think if I ever did rent one I might venture into Nuevo Mahahual just to have a look round and try and find the old coastal path. I have never noticed Barbanegra but seems to be next to Pez Quadro and gets reasonable reviews so may be one to try. I will definitely give Chunky Monkey a try. We use our cell phone service in Mexico so internet isn’t usually a problem and agree it is often difficult to connect on the malecon otherwise.

Why not just get on later when you can go straight to cabin and lines through security will be quieter? Getting a wagon up to Viking lounge will be a hassle.

Thanks glad to hear it all worked out for you.

From recent posts it would appear OP @sunsetme has sailed and returned. It would be interesting to hear where they went as a solo. I agree the “beach” along the malecon is very similar since it is one long bay but there can be a different “vibe” at the various locations, quality of service, PAYG/AI, loud/quiet. As a solo the out of town locations are probably less intimidating providing you are comfortable with the transport aspect and you have long enough port hours. Costa May is not high on my list of favorites presently and personally I would probably take a quick tour round the port area and return to the ship.