c-leg5

+1, that has always been our modus operandi. You will recall like us that it started with a small section of the top dining room and as popularity grew it expanded into occupying the whole of the ground floor. We tend to gravitate towards the 7.15-7.45 timeframe, which is also a popular timeslot for those wishing to eat between traditional times, in fact it was often blocked out from the pre-reserving prior to sailing. We often booked the earliest late time available as a placeholder but were often able to adjust some nights on board. I agree with reserving the same table and waitstaff for the rest of the week if you are happy after the first night. However MTD has the advantage of being able to easily change table or waitstaff if you don’t like either or want to eat at different times. I agree that there was a problem with available seating and waitstaff initially but I have read reports that they had tried to introduce this mixed MTD/traditional areas pre-Covid. I don’t know what ships this was on but we never experienced that.

A lot depends on the time you need to eat. If you MUST eat the minute they open, there will be a line, especially since people are now lining up early to try and jump the line to fill tables where first sitting diners haven’t shown up. A lot depends on the efficiency, discipline and training of the hosts. Guests that show up early should be in the non-reservation line and should not be circumventing those that have the first available reserved times, who should be in the reservation line, and should have a table available at their allocated time. The system is never going to work while you are mixing traditional and MTD diners in the same area, IMO. Royal had a perfectly good system in operation when they had an area of the dining room dedicated to MTD. It functioned like a regular restaurant with reservations and walk-ins, as available. Dining started maybe 30 minutes (? - I never eat that early) after traditional early dining. There were busy times and quiet times depending on scheduled events but if you had a reservation you were seated in a timely manner. If you walk-up you should expect there may be a delay. One thing that I noticed on Adventure last year was that when we tried to cancel our standing MTD reservation to free up our table on nights where we arranged specialty dining or had decided to go to WJ, they were not interested. We have always done this in the past. This in itself points to a lack of efficiency and co-ordination within the system. I know @Sea Dog suggested MTD should be intermingled on all three floors. That would be a worse nightmare to me. We have done MTD almost since its inception. It became very efficient. It worked as it was. Some dining rooms have entrances and podiums on both sides of the dining room, in addition to reservation/non-reservation lines and it was notable on those ships that the host on one side was sometimes more efficient than the other. I can’t imagine having podiums on all three floors, or even worse checking in on top floor to be told there was a table available on the bottom level.

I cannot comment on the excursion itself as I haven’t done it but you do realize the 7-hours includes a ferry to and from the mainland, and transport on the mainland. It isn’t new and if you use the search engine for this forum you should find some reviews. It has been discussed in the past. I think they provide wetsuits.

What was wrong with the letter? I thought he was allowed in the Diamond lounge?

+1

Yes I realized that was your problem which was why i deleted. I would just hang them over the clothes line or I actually carry a folding laundry hanger so they weren’t lying around.

Sounds like you were quoted the correct price, more or less. We generally don’t quibble the $10 and just count it as the included tip. Taxis in Cozumel are so used to American tourists rounding to $10/$20. i get annoyed when they charge 3 couples $8 each, in a shared van ($16 fare) - then they get the $8 no tip.

Maybe that also is contributing to the cloudiness. We typically go November and February so haven’t personally experienced bad sargassum in a while. The baffles hadn’t been up that long when we were last there.

I think the point is the barriers are doing a reasonable job of reducing the sargassum. obviously depends on currents and daily conditions but this seems to have been a bad season and clubs outside of the protected areas seemed to have had bad sargassum. I am wondering from @tallyho8 comments if the finer decomposed matter is passing the barriers making the water cloudy or just churned up sand and silt.

I would suggest you check this forum for some of the regularly suggested locations and then follow up on TA and the individual websites for reviews and photos to see which appeal. I think it would depend on what would make it special for you personally when it comes to luxury. I can’t think of ANY location in Mahahual that I would consider a “luxury experience”, including Maya Chan. Maya Chan has the advantage of being isolated which makes it more private. Service is excellent, but facilities are rustic. Food is excellent local food but limited options for some people. So it depends on your attitude and expectations. Due to its isolation sargassum seems to have been more of a problem this year since it doesn’t have the barrier protection of the town beaches. Likewise Hayhu (which I haven’t tried yet) seems to have a more up-market vibe but again has had sargassum problems in season. On the malecon itself, we have enjoyed Malecon21 for food and drinks and quieter location but service wasn’t as good last time we were there compared to pre-Covid. Hopefully it has improved. Again it is a beach BAR attached to a small hotel but again it depends on your idea of luxury. You are not going to get beach clubs and resort hotels in Mahahual like Cancun.

Hardly a comparison of like with like. There are all sorts of vacations that are more pampered than cruising on a mass cruise line, at a cost. How many people on a river cruise to start with? The products aren’t even similar other than you are transported on water. The whole scenario is different from food, drink, entertainment, facilities, ambiance, excursions- the list goes on. That’s not to say you may prefer one over the other, or you may enjoy both, but they are not comparable. As I recall you encountered your own set of problems so it wasn’t all smooth sailing.

Wow, its been a long time since I have got that rate from within the port Crew! Do you have special skills? I know that is the rate outside for non-cruiser specials! My biggest peeve in Cozumel is charging 4-person rate, per couple, in a shared van on cruise ship days, not sure what they do with solos.

It depends which side of the pond you are from.

That would depend on where you are sailing to and nationality of Passport holder.

Are you asking if it is better to book direct with beach club, through a broker like shore excursioneer, or direct with cruise line?

It is a beach club but usually quieter than many. We also love going round the island, providing it isn’t sargassum season, but we would never self-drive. We like a drink and have a driver if we want to relax and be on our own schedule, or enjoy the bar hop if we want to socialize.

I am curious as to how much you have explored beyond the port areas? I can understand it can be intimidating solo. I really disliked Cozumel 20 years ago when we first times we visited by cruise ship and stayed by the port. Then I had a local show me around and I realized there was life outside of Melgar! We have visited many times since by cruise ship and stayed for weeks at a time in town. I have walked all over town solo and taken many group and independent excursions. There are lots of places to go and things to do if you know where to look beyond the large tourist beach bars and shopping on Melgar. Obviously the prime attraction is diving. Unfortunately many of the better restaurants only open at night - good for the overnight stops from Galveston, if we could only get them to dock in town! So a change to Cozumel would be fine with me although I actually discovered and enjoyed Labadee, only last year. Reports I read had dissuaded me from actively looking for a sailing that went there but a repositioning cruise from Galveston last year stopped there by chance and we were pleasantly surprised and would love to visit again. We used to enjoy Coco Cay before it was commercialized so I suppose we don’t fit the profile of the masses.

From their website: INCLUDES: All you can Drink, unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks (Open Bar including: beer, liquors, cocktails, water, wine, sodas, juices and bottled water). A 4 courses lunch. À la carté menu for lunch includes Mexican Specialties as well as Caribbean treats. Lounge Chairs. All Beach Club Amenities If you want desert I would suggest you order early. We like to stagger our courses but they had run out of desert when we finished our main course. I didn’t find their portions to be that big. We don’t generally eat a lot at lunchtime off the ship which is why we rarely do AI, however, I would have liked desert so I guess it depends on which items you choose.

I have only been to Krazy Lobster since cruising resumed because old favorites were not available. It appears from reports, they have expanded and taken over beach areas to the sides of their original location. Consequently, I presume they have taken over some of the properties too across from the beach including bathrooms. We have been to at least two of their bathroom locations, neither were great. They were adequate but only a step-above outhouses so just be pre-warned. Depending where you are on the beach they are also some distance away.

Did you notice if Emmanuel was back in Boleros - possibly wearing a fedora? I heard he had moved to Windjammer bar but wondered if he was back. He makes a great mojito and the best chocolate martini!

I think you will be fine. Krazy Lobster has become really big, stretching a good length along the malecon. “Good beach” is subjective, but I definitely don’t think you could classify Krazy Lobster as having “nice” bathrooms. That goes for most places on the malecon, with the exception of Malecon21, of the places we have been. Krazy Lobster is PAYG. Keep in mind Yucatan is on EST year round.

Sorry i was editing - probably Nachi.

What are you looking for? What are your priorities? What others like may not fulfill your needs. Sanchos and Paradise Beach are similar tourist family oriented. Nachi has a pool but less family activities for teens. Generally more relaxed and quieter but that depends on guests on the day.

Yes they used to have them a long time ago on Royal. I have had them in Blu.