c-leg5

Unless someone has actually done it it is difficult to say. Both locations include a discounted admission which i agree you shouldn’t have to pay twice as I stated above. However both are subcontractors, I think, so I don’t know what the arrangement is. I do know with the helmet dive excursion you get a discounted rate but pay Chankanaab directly, not sure why it is different. I have always had good response emailing Cabana Beach directly so suggest you try that and perhaps report back to help others. You would need something (wristband) to allow you into Cabana Beach area.

You will always get mixed reviews depending on what you or the reviewer expects/requires. We went several years ago and enjoyed it. Any particular concerns or questions?

If the OP @KarenRB purchased in advance, depending on, if they needed internet everyday and/or they were sharing a cabin with another diamond guest and were willing to share a device it may/may not be cheaper to purchase onboard. Couldn’t they cancel advance purchase once they found out on board price?

That is basically what I stated above. However since we aren’t privy to the codes or prices involved it is difficult to make a true assessment. IF it was a single person gty rate then I can understand, if it was a true D340 of the current two-person gty rate then I agree it should have been a two person cabin and double points.

I would assume if you pay the full two person gty rate, but only name one person, you would get a two person cabin and double points, but as far as I know you have to phone you can’t see it available online to book yourself. If a reduced single person gty rate was available then you could get a studio. Not all ships have studios so I don’t suppose a reduced rate is available many ships.

I thought you could phone and get a guarantee price but not online? However I think you have to be wary of what ship you book on if going that route since you may get a studio.

But you are purchasing something extra and using your coupon against that, correct? You are not taking the coupon off the pre-purchased package price, which I think was being asked originally?

Paradise has good facilities but it isn’t somewhere i would go to relax.

Any drink up to $14.

Lots of resorts regularly discussed on this forum. Take a look at the last page or two to see if any interest you or you have specific questions. Regularly recommended - numerous hotel Day passes, Nachi Cocom, Del Mar Latino, Buccanos .

I am not seeing any of that.

+1 The excursion has been running for many years (15+?) and is well run and executed. We have been several times with Colleen and other hosts. As stated it is not inherently a party bus but is always dependent on the group on the bus on any given day. You meet at a central location in town but are dropped off back at individual piers after the tour. You can be as independent or sociable as you desire at each stop and no coercion. I have always felt it is not particularly well-named - people expecting a party bus are disappointed and others are put off trying it. In my experience it often attracts an older crowd, or often parents with adult children. It is a fun introduction to Cozumel beyond the normal beach clubs. There is no (little) electricity on east side so cash-only, and unreliable credit card and cell phone use. Whilst the bars on the east side are rural and individual they do still command tourist prices and you can usually find examples of the menus online or on blogs. A couple of bars you can cool off in the ocean but swimming not generally recommended due to currents and undertow.

I agree it is a long walk along the pier and THEN through the shops, but actually having to walk through the shops to a taxi is no different from a lot of ports

The going rate is actually $4 pp currently so it depends on how many in your party, but $8 each way for a couple. Considering the distance involved I don’t consider the rate reasonable. It is double what it was pre-Covid. $16 each way for a family to go to the short distance to the beach is ridiculous IMO.

Lots of good recent reviews on TA to read with the ceveat some are from the usual one-post wonders and mostly from people staying at the resort. Occidental lost a lot of their beach in storms last year and I don’t know if this affected Iberostar too.

Cabana Beach is a private area of Chankanaab. They have their own separate back entrance but recent reports say you have to enter at main entrance and walk the whole length of Chankanaab to their section.You reserve a particular cabana on their website. It is not AI. https://thecabanabeach.com The inclusions are always changing but seems to currently include fruit plate and guacamole. There is a menu for Cabana Beach on the website or you can purchase from a vendor within the park between the dolphins and Cabana Beach. I don’t know if they allow you to take that into their area. It will not be a sandy beach like Nachi, rather a man-made sandy area with direct access to snorkeling. If you search this forum you will find recent reviews. I haven’t actually been to this section. It only opened a year or two before Covid and prices then were very expensive. I am sorry I missed my chance to sample it when we stayed on the island during Covid as I discovered their special promotional Covid rate too late! You pay a discounted entrance to Chankanaab with their rate. I don’t know if you can negotiate a Dolphin rate through them, otherwise you will be paying an entrance fee to Chankanaab twice? We have just picked a palapa in front of the sea wall when we have gone and ordered from the roving waiters.

Yes it is a large bay with several locations. Tabyana is the cruise ship section near one end.

I haven’t been but I would assume per person considering the general fares on Roatan. If you are a big group a private driver for the day would be cheaper but I am sure you can check price directly to be sure.

Sounds good!

Unless a small, old ship you will dock at International, south of town next to Puerta Maya (Carnival port). It would depend on what your friend wanted to see. I would look at a map of Cozumel on Google maps, you can do a virtual tour. Some suggestions: If they are into nature/ photography maybe trip down to Rasta’s for quick look at the “wild” side then turn round to return. (Not recommended if it is sargassum season) History/Mayan old village/church at El Cedral. Mayan chocolate factory at Mayan Cacao, next to Playa Mia. You could get the taxi to tour the town of San Miguel to get a feel of local neighborhoods, rich and poor but it is past your port area and the road would be busy when you are returning to port so allow time. Several monuments along sea front, old and new churches, wall murals all over town, excellent restaurants, bars and coffee shops. The back streets of San Miguel and mercado are not picturesque but interesting if if you want to see different communities. You would probably need to negotiate rate for 1-2 hours for the taxi to take you around. (Check the current rate on the board posted at the port before you leave so you will have a feel for a good rate.) If you just want local shopping, without a tour, get the taxi to drop you off opposite Puerta Maya at “new” flea market, or opposite International at more upmarket Royal Village and walk back to port, although it is all much the same as the stuff for sale in the port area. There are lots of things to see and do on Cozumel but best with a dedicated driver for the day to have flexibility to stop and start. Hopefully you will all return and give it a try another time. For an all adult group, Cozumel Bar Hop is an excellent circular sampler tour of the island, especially the wild east side.

If you do Chankanaab I wouldn’t bother going or paying AI for Nachi but that’s just me personally. There is plenty to do for the day at Chankanaab that will take up a cruise ship day. If you are looking for something s little more exclusive, maybe check out Cabana Beach at Chankanaab to save you from having to get another taxi. Cabana Beach has its own website and cabanas are reserved although they keep increasing the price again.

What do balcony discounts have to do with it? A first time cruiser can book a group rate.

Prices for passes and transportation from both ports listed on the website along with a warning about construction noise.

Have the zip lines reopened then? I can’t find anything about children’s xtrem reopening but haven’t looked for adult. The buffet is OK when there is a good promotion through the cruise line otherwise we prefer the PAYG.

Chankanaab or Dolphinaris. Both have websites with prices which usually have promotions. Both have other things you can do at the location. Chankanaab is in a national park so requires an included entrance fee that includes some extra items, others cost extra. It has a beach, rocky snorkeling, pool. Dolphinaris has other optional pay extras. It is within walking distance of town if that is of interest for bars, shopping, restaurants. Both places provide very time limited actual swimming with dolphins.