c-leg5

So it appears from the PP now but the original options seemed very limited.

LOL! Sounds like it is changing by the minute. Thanks for updates.

Thanks this is the first answer I have seen from someone actually on board - most of the 16 pages of this thread have been speculation, or opinions. Is this a short cruise? I am not over excited at the portrayal of BRITISH night menu in the MDR but how did it become English in WJ? I find no Indian or Caribbean in the WJ hard to believe or are they available but just not highlighted?

I understand what you were referring to, since you quoted it, but your answer was unclear, hence my question. Are you trying to say they have the same theme in the MDR and WJ on the same night, because I asked this several pages back and to the best of my knowledge (I haven’t been alerted but I confess I haven’t read every post) the question wasn’t answered by anyone with first-hand knowledge that had sailed since the introduction of the new menus. OR, are you trying to say, there is A theme in both the MDR and WJ each night. Certainly the old WJ themes were different to the new MDR menu designations.

This is certainly true in general. However, on days with full port load - (8 or more ships), smaller older ships from Carnival and Royal will dock at Langosta if their piers are full. Also, I have seen MSC and Norwegian at International. I have never docked at Puerta Maya so not too familiar with there although I thought I heard Celebrity docked there recently? If really high port load, Norwegian seems to be the cruise line to tender. Chankanaab is south of all three piers. Dolphinaris is south of Langosta, but north of Puerta Maya and International., so it would be the opposite direction to Nachi from those two piers. It is between International and Langosta. It is possible to walk there from Langosta. However, as I said before there isn’t much difference in total taxi fare to either dolphin experience and on to Nachi - the difference would be price of experience at Dolphinaris vs Dolphin experience at Chankanaab, which includes entrance to the park. You would need to check what promotions are current at the time. We actually have booked Chankanaab cheaper through the cruise line directly occasionally when it is on sale, since transport is included. Of course you would need to let them know in your case you wouldn’t require return transport. Also keep in mind the cruise lines often block book the dolphin experiences so they are not available for individual bookings.

Always do what?

That’s fine. We have been very disappointed in the developments at Costa Maya and Mahahual since cruising resumed. If you have been many times you will be aware of the ongoing sargassum problems and season. At least the malecon has had federal funding to install off- shore baffles but when the season is really bad, many reports of it still being overwhelming there too and reports of it being bad when you were at Maya Chan . As I said it is unusual and disappointing to hear this at this time of the year. Where is your go to place on the malecon? We are still searching for somewhere new to replace our old favorites?

This is for the upcoming year and at the moment it would appear their closure is scheduled to be shorter than last year which is surprising. The OP was asking about re-opening after last year. I haven’t seen any reports of any significant changes which seems strange considering the original message.

Sadly, It would appear from yours and other posts that sargassum is unusually early this year. I presume this was your first visit to Maya Chan? Have you been to other places in Mahahual?You are usually informed at the pick-up for Maya Chan if sargassum is bad and offered a refund, or on arrival, if you decide immediately not to stay. Have they stopped allowing this option? I am not sure it is fair to say it is overpriced considering the distance and transport is included. It would depend on what you are comparing it to? Compared to what the taxis are currently charging just to the malecon and the price the bars along the malecon are charging for AI, unless Maya Chan has significantly increased their prices again since last year I would say they are competitive. Now, whether you consider them value for money is subjective. I would agree that distance from the port is an issue on a short port stop, and AI is not always wanted, or required, which is why we only book occasionally. However, you know this is the only option at this venue when you decide to book it.

I would suggest you look at some of the “live from” reviews. Some posters never seem to be able to post enough food photos.

I dont know if we have had photo proof yet but they are supposedly a different variety to the old type

That has been hit and miss for a while. Perhaps will make an appearance on the longer cruises?

Yes.

It is a strong, cooler wind that doesn’t come from the usual direction. It affects currents and diving. It can bring sargassum into west coast beaches that are usually clear. Sargassum is predominantly on the east coast of Cozumel and the mainland beaches like, Playa, Cancun, Costa Maya.

Costa Maya does appear to be open for bookings according to their website but of course there can be many changes between now and December. You still haven’t stated which pier but if Langosta, Dolphinaris would certainly be more convenient and en route to Nachi. You could walk but that would depend on mobility and comfort level. Even from the other piers it would be $8-10, same as what it would cost to get to Chankanaab. Not sure if budget is an issue, but I would certainly compare prices and promotions between Chankanaab and Dolphinaris. Personally I wouldn’t like to pay for admission to Chankanaab and then waste the experience and then pay for AI to Nachi.

I think that was the whole point since the OP asked about staying at the port (but threw in “downtown”). As I understood it they hadn’t been before and didn’t really realize what, or where, “downtown” Costa Maya was. Perhaps I misunderstood original question but that is how I answered the question too. Despite Cozumel having three piers, there IS more to do at Costa Maya pier ONCE you have walked the length of the long pier. There are activities/displays to watch, and do, within the port area.

I would expect it to be starting around then but it seems to have started early this year. It is impossible to predict but you will see it while sailing and certainly as you pull into Costa Maya. Normally i would check webcams at Maya Chan and pez Quadro but they were both down last time i checked.

Unless there is an el norte unlikely to be seaweed at Chankanaab.

A lot depends on ship time vs local time. We wouldn’t do a late arrival again. We tried to take the last taxi back to maximize time. It was late and left us scrambling to get back on board in time. Also our biological clock really didn’t enjoy lunch halfway through the afternoon. Just not the same experience as normal. YMMV.

https://www.portofgalveston.com/80/Cruise-Lines-Schedules Not sure which garage you are referring to but here is the schedule.

You got a bargain! That is very unusual pricing it has been $15/18 for a long time but there were a lot of discounts when cruising first resumed at many of the clubs. I have also known them discount if everything isn’t available. I still think they were pushing AI when the government imposed capacity control early on and wonder if that will be the case going forward.

Are you saying you both have traditional dining and one has early and one has late?

I am not really understanding the logic here. The main reason why taxis don’t want to to take you somewhere is lack of kickbacks, or better kickbacks somewhere else. This was common at one time when Nachi Cocom went AI, although I haven’t heard that being a problem in a long time. Paradise Beach, as I recall, had a dedicated area for taxi drivers to hang out which suggests kickbacks to me, has that changed? With the increased emphasis on AI model by Paradise Beach i would have thought taxis would have welcomed the opportunity to take you to Paradise Beach for agreed fare and then offered to take you to another club for additional fee when you couldn’t get into Paradise Beach for PAYG because they are full. Is Paradise Beach now implying they are not as full as people were led to believe and do have PAYG slots available? I agree, always state where you want to go and agree fare before getting in a taxi in Cozumel. If there is a problem take the next one, it isn’t like there is a shortage! The only problem we have had on cruise ship days is double dipping when they charge per couple instead of per vehicle as stated by union rules. We either insist on smaller vehicle for two, or pay cash, no tip. This doesn’t happen on land visits or if you take a taxi from outside the port gates.

Keep in mind “ downtown” requires a $4 pp taxi for 5 minute ride, or long hot walk. There is very little just outside the port gates. In the past, we would normally recommend going to the “town”, which in reality is a series of beach bars with local vendors, for better prices and beach (assuming sargassum isn’t overwhelming which is a strong possibility in July). Proper brick and mortar stores are mainly at the port. However, increased taxi fares and trend towards AI, or minimum cover charges at the bars make Mahahual less appealing to us than pre-Covid, unless you are happy to choose one bar and settle for the day. There is plenty to do at the port for first time and repeat visitors. The disadvantage of higher drink prices and snacks are off-set by convenience of the ship for food and we are much more likely to consider it now for a few hours off the ship.

i agree with your logic. What surprises me is the fact that they would just repeat a menu day on a longer cruise. They usually pick odd items from different days and call the menu something new. I don’t have a problem with the new menus.