Kletina

all are correct, sometimes there are dogs and guards looking for fresh food, vegies, food or drugs, but if a dog sniffes (?) the prepacked food, and the guard says no, just tell the guard why you are taken it off the ship, show him some proof about the allergy or why you or your kids must have to eat GF, and he will let you go, if the guard doesnt speak english, just look around who can translate for you

If you are going to use pesos like a Mexican then you might as well tip like a Mexican also. Mexicans generally don't tip their taxi drivers.

yes, we never tip to taxi drivers, We tip to waiters at a restaurant or bar, to the kids who help me with the groceries at the supermarket or to the person who keep and eye on my car while Im in the cinema or to the hairdresser at the beauty parlor but to taxi drivers? noup

Has anyone ever cancelled a reservation at Nachi? I THINK I am reading too much into this, but their policy does not clearly say that you only lose the deposit if you cancel. It says the deposit is non-refundable. I get that, no problem there. It also says that you will be charged the full amount if you "no show." Also, no problem. What it doesn't say is that cancelling before hand = losing deposit only. And, since there is no "must cancel by" date, I get a little nervous about reserving a spot until I am 100% sure that's what we are doing.

 

As I said, I think this is me reading a little too much in to what is not said, as it would seem that the non-refundable deposit is all that you SHOULD lose.

 

I have emailed them with the question, but I thought I'd see if anyone had experience cancelling and how that worked out for you.

If you dont mind loosing the deposit, I thing you dont have to worry, because their reservation format states that you will have to pay the advance deposit with Paypal and PPL does not give them your credit card info, so if you have to cancel your cruise and cancel 7 or 14 days in advance or dont show up, ¿how they will charge the balance on your card without your CC info? they might send you a PPL invoice to your email but it will be up to you to pay or not. If someone knows that Im wrong please let us know, but I thing this is the way when using PPL

Where is the best place to buy vanilla in Coz?

best prices and quality at el Mercado or at Comercial Mexicana (Mega) or at Chedraui supermarket

Skittl, apparently your Google skills are far superior to mine because I did not find anything even half as useful as the page you linked. The PDF on that page is somehow "incorrectly formatted" according to Adobe Acrobat, but once I used Polaris Office, it was exactly what I was looking for.

 

For those who do not have the correct software on their phone, or who just want the cliff notes, basically it seems like vegan baked goods are fine, even without packaging. This is great news for me, because I'd rather grab a couple of rolls or a few handfuls of crackers and bring them ashore in a baggie instead of buying Doritos or Takis on shore.

 

Another interesting note is that it seems like a baggie of cooked shrimp, in portions that correspond to personal consumption, would also be perfectly acceptable, as long as they are accompanied by a sealed ice pack!

 

All other meats/dairy/fish need to be processed and in sealed packaging and there are various subregulations depending on type.

 

I didn't look too closely at the nut list, since my daughter is allergic, but certain nuts are ok unpackaged as long as they do not have shells. Anyone who is Celiac or has other severe dietary restrictions might want to look at the original document for ideas of thing that can be brought ashore unpackaged in small quantities..

I suggest to bring the PDF with you, becuz maybe custom staff and dogs will not be aware of the exceptions

if you dont find the one you are looking for at los 5 soles or at Mi casa, a friend of mine bought 2 talavera sinks on Amazon, delivered via fedex to her house in Cancun.

Talavera factory is at the state of Puebla so all the pieces in here or at anyplace, come from there.

here is the link she used where prices are ok

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_pg_2?rh=n%3A1055398%2Ck%3Atalavera+sinks&page=2&keywords=talavera+sinks&ie=UTF8&qid=1441497757

Anyone know which excursions on Carnival take in Cancun? I'm helping a friend plan her first cruise & she wants to go to Cancun. I'm having trouble seeing which ones would be good for her on the Carnival website.

she can take a 20 minutes fly from Cozumel to Cancun and back by mayan air

https://www.mayair.com.mx/#Timetable

 

And bring CHEERIOS! Fish luv them and the come in all their colorful glory close enough to touch. It's verrrry safe.

 

 

Safe? thousand of fish died every year becuz the cheerios and other human cereals feeding,

That's not the one i went to. Man i wish i could remember the name or anything.

the name of the one at the pee pee station is "Mexico Lindo tequila tour" they have animals and a Mayan village also

Crewscreeper is right, the fireworks and fiesta take place late at night on the 15th, celebrating the "grito de dolores" mucho tequila & beer in bars and in streets, VIVA MEXICO!!! VIVA!!! then next day sept 16 independence parade about 10am, so at 1:30pm not independence day events, but as your ship will depart at 10pm you will see the flags and light night decoration in the streets and there almost all tours, taxi cabs, restaurants, bars and stores will be working as usual

you dont have to worry, on spring and summer most of the time the ocean is calm so ride will be as flying on a jumbo B747, in this link you can see photos of the new ferry company boats http://www.barcoscaribe.com/flotillas.html

Maybe Keltina can confirm, but there used to be a blue street food truck across the road between Puerta Maya and the International Pier (closer to the International as I recall. That'll be your best bet closest to the peir since all the loncherias are downtown.

 

While somewhat "Americanized" in the menu, the Panchos Backyard outlet in Puerta Maya does make an excellent chile rellenos.

the blue stand is there, they sell shrimp, fish, asada, chorizo, etc tacos, you can see locals and crew members having tacos, but I dont know if their tacos are safe for tourists stomachs, so I thing is safer idea to have chiles rellenos at Panchos backyard :D

you are right, not many street vendors in the island and the few ones sell hotdogs lol, you can find tamales at el mercado restaurants, or at the ones close, there is one called "Flamitas" located on 25 ave between calle 3 & 5 sur, walking distance from el mercado, is a very good mexican (yucatecan style) food, not many tourists eat there, just tell your son, that the tamales from Mazatlan are different from the ones in here, look almost the same, but flavor is different, here some are hot, some very grease, to make them, they use pepper, pork and recados "mayan ingredients" and banana leafs to cook them, the ones in mazatlan are corn or beef and butter made, and to cook use corn leafs, in Mexico there are more than 500+ different types of tamales, sizes, flavors, ingredients, depend on the region. and now im tamales hungry lol

Thanks Kletina for the local insight!

 

I keep reading about the tequila tasting at PeePee but didn't realize it was Mexico Lindo. Don't they have more than one location? I am sure I have read in the past that there was one on Rafael Melgar and one at El Cedral? I have never managed to find a website and had no idea they had a Mayan Village set up. Do they also have a restaurant?

you are right, Mexico Lindo has 3 locations, the one in the video Peepee station, the one at Melgar which is also called Villablanca becuz is next to that hotel and is the one with a restaurante, and the one at El cedral, all 3 are free becuz of the selling bottles trick, other tequila tours are one at chankanaab park, one at discover Mexico/Jose Cuervo, one at la Mission rest, the one called Hacienda Antigua which was the fisrt one, Mr Sanchoz or Nachi Cocom has one, not sure, too many I thing, but the ones I like more are Peepee station becuz of the mayan village and Hacienda Antigua becuz it looks more like the real Haciendas/factories in Jalisco where the real requila factories are. but this last is not free, they charge a $10.00 fee I thing

Where was this video taken in Cozumel?

 

is at the free tequila tasteings and Mayan Village "Mexico Lindo" the place is called Pee pee station in the transversal road, they made the mayan village and tequila tour behind the store for Carnivals island tours but is open to anyone because is free as they will try to sell tequila botles at the end of the tour

We're doing a private jeep tour in Cozumel (2 adults and an 8 year old). Where should we go? What did you love in Cozumel.

Thanks

Nikki

Maybe you can use the info, you will find in this link

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=45684773&postcount=2

Looking at Google street view Melgar going south is an improved highway. Inside road along coast is more for access and last time we were there the first part at least was one-way south.

 

Following road south and round island you will see highway with yellow lines up the middle and Rasta's and Paradise off to the right on old road. If you follow on a little further round the bend you will see clearly where there is like a divided highway. The right hand side is labeled for cyclists and the left, 2-lane highway for cars. The two roads travel adjacent for the most part. In fact on street view you will see a jeep and motor cycle on the cyclist road - not sure what is legally allowed but I do know I have seen several police cars patrolling and the taxi has not taken us on that road the last few times. I understand, but you do get a slightly more obstructed view now than in the past.

 

The spurs I referred to are mainly to the north and are dead ends anyway.

yes, right hand road is for cyclist only, if you are driving a car or motocycle and the police see you on that bike only road, you will get a $100 ticket and will have to go to the municipal office to pay the fine before you return the car rental

We dont get many ships on sunday but almost all are Carnivals family (Costa, Princess) so they dock at Puerta Maya and we hardly notice then becuz PM is far away from town and passegsrs take ship tours or go to the beaches, so you dont see much at people from the ship at downtown, but we have tourist who come from mainland and most of the shops are open from 10am untill 3 or 4pm pm, on sundays even with a ship at port, some atractions as Punta Sur and the chocolate tour closed, authortities said plaza renovation will be ready at the end of april and still say the same, so I thing is on schedule, its urgent they finish it because is a mess to walk thru the area in front the ferry peir

Does anyone happen to know if you can pay admission at the gate at Playa Mia? Or do I need to buy in advance? I was there many years ago and was able to buy at the gate but not sure if anything has changed since they redid the place.

I thing you can just show up, but to be sure contact them via their website, http://www.playa-mia.com/

been there many times, is not a fancy beach barm but is nice, good snorkeling, chairs, a pier, there are outside showers to rinse the sand, there is a dive shop next to them so Im sure you can rent snorkel gear, they sell snacks, beer, nargaritas, etc. I dont remember prices but can not be expensive, and if you like to walk, you could walk from la "Palapita del medio" to downtown, its not far or you can take a taxi

Arriving in March on Explorer, any suggestions?

I thing is not illegal but we are not used, but you can take a taxi to Mezcalitos beach on the other side of the island, once there (facing the ocean) walk to the left about 200 mts and the beach will be only for you, you will find some trash (platic bottles and so) that ocean brings from Cayman and Cuba I thing, so its not very clean beach, but is very good for sunbathe topless as no one will be around, if you want a drink you can walk to Mezcalitos. but be carefull not to swim, you can get wet but not swim becuz the currents there are strong and with no one around to help, well you know what im trying to say

I spent a week in Cozumel last June, and went diving with a guy named Hector. He isn't affiliated with a dive shop, but owns the boat and equipment and seems to be well known by the locals (and is way cheaper than the dive shops). Unfortunately I didn't take down any contact info. Does anyone know how to reach Hector by e-mail?

 

Thanks,

Im not sure but maybe is Hector Aguilar, in his facebook page you can see some photos

https://www.facebook.com/hector.aguilar.7965692?fref=ts

Arriving on the Oasis in to Cozumel in a couple of weeks, and want to find a Banco Azteca branch that is close to the port, or failing that easily accessible in downtown Cozumel?

 

I am looking to buy some silver coins 1 oz Libertads, and have been told that you can get them from the large branches of Banco Azteca, at bullion or slightly over bullion price.

 

Anyone have any ideas of where I might be able to find one of these bank branches?

the one near the waterfront is in the corner of 11 street & 5th ave and the other is in the corner of Avenida Juarez and 20 ave, both are inside Elektra stores

The state of Quintana Roo (including Cozumel) will change from central time to eastern time,

this is a note from Mexico News daily online news:

Dec 5th, 2014 "The southeastern state of Quintana Roo is one step closer to changing its clocks following a vote yesterday by the federal Chamber of Deputies.

The Southeastern Time Zone, already approved by the Senate, will result in clocks being moved ahead by one hour, a change intended to improve the state’s competitiveness in the tourist industry. The zone will be the equivalent of United States Eastern Time"

We dont know for sure when, but (about 2 weeks ago) the governor said it will take effect on 45 days, so maybe at the end on January, when the president sign the change

- See more at: http://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/will-light-later-quintana-roo/

Looking at both the Mexico Waterjets and Ultramar schedules, it looks like there are no ferries leaving Playa after 3pm until 5pm?

 

The Epic docs from 10am-6pm, which means I would have to grab the 11am and 3pm ferries, leaving me only about 3 hours in Playa.

 

I remember going here on the Dawm two years ago and I'm sure we spent much longer in Playa. Is this a new schedule or is it inaccurate?

 

I also noticed that the January schedules aren't posted yet. Does anyone know if they are different or when they are posted?

those questions are dificult to answer becuz ferries schedules are changed now and then, so to be sure, I thing it is best to ask the ferry company direct, this is the PR dept e-mail ofrodriguez@mexicowaterjets.com.mx