Best beach other than PB and NC?

[rch3]

I have been to cozumel many times, but never with a port time from 1 p.m. until 10 p.m. Have been to Paradise Beach often, but this arrival/departure time suggests something different (crowding by arrival time will be brutal.) Nachi Cocom is unavailable due to a private function. Looking for a relaxing afternoon at the beach with a traveling companion who has not been on the island. Dinner at Pancho's. (At least once per sailing, prefer dinner prepared for 2, as opposed to for 2,500.) Rental car places seem to be requiring return by 6 p.m. and seems hardly worth it considering the time needed to get off the ship, get to the rental agency, etc. So, with these constraints, any suggestions for a beach where a couple of seasoned, but not too highly seasoned cruisers can spend the afternoon? Thanks.

[crewsweeper]

Which port in th eUS are you departing from? If East Coast, your ship times are 1 hour ahead of Cozumel times, thus you dock in Cozumel from 12P to 9P and probably need to be back to ship by 9:30 P. Coming out of NOLA or Galveston, ship time and island time are the same.

 

PB from 1P to 5P ( or even 2p-5P) island time is still a lot of beach time. Most of the other beaches are similar, but some have few amenities, and take about as long to get to (maybe the Money Bar--good for snorkeling--is 5 minutes closer).

 

But you're in a great time frame to do something other than Panchos for dinner. There are threads on this board with recos for lunch/dinner spots that aren't geared to tourists whose previous experience in Mexican dining is Taco Bell or fajitas at Chilis. You've got time to give one a try, like Kintas or Especiales or La Choza, all around the plaza area in San Miguel.

[rch3]

Thanks Crewsweeper. Confess I forgot about the time difference. 6 pm is 7 pm ship time so maybe renting a car and getting over to the east side of the island is doable. Mezcalitos and one of the more authentic restaurants sounds like a great idea.