Don't Shoot!!! Another Costa Maya Question

[susanNjay]

I can assure you I have seen my share of poverty stricken countries as I was in the Navy for 5 years.

Thank you for serving our nation. :)

I also believe strongly in not spending my hard earned cash going to a poverty stricken area when I am trying to vacation.

Some people do vacation in "poverty-stricken" areas all the time. I guess it is a matter of choice. Also, just because a place is "poverty-stricken" does not mean there is nothing there that merits a visit. Things of beauty and interest are all around us everyday--and children are often able to see past what adults would think of as ugly and see something beautiful and unusual. The area where you shop and swim is quite beautiful and there is nothing there that even suggested poverty IMO.

As for the lady who recommended bringing a backpack full of supplies, they have charitable organizations you can volunteer for that will only cost you only your time versus hauling around supplies on a luxury cruise ship that was not designed for your humanitarian visits. I have an even better idea, why dont we concentrate on the poverty stricken areas in America to send supplies to, no backpack needed.

When I read the original suggestion about the school supplies, I thought, Why didn't I think of that?! Yes, there are charitable organizations that do just this...we recently had a health supply drive through umcor.org and it was great to get involved. I am not sure where you would go in Costa Maya to make these donations--I guess I will have to visit the website. What a great thing this would be for our children to be involved in. Sacrificing a bit is good... I see absolutely nothing wrong with taking a backpack full of supplies...we are allowed a certain number of bags on the ships...if someone wants to pack a bag in this way and carry it along, I think it is wonderful. I am sure they are not asking for additional space from the cruise line! Yes, there are areas in the US that are poverty stricken, and we should be working on those areas, also. There are charitable/humanitarian organizations in a lot of areas, and we should all be involved in helping. (My family is involved in several)

The point is Majahual is not a vacation spot, and no one in their right mind can call it that. Costa Maya and its new shopping circle/pool is improving each day and is worthy of a visit to stretch the 6 year olds legs.

I guess that depends on our own definitions of "vacation."

 

I have to say that this thread is rather interesting...isn't it great that people have different opinions?

[TheBeachBears]

I want to thank everyone for there thoughts, I want to especially thank Rolloman for his honesty and actually reading the question. Costa Maya appears to be a strip of beach with bars on it. The open bars open at 9am and do not close until the ship leaves, let’s take a second to let that sink in. I am sure that many of us on these boards start with tequila shot at 9am, so we can be ready for the girl’s gone wild van coming over at 10am. My wife and I are doer’s we are not all that fond of sitting on the beach and baking. I have a feeling that the sun might be out there and I might have to be concerned about sunburns since I am whiter than milk. I also have ignored any post that did not start with I took my 4,5,6,7 year old to Costa Maya, My daughter has no attention span and keeping her entertained and happy will make the people who share our dinner table much Happier . I think this time around we will take Rolloman’s advice and of for the tourist spot, pool and the dancers. When she is older we will move on down to the beach.

 

As for the poverty, I have a very personal connection with Mexico and I do not for one second believes that what cruise companies do for an area is beneficial. Examples are Cozumel, Jamaica and my personal favorite Haiti. If all you have done is a cruise to Mexico, STOP planning your 2007 cruise vacation and take a vacation to Mexico City DF and see what a proud, advanced and friendly people the Mexicans really are.

[cruiserfan]

I will be going to Costa Maya in October and am looking forward to it... If I wanted to go to rich and upscale cities I probably wouldn't be taking a cruise as most of the cruise cities are in the less developed areas where they live on tourism. I for one am happy to help...

[TheBeachBears]

On second thought....it's 10am mabey I do need that drink.

[wolfganghowell]

rolloman, as seen, many have different views from you and I for one found Mahahual clean, the people pleasant and I appreciated the lack of boring commercialism. Good for you to believe in your opinions but please stop attacking those of us who managed to find the humanity and beauty of a Mexican village. I contribute to charitable organizations at home all the time but if some people WANT to take school supplies with them, more power to them. Let's not turn a simple thread into a judgmental attack on a little village that will be overdeveloped and is called "the next Cozumel". Its simplicity won't last forever. And my beer bottles were clean as was the bar area I went to. The malaria warning is probably because the land is undeveloped and you are close to a jungle and insects.

 

Accept that Mahahual is not for everyone but don't insult the people who found some pleasure there.

[debandbill]

I have come to realize that everyone's impression of a port of call is based on a very small amount of data. We all have so little time to really get a feel for an area and unless you return for a land vacation or you have done the port many times, your experience is based a lot on 1: the weather, 2: the few people you come in contact with, and 3:the few places you might see in that 8 hour window.

 

We tend to make the ship our destination...don't plan a lot of excursions, aren't hellbent to get off at each port. But, we decided to take advice at Mahahual and grab a cab to the little town. Our van over and the cab back were clean and the driver had place paper pads in the floor to protect his carpet from sand. The beach was just lovely...weather was clear, dry, and sunny...we sat under a nice thatched cabana...lots of shade...drank some beer and had chips and salsa...played in the shallow warm water (this was December)...one of the best cruise days ever...it did look like a Corona commercial!!! So, our impression of Mahahaul was very positive. I am sure that if I had just walked off the ship, shopped at the end of the pier, and gone back that I would have never ventured off the next time!

 

Had a different experience in Antigua...the town was just awful..we were off the ship and back on within 45 minutes. But our CC buddies went to the beach and said it was the best the whole cruise.

 

So, I am careful now not to formulate an overall impession of a port with just one visit....there might be a wondrous experience waiting the next time around! Deb

[Lamar Cheeks]

Because cruise ships are headed there in droves, I'm guessing Costa Maya, in 20 years, will be a mini-Cancun. Am I wrong?

[rolloman]

Glad I could be of assistance BeachBears, you are right half these people dont read the actual post and come on here just to find some pointless arguement. Your post stated clearly you are worried about the sun and safety of your 6 year old. I think you will enjoy a quick visit off the ship in the little shopping area only. When you go to Cozumel, for 20 dollars you can walk out onto the platform where the dolphin swim is and your child will absolutely love it. you can see the dolphins being trained inches away, No need to get into the water and pay the 130 bucks to enjoy this activity, especially the youngster. Mexico City is nice but how about Encinado?

True, different strokes for different folks to those of you who enjoy looking at poverty, I looked at it enough growing up. I can appreciate the backpack full of help. I can give you a hint on where to take your backpack, take it to Nassau or Ochos Rios Jamacia, you wont have any trouble seeking out who to give the items to, they find you immediately off the ship.

As for my friend wolfganghowell, if you want quiet, clean, beautiful, undisturbed, head to Bermuda. Probably one of the most beautiful areas in the world. On horseshoe beach you can find your own private lagoon surrounded by rock formations. This island actually prohibits over crowding by restricting cruise traffic to a minimum. A double positive for you is they actually serve Corona beer in a new non recycled bottle.

The malaria threat is real and documented in this part of Mexico as well as Tulum. The previous poster was dead on, if you go to give blood, one of the questions is have you visited Mexico and then they ask where.

Not that anyone cares but Bermuda, Grand Cayman, Aruba are my favorite Islands. If you want to talk about overseas, well that will be a different thread.

[wolfganghowell]

Rollo, I understand that tone is hard to detect in posts. But I'm not crazy about your "double positive" for me. I'm not a big drinker at all so your belittling of something as minor as beer cost and the inference that this will make me especially happy is a bit insulting. Sure, who wouldn't like a little cost savings on vacation. I think many were trying to let the OP know that though the village may be simple, many enjoyed it, including those with children.

 

Perhaps you did not mean your remarks in a snide patronizing way but your posts read that you inferred anyone who enjoyed Costa Maya was a bit less of a person than your enlightened self. I think we shall agree to disagree on this minor issue. I too thank you for your service to our country and wish you happy vacations.

 

Respectfully,