Getaway! May 6-13 Trip Report & Review

[MaryBethV]

Oh yeah, I didn't think it was your kid, either!! Mary Beth seems far too sensible to allow such shenanigans.

 

Oh, they still try to pull things now and then... just not of the backflip-into-the-pool variety. ;) Just you wait until I tell you about our last night on the cruise...

[cruisegal415]

Great review, great pictures, I'm really enjoying this. We sail in August for our first NCL cruise since our honeymoon 32 years ago. I'm a little confused about the pool in Costa Maya. I booked a day at Maya Chan because I didn't think there was anything at Costa Maya unless you book something special. Where was the pool? Was there also a beach?

[apkjoe]

Great review, great pictures, I'm really enjoying this. We sail in August for our first NCL cruise since our honeymoon 32 years ago. I'm a little confused about the pool in Costa Maya. I booked a day at Maya Chan because I didn't think there was anything at Costa Maya unless you book something special. Where was the pool? Was there also a beach?

The pool is when you walk into the port from the ship. If you go past the shops there is a tram that will take you out of the port to beaches in town.

 

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[MaryBethV]

Great review, great pictures, I'm really enjoying this. We sail in August for our first NCL cruise since our honeymoon 32 years ago. I'm a little confused about the pool in Costa Maya. I booked a day at Maya Chan because I didn't think there was anything at Costa Maya unless you book something special. Where was the pool? Was there also a beach?

 

Go to Maya Chan! The pool in the cruise port is the opposite of relaxing (in my opinion). If we go to this port again, I will book something.

[MaryBethV]

Friday, May 11th | Cozumel, Mexico

 

Good morning! Approaching Cozumel is as close as I got to seeing the sunrise - beautiful. We passed Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas and Allure of the Seas and a Carnival ship.

 

 

 

 

We docked next to the MSC Armonia at the Punta Langosta Pier.

 

 

[MaryBethV]

We had booked an excursion at Playa Mia (thank you Mitsygirly for your awesome reviews!!!) through Costco Travel that included transportation, food, and drinks. I think we were off the boat even before the official announcement... walked down the long pier and met our Playa Mia rep right where they said they would be. After getting us wrist bands for transportation, he led us right over to a taxi van and we were off!

 

Playa Mia!

 

The shopping area you go through to get to the pools/beach-

 

Checkin window (on the left) where we got our all-inclusive bracelets-

 

A peek at the main pool-

 

Looking towards the beach area (part of it)-

 

Pool #2 - closest to the beach-

 

And the beach. Ahhh.

 

Since we were one of the first to arrive, we were led to chairs on the first beach row - perfect!

[MaryBethV]

More Playa Mia :D

 

Main pool with the kid's water park and water slides behind it-

 

 

The white tent area is the eating area-

 

[MaryBethV]

Perfect way to start the day! This was at the entrance to the shopping area.

 

 

 

This sitting area was right off the cafe... BUT the cafe was air conditioned and it was getting HOT outside. :cool:

[MaryBethV]

Dear daughter and I took our cold (she was smart) and hot (I was not) Starbucks lattes and headed to the buffet which was just opening. We hadn't had breakfast on the ship - so we had "breakfast". Fruit, chicken taquitos (good), and chips & salsa (really good & fresh) was my breakfast today. It is true that the buffet isn't gourmet food (we knew this going in), but it was well-maintained, clean and it was nice to have available for lunch (and breakfast!).

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MaryBethV]

Right after breakfast it started filling up fast! Honestly, I was surprised that we got there before the crowds because as far as I could tell we were the last of at least 5 ships to dock. The kids enjoyed the pool, tried out the slides, played on the inflatables a little bit, and swam in the water. DH and I pretty much went back and forth between our lounge chairs and swimming in the water.

 

The sun was strong, so we rented two white umbrellas and they were a huge help. One umbrella is $4 + a $4 deposit (so, $8 and you get $4 back when you return it).

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MaryBethV]

We walked down the beach and out on the pier. You could look down and see fish swimming near it.

 

 

 

 

Around 1:30/2:00 we had our fill of sun & sand - so we returned our umbrellas, tipped Carlos who was our awesome server that kept us in drinks and water bottles all day long, and headed to the entrance to find Julio who quickly got us a taxi van that took us back to the port.

[annmarz]

Sorry - no clue on that. No one in our family ordered it.

 

 

 

This has been the subject of much debate. We travel with disinfectant wipes -- use them in the plane, on armrests at the airport, to wipe down hotel rooms and our stateroom on the ship. That to say, I don't think it is something we all touched. My guess is it is something we ALL ate or drank... which leads me to think that the most likely culprit was the ice in our punch/rum punch on the boat in Roatan. The rum and punch came right out of bottles. The water we had was bottled water. We did eat a bean/soft shell taco... but it came from an actual restaurant that looked clean/nice. The only other thing we all ate that day was chocolate and, well, I just plain refuse to blame chocolate. :') So I'm back to the ice. Not sure by any means - but that is my best guess.

 

 

This makes sense. In my experience, both direct and anecdotal, it is almost always the water - or in this case ice. Sorry this happened to you.

[MaryBethV]

Back at the cruise port-

 

 

 

 

Question - do cruise ships not provide the staff with water? We saw more than a dozen crew members walking back to their ship (not sure if NCL or MSC) with snacks and big jugs of bottled water. Snacks I get... wanting something in your room... but water?

[bruadhin]

 

Question - do cruise ships not provide the staff with water? We saw more than a dozen crew members walking back to their ship (not sure if NCL or MSC) with snacks and big jugs of bottled water. Snacks I get... wanting something in your room... but water?

 

That is curious. I imagine the situation is much like with passengers. Plenty of access to ship's water and they have to pay for bottled water. Generally they do get things cheaper than passengers, but I'm sure it is still a good mark up compared to in a market in Cozumel.

 

I've noticed a lot of people don't trust tap water and a lot of cruisers don't trust the ship's water. Not surprising the crew may have the same beliefs. Of course, there could be another reason as well, although it escapes me at the moment.

[Seminole1975]

At least they get to bring it back on board!!

 

 

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[calicakes]

This makes sense. In my experience, both direct and anecdotal, it is almost always the water - or in this case ice. Sorry this happened to you.

 

So does this mean we all shouldn't use any ice in any excursions? We're going to a beach club in Costa Maya and now I'm worried. As someone who grew up in Florida and now lives in Sunny SoCal, I love my ice( and only drink iced coffee).

[calicakes]

At least they get to bring it back on board!!

 

 

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Anyone can bring water or other certain liquids on board with prior permission. Email accessdesk@ncl.com

 

I received permission to bring sugar free coffee syrup and sugar free lemonade and water. I told them I was diabetic( I am) and that was it. My ticket says " Liquid exclusion". I tried to get permission for diet coke( not a fan of pepsi) and was denied.

[MaryBethV]

So does this mean we all shouldn't use any ice in any excursions? We're going to a beach club in Costa Maya and now I'm worried. As someone who grew up in Florida and now lives in Sunny SoCal, I love my ice( and only drink iced coffee).

 

Personally, I wouldn't worry about ice at a reputable (check reviews!) beach club that serves tourists day in and day out. The ice we had was picked up at a local gas station/store. I will be more cautious in the future when on small private or semi-private tours.

[bruadhin]

So does this mean we all shouldn't use any ice in any excursions? We're going to a beach club in Costa Maya and now I'm worried. As someone who grew up in Florida and now lives in Sunny SoCal, I love my ice( and only drink iced coffee).

 

Most places that cater to US tourists and cruise passengers use filtered water for the ice. I believe MaryBethV booked it through Costco, so I would think they would know to use filtered water for their ice or buy from a supplier who does. But just like in the US, there are never any guarantees. Sometimes something gets in the food and drink despite everyone's best efforts.

 

I even recall a number of beach break excursions specifically saying they use filtered water for their ice. But I also recall a lot of places simply chilling the drinks and not using any ice.

[MaryBethV]

 

Back on the ship - everyone cleaned up and then teenagers headed to Entourage & DH and I went to O'Sheehan's for a snack. Jumdia was our server - best service in O'Sheehan's so far. If you've never had an Irish Coffee with Baileys, you need to try it!

 

Then up to our balcony for sail away. No pier runners... but this photo was taken a couple of minutes past all aboard and you can see how many people were still on their way back to the ship. They do not have the same strong fear of being late that I do - obviously.

 

Good-bye spectacular Cozumel water!

 

 

We relaxed in the room and dozed off... until... "WHAT IS THAT?!?" - we open the balcony door and the odd muffled sound was now clearly a trumpet playing.

 

BADLY.

 

Did someone bring their kid's trumpet from school and make them practice on the balcony? What is with some people?!? :rolleyes: So strange.

 

Well, it was time to get ready to meet the kids for dinner in the Tropicana room - if we could pry them away from the teen lounge, that is.

[MaryBethV]

Stepping off the elevators on deck 7 by the Tropicana room... something was "off". It was HOT and there was a lingering sewage smell. Not what you want when you are waiting for your dining reservation. Or rather when you are waiting on your kids to join you for your dining reservation. Hurry up kids!

 

Thankfully in the restaurant, they had working AC and it only smelled like food!

 

 

 

For my app, I ordered the Potato Gnocchi and Italian Sausage. It was really, really good. Even better than the Gnocchi at LaCucina!

 

Bibb Lettuce Salad-

 

Dear son's NY Strip Steak from the classic selections. Unfortunately, it was really fatty - not a quality cut.

[MaryBethV]

I ordered the Cajun Shrimp and Short Ribs. It was delicious and probably the best main dining room dish I had all week. Apologies for not having a photo of it... I took one, but it was ridiculously blurry. :(

 

Barbecue Mixed-

 

Basil Chicken-

 

 

Honey Creme Brulee-

 

Warm Chocolate Lava Cake (some things are worth ordering more than once!)-

[MaryBethV]

We went down to deck six to grab luggage tags for debarkation - the official sign that the end of your cruise is quickly approaching. Boo!

 

Deck 6 aft was suffering from the same heat/smell issues as deck 7 aft (Note: they fixed whatever was wrong quite quickly because there were no issues in that area the next morning.)... so we hurried up to the Sugercane Mojito Bar on 8 for drinks to take out on the Waterfront. Even though only one side of the Waterfront on this ship was technically usable (for us)... it was still a favorite of ours.

 

Then we sat out on our balcony until someone smoking on their balcony (again) drove us back inside. I couldn't see them, or I would have reported them. :mad:

 

For ending on a good note... how adorable is our little towel monkey? :hearteyes:

[calicakes]

I must trust the opinion of anyone who makes their own pasta and knows what Parmesan reggiano is. I've only cruised Celebrity and they say they spend more per passenger on food than most other cruise lines( in the same class)

[Linda the Book Lover]

I think I gained 50 lbs just from the pictures!