What do you do for lunch if you go to the beach?

[dak_friendly]

All the water on Cozumel is purified so you have nothing to worry about.

 

I read several travel guides on Cozumel before my first time going there. This is 100% accurate. They know it is a vacation destination and know that water and food issues are a big concern of tourists. Several guides pointed out how safe it is to eat there.

[negc]

Do they check each passenger leaving the ship? Seems like it would take forever....

 

It doesn't really take that long, but even if they only do spot checks, you wouldn't want to be the one they checked and found carrying food off the ship. At best, it will be confiscated, at the worst you will be subjected to a heavy fine. It is just something that shouldn't be done.:)

[gambler]

Another vote for Paradise beach, great beach, food and drink and clean bathrooms.

[Sunny AZ Girl]

Cozumel is pretty much like an American resort. Very clean, not like the border towns. However, we go shopping in the border towns south of us and don't hesitate to eat in the local restaurants. The rule is that you only eat cooked food and only drink bottled water (factory sealed) or soda.

 

I always carry Imodium, but have needed it less in Mexico than after eating Mexican food in our own local restaurants!:eek: It's probably because I'm more careful there. Also, carry and use alcohol based waterless hand cleaner, like Purell.

 

Have fun!:)

[Snoozeman]

I've eaten at the restaurant at Playa Bonita on Coz probably a dozen times and never had a problem. The food is very good.

 

Me too!! Our favorite place on Coz.:)

[ondeckatsea]

Ha!!! We eat way too much on cruises anyway. For a few hours we can live off our fat. No chance we will faint from starvation.

[linaka625]

I'm going to Cozumel for the first time in December. Paradise Beach sounds great! I've also heard of Passion Island. Which is better?

[aqusis]

We spent a week on land vacation on Cozumel in January 2006, we probably ate in every restraunt on the island, including nice places, mom and pop type places, and even from bars/restraunts on the beach. No one in our party of 13 got sick at all. There was a little place on the other side of the island (in no man's land) that served the best seafood feast ever, all fresh caught fish, lobster, shrimp etc. It was $40 for the platter and 6 of us ate until we could eat no more. Some of the best food ever was found off the beaten path in Cozumel. Just dont drink tap water and you'll be fine. Everywhere uses bagged/filtered ice, serves bottled water, etc. The locals don't even drink the tap water. I suspect because it's a bit on the briny side; all tap water on the island is ground water and from my experience (while showering, in the pool, etc) it's a slightly salty.

[shirleygr]

We loved Paradise Beach. The food was good, the beer was cold, the beach was great and the water was better! Prices were very reasonable. Would go there again in a heartbeat. We're doing a snorkel with Eagle Ray Divers in November and are bummed we won't have enough time to get to Paradise Beach too. :( Oh, well, hopefully next time.

[TonyaJune]

Paradise Beach in Cozumel is great! We had a delicious lunch right there on the beach. It was a group of about 15 of us and no one got sick. We are going back to Cozumel in November and I am planning on returning there again.

[birdie16]

Mexico knows that if their tourists get sick - their tourists won't come.

 

They have made great improvements in the water systems there and most places are ok.....especially those that cater to tourists...

 

When visiting Mazatlan in 2004 we took a tour up into the mountains to visit a tiny village. We had lunch there in one of the three restaurants..... one of the best meals I have ever eaten on a trip......

 

We eat pretty much everywhere we go. We do try to stick to the tourist areas though and have never had a problem.

 

Was that Coppala? We did that tour too! It was great...I think people need to get away from the tourist trap beaches sometime and really see the beautiful villages and mountains.

 

Sorry, I went off topic. Actually, we never go anywhere in the world without back up health bars and bags of trail mix. My DH is a body builder and he's always hungry and drinking water. As others have said, some of the best food can be found in the ports you visit. We have never been sick from the food off the ship, we have been sick from the food on the ship...it can happen anywhere.

 

My favorite restauraunt in Cozumel was on the other side of the island but it was destroyed by Wilma...too bad, that was the best fresh seafood platter I have ever enjoyed!

[andnickali]

Another vote for Paradise beach, great beach, food and drink and clean bathrooms.

 

Make that a third vote- I was there right after the hurricane and despite the obvious damage all around PB was up and running.

 

Excellent food, beach and facilities. You really can't go wrong.

 

Unfortunately we had such a good time there it was all we did in Cozumel.

[RammerJammer]

Where could I find the regulation that says you can't take non-prepackaged food off the ship in an Amercian port. US Customs website maybe? Just curious.

[shirleygr]

Where could I find the regulation that says you can't take non-prepackaged food off the ship in an Amercian port. US Customs website maybe? Just curious.

http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/linkhandler/cgov/travel/vacation/notice_travelers.ctt/notice_travelers.pdf

http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/prohibited_restricted.xml

[MrPete]

Where could I find the regulation that says you can't take non-prepackaged food off the ship in an Amercian port. US Customs website maybe?

 

Just be sure to check also off YES, where it says "I(We) am/are bringing fruit/bread/meat into the United States".

 

That line is usually shorter anyway. God knows where it leads. :eek:

[RammerJammer]

http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/linkhandler/cgov/travel/vacation/notice_travelers.ctt/notice_travelers.pdf

http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/prohibited_restricted.xml

 

Sorry. I should have been more specific. I believe those refer to travelers entering the US from a foreign nation.

We are doing Hawaii next month. Board in Honolulu and skip around the islands, then back to Mexico. I know Hawaii has very strict importation regulations, but I couldn't find anything on their Ag website that prohibits what we are talking about.

Not trying to be difficult, often rules and regulations you hear about are urban legends that get passed from person to person, and I like to see them in writing for myself. Thanks, though.

 

Following is from hawaii.com

 

Bringing Food

Q Can I bring fresh fruits or vegetables with me to the Islands?

A Perhaps. All visitors coming into Hawaii are required to complete a form declaring any fresh produce or other live organisms in their possession. If agriculture inspectors determine that your items cannot be brought into the state, they will confiscate it at the Honolulu airport.

 

While that doesn't say anything about sandwiches, I suppose if you declare it, the worst that will happen is they will confiscate it. Few bucks lost and maybe several saved if you get them through.

[quiltsnh]

Cozumel has filtered water unlike the mainland. We had some of the best food at Paradise Beach. We also in Costa Maya in the fishing village (forgot the name) and never had any problems. To be on the safe side drink bottled water.

[Sheffie]

When we were in Cozumel we ate at Paradise Beach and had a wonderful lunch.

 

When we went to Pinel Island in St. Maarten, and Cinnamon Beach on St. John we packed a lunch. We made bacon sandwiches at breakfast and brought them along with some pastries. Don't flame me. These items cannot bring in anything bad. We don't bring fruit onto the islands, though. The beaches we go to don't really have a "local flavor" restaurants on them. Pinel did have lobster, but the prices were horrendous!

 

If we go on land tours or into cities, we eat at local places. We really enjoy trying out foods from different countries.

[zqvol]

I'm worried about the water and Montezuma's revenge! The last thing I want is to get sick on vacation.

Eat things that are cooked, and no water or ice and you will be fine. Avoid salads, etc. if you are concerned.

[wrp96]

Sorry. I should have been more specific. I believe those refer to travelers entering the US from a foreign nation.

We are doing Hawaii next month. Board in Honolulu and skip around the islands, then back to Mexico. I know Hawaii has very strict importation regulations, but I couldn't find anything on their Ag website that prohibits what we are talking about.

Not trying to be difficult, often rules and regulations you hear about are urban legends that get passed from person to person, and I like to see them in writing for myself. Thanks, though.

 

Following is from hawaii.com

 

Bringing Food

Q Can I bring fresh fruits or vegetables with me to the Islands?

A Perhaps. All visitors coming into Hawaii are required to complete a form declaring any fresh produce or other live organisms in their possession. If agriculture inspectors determine that your items cannot be brought into the state, they will confiscate it at the Honolulu airport.

 

While that doesn't say anything about sandwiches, I suppose if you declare it, the worst that will happen is they will confiscate it. Few bucks lost and maybe several saved if you get them through.

 

Definitely no food taken off the ship on the Hawaiian itineraries. They are even strict about what food can be taken off the ship on the cruises that never leave the Hawaiian islands. If you want links to the exact regulations, go to the Hawaiian Port of Call board and ask. There are a few posters there that can tell you the exact regulations.

[katiel53]

LADiver,

I don't know where to find the info you mentioned, but I have traveled on many cruises and in most ports, there are signs when one disembarks. There are also trash cans for passengers to dump their non-allowed items. Most times food isn't allowed because of the eco-systems of the countries.

 

I guess I don't want to be one of those who "screw things up", so I know if I am not going to be on the ship for lunch, I either, 1- go without lunch, or 2-bring some pre-packaged snack.

 

I know there are those who order things from room service the night before, or morning of and feel "they paid for it, so it's ok." Another part of the ME generation, but unfortunately they don't care or don't know what the rules are. I know there are arguments as to what damage can my sandwich do, and I honestly don't know, but if the law of a country is no food, then I follow the law. I don't want to risk a fine or jail time over a sandwich etc.

[beachchick]

Sorry. I should have been more specific. I believe those refer to travelers entering the US from a foreign nation.

We are doing Hawaii next month. Board in Honolulu and skip around the islands, then back to Mexico. I know Hawaii has very strict importation regulations, but I couldn't find anything on their Ag website that prohibits what we are talking about.

Not trying to be difficult, often rules and regulations you hear about are urban legends that get passed from person to person, and I like to see them in writing for myself. Thanks, though.

 

Following is from hawaii.com

 

Bringing Food

Q Can I bring fresh fruits or vegetables with me to the Islands?

A Perhaps. All visitors coming into Hawaii are required to complete a form declaring any fresh produce or other live organisms in their possession. If agriculture inspectors determine that your items cannot be brought into the state, they will confiscate it at the Honolulu airport.

 

While that doesn't say anything about sandwiches, I suppose if you declare it, the worst that will happen is they will confiscate it. Few bucks lost and maybe several saved if you get them through.

 

It is extremely unlikely that you will be allowed to take fresh food off the ship. The NCLA Pride of... ships are the only ones where pax are allowed to do so because these ships never leave Hawaii and are provisioned solely with goods that have been approved and inspected by the Hawaii Dept of Ag. Although you start your cruise in Hawaii, your ship will not have. It is going to (and hence must have come from) the mainland (or another country). Either way, it will have been provisioned outside the state and the import laws will apply. You will able to take bottled water, canned soda, and packaged foods such as cereal, crackers, and snack bars off the ship. The laws are very strict and strictly enforced (as they should be) by the Hawaii Dept of Ag.

 

Sandwiches do count as fresh food because of possible pathogens and contaminents (I know, what a lovely thought). It's not just vegetation. The best place to learn the Hawaii ag laws is on one of the official Hawaii government sites. hawaii.com is a fine website, but it is a tourism site, not a government site. Here's a link to one of the Dept of Ag quarantine sites: http://www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa/pi_pq.htm Here's an airport page (the law would apply to cruise ships as well) with a little blurb about the laws: http://www.hawaii.gov/dot/airports/visitor_info.htm These should give you some good basic and factual information (not just somebody's word or an "urban legend"--believe me this is not an urban legend).

 

(LADiver this next paragraph is in no way directed toward you. Obviously, you care enough to check and learn the facts/laws.)

 

To all: Please do not, at any port in any country, try to sneak/smuggle fresh food off the ship when the laws say no. The laws are in place for good reasons to protect the ecosystems, ecology, and economy. Casual disregard for these laws can lead to potentially devistating consequences. (In addition, it is selfish in the extreme to not care about the welfare of the places we visit.) Some of you probably know that I do get on my "high horse" about this. That is because I was born in and have lived almost my entire life in CA, much of it in the growing regions. I have lived through and am living through the problems caused by those thoughtless enough to smuggle in items that are prohibited. The damage to our communities is real and severe. (End of rant.)

 

beachchick

[DiamondBound]

The all day excursion at PlayaMia ( I think it was recently renamed to this) included the lunch buffet and all you can drink beer on tap and margaritas. The food was decent enough for a buffet ( Not like the Windjammer variety), but still decent tasting. They provide filtered bottled water. The mixed drinks were not watered down.

[RammerJammer]

Here is a copy of an email I got.

 

Dear Dr. XXXXXX:

In reply to the question you e-mailed to us, I checked with the Hawaii Department of Agriculture here at the Honolulu International Airport and they informed me that sandwiches from the cruise ship would be allowed to be brought on shore for your excursion. However, please be aware that certain fruit and some vegetable roots may need to be inspected if brought with you when disembarking your ship. Please go to the list of these fruits and vegetables on the Hawaii Department of Agriculture's website at [/color][/size][/font]http://www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa/pi_pq_plants.htm for more specific information on this subject.

 

You may also want to consider just purchasing food on shore as you will find a variety of restaurants, supermarkets and local take-out (gourmet and otherwise) places throughout Honolulu and the Island of Oahu. The Honolulu Advertiser, the city's morning newspaper, has an informative website devoted to restaurants and food places here and also explains the different cuisines found in Hawaii. You can peruse their site at http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/sp...urants05/intro

 

I hope this reply will be helpful to you and your group and please let me know if you have any other questions on this subject or on travel to the Aloha State of Hawaii.

 

Sincerely,

 

Gregg Torigoe

Visitor Information Specialist IV

State of Hawaii

Department of Transportation

Airports Division

Visitor Information Program

300 Rodgers Boulevard, No. 4

Honolulu International Airport

Honolulu, Hawaii 96819-1830

Fax: (808) 836-6689

Phone: (808) 836-6444

E-Mail Address: gregg.torigoe@hawaii.gov