RCCL's Mexican Cuisine Workshop & Tasting

[unberwoob]

Linda,

 

We are booked for this excursion next month. You said you had only 1/2 hour to enjoy the beach. Was there a set time you had to return to the ship? What time did the excursion begin? Most important-did you have time to shop in town before or after the excursion? Thanks.

[psbtrvlr]

Linda,

 

We are booked for this excursion next month. You said you had only 1/2 hour to enjoy the beach. Was there a set time you had to return to the ship? What time did the excursion begin? Most important-did you have time to shop in town before or after the excursion? Thanks.

 

When we did this excursion, we went shopping first. I don't remember how much time we had for the beach, but we did go sit at the beach and went into the water. Then we went shopping again right there at Playa Mia. There is a set time to return if you don't want to pay for a taxi, otherwise you can stay.

[DFW-Cruiser]

Linda,

 

We are booked for this excursion next month. You said you had only 1/2 hour to enjoy the beach. Was there a set time you had to return to the ship? What time did the excursion begin? Most important-did you have time to shop in town before or after the excursion? Thanks.

 

No, we would not have had time to shop in town either before or after the excursion. We were on RCCL Voyager of the Seas, which docked away from the main area of Cozumel. We docked around 8 and left the boat about 9:45. Our tour was to meet at 10 at the end of a short pier, but did not leave the excursion gathering area until around 10:30. I don't know why the delay. We had to be back to the ship by 4:30 to sail at 5:30. Three other large ships followed behind us. Another RCCL ship docked next to us. Those passengers had to return by 3:30 or 4pm. We had people from both ships on the excurion. Because the resort rep paid for transportation on the spot, we travelled to and from together, meaning we had to leave a about 3:15 so they could return to their ship on time. Depending on which cruise line, you may be docked next to the main part of Cozumel, giving you the ability to shop in town. I've read there is a morning class and and afternoon class. I don't think that's correct, but I could be wrong. Perhaps they were eating upstairs as we waited 30 minutes more once we got there for everyone to arrive.

 

Back to shopping: even at the more remote dock there was a large shopping area set up at the end of the pier with many different shops and a large duty free shop as well. I had read that the prices there were comparable or better than those in town. I can't verify that, however. There were also a few stores on the premises of Playa Mia itself where we did some quick shopping before we headed back to the ship. My daughter was satisfied with what she paid for a large pottery wall ornament. I bought my usual fridge magnet. Hmmm, I wonder where it is?

 

As for time at the beach, we were practically the last to leave the dining room talking with new friends, then we hung around and snuck up to the roof of that building to get some photos. All that probably took up 15 or 20 minutes we could have spent sunning. We did not have to leave with the rest of the group and could have stayed an extra 30 or 45 minutes before returning to the ship, but would have had to pay our own way back.

 

Linda

[OttoCal]

 

We are booked for this excursion next month. You said you had only 1/2 hour to enjoy the beach. Was there a set time you had to return to the ship? What time did the excursion begin? Most important-did you have time to shop in town before or after the excursion? Thanks.

 

underwoob,

we did this excursion through RCCL Mariner of the Seas last month and LOVED it.

Our ship was docked from 10-7, and the excursion meeting time was 1 pm. So we ran right off the ship at 10 am and took a cab downtown. It helped that we had picked a shopping area in advance, we wanted to go to one of the Cinco Del Soles shops for one-stop shopping. We spent at least an hour there, got everything in one big trip, briefly glanced in a few stores, and had a beer in Margaritaville before taking taxi back to the ship to drop off our purchase and re-group.

 

Our meeting time for the excursion was 1 pm, so we were back on board by noon and knew exactly how much time we had to get back onto the dock.

The excursion is 5 hours, and we were escorted to 2 taxis (10 people in our class that day). When we arrived, the morning class was not finished yet, so we waited in the main pavillion for them to be done, but we didn't have an idea how long we would be waiting. Ended up being maybe an hour, but your Playa Mia bracelet does include all snacks and beverages, so we had drinks and some things off the buffet.

 

After the class is done they let you loose on the beach until 5:30, when you are supposed to meet your taxi back. We had only 1 hour, because we had started late, but the beach was clearing out by then anyway. There are quite a few little shops right there at Playa Mia beach, so we acutally did some more shopping there. Their goal is to have you back at the terminal by 6, so you can board by 6:30. There are also shops at the cruise ship terminal.

 

So we had time before the excursion, but I guess it depends on what ship, what time you are there from and if you can be a directed shopper instead of a wanderer.

[PH8]

Sounds like it all depends on what ship and time frame one has......

 

We were on the Jewel.......in Cozumel from 9-6ish.....our excursion meeting time was around 10:15am........and we had about an hour after the class to hang out on the beach.....we could have stayed longer and pay for our own way back if we wanted to..........but we took the bus they provided.....

[unberwoob]

Thanks for your replies. We are on the Voyager. I just want to run into town to buy a tee shirt and pins from the Hard Rock Cafe, a traditional thing I do in every country I visit.

I hope our excursion is not as unorganized as yours was Linda. Sounds like you had a lot of wasted time which will drive me nuts. I still think it will be fun and we are looking forward to it.

[PH8]

Im not so sure you'll have time to go to town first.......what time is the excursion??

 

You could always just take a taxi right from Playa Mia into town when the class is over(and you had lunch)........

 

Is it me or does DFW-Cruisers name look strange?? Cant click on it and on the right side(where it says where we are from and when we joined),its says n/a on my screen..:confused: :confused:

[DFW-Cruiser]

Im not so sure you'll have time to go to town first.......what time is the excursion??

 

You could always just take a taxi right from Playa Mia into town when the class is over(and you had lunch)........

 

Is it me or does DFW-Cruisers name look strange?? Cant click on it and on the right side(where it says where we are from and when we joined),its says n/a on my screen..:confused: :confused:

 

Uh, strange? Oh, I see that the rest of the names are in bold and are links. Let me see if I can figure out what the deal is. I do know that try as I might on different occasions, I have been totally unable to get the CC system to include a logo, nor add a signature for me. I finally signing off as "Just Linda" on our Roll Call. Perhaps this is part of the same problem? I'll try yet again.

 

Since you were checking, we're from Arlington. Joined Cruise Critic about a year ago. As for "disorganized," I didn't mean to give that impression. There was a bit of confusion about where to meet at the pier as when we first walked past the rep had not set it up yet, but that was quickly resolved. When everyone got there (apprently they were waiting for class members from the other ship), we were led to taxi, short ride, sat under tent for 10 or 15 minutes. If we had know it might be that long, we could have explored or shopped while waiting. Perhaps there was an earlier class that hadn't finished? The cooking/school part of the excursions is extremely organized. Yes, there are some chairs in the room on which to place your bags and to sit on, but to cook you have to stand. Saw no stools in the room, but I see above that they have them elsewhere.

 

FYI, there are many different shops and vendors at that far west pier, including leather goods, spirits, t-shirts, tourist items, etc. and a very nice silver jewelry shop around to the left. You need to wander around a bit to find them all.

 

Linda

[DFW-Cruiser]

I've added info, an avatar (already had one actually), clicked save several more times. Don't know if this will solve the problem or not.

[DFW-Cruiser]

Nope. I am open to suggestions.

 

Linda

[PH8]

Nope....nothing..........thats really weird.........

 

BTW--I wasnt checking..........I noticed(how could you not?) the lack of some of the features by your name...

[PH8]

Nope. I am open to suggestions.

 

Linda

Post a thread here and ask(this is the help area).

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=163

 

or email them ask....

[url=http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=163][/url]

boards@cruisecritic.com

 

 

Good luck!!

[poohs4me]

I saw somewhere that you could use chicken instead of the fish. Is this true? I do not eat fish and do not want to book an excursion where I would waste the food. If it is true, how do I go about setting it up in advance or is it unnecessary?

[PH8]

When you get there, they will tell you ,if you dont eat fish,you can have iguana:p :p (really,chicken)..

[Coco54]

My DH and I are so excited to read these reviews! We're going in a couple of weeks and we are definately booking this. Ok, it's my understanding........you can only book on board the ship??? Is that correct? And, I've got to ask..........they use "good" water on the food, no tummy problems?:o

[PH8]

Yes,you book thru the cruise ship you're going on........(maybe they offer to hotel guests other days??).......you can book ahead of time with RCCL(not sure how other cruise lines work)

 

The water is purified........no problem.........

[miss nikki]

Thanks for the rave reviews - they just solidified our decision. My husband and I plan on doing this excursion when we are there via the Carnival Legend.

I have a question though:

We are scheduled to be in Coz from 10 - 6. There are two chioces of times, and we'd like to do the earlier one. But the time is 10 - 3. How will the excursion start at 10 if we will dock at 10? Doesn't that not seem possible?

[PH8]

No doubt,one is ship time and the other is local time.............if you're booking thru Carnival,Im sure they have it all figured out and you can do the 10am one..

[miss nikki]

No doubt,one is ship time and the other is local time.............if you're booking thru Carnival,Im sure they have it all figured out and you can do the 10am one..

 

 

Oh yea, that's right - duh! Thank you!!! :)

[PH8]

No problem................have fun!:D

[1cruznmama]

We are arriving in Cozumel via the Independence of the Seas in January. My daughter is 14 and wants to be a chef and I was thinking that this would be a great surprise excursion for her. However I'm afraid that it's adults only. Does anyone know for sure?

 

thanks so much:)

[PH8]

Sorry,according to the RCCL description,minimum age is 18:( ........

 

However, there is another cooking class(not a RCCL excursion) which has gotten good reviews....you might email her......I dont see any age restriction.

 

 

http://www.cozumelmycozumel.com/Pages/CozumelCookingClasses.html

[1cruznmama]

Sorry,according to the RCCL description,minimum age is 18:( ........

 

However, there is another cooking class(not a RCCL excursion) which has gotten good reviews....you might email her......I dont see any age restriction.

 

 

http://www.cozumelmycozumel.com/Pages/CozumelCookingClasses.html

 

 

Thanks, I'll check it out.

[psbtrvlr]

I went on this excursion for the 2nd time in March. There were 3 underage girls there with their mother. I asked Luis about that because I too thought it was adults only. He said that sometimes you can talk to the cruiseship excursion desk and get permission to bring teenagers. I don't know which cruiseline they were on. There were many of them in Cozumel that day.

[vplsh]

I'm so excited to read about this excursion! My dh is planning to scuba dive and I figured I'd head to the beach by myself but this sounds like a whole lot more fun.

 

Do you think he'd be able to take a cab to Playa Mia to meet me when he's done diving? Can you just pay an entrance fee and walk on the beach or do you have to have reservations?