Costa Maya

We arrive early.  

It is nice to be back!  Last time it rained and we were washed out at the beach.  Today it is very hot and humid.

Neither of us is in a rush to get off.  We don't sail until 6 pm.  

We are slow to get dressed and head out for breakfast.  For Bernie it is up in the World Fresh Marketplace that has some very yummy and fresh fruit. Plus he then gets his oatmeal and toast.

For me I meet him down in the International Cafe, where we sip coffees and I enjoy the yogurt parfait.

It is a very long pier which you do have to walk to the bend (shown above) to board the free shuttle trolley.  We just walked.  Note when we returned to the port around 4 pm there was no more shuttle service.

Around 1200 we head ashore.  Of course Bernie is still having issues with his cruise card.  Each time he goes through security he has to go aside and they have to manually note his cruise card number and cabin number.  We will check again at the Purser's desk when we come back on.

We walk thru the maze of the port terminal.  Which is very frustrating as they make you walk past all the shops, restaurants, bars, restroom, pool, you name it. Signage is not that good and many are lost.  Since we have been here before we know the way out.  So if you are needing a tip, just walk to the left around the pool to the far left side towards the lockers then turn right on the outer rim of the shops.  

Port gate.  You can see the taxis lined up on the left.

When we get to the port gate (note the taxi is cheaper outside the port gate).  We get in a cab and head to the town of Mahahual only 5 minutes away.  

The cab recommends Big Mammas restaurant, beach club.  We stop and check it out and well it looks good and they have two lounge chairs available so we plop ourselves down.

I would link Big Mamma's but I don't really want to as I don't recommend my followers to go there.

  

Our server was friendly and gave us the menu.  Wow this place is not cheap (drinks are cheap though) considering it is a beach bar/restaurant.

He ask if we wanted a bucket of beer -- 5 for $20.  But I glance at the menu and it says beer $3 or bucket for $13.  I point this out and he says "oh that is for the smaller beers" okay so Bernie orders the $3 del Sol beer but it is a bigger one and we are charged $3 for it.  Right away I feel a little taken advantage of.  

I ordered a mango margarita that was very good for $7.  But I really could not taste any alcohol in it.  So I tried a Paloma that was also $7 as it is tequila and a grapefruit soda. Again it does not taste strong.  

So drinks are reasonable.  

We are choosing what to eat when the waiter comes around with a red snapper and says he recommends we try this.  A large fish and it does look good but the prices is $45!  Wow a bit steep (tack on 35% exchange rate for us in Canada).  Now if it was a nice sit down restaurant with great service I could justify that cost.  But not here.

In the end we order the Big Mamma Platter that consisted of a Chili relenos, 2 quesadillas and 2 fried tacos with beans and guacamole and tortillas.  

He said that dish was just for one.  We said we would share and we were adamant.  And boy I am glad we were as it was huge - check it out.

The view here is amazing.  The water was like bath water and we really did enjoy it.  The food was good, but not great.  Service was okay.  We probably would not go back to Big Mamas and can not really recommend it.

The final bill for two beers and two cocktails and the platter was $60 plus they added a tax! You have to pay with cash as there would be an added fee to pay with credit card.

There is a lot of sea grass here.  In fact there is a lot of sea grass all over the Caribbean.  We were told that it has to do with the warmer temperature of the ocean.  Here is a picture from last week we took at sea - check out all that sea grass!

Back on board Bernie heads to the Purser's desk and it seems everyone is at a loss as to why he is not getting his picture on the new system. The manager says they will send a message to IT.  Of course we only have one more port so it is not a big issue.  I am actually glad these bugs are happening now so they can get worked out.

We are both covered in salt from the ocean.  We need to cool off too so we return to the cabin and have showers and spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing and I write up my blog.

Tonight is our Most Travelled Guest Party.  It is also a Formal Night which is a bit of a pain as we really don't have formal clothes so we will dress nicely and attend the party.  Normally afterwards we are not hungry for supper.

Tomorrow we are in Cozumel.

Thanks for following.

Costa Maya, Mexico

Today we dock early in Costa Maya - 7 am! When Bernie returns with coffees we sit on the balcony and enjoy the arrival.

Sadly it is pouring rain but I believe it will pass. The usual Caribbean shower I say. But we hear people complaining how they can't cancel their excursion because of the rain. Really! I don't think Princess has control over the weather. Plus it will pass and a little rain will hurt no one.

We head ashore with Larry and Amy. We haven't been to Costa Maya in a very very long time. Way before they were hit with the hurricane in 2007 that destroyed the port.

The whole port area is huge and is similar to many of the port destination beach areas - similar to Grand Turk, Mahogany Bay, and even Amber Cove (from what I hear). 

We are docked with a Carnival ship and this port really can't handle two ships in my opinion. 

Our first goal is to leave the port area and head to the town of Mahahual. 

Note most of these pictures were taken when we got off way before the second ship docked and before it got crazy busy.

Took us some time to exit the port area. Note I saw lots of washrooms, shops, bars, restaurants, tour companies. You could easily spend your entire time here but it will be busy. Oh they also had some lockers for rent too.

But we are wanting to head out to the town. Just before you leave the port area there is a table set up (see above pic) where they sell shuttle tickets to the town of Mahahual for $3 US per person one way. The shuttle is similar to those you see in St. Thomas - open bench seating in the back of a truck.

However if you leave the port building compound - just outside is a taxi stand (they are not allowed to pick up people in the compound but can drop you off inside). The taxis to town are $10 US total - as we took at a taxi back. Note the shuttle only operates going to town, not sure why but that is the way it is. Taxis to come back were plentiful and fast and cheap.

We walked along the street to the furthest beach bar/restaurant and checked it out. We could enjoy the lounge chairs and beach as long as we ate/drink at the restaurant. No problem. 

We secure four chairs under some palapas as it looks like it could rain again. Order some drinks and enjoy the scenery.

This place also had an all inclusive package but I can't recall how much it was and really there are so many places along the beach that offer this type of thing I would not personally pre reserve. Just show up and check things out and then choose.

After a few hours here and dodging rain showers we attempted to grab some food in the restaurant area. But because of the rain it was packed so we opted to just leave and walk the boardwalk.

It is very nice, busy and people will try and get your business - massage! Beer! Drinks! Food! Beach! Trinkets! you name it.

We all agree to just head back to the ship and walk off the boardwalk to the street and easily grab a taxi back (again only $10).

Tonight is the Most Travelled Cocktail Party. This voyage it is a cocktail party as opposed to a luncheon. Just not enough days in the cruise to squeeze it in. 

We really enjoy the cocktail party as the officers get the chance to mingle with everyone and we can order whatever we want from the bar. Not to mention the food is amazing. 

This time there were food stations (we had only seen them walking around with food at other cocktail parties). This is amazing. There is a cold station with sushi, and other cold items. Then a hot station. Then a dessert station. Very impressive.

We arrived and posed with Captain Street and again with Leanne, his wife. She saved us a seat and Gail (Ron's wife), Kelly (Deputy Cruise Director), Dylan (Senior Doctor) joined us. 

It was great to relax in this casual atmosphere and get to know everyone even better.

There was so much food that we did not need to go to dinner.

In fact right after the cocktail party I tell Bernie that I could really use some hot water and take a Neo Citron and hit the hay to try and get over this cold. So that is what we do. We are asleep by 2130. But it was a fun day.