We are leaving next week. Have the shore excursions planned, but they seem to only be for part of the day.
How does this all work? Do i get to wander around and find taco trucks? Buy Cuban cigars? See a donkey show and a rooster fight?
Assume i know nothing except that the trip is a criuse ship with a buffet and balcony, guided excursions at each port for a couple of hours.
What do I need to know, and what should I do and not do?
You get off the ship, do whatever activity, then do whatever you want as long as you make it back to the ship before it leaves.
Where are you stopping?
In reply to ProDarwin :
It's been a few years, but I assume that not too much has changed.... The area right there at the port is typically well guarded and everybody knows that anything serious happening to the tourists is bad for business. There will be shops, restaurants, and bars there and they'll take dollars but it tends to be fairly expensive for what it is because they know it's all pretty much well-heeled tourists. If your excursion is with the cruise line, you'll be sure to be back in time to board the ship. If you're on your own or off on an excursion that you find on your own in the port, it's your problem if they don't get you back in time.
We used to do a cruise about once a year with a bunch of friends and stopped in a few places in Mexico as well as some of the islands. I wouldn't go back to Jamaica on a dare but that's not Mexico. I like Progreso more than Cozumel but Cozumel is nicer and cleaner. Progreso is more like actually being in Mexico, if that makes any sense... Honestly, unless a bunch of our friends were doing something really neat as an excursion, I'd just stay on the boat all day. We had the booze cruise package and the restaurants were open so it didn't cost me a dime to eat and drink and I'd have the ship basically to myself to bar hop, read, nap, hot tub soak, or whatever.
In cozumel you must go snorkeling.
When you go to Costa Maya, the picture shown is many hours away. Worth it if you've never seen them. But you can also see them via a ferry in Cozumel.
We did that entire itinerary once (and will again next year)- hired a taxi in Honduras to take us around and to a beach resort, did nothing in Belize, walked to the older beach area in Costa Maya (the port area is a little much) and every time we are in Cozumel, we do a run and end up in the city's mercado to have a real meal. It's about 5 blocks off the main drag, and are hardly any tourists out there. Lots of crew- as many of the tiny restaurants have cuisine from the countries that most of the crew is from. But there are two local cuisine cafe's there that we really enjoy.
ProDarwin said:In cozumel you must go snorkeling.
Or swim with dolphins- there are a few of those near the port areas.
In reply to alfadriver :
Can you give me specifics on the mercado in cazumel? That sounds right up my alley.
Were going to see some mayan ruins, in a submarine, jungle atv, mangroves. I really want a legit cuban cigar and giant Sombrero for the autocross, and real Mexican food.
Prodarwin: i cant swim. We are doing the submarine over the reefs.
Wae: we dont drink, but otherwise that sounds awesome.
wae said:
I wouldn't go back to Jamaica on a dare but that's not Mexico.
Stepped outside the designated touristy area, did you? 
My parents did one that stopped in Cozumel and they really liked that area. Ruins + submarine + mayan ruins + mangroves sounds like a great plan.
Regardless of location, find a good corner taqueiria and grab an El Pastor, it will change your life. If you get adventurous try some Chapolitas Tacos (fried grasshoppers) really tasty as they end up nutty, spicey, and crunchy. Escamoles Tacos (Ant Larvae) are really tasty as well and these are the only places in the world you'll get them. A bowl of Queso Fundido (Oven roasted melty cheese with Chorizo) is a great no risk appetizer as well.
In reply to 84FSP :
See. That's what I'm talking about! Dunno on the ants thing. Do i need to get pesos before i go. Or carry American cash, or....
Oh, a d ive always heard dont drink the water in Mexico. Is this true? Do i need to worry about local foods as well?
Dusterbd13-michael said:Prodarwin: i cant swim. We are doing the submarine over the reefs.
vehicular snorkeling works :) I'm sure that will be awesome.
Dusterbd13-michael said:Oh, a d ive always heard dont drink the water in Mexico. Is this true? Do i need to worry about local foods as well?
In general, don't eat foods that would be washed with water, lettuce being the big example. Water will come from a bottle.
In reply to Dusterbd13-michael :
Your local bank can order it for you - should be a huge savings as the peso is something like 1 to 19.5pesos. You can also typically get out of an ATM when you arrive and just pay the atm fee. I always have local currency when traveling somewhere else.
Looking forward to some good stories and pictures!
Skip the souvenir barns full of made in China carvings and stuff.
Dusterbd13-michael said:In reply to alfadriver :
Can you give me specifics on the mercado in cazumel? That sounds right up my alley.
Were going to see some mayan ruins, in a submarine, jungle atv, mangroves. I really want a legit cuban cigar and giant Sombrero for the autocross, and real Mexican food.
Prodarwin: i cant swim. We are doing the submarine over the reefs.
Wae: we dont drink, but otherwise that sounds awesome.
Not sure if this map will come through or not- https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mercado+Municipal/@20.5065994,-86.9472427,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xfd4b3586e3ff935c!8m2!3d20.5064187!4d-86.9474173
But it's the Mercado Municipal- if you walk the main drag along the water, there's a statue on the water side that is the end of the street that leads to the mercado. We've been eating at Dos Hermanos for many years now, and enjoy the food quite a bit. It's not even close to Mexican food in the US. But it's pretty close to the food you can get in the Yucatan Peninsula- just a little more specific to San Miguel/Cozumel.
The market is a real market- you'll see lots of just food- meats, fish, fruits, etc. Having seen that a few times, we just go to the small food court.
IIRC, they don't speak much English, so brush up on your Spanish.
I also remember them taking dollars, and maybe even a CC. In terms of paying ALWAYS use your CC- it will always have the best exchange rate (by a good margin). Just tell them you are going where you are going. I know there's a fear that someone will get your card number and use it- but it's more a problem with the CC company than you.
I did the Mexican Riviera cruise many years ago. Memories are a bit fuzzy due to tequila, but I do recall having to fend off a lot of "vendors" at every port, and be careful if you hire a cab. They often show you a brand-new cat to get your money, but then a ratty-old POS pulls up to actually take you to your destination. Don't give money until you confirm the vehicle you will actually be in, our had holes in the floor and no exhaust and everyone got sick.
Also, if you get hurt, go back to the ship, not to the local medical provider. The ship has clean, modern medical facilities.
Cruise Ship:
Not the cruise ship:
OK, I am exaggerating, there are excellent medical facilities across Mexico and Honduras, but you know, you might not end up in one.
I'd stay on the cruise ship for the Cozumel stop. I'm not the most experienced traveler, but that was the worst travel experience I've had. Everyone tries to rip you off. Charging me 3x as much for the taxi ride back because what else am I gonna do? You can keep that place. Beautiful country ruined in my opinion.
lnlogauge said:I'd stay on the cruise ship for the Cozumel stop. I'm not the most experienced traveler, but that was the worst travel experience I've had. Everyone tries to rip you off. Charging me 3x as much for the taxi ride back because what else am I gonna do? You can keep that place. Beautiful country ruined in my opinion.
Walk? That's what we mostly do there. Barely anyone bothers people who are walking there.
Even better if you are running. Nobody even looks at us when we are running.
In reply to alfadriver :
The only thing you're going to see if you're walking, is the tourist square where you get dropped off. I only remember bars and souvenirs in that area. If you want to see how beautiful the island is, you're going to need transportation. As sketch as the drivers and roads are, zero chance I'm getting on a motorcycle there.
In reply to lnlogauge :
Rent a car, then. We've done that, too, there. There are even some interesting oddball cars that you can rent. Once you are out of town, the traffic is not bad at all, and the island is so small that you can stop at multiple places and do a loop of the whole island. We saw the small ruins that are on the island, stopped for lunch, and then went to a beach.
BTW, there's more to San Miguel than the tourist square. As I've said before, we get back to the actual town mercado to have lunch.
In reply to alfadriver :
Ok? It's like you're trying to convince me that it wasn't a bad experience. I'm sure it can be done better than I did, but the culture preys on tourists more than any place I've been. That ruins experience for me no matter what mode of transportation I'm using. I've been to other parts of Mexico, and that island was by far the worst.
In reply to lnlogauge :
I'd argue it's the tourist preying on the country but that's another discussion. Any of these stops have a micro economic zone based on getting tourists to buy things- if you want to see something then know that you're in a "resort zone" and prices will be higher- or do something different. It's sort of like going to New York City and complaining that Times Square is only filled with chain restaurants.
Did a Miami-Key West-Cozumel cruise a few years back w/SWMBO and probably my favorite cruise I've done. Did an excursion in Cozumel with boat ride, trip to local beach, booze/food and trip back. Most souvineers in tourist square when getting back into ship were made in Mexico if I recall. I'd go back.
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