Good video and accurate depiction. I spent 7 months in Mahahual last year ..my ex girlfriend is a masseuse at Krazy lobster. They fleece tourists in Mahahual. For example the menu at Krazy lobster has one in elvish and in USD and the other is Spanish and in pesos. Well the prices on everything are more on the USD menu. Example- shrimp soup aka caldo de camarón is 16 USD but in pesos it's 190 pesos- a little over 10 bucks at the current exchange rate. It's s nice place to visit for a day or two but just be wary of the scammers. I have spent the last 3 years traveling all over Mexico and this is the worst place i have been as far as scammers, my ex girlfriend included. She would never give a full hour massage just 45 minutes so she could rack up more customers.
Thanks for all of the tips Gary! I really appreciate the info. Its unfortunate tourists are treated this way. To be honest, I am not even sure I want to go back there if my ship docks in Costa Maya again. There was another person in the comments who gave some suggestions in terms of where to go when visiting. Based on your extensive experience, could you tell me which resort or area you would aim for if on a cruise beach excursion? Maybe I can take your advice and try your suggestions. I could make a video about it and hopefully help others.
@@tomsunday i agree ..i know it's hard there and the people depend on tourism and competition for your money is fierce but fleecing tourists i don't like. The problem is i told many tourists there about the menu pricing and to pay off the Spanish menu in pesos but many didn't care and said it's ok they're just going to enjoy the day and relax they don't mind paying the extra money.. Americans. 🙄
Literally just came from a cruise that stopped in costa maya… krazy lobster was pure garbage… store bought tortillas, canned cheese & refried beans… real skimpy on the garbage chips… none of it was worth a nickel. Luckily we didn’t do the tour this gentleman did. We rented a golf cart… & they even tried to up charge to steal themselves a $20 tip.
I usually don’t eat when I go to Mexico anyway… That’s what the ship is for… We’ll go to the beach in the morning,do some snorkeling.. come back to the ship for lunch… And then spend the rest of the afternoon partying at the hotspot In the cruise terminal…
@@tomsundayI been to costa maya twice, both times I stayed at the cruise port, i ate breakfast and lunch in the ship and only purchased a couple of drinks for my wife since I don’t drink alcohol. We probably spend like $40 each time we were there. I’m a Mexican born USA citizen and they still charge me tourist price! lol. Costa Maya is a wasted cruise stop.
Thanks for the honesty! Ever wonder why Celebrity does NOT have reviews on their shore excursions booking page? Because they don't care about your experience, they just want your money.
What a money saving life vest you are! I have been so indecisive and having the fear of missing out with not booking an excursion and this was very helpful. I’ll enjoy the ship on day 4.
Oh and I forgot to say 😂😂😂😂 the bullshit news clip edit was top tier 🤣 definitely a good laugh. Overall great video, thanks for your time and honest review!
I am glad you found the video helpful. I laugh every time I rewatch the news segment. It was a lot of fun to make. It makes me happy to hear it made you laugh as well. I hope you enjoy your upcoming cruise!
I came across your video while searching for something to do in Costa Maya. I was considering this excursion. The last time I was in Costa Maya, I rented a golf cart from the Red Shirts Golf rentals right outside the cruise port. I rented it by myself and rode around the island in it. I didn't really think about it being unsafe, but I did notice the golf cart rental company had a man following me and he would pull up to me every once and a while to warm me away from certain places. After watching your video, I realized that it probably wasn't safe for me as a woman traveling solo to rent a golf cart alone and ride around the island. At the cruise port, it was impossible to walk around in peace because so many people were calling to me wanting to sell me stuff. They were quite aggressive and I ended up going back to the ship because I felt like I was about to lose my temper. After watching your video, I think I'll just stay on the ship and make use of the drink package and included food! Thank you!
When you travel it’s good to be aware of the natural phenomena. This year Sargassum (plant life from the Sargasso Sea) is burgeoning on all the Mexican beaches. It is a grass that supports a microcosm of sea life and it does not smell good. You call it ‘poop’, but it is the sea life in the grasses. You did get ripped off on the excursion. Our Royal Caribbean excursions were great in Mexico.
Thank you sooooo much for this honest review as we are going in February on RC and were looking at this very same excursion! WE might just walk around the port and come back to the ship!
I'll be cruising to Costa Maya in a couple weeks. I'd already decided to do a quick visit to the port then hop back on the ship. Thanks for sharing your experience.
The best REAL video ever! Me and my wife are exactly in Cozumel (right this moment) in a cruise, and tomorrow going to Costa Maya and, since today it was very weird for us here, we decided to look up and see what to expect for tomorrow... Bottom line: We decided to stay in the vessel, because all you have said about Costa Maya it was most likely what we had (already) in Cozumel today. Cruise lines should do a much better job with us (Tourists) and not "throw" us outside, in a foreign country, without a better knowledge of what to do and where to go to enjoy your day. Anyways, We, a true Family, are thanking you for you to sharing this very educational video.
To be honest the food in Mahahual is average at best. A couple of decent places but inconsistent. I have been all over Mexico and i think the best food overall is in Oaxaca, even the cocinas económicas, the cheap local places that serve plates of rice beans tortilla and comida del día, usually a stew of some sort, for 60 pesos with a drink, are excellent. The tortillas are different than anywhere else in Mexico.
All cruise ports are owned by the cruise companies. That is why the prices are so expensive. Notice on the cruise how they try to sell you more and more things.
Thank you SO much for the honest and thought provoking review! This is crazy ! We are going on a cruise in October and we will NOT do this excursion! NO way!! :)
You are most welcome, Tracy! I'm glad I was able to save you a headache! Let me know what you decide to do and how it goes! I am planning my next cruise, and it may stop in Costa Maya again. I need a new excursion! 😅
@@tomsunday Costa maya is garbage… they would have to pay me to get off there… even if my cruise stopped there… I wouldn’t want to smell playa caca again.
We just came back from a cruise with a stop in Costa Maya....the vultures in the port charged us $240 for absolute garbage...the drinks were bland and watered down and the food is absolutely terrible (and costs EXTRA !!!!), we all returned with a food poisoning after this shore excursion. But that wasn't the problem...the beach and especially the water are TERRIBLE. You'll be better off if yopu stay on the ship. DO NOT GO to Mahahual !!!!!! You'll regret it instantly !!! Or try to go to Baccalar .....heard only good things about that place, unfortunately the buses take too long and the taxis are too expensive ( $45-50 / per person round trip ). The port is not bad ....classic tourist trap with souvenir stores, restaurants and bars......and that 's about all. The village though........run and dont look back ! It's not worth it !!! Read the Google maps reviews if you dont believe me .......
I'm going to Maya Chan Beach Resort, good reviews, $138.00 for 2 people, includes unlimited drinks and food. Obviously drinks won't be too shelf. Will confirm if it is good per reviews.
It’s so unfortunate that you book an excursion through the cruise line to avoid getting ripped off, then they rip you off! “Mexico isn’t very safe right now” is not a very informed opinion. Tourists can feel 100% safe going into the village on their own at this port. If you want to go to the beach, what you need to do is rent a golf cart or take a taxi into Mahahual village. There are beach clubs up and down the entire town, the most popular ones are Krazy Lobster and YaYa. You can reserve an all-inclusive in advance or just walk up. In the town, you’ll be approached by vendors on the beach constantly and you just have to practice your Spanish by repeating “no, gracias.” But that’s where the good food and cheap beach is! You could also book with Maya Chan beach resort outside of town, they are all inclusive and provide transportation. Finally, all of the Riviera Maya is being pounded by huge amounts of sargassum (seaweed) right now due to climate change. This year is the worst it has been. That’s the “poop” smell you described. Most of the beach clubs in town have nets to prevent this, and the Mexican government is also building a barrier further out. I’ll be there at a beach club in two weeks, so I’ll be able to see if those measures are working. Sorry you had a bad experience!
Thanks for all of the great tips Ryan. I am going to reseach the places you listed and will give them a go if I am ever at that port again. I hope to make a positive video about my next experience. I agree with the uninformed opinion comment in this case. I didn't do as much research as I should have. I trusted the cruise line. Lesson learned. I would love to hear about your experience when you go in two weeks. If you could let us know here, I would highly appreciate it. Thanks again and nice to meet you Ryan! PS can you let me know how much they charge you for 4 AA batteries over there!? 😅
@@tomsunday We took a cab from the port to Maramao, a restaurant in Mahahual. They have a section of the beach that is exclusive to their restaurant, just like all of the other ones on this strip. It's right in front of their location. Our waiter guided us to a table on the beach to enjoy our lunch and the rest of the day. The menu he gave us was in pesos. We chose not to do one of those all inclusives like Ya Ya because it was cheaper to order straight from the menu. Like I said, we took a cab down and thought about walking back to enjoy the vendors on the side of the road but it was very hot. And I had one too many Cervezas lol. Now this was several years ago and things could have changed dramatically because of Covid. We were just in Cost Maya last May but chose to hang out at the pool in the port.
Following up, we went to Mahahual the first week of May, 2023. The beach clubs are wonderful! The water was beautiful, clear and calm. They have nets protecting the area from seaweed. Take a taxi from the port for about $7 US and have them drop you off at Krazy Lobster or YaYa Beach. From there, you can stroll the street and decide which beach club you want to go to. We booked an all-inclusive, but next time I will just go on my own. The vendors were annoying, yes, but they don't harass you. Just expect to say "no, gracias" a lot.
@@photogryphy1112 Thank you for the follow up! I appreciate the information. I will be stopping there at the end of the year and will take your advice and make a video about it!
I'm glad you did the video. You seem too smart to get stuck on a ship excursion. The bottom line is most of the time I will not do a ship excursion....there are rare instances where I will but they are very few and far between. Most of the time I look for a day pass to a resort, but in Costa Maya, since we are only there for half a day, I will take a cab to the beach and go to a beach bar and pay ala cart. Thsi review will be very helpful to those people that are smart enough to do a little research on youtube.
There are two places that I recommend. Maya Chan, which happens to be closed for two months in the summer and that is why i am trying to find more options and Pez Quadro. I have had excellent experiences at both of these places, but its been a while since I went to this port. From reading the reviews people still like both of these places.
I'm going in a week. I wanted a Maya Chan reservation, but they're full. I'm thinking about Malecon 21--independently getting a taxi 20 minutes south with food, drinks, beach, all for $75. Thank you for this vid! It's so hard to decide on how to spend your money and get a true experience, thank you again!
We rented a golf cart… yet; it was still garbage… ALL the ports do is just try to rip off the tourist. What a disgrace. They are all trained to be scavenging vultures.
Familia 😂! I wish I'd seen this before today since I just got back on a Carnival ship after a day in Costa Maya EXACTLY as you describe and showcased here. Oh but let me add one more thing -- don't purchase ANY jewelry no matter how solid or sturdy or WHATEVER it seems because guess what.......it's crapola!!!
Yes. Agreed. Tip: if a magnet sticks to their gold or silver for sale it is NOT real!!!! It is only a cheap base metal with coating to look shiny! They are liars and rip off artists. Always shop with a magnet on your key ring or in your purse.
Thank you for an honest review. I feel terrible for people who save their hard earned money and then get overcharged for a bad beach and below average food. The better European beach clubs charge the same and the service, food, and beaches are infinitely superior. I speak from experience having visited the Amalfi coast last year and the Greek Islands and French Riviera in the past.
Sounds sketchy man. I enjoyed the prices popping up on the screen during the bus and man... Poop. You say poop, I laugh every time. Thank you for the honest opinions.
Great video, good job showing how you can easily get ripped off on tours at Mexican cruise ship port as a travel & cruise veteran to multiple Mexican destinations… my friend and I I know the tricks & how to avoid them. If you research a little bit, know what you’re doing you can negotiate with cabbies or take local buses to get to . Your video excellent for newbies. I’ve never been to Mexico before if you ever get to Port Progresso, it’s basically the same thing. just know what you’re doing and be aware of your surrounding and always use pesos not dollars!
Appreciate the honesty! I was there once and (being from Florida) didn't understand the attraction, going back next month and will do something different or stay on the ship!
You're not being negative, just telling what happens. We experienced the same thing. I would have put those batteries back and walked out. I spend next to nothing at ports and run the gauntlet by saying no dozens of times. You've got to be very careful. Thanks for the video. It was very educational. I hope you rated the excursion the lowest possible on the post-cruise questionnaire.
You are most welcome. I am glad you found the video helpful. I reached out to the cruise line and provided my rating. I also linked this video for them. I hope they take action. Thanks for your comment.
@@heltonomboy During my trip, I also visited Cozumel and decided to do an excursion to the Mayan Ruins. While it was interesting, I don't think I would do it again. However, this year, on another cruise, I plan to visit Cozumel again. After doing extensive research, I've concluded that trying Paradise Beach is a better option for me. Your cruise ship should offer excursions that will take you there via a boat, and that's the one I'll be doing. While I can't recommend it yet since I haven't been there, it seems to be a very good choice based on my research. Once I go, I'll make a full video about my experience, so stay tuned for that. If you're interested, check out the video and let me know your thoughts on it.
Thank you for this video! We were in Costa Maya a few years ago at a VERY popular beach. It was not an excursion, but came with great reviews. All we could smell was poop! We literally thought they were dumping into the ocean because of how bad it smelled. We will just stay in port for a few hours when we return there in November this year.
I'm reading this 11 months after you posted. Sorry to hear about your bad time in Costa Maya. Definitely a place where you get punished for not doing research ahead of time. For both my visits, we had a group of 14 (8A, 6C) so that really kickstarted the need to find something more economical than a $100 ship excursion (to be honest, are any ship excursions worth the cost? Maybe something that requires the Cozumel ferry, since that is effectively "don't leave port without me" insurance) or all inclusives that seem to have invaded this area like sargassum. First time we were there, before the pandemic, we went to Tropicante, which was great. Owner at the time was a guy from Arizona (Steve), very customer focused, and it was good food and drinks at reasonable prices. Sadly he sold the place and it doesn't look like the place is in business anymore. Second time was Jan 2024, we went to Krazy Lobster. We only saw an English menu but that said the prices were still reasonable. I get that there's a tourist tax on the English menu but as Gary noted we we're the type that is just there to relax (although we're Canadian, not American), and we were in a position where we can afford to pay that tourist tax. In any event, we ordered quite a bit in terms of food and drink, and our total was $175 incl tips. Was it the world's best food? No. It was around replacement level food to be honest, but there were no complaints from the adults and fussy kids. So realistically, it was a good time for us.
The smell was the Sargassum, which unfortunately is wrecking havoc on the Yucatan in the last 10 years. When it gets onto the sand it dries out, and it leaves that rotten eggs/poop smell.
I have never booked an excursion through the cruise line always done my research and booked independently, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, etc. and was never scammed and had great excursions.
This made me decide to stay on the ship In March 2024... I have free food and I have a drink Package and I wouldn't have bought those expensive batteries I was thinking about staying on the ship anyways, but your video confirmed I am staying on it now Thank you I would have said whats with the tips???? Tips for what??? lol I also dont like to smell poop so Ill stay on the mardi gras ship and relax
Everyone need to research their excursion you could of took a taxi for 4.00 for each person went to crazy lobster beach . I always say research your vacation i hope next excursion is better
So sad :( We have experienced one of the best excursions out of Costa Maya but it was with a private tour company to some ruins about an hour away from the port. We had an excellent tour guide and wonderful experience. But we also had tours like this one where by the time it is all said and done two hours at the beach. So disappointing. I hope u have a better experience if you visit there again ❤
So accurate. I worked on Carnival Cruises back in the 90s. It was the same story for almost 80 percent of the passengers. The Oft repeated expression-"What a fu**ing rip-off". Yes. The cruise, you chose. But be careful about these extras that they sometimes force on you.
We went to mahahual in January and was very lucky because there was no poop smell lol. There was some plastic trash though that i found myself unconsciously pick them up to throw them in the bin...😅 was content with the beach but i guess that is only because i didnt smell any poop lol
We love Costa Maya. We took a taxi to the Krazy Lobster. The food was great and you can purchase a $5 bucket of beer. The beach was not crowded and the water was beautiful and calm. The service was great too.
Wow, Great video on explaining info. I have been to Costa Maya, the prices have gone crazy. It is a dollar in Canada for batteries. But the food in the restaurants is actually cheaper than in Canada. COVID has made the prices for food in Canada triple in price pre COVID. Crazy that Costa Maya has escalated the prices. There is a painting excursion that Costa Maya has. And it was class, on the Celebrity.
I have as of yet to get a good beach break via the cruise line excursions and have long since just gone on my own. The three or four I have done via the cruise line were "tolerable" at best and a waste of money in the other cases! ;)
I do not ever want to go back to Costa Maya ever again. The beach break on Royal Caribbean and our bus driver didn’t say a word and wanted a tip! We went only to the beach only to be harassed constantly. They should pay people to go buy stuff from their people. It’s a racket.
You are most welcome. I did not notice any golf cart rentals at the port. However i was not looking for them. So i could of missed it. Personally, I would not drive around in that area. Traffic is crazy and there is not much to explore.
I had a very similar experience in Cozumel with a downtown shopping and beach break. We were called the familia lol. Took us to crap hole shopping and then the smallest beach you can imagine with broken plastic lounge chairs. The prices were in pesos. I started cruising when things were cheaper in Mexico. So, when I did the pesos to USD conversion in my head I wasn't too diligent. I about died when my 8oz watered down/melted drink was $18 USD. I was not happy. Plus, the beach food was $40 without forks or napkins gross. These are charges on top of the crappy shopping. I normally do a beach like Nochi in Cozumel and really wasted my time on the beautiful island. I'll be in Costa Maya in a few months and may stay on the ship. Everyone boycot these tourist traps and bring back quality even if we have to pay more. The days of cheap stuff in Mexico are over!!
Last year we took a taxi from the cruise port to the beach and it was cheap $4/person maybe. No wait. The beach was weedy. I would give it a 3 out of 10. Rotting sea weed on the beach smells a little like poop. We walked around and got a good massage, didn't eat or drink anything and felt safe. For the price of a taxi you can't complain. Playa del Carmen was a much nicer beach.
You should have read up on Costa Maya before you bought that excursion. Everyone knows to take a taxi for $4 a person and go to Krazy Lobster. Can't beat the food the beach and the atmosphere. Very cheap day and really enjoyed it.
I mention that in the video. I know I should have but I didn't. I purchased the excursion because I figured they did the research for me. I was wrong and created this video to help others like me.
@@tomsunday you were too scared men mexico is safe for any tourist if you are not showing off lot of money or gold chains you are safe, even criminals respect tourist, comen on men, don't chicken out like that.
I will be going back next year on another cruise. I will take advice from some of the other Folks that commented in this video. Hopefully it's much better than this.
i honestly prefer to book my excursions through viator. i know you’re not “protected” in the sense that if you’re late the cruise can leave you but i just set multiple alarms and have never been a pier runner
They can take a cab (4 to 8 dollars per person) from the cruise port. They will be there way before you get there so keep that in mind. The tour burns a lot of time driving around aimlessly. Eventually you will end up here: www.bluekaymahahual.com/en/ubicacion-y-transporte/
We were there a year ago. We did the golf cart tour. But we ended up at the worst beach area. We were basically robbed. 2 cheap beers and one coke and salsa and chips was $65. The couple with us were given the wrong amount due. They paid it. But then the staff realized it was wrong and chased us down to our golf cart and demanded the additional $12. I will not get off the boat here again. I try not to even book a cruise with this port. Worst experience ever!!
I heard the smell has been dealt with. Otherwise make sure to do your research. There are a few folks in the comments who recommend certain places. I can't vouch because I haven't been there. May be a good place to start. I hope you have a good port day there.
Totally agree with you Tom....totally not worth it !!!!! We had a terrible experience ........I posted everywhere on social media....Costa Maya sucks !!!!!
I was looking forward to the crazy lobster have heard such great reviews.i live in Mexico so i do know how some things go down.since i am fluent in Spanish maybe I'd better ask for the menu in Spanish.
First mistake was booking a cruise ship excursion. There are reliable, reputable private companies. You don't have to buy those overpriced ship excursions. Also, there is an actual bird sanctuary at the port. Not just them flamingos you saw.
That really depends. I am not a big drinker but i noticed from 40 to 500 ranges. I do not suggest buying them at port. Everything here is priced like you are in the middle of Times Square.
Do Viator in places like Costa Maya, to a beach resort, or with the resort. Look at the reviews and if the bad reviews are US citizens saying their English is broken, they should have staff that knows better English, but all the good reviews say food & drinks are great, book it! By the way generally Costa Maya, Tulum and Cozumel are generally safer than any US major city.
I am glad you found it helpful! If you want an alternative, consider reading some of the other comments in this video. A lot of people offered their own advice. I haven't vetted any of it but they could be decent alternatives. I hope you enjoy your vacation! Cheers!
Thank you so much I am really disappointed as well now I cannot believe how crappy the tour is. I am definitely not paying for excursions thank you for being so honest. I'm going on the NCL to same place and truly didn't realize how sucky and expensive this place is guess I'll be doing excursions in Belize instead.
You are most welcome, Amber. I am glad you found the video helpful. That excursion is a big waste of money. There are a few comments that have recommendations from other viewers. It may be a good place to start your search if you wanted to go on your own. Either way, I hope you have a great time on your NCL cruise! I haven't tried them yet. I would love to hear your feedback once you return. Cheers!
Were cruising in February, Costa Maya is one of our stops. Honestly I'm thinking about just staying on the Jubilee at this port. This is not the only source material I'm using for that decision. Thank you for this video!
I am glad you found the video helpful. Jubilee is going to be amazing. I featured her in my 6 best new cruise ships video. It would not be a bad idea to stay on and enjoy all that she has to offer without the crowds!
Very negative. The prices didn't seem high to me . it $10 for McDonald's these days. I admit $100 for two drinks chips salsa and 2 hours at beach seems a little high. But I'm used to Mr Sancho's in Cozumel. As far as the bus it was air conditioned that's all I need. Some people like to hear about the culture and look around. Seems like maybe you are a complainer. I hope it's just this port. I hope you enjoyed the rest of your cruise regardless.
So sad you were ripped off by Celebrity , almost would have been better off to grab a taxi in that small town pay him a few pesos and have him take you to the beach. Most of the bus tours are like that no matter where they leave from or where they are taking you. They take forever to get where you are going and sell, sell, sell! Tequila, magic potions, whatever. As far as safety in Mexico you can step into the US (big city/ small town)and be robbed or gunned down for no reason.This is why in Europe they give the same travel warning rating for the U.S., that we give to Mexico! You were conned with the batteries! LOL! They were waiting for you!! Batteries do not cost nearly that price in the supermarkets or Walmart locations here. Reach out to an expat group and fly in the next time. Between Playa del Carmen, Progresso, Puerto Morelos and so many other beach towns you just might find your sweet spot.
Thank you for all of your advice, Michelle! I will be sure to do exactly what you and some of the other viewers said. I still can't believe those batteries. I saved them as a sovereign. 😅
Good video and accurate depiction. I spent 7 months in Mahahual last year ..my ex girlfriend is a masseuse at Krazy lobster. They fleece tourists in Mahahual. For example the menu at Krazy lobster has one in elvish and in USD and the other is Spanish and in pesos. Well the prices on everything are more on the USD menu. Example- shrimp soup aka caldo de camarón is 16 USD but in pesos it's 190 pesos- a little over 10 bucks at the current exchange rate.
It's s nice place to visit for a day or two but just be wary of the scammers. I have spent the last 3 years traveling all over Mexico and this is the worst place i have been as far as scammers, my ex girlfriend included. She would never give a full hour massage just 45 minutes so she could rack up more customers.
Thanks for all of the tips Gary! I really appreciate the info. Its unfortunate tourists are treated this way. To be honest, I am not even sure I want to go back there if my ship docks in Costa Maya again.
There was another person in the comments who gave some suggestions in terms of where to go when visiting. Based on your extensive experience, could you tell me which resort or area you would aim for if on a cruise beach excursion? Maybe I can take your advice and try your suggestions. I could make a video about it and hopefully help others.
@@tomsunday i agree ..i know it's hard there and the people depend on tourism and competition for your money is fierce but fleecing tourists i don't like. The problem is i told many tourists there about the menu pricing and to pay off the Spanish menu in pesos but many didn't care and said it's ok they're just going to enjoy the day and relax they don't mind paying the extra money.. Americans. 🙄
Literally just came from a cruise that stopped in costa maya…
krazy lobster was pure garbage… store bought tortillas, canned cheese & refried beans… real skimpy on the garbage chips… none of it was worth a nickel. Luckily we didn’t do the tour this gentleman did. We rented a golf cart… & they even tried to up charge to steal themselves a $20 tip.
I usually don’t eat when I go to Mexico anyway… That’s what the ship is for… We’ll go to the beach in the morning,do some snorkeling..
come back to the ship for lunch… And then spend the rest of the afternoon partying at the hotspot In the cruise terminal…
@@tomsundayI been to costa maya twice, both times I stayed at the cruise port, i ate breakfast and lunch in the ship and only purchased a couple of drinks for my wife since I don’t drink alcohol. We probably spend like $40 each time we were there. I’m a Mexican born USA citizen and they still charge me tourist price! lol. Costa Maya is a wasted cruise stop.
Thanks for the honesty! Ever wonder why Celebrity does NOT have reviews on their shore excursions booking page? Because they don't care about your experience, they just want your money.
Honesty is the best policy! I am glad you found the video helpful!
What a money saving life vest you are! I have been so indecisive and having the fear of missing out with not booking an excursion and this was very helpful. I’ll enjoy the ship on day 4.
Oh and I forgot to say 😂😂😂😂 the bullshit news clip edit was top tier 🤣 definitely a good laugh. Overall great video, thanks for your time and honest review!
I am glad you found the video helpful. I laugh every time I rewatch the news segment. It was a lot of fun to make. It makes me happy to hear it made you laugh as well. I hope you enjoy your upcoming cruise!
I came across your video while searching for something to do in Costa Maya. I was considering this excursion. The last time I was in Costa Maya, I rented a golf cart from the Red Shirts Golf rentals right outside the cruise port. I rented it by myself and rode around the island in it. I didn't really think about it being unsafe, but I did notice the golf cart rental company had a man following me and he would pull up to me every once and a while to warm me away from certain places. After watching your video, I realized that it probably wasn't safe for me as a woman traveling solo to rent a golf cart alone and ride around the island. At the cruise port, it was impossible to walk around in peace because so many people were calling to me wanting to sell me stuff. They were quite aggressive and I ended up going back to the ship because I felt like I was about to lose my temper. After watching your video, I think I'll just stay on the ship and make use of the drink package and included food! Thank you!
You are most welcome! I am glad you found this video helpful.
Thanks so much for this heads up! We won’t be doing any excursions while we’re there thanks to your video. Appreciate your warning.
You are most welcome. I'm glad you found the video helpful!
When you travel it’s good to be aware of the natural phenomena.
This year Sargassum (plant life from the Sargasso Sea) is burgeoning on all the Mexican beaches.
It is a grass that supports a microcosm of sea life and it does not smell good.
You call it ‘poop’, but it is the sea life in the grasses.
You did get ripped off on the excursion.
Our Royal Caribbean excursions were great in Mexico.
Thank you for providing clarity. I appreciate the information.
Thank you sooooo much for this honest review as we are going in February on RC and were looking at this very same excursion! WE might just walk around the port and come back to the ship!
You are most welcome. I'm glad you found the video helpful.
I'll be cruising to Costa Maya in a couple weeks. I'd already decided to do a quick visit to the port then hop back on the ship. Thanks for sharing your experience.
You are very welcome.
The best REAL video ever! Me and my wife are exactly in Cozumel (right this moment) in a cruise, and tomorrow going to Costa Maya and, since today it was very weird for us here, we decided to look up and see what to expect for tomorrow... Bottom line: We decided to stay in the vessel, because all you have said about Costa Maya it was most likely what we had (already) in Cozumel today. Cruise lines should do a much better job with us (Tourists) and not "throw" us outside, in a foreign country, without a better knowledge of what to do and where to go to enjoy your day. Anyways, We, a true Family, are thanking you for you to sharing this very educational video.
You are most welcome, Marco. I am glad you found this video helpful. I hope you enjoy the rest of your cruise!
I’ve come to realize that most of these cruise excursions are a ripoff and just mid at best. The herding and bad food is what bothers me the most.
Yea it was really disappointing to walk away with this experience but I learned a valuable lesson. Hopefully I saved others some money as well.
To be honest the food in Mahahual is average at best. A couple of decent places but inconsistent. I have been all over Mexico and i think the best food overall is in Oaxaca, even the cocinas económicas, the cheap local places that serve plates of rice beans tortilla and comida del día, usually a stew of some sort, for 60 pesos with a drink, are excellent. The tortillas are different than anywhere else in Mexico.
@@garycastronova7939 I will have to try the food if I am ever in Oaxaca. Thanks for the tips!
All cruise ports are owned by the cruise companies. That is why the prices are so expensive. Notice on the cruise how they try to sell you more and more things.
Thank you SO much for the honest and thought provoking review! This is crazy ! We are going on a cruise in October and we will NOT do this excursion! NO way!! :)
You are most welcome, Tracy! I'm glad I was able to save you a headache! Let me know what you decide to do and how it goes! I am planning my next cruise, and it may stop in Costa Maya again. I need a new excursion! 😅
Read my review. Its the cheapest and a great way to enjoy the real Mahuahal
@@tomsunday
Costa maya is garbage… they would have to pay me to get off there… even if my cruise stopped there… I wouldn’t want to smell playa caca again.
We just came back from a cruise with a stop in Costa Maya....the vultures in the port charged us $240 for absolute garbage...the drinks were bland and watered down and the food is absolutely terrible (and costs EXTRA !!!!), we all returned with a food poisoning after this shore excursion. But that wasn't the problem...the beach and especially the water are TERRIBLE. You'll be better off if yopu stay on the ship. DO NOT GO to Mahahual !!!!!! You'll regret it instantly !!! Or try to go to Baccalar .....heard only good things about that place, unfortunately the buses take too long and the taxis are too expensive ( $45-50 / per person round trip ). The port is not bad ....classic tourist trap with souvenir stores, restaurants and bars......and that 's about all. The village though........run and dont look back ! It's not worth it !!! Read the Google maps reviews if you dont believe me .......
I'm going to Maya Chan Beach Resort, good reviews, $138.00 for 2 people, includes unlimited drinks and food. Obviously drinks won't be too shelf. Will confirm if it is good per reviews.
Hello I’m going in a week, was the all inclusive beach club worth it? Thanks
Maya Chan is great
It’s so unfortunate that you book an excursion through the cruise line to avoid getting ripped off, then they rip you off! “Mexico isn’t very safe right now” is not a very informed opinion. Tourists can feel 100% safe going into the village on their own at this port. If you want to go to the beach, what you need to do is rent a golf cart or take a taxi into Mahahual village. There are beach clubs up and down the entire town, the most popular ones are Krazy Lobster and YaYa. You can reserve an all-inclusive in advance or just walk up. In the town, you’ll be approached by vendors on the beach constantly and you just have to practice your Spanish by repeating “no, gracias.” But that’s where the good food and cheap beach is! You could also book with Maya Chan beach resort outside of town, they are all inclusive and provide transportation. Finally, all of the Riviera Maya is being pounded by huge amounts of sargassum (seaweed) right now due to climate change. This year is the worst it has been. That’s the “poop” smell you described. Most of the beach clubs in town have nets to prevent this, and the Mexican government is also building a barrier further out. I’ll be there at a beach club in two weeks, so I’ll be able to see if those measures are working. Sorry you had a bad experience!
Thanks for all of the great tips Ryan. I am going to reseach the places you listed and will give them a go if I am ever at that port again. I hope to make a positive video about my next experience. I agree with the uninformed opinion comment in this case. I didn't do as much research as I should have. I trusted the cruise line. Lesson learned. I would love to hear about your experience when you go in two weeks. If you could let us know here, I would highly appreciate it. Thanks again and nice to meet you Ryan!
PS can you let me know how much they charge you for 4 AA batteries over there!? 😅
@@tomsunday We took a cab from the port to Maramao, a restaurant in Mahahual. They have a section of the beach that is exclusive to their restaurant, just like all of the other ones on this strip. It's right in front of their location. Our waiter guided us to a table on the beach to enjoy our lunch and the rest of the day. The menu he gave us was in pesos. We chose not to do one of those all inclusives like Ya Ya because it was cheaper to order straight from the menu. Like I said, we took a cab down and thought about walking back to enjoy the vendors on the side of the road but it was very hot. And I had one too many Cervezas lol. Now this was several years ago and things could have changed dramatically because of Covid. We were just in Cost Maya last May but chose to hang out at the pool in the port.
@Ryan Huge thanks for the tips! Going there next week and you just saved me a lot of headache.
Following up, we went to Mahahual the first week of May, 2023. The beach clubs are wonderful! The water was beautiful, clear and calm. They have nets protecting the area from seaweed. Take a taxi from the port for about $7 US and have them drop you off at Krazy Lobster or YaYa Beach. From there, you can stroll the street and decide which beach club you want to go to. We booked an all-inclusive, but next time I will just go on my own. The vendors were annoying, yes, but they don't harass you. Just expect to say "no, gracias" a lot.
@@photogryphy1112 Thank you for the follow up! I appreciate the information. I will be stopping there at the end of the year and will take your advice and make a video about it!
Your experience is exactly what we experienced too. Thanks for so accurately describing our adventures there too.
You are very welcome. I am sorry to hear you had the same experience. Hopefully, this video can save other people from this. Thanks for your comment.
Thank you soooo much for sharing this!!! I was literally looking into booking this tour 😮😮😮
You are most welcome. I hope I saved you some time/money. Have a great cruise!
Do not do it !!!!! Absolutely terrible experience !!
I'm glad you did the video. You seem too smart to get stuck on a ship excursion. The bottom line is most of the time I will not do a ship excursion....there are rare instances where I will but they are very few and far between.
Most of the time I look for a day pass to a resort, but in Costa Maya, since we are only there for half a day, I will take a cab to the beach and go to a beach bar and pay ala cart. Thsi review will be very helpful to those people that are smart enough to do a little research on youtube.
I am glad you liked the video. Thank you for your tips! Next time I'm there, I will look for a day pass and follow in your footsteps.
There are two places that I recommend. Maya Chan, which happens to be closed for two months in the summer and that is why i am trying to find more options and Pez Quadro. I have had excellent experiences at both of these places, but its been a while since I went to this port. From reading the reviews people still like both of these places.
I'm going in a week. I wanted a Maya Chan reservation, but they're full. I'm thinking about Malecon 21--independently getting a taxi 20 minutes south with food, drinks, beach, all for $75. Thank you for this vid! It's so hard to decide on how to spend your money and get a true experience, thank you again!
You are most welcome, Chandria! I hope you have a great time. I would love to hear about your experience once you get back.
We rented a golf cart… yet; it was still garbage… ALL the ports do is just try to rip off the tourist. What a disgrace. They are all trained to be scavenging vultures.
Very informative. Thanks for the info. Sounds like me and my husband, we are usually just looking for a nice beach to hang out at.
I'm glad you enjoyed the video!
Familia 😂! I wish I'd seen this before today since I just got back on a Carnival ship after a day in Costa Maya EXACTLY as you describe and showcased here. Oh but let me add one more thing -- don't purchase ANY jewelry no matter how solid or sturdy or WHATEVER it seems because guess what.......it's crapola!!!
I am glad you enjoyed the video, Rachel! Thank you for sharing your own experience.
Yes. Agreed. Tip: if a magnet sticks to their gold or silver for sale it is NOT real!!!! It is only a cheap base metal with coating to look shiny! They are liars and rip off artists. Always shop with a magnet on your key ring or in your purse.
First time viewer. I really enjoyed your very honest video.
I am glad you enjoyed the video. Hopefully, I saved you some money. You can always expect honesty from my videos! Cheers!
Thank you for your honest review.
You are very welcome!
Thx! Sounds like a good day to explore the ship and do stuff there.
You are most welcome Will!
Thank you for an honest review. I feel terrible for people who save their hard earned money and then get overcharged for a bad beach and below average food. The better European beach clubs charge the same and the service, food, and beaches are infinitely superior. I speak from experience having visited the Amalfi coast last year and the Greek Islands and French Riviera in the past.
You are very welcome. I am glad you enjoyed the video.
Sounds sketchy man. I enjoyed the prices popping up on the screen during the bus and man... Poop. You say poop, I laugh every time. Thank you for the honest opinions.
You are welcome Echo. It was definately sketchy and not my cup of tea. Night and day compared to the next cruise excursion we take.
Thank you for this information. I think. I will either take a taxi to a beach or enjoy the boat while everyone is out exploring 😊
You are most welcome! I'm glad you found it helpful. Let me know if you decide to take the cab out. I would love to hear about your experience!
Great video, good job showing how you can easily get ripped off on tours at Mexican cruise ship port as a travel & cruise veteran to multiple Mexican destinations… my friend and I I know the tricks & how to avoid them. If you research a little bit, know what you’re doing you can negotiate with cabbies or take local buses to get to . Your video excellent for newbies. I’ve never been to Mexico before if you ever get to Port Progresso, it’s basically the same thing.
just know what you’re doing and be aware of your surrounding and always use pesos not dollars!
I am glad you enjoyed the video. Thank you for sharing your tips. Cheers!
Appreciate the honesty! I was there once and (being from Florida) didn't understand the attraction, going back next month and will do something different or stay on the ship!
I am glad you found the video helpful. I am also considering staying on the ship on my next visit to this area.
You're not being negative, just telling what happens. We experienced the same thing. I would have put those batteries back and walked out. I spend next to nothing at ports and run the gauntlet by saying no dozens of times. You've got to be very careful. Thanks for the video. It was very educational. I hope you rated the excursion the lowest possible on the post-cruise questionnaire.
You are most welcome. I am glad you found the video helpful. I reached out to the cruise line and provided my rating. I also linked this video for them. I hope they take action. Thanks for your comment.
appreciate this honest video
Thank you. I'm glad you found it helpful!
@@tomsunday going on the Allure of the Seas in September. Looking at options to do at Cozumel.
@@heltonomboy During my trip, I also visited Cozumel and decided to do an excursion to the Mayan Ruins. While it was interesting, I don't think I would do it again. However, this year, on another cruise, I plan to visit Cozumel again. After doing extensive research, I've concluded that trying Paradise Beach is a better option for me. Your cruise ship should offer excursions that will take you there via a boat, and that's the one I'll be doing. While I can't recommend it yet since I haven't been there, it seems to be a very good choice based on my research. Once I go, I'll make a full video about my experience, so stay tuned for that. If you're interested, check out the video and let me know your thoughts on it.
@@tomsunday looking forward to it. Cheers!
Thank you for this video! We were in Costa Maya a few years ago at a VERY popular beach. It was not an excursion, but came with great reviews. All we could smell was poop! We literally thought they were dumping into the ocean because of how bad it smelled. We will just stay in port for a few hours when we return there in November this year.
You are most welcome. I am glad you found the video helpful!
Aww the bird prison is so sad
:(
I'm reading this 11 months after you posted. Sorry to hear about your bad time in Costa Maya. Definitely a place where you get punished for not doing research ahead of time. For both my visits, we had a group of 14 (8A, 6C) so that really kickstarted the need to find something more economical than a $100 ship excursion (to be honest, are any ship excursions worth the cost? Maybe something that requires the Cozumel ferry, since that is effectively "don't leave port without me" insurance) or all inclusives that seem to have invaded this area like sargassum.
First time we were there, before the pandemic, we went to Tropicante, which was great. Owner at the time was a guy from Arizona (Steve), very customer focused, and it was good food and drinks at reasonable prices. Sadly he sold the place and it doesn't look like the place is in business anymore.
Second time was Jan 2024, we went to Krazy Lobster. We only saw an English menu but that said the prices were still reasonable. I get that there's a tourist tax on the English menu but as Gary noted we we're the type that is just there to relax (although we're Canadian, not American), and we were in a position where we can afford to pay that tourist tax.
In any event, we ordered quite a bit in terms of food and drink, and our total was $175 incl tips. Was it the world's best food? No. It was around replacement level food to be honest, but there were no complaints from the adults and fussy kids. So realistically, it was a good time for us.
LMFAO! 😂 I love your sarcasm when in the bus. Ha Ha 😂😂
I enjoyed your video! Thank you 😂👍🏻👍🏻
I am glad you enjoyed the video! Cheers Familia! 😅
The smell was the Sargassum, which unfortunately is wrecking havoc on the Yucatan in the last 10 years. When it gets onto the sand it dries out, and it leaves that rotten eggs/poop smell.
Thank you for the knowledge. I appreciate it.
Great video. Thanks for not bs us and telling us the truth.
You are most welcome.
Book the river raft cruise! Swim in the Lagoon! Great lunch! Rope swings! Beautiful water. Great excursion!
Thank you for the tip!
Why do they charge that much for batteries? Because they CAN, and people have shown they'll grudgingly pay.
Good point.
Great review Tom, thanks!
You are very welcome Sam!
I have never booked an excursion through the cruise line always done my research and booked independently, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, etc. and was never scammed and had great excursions.
Thank you for your honesty. Other people have told me that it's a big rip off also.
You are very welcome!
Thanks for the advice! We made our decision.
You are very welcome. I'm glad you found the video helpful!
Thank you so much for your information
You are very welcome!
Awesome video! Thanks for being real!
I'm glad you liked the video, Victor. I appreciate your kind words.
This made me decide to stay on the ship In March 2024... I have free food and I have a drink Package and I wouldn't have bought those expensive batteries I was thinking about staying on the ship anyways, but your video confirmed I am staying on it now Thank you I would have said whats with the tips???? Tips for what??? lol I also dont like to smell poop so Ill stay on the mardi gras ship and relax
You are most welcome! I am glad you found the video helpful. Staying on the ship is not a bad idea. I hope you enjoy your cruise on the Mardi Gras!
Thank you 🙏🏽 such a great in-depth review
You are most welcome! I'm glad you found it helpful. 😀
Everyone need to research their excursion you could of took a taxi for 4.00 for each person went to crazy lobster beach . I always say research your vacation i hope next excursion is better
Thanks for the comment Sugar. I will do that next time I am there. Crazy lobster is a resort that is on the beach? Ill have to google it.
So sad :( We have experienced one of the best excursions out of Costa Maya but it was with a private tour company to some ruins about an hour away from the port. We had an excellent tour guide and wonderful experience. But we also had tours like this one where by the time it is all said and done two hours at the beach. So disappointing. I hope u have a better experience if you visit there again ❤
Thank you for your kind words! Next time I am there, I will look into visiting the ruins.
Which company and ruins?
So accurate. I worked on Carnival Cruises back in the 90s. It was the same story for almost 80 percent of the passengers. The Oft repeated expression-"What a fu**ing rip-off". Yes. The cruise, you chose. But be careful about these extras that they sometimes force on you.
We went to mahahual in January and was very lucky because there was no poop smell lol. There was some plastic trash though that i found myself unconsciously pick them up to throw them in the bin...😅 was content with the beach but i guess that is only because i didnt smell any poop lol
Glad there was no poop smell. That is good news! Thank you for cleaning up the trash. I appreciate this and so does our planet!
We love Costa Maya. We took a taxi to the Krazy Lobster. The food was great and you can purchase a $5 bucket of beer. The beach was not crowded and the water was beautiful and calm. The service was great too.
I am glad to hear you had a good time, Monica!
Thank you for this!, I might just rent a golf cart and explore by ourselves (all mexicans in my group)
You are very welcome. I hope you enjoy your vacation!
Wow, Great video on explaining info. I have been to Costa Maya, the prices have gone crazy. It is a dollar in Canada for batteries. But the food in the restaurants is actually cheaper than in Canada. COVID has made the prices for food in Canada triple in price pre COVID. Crazy that Costa Maya has escalated the prices.
There is a painting excursion that Costa Maya has. And it was class, on the Celebrity.
I am glad you found this video helpful.
Headed to maya chan next week. Cheers 🍻
I hope you have a great time!
I have as of yet to get a good beach break via the cruise line excursions and have long since just gone on my own. The three or four I have done via the cruise line were "tolerable" at best and a waste of money in the other cases! ;)
Ah, I’m guessing the smell was from the sargasso washed up on the beach- it can be pretty stinky.
Agreed. It was that seaweed. I believe they tried to clean the beaches up a few weeeks after we left.
All you need to know about me:
☀ tomsunday.com
I do not ever want to go back to Costa Maya ever again. The beach break on Royal Caribbean and our bus driver didn’t say a word and wanted a tip! We went only to the beach only to be harassed constantly. They should pay people to go buy stuff from their people. It’s a racket.
Thank you for sharing your own feedback. I am sorry you did not have a good time.
Thanks for the video. Going to Costa Maya and Cozumel on a cruise in January. Can you just rent a Golf cart and drive around and explore yourself?
You are most welcome. I did not notice any golf cart rentals at the port. However i was not looking for them. So i could of missed it. Personally, I would not drive around in that area. Traffic is crazy and there is not much to explore.
@@tomsunday Yes, from you video it looks more like a tourist trap . Thanks for showing a real experience.
This is just my opinion…you are a tourist therefore you are target. Be careful. There is safety in being part of an excursion. 🤷🏻♀️
I had a very similar experience in Cozumel with a downtown shopping and beach break. We were called the familia lol. Took us to crap hole shopping and then the smallest beach you can imagine with broken plastic lounge chairs. The prices were in pesos. I started cruising when things were cheaper in Mexico. So, when I did the pesos to USD conversion in my head I wasn't too diligent. I about died when my 8oz watered down/melted drink was $18 USD. I was not happy. Plus, the beach food was $40 without forks or napkins gross. These are charges on top of the crappy shopping. I normally do a beach like Nochi in Cozumel and really wasted my time on the beautiful island. I'll be in Costa Maya in a few months and may stay on the ship. Everyone boycot these tourist traps and bring back quality even if we have to pay more. The days of cheap stuff in Mexico are over!!
Good video Muchas gracias familia
De nada! 🤣
Great to hear, thanks
You are very welcome.
Last year we took a taxi from the cruise port to the beach and it was cheap $4/person maybe. No wait. The beach was weedy. I would give it a 3 out of 10. Rotting sea weed on the beach smells a little like poop. We walked around and got a good massage, didn't eat or drink anything and felt safe. For the price of a taxi you can't complain. Playa del Carmen was a much nicer beach.
You should have read up on Costa Maya before you bought that excursion. Everyone knows to take a taxi for $4 a person and go to Krazy Lobster. Can't beat the food the beach and the atmosphere. Very cheap day and really enjoyed it.
I mention that in the video. I know I should have but I didn't. I purchased the excursion because I figured they did the research for me. I was wrong and created this video to help others like me.
@@tomsunday you were too scared men mexico is safe for any tourist if you are not showing off lot of money or gold chains you are safe, even criminals respect tourist, comen on men, don't chicken out like that.
Thanks I just left 2 days ago I didn’t do excursions
You are welcome!
Appreciate this transparency! I was waiting to book excursions for my cruise and I'm glad I did.
No problem. I hope you enjoy your cruise!
Thank you for this. I have five kids and don’t want to be rip off.
You are most welcome, James. Im glad you found the video helpful.
We are here in coast maya right now the beach we are at is small and not a lot of space
I agree it’s very expensive in Mexico now, trying to take advantage of tourists for sure. They charge more expensive than in the United States.
I will be going back next year on another cruise. I will take advice from some of the other Folks that commented in this video. Hopefully it's much better than this.
Mexico is still not as expensive as the us.
i honestly prefer to book my excursions through viator. i know you’re not “protected” in the sense that if you’re late the cruise can leave you but i just set multiple alarms and have never been a pier runner
Thanks for the info
Gonna be there soon
Won't take the excursion for sure.... 😮
You are most welcome. I hope you enjoy your trip!
What is this beach location called?? Some in our party didnt get the excursion and its now sold out. Soo can they just get taxi to this location??
They can take a cab (4 to 8 dollars per person) from the cruise port. They will be there way before you get there so keep that in mind. The tour burns a lot of time driving around aimlessly. Eventually you will end up here: www.bluekaymahahual.com/en/ubicacion-y-transporte/
We were there a year ago. We did the golf cart tour. But we ended up at the worst beach area. We were basically robbed. 2 cheap beers and one coke and salsa and chips was $65. The couple with us were given the wrong amount due. They paid it. But then the staff realized it was wrong and chased us down to our golf cart and demanded the additional $12. I will not get off the boat here again. I try not to even book a cruise with this port. Worst experience ever!!
We have a stop there next year and I’m not that excited.
I heard the smell has been dealt with. Otherwise make sure to do your research. There are a few folks in the comments who recommend certain places. I can't vouch because I haven't been there. May be a good place to start. I hope you have a good port day there.
Thanx for sharing
You are most welcome!
Totally agree with you Tom....totally not worth it !!!!! We had a terrible experience ........I posted everywhere on social media....Costa Maya sucks !!!!!
I'm sorry to hear about your bad experience. Same here. I'm not looking forward go coming back.
Thanks for the info
You are most welcome!
All these snacks outside the cruise center require payment in cash?
I think you can use your credit card at some of the places but i highly suggest you bring some cash with you. Not everyone accepts cards.
Thanks Tom Sunday, I owe you $200 USD for sparing me the agony of Mahahual!
You are most welcome. I am glad you found the video helpful, and I was able to save you the trouble. That is a good enough reward for me. Cheers!
Is the Mayan water park near there also bad?
I haven't been to the water park so unfortunately I am not sure.
Tips... very normal in places like that, they probably almost don't make any money. No batteries on the ship?
Taken a cab to Blue cay or the Crazy Lobster many times. $4 cab fare. Always felt safe..
Thank you for sharing your tips with us, John. Highly appreciate it. I will try that next time.
I was looking forward to the crazy lobster have heard such great reviews.i live in Mexico so i do know how some things go down.since i am fluent in Spanish maybe I'd better ask for the menu in Spanish.
When I go to Mexico, I try to book the all inclusive outside of the cruise. I feel like going through the cruise it’s a ripoff.
Agreed! Good idea. I will do the same next time.
First mistake was booking a cruise ship excursion. There are reliable, reputable private companies. You don't have to buy those overpriced ship excursions. Also, there is an actual bird sanctuary at the port. Not just them flamingos you saw.
Thank you for the tips. I will look into it next time I'm there!
How much were the bottles of tequila roughly
That really depends. I am not a big drinker but i noticed from 40 to 500 ranges. I do not suggest buying them at port. Everything here is priced like you are in the middle of Times Square.
I just cancelled this same excursion.
Good decision!
Thanks!
You are most welcome!
@@tomsunday one of the comments suggested using Viator as an excursion option. It sounds like a sure bet to get the most out of visiting Costa Maya.
@LA-sj5vz I will be there in a few months. I will look into them and report back once I have more information. Cheers!
Do Viator in places like Costa Maya, to a beach resort, or with the resort. Look at the reviews and if the bad reviews are US citizens saying their English is broken, they should have staff that knows better English, but all the good reviews say food & drinks are great, book it! By the way generally Costa Maya, Tulum and Cozumel are generally safer than any US major city.
How long did they drag out the bus ride there?
I can't remember exactly but around 1 hour ride.
Good gracious. No thanks. We just canceled the excursion. Thank you SO much for your video. It was super helpful.
I am glad you found it helpful! If you want an alternative, consider reading some of the other comments in this video. A lot of people offered their own advice. I haven't vetted any of it but they could be decent alternatives. I hope you enjoy your vacation! Cheers!
You just saved me 4 or 5 hundred bucks. Nice hat too.
Thank you! I'm glad I was able to help.
Thank you so much I am really disappointed as well now I cannot believe how crappy the tour is. I am definitely not paying for excursions thank you for being so honest. I'm going on the NCL to same place and truly didn't realize how sucky and expensive this place is guess I'll be doing excursions in Belize instead.
You are most welcome, Amber. I am glad you found the video helpful. That excursion is a big waste of money. There are a few comments that have recommendations from other viewers. It may be a good place to start your search if you wanted to go on your own. Either way, I hope you have a great time on your NCL cruise! I haven't tried them yet. I would love to hear your feedback once you return. Cheers!
Were cruising in February, Costa Maya is one of our stops. Honestly I'm thinking about just staying on the Jubilee at this port. This is not the only source material I'm using for that decision. Thank you for this video!
I am glad you found the video helpful. Jubilee is going to be amazing. I featured her in my 6 best new cruise ships video. It would not be a bad idea to stay on and enjoy all that she has to offer without the crowds!
Facts!! This is why I hate going to this place!! Plus, they say they don't take pecos!! I'm in Mexico and you don't take pecos!!
I am going during Christmas
I hope you have a great time!
Very negative. The prices didn't seem high to me . it $10 for McDonald's these days. I admit $100 for two drinks chips salsa and 2 hours at beach seems a little high. But I'm used to Mr Sancho's in Cozumel. As far as the bus it was air conditioned that's all I need. Some people like to hear about the culture and look around. Seems like maybe you are a complainer. I hope it's just this port. I hope you enjoyed the rest of your cruise regardless.
Costa Maya is definitely a stay on the ship port...
Thank u
You are most welcome !
So sad you were ripped off by Celebrity , almost would have been better off to grab a taxi in that small town pay him a few pesos and have him take you to the beach. Most of the bus tours are like that no matter where they leave from or where they are taking you. They take forever to get where you are going and sell, sell, sell! Tequila, magic potions, whatever.
As far as safety in Mexico you can step into the US (big city/ small town)and be robbed or gunned down for no reason.This is why in Europe they give the same travel warning rating for the U.S., that we give to Mexico! You were conned with the batteries! LOL! They were waiting for you!! Batteries do not cost nearly that price in the supermarkets or Walmart locations here. Reach out to an expat group and fly in the next time. Between Playa del Carmen, Progresso, Puerto Morelos and so many other beach towns you just might find your sweet spot.
Thank you for all of your advice, Michelle! I will be sure to do exactly what you and some of the other viewers said. I still can't believe those batteries. I saved them as a sovereign. 😅
I never do ship excursions.