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Scuba Forum / Scuba Locations / May 2006Majahual (November 8)
Three cruise ships are here this morning: The Star Princess, the Carnival Victory, and a RCCL, with total passenger capacity of about 7,000, probably all came here as substitute for Cozumel. Majahual (Costa Maya) pier is (outside of it) nothing but a huge circular store-front of wall-to-wall tourist-trap shops. Boring. Since I was in Majahual before, my sightseeing lasted about 30 minutes re-living the gaudy memory. One could arrange to take tours to the ruins, such as Xel Ha, and even to Chitzen-Itza (aka 'chiken pizza' to some), but those would be pressed for time since our cruise ships departs for Grand Cayman at 4 pm. I learned that there is actually a scuba shop in that cruiseship-passenger welcome store-front -- http://www.divemajahual.com, that offers two-tank boat dives for $70, with all equipment included. Since Majahual is usually the FIRST stop for several cruise ship itineraries, the price of the same junk are much higher than the same items at later ports of call. So, basically this is a nothing-to-see, nothing-to-buy, and nothing-to-do port of call. -- Bob. Except that Majahual is actually further down the coast (the next town over, so to speak). Costa Maya is right at the dock ... a "created" area by the cruise lines... Majahual isn't much either, but it's a little more interesting (gives you a glimpse into "real life"), and is a nice walk (about 30 - 40 minutes) from the pier. > Three cruise ships are here this morning: The Star Princess, the > Carnival [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > > -- Bob. > So, basically this is a nothing-to-see, nothing-to-buy, and > nothing-to-do > port of call. Sounds lovely. Enjoy your internet cafe. It must be nice to have time to travel to places where there's absolutely nothing to do. I'm always forced to travel to desirable locations given my limited time frame. "Reef Fish" <Large_Nassau_Grouper@Yahoo.com> wrote in message | One could arrange to take tours to the ruins, such as Xel Ha, and even | to | Chitzen-Itza (aka 'chiken pizza' to some), but those would be pressed | for | time since our cruise ships departs for Grand Cayman at 4 pm. Chacchoben is closer and a really nice site. I enjoyed it on my first trip to Costa Maya. There were 3 ships in port that day too. Grand Princess, Star Princess and an RCI ship. (Splendor OTS maybe) The second time I was there, we spent the day hanging out at the beach in front of Tapas in Mahajual. We also got a nice snorkel trip for $15 pp. It wasn;t as nice as the Belize snorkeling, but it was still fun. I got some of my best deals in Mahajual. I got a great hammock chair (single sitting hammock) for only $10. Before that the cheapest I could find one was $30. Food and drinks were not too expensive and there were even a few good deals on local artists work. I can't wait to go back for my 3rd time next month. LES! > Majahual (Costa Maya) pier is (outside of it) nothing but a huge > circular > store-front of wall-to-wall tourist-trap shops. Boring. Since I was > in Majahual > before, my sightseeing lasted about 30 minutes re-living the gaudy > memory. Doesn't sound like you actually made it to Majahual. Too bad. Costa Maya isn't at the top of my list of favorite port stops, by any means, but I'm looking forward to revisiting it, to explore a new and different area. I'm looking forward to seeing how the port develops, as more tourist dollars get pumped into the local economy. Not sure why most cruise passengers limit themselves to the large pool and bar area surrounded by shops. There are other places to see, other places to drink, other places to swim, other places to shop. Oh, well. I guess the more cruise passengers that stay in that port area, the fewer there will be out of town - that'll keep it quieter, at least. Lee > > Majahual (Costa Maya) pier is (outside of it) nothing but a huge > > circular [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Doesn't sound like you actually made it to Majahual. True, now that you made the distinction between Majahual (little town) and Costa Maya (the cruise ship tourist trap). As a matter of fact, that was how I mistakenly booked the same cruise TWICE, one listed Majahual in the itinerary and the other one listed Costa Maya, making me think they were different cruises. So, I've been in Costa Maya twice already before yesterday. >Too bad. Costa > Maya isn't at the top of my list of favorite port stops, by any means, > but I'm looking forward to revisiting it, to explore a new and > different area. I'm looking forward to seeing how the port develops, as > more tourist dollars get pumped into the local economy. I've visited several of the major Mayan ruins already and anything like Majahual is anti-climatic. So, even knowing that it's not Costa Maya, there is little incentive for me to waste my time on minor ruins. > Not sure why > most cruise passengers limit themselves to the large pool and bar area > surrounded by shops. To each his own. I don't do either, and I don't knock those who do. In fact, some people wonder why I even go on cruises when I DON'T drink, and I DON'T spend any time in the pool or the bar areas. > There are other places to see, other places to > drink, other places to swim, other places to shop. Oh, well. I guess > the more cruise passengers that stay in that port area, the fewer there > will be out of town - that'll keep it quieter, at least. > > Lee Live and let live. Folks in Cozumel and other tourist scuba divers scream bloody murder only a few year ago, when plans were announced by the Cozumel authorities that the new piers Puerta Langosta and Puerta Maya would be built to accommodate the cruiseship traffic. They claimed (and it turned out to be completely false) that the cruiseships would devastate the reefs and scuba diving in Cozumel. As a scuba diver who has logged over 1200 dives in Cozumel before I stopping counting in 2002, I can attest to the fact that practically NONE of the reefs in Cozumel was adversely affected by the cruiseship traffic. It is true that the downtown area has become a wall-to-wall jewelry-junket shopping and drinking areas, just like Costa Maya, but Cozumel remains a attraction for me, whether going there by air, or by cruiseship. It was the SUBSTITUTION of Cozumel by Majahual as the port of call that proved to be disappointing. -- Bob. >Three cruise ships are here this morning: The Star Princess, the >Carnival [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > >-- Bob. Reef Fish Bob, The URL you have listed links to one of our web sites but we are in no way affiliated with any booth on the cruise ship area or in town selling dives. Please don’t confuse us with those second rate operators. We are located at Kilometer 10, well out of town and away from the roadside flee markets and street vendors. Sorry for the confusion but after all it’s Mexico Take Care, Ken |
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