Our review

Here is part of our review, the rest is on the review area and on the carnival thread.

Progreso: Very looooong pier. Shops and bar/beach area near the ship were best prices of whole trip. We did the Dziblchaltun ruins tour for 3 1/2 hours. Mayan guides were awesome and very proud of their heritage. Met on the pier with several other groups. We had two buses for this tour and one guide, Jorge spoke during the 20” trip to the ruins, telling history and facts. Dario, his brother gave the talk during the tour of the museum and ruins. The cenote was beautiful and many took a swim. The museum was well done and the first part of the tour.

They really encourage you to buy jewelry with your name spelled in Mayan alphabet and a Mayan book from the Mayan people and not from the Museum gift shop run by “rich people”. The profits were supposedly going to build schools for Mayan children. This was the only thing that bothered me.

I suspect in reality that the museum profits go to the agency with the responsibility of excavating and restoring the ruins throughout the Yucatan and their upkeep. Just like the fees charged for the US National Parks and most countries. But the idea of procedes going to the school system is attractive too.

Yes, $ going directly to children is ideal, but did it really?

Anyway, I didn't let it ruin the tour or my opinion of our wonderful guides.

Lisa

czechgal. Hopefully it will go to the kids. I'm taking 65 lbs of supplies (vitamins, shampoo, dish detergent, Dixie cups, school supplies, etc) to an orphanage on Roatan. Seems alot of Cruise Critics have adopted the CSI orphanage on Roatan and that visit seems to be the highlight of their cruise.

Going to be funny if TSA decides to inspect that suitcase. LOL

hdawson, did I read somewhere that you have pictures of merida/progreso? Could you send some to me? thanks in advance :)

this is my email: michellemarietodd@hotmail.com