c-leg5

They have a website.

From website: PLEASE EMAIL ME FIRST IN OUR CONTACT PAGE) If you like to proceed with booking, please visit the contact page where you can email me and also see full directions on how to get here. Regards Jaime Cueto Strimpopulos.

Yes, 5 minute ride on boat directly from the pier.

It was there in the first half of this year.

We used to enjoy too but last time was so busy and food wasn’t that great. It’s been a few years now. I guess OP, @jmsnyc has been (or not) now hopefully they will report back.

Thanks - has never looked particularly interesting from the cab but I agree it is easy and flat. I still think I prefer to be dropped at light house and walk the length of the malecon to the other end of town. I have never walked the whole length of the main street (one block inland) but it seems there may be some better local restaurants there, just no view!

I have never paid an entrance to Palancar. They charge for loungers but we have never stayed long and just use a table for free with consumption. I don’t know if this has changed as we haven’t been in quite a while because quiet restful days there became a thing of the past. Good for them - not so good for us. They have seriously revamped there website they maybe just falling into the trend of price increases but I see they have added fancy beds and their website states an entrance fee (so doesn’t sound like a scam). I don’t know if you can still eat and drink without paying that though. Beach Club Entrance Fee Access to Playa Palancar Beach Club costs $20 USD, (payment includes access to beach chairs, showers, bathrooms and changing room. We are waiting for you in the true natural paradise. Order the delicious dishes and cold drinks from our restaurant and bar. We also have services with extra cost: Bali beds, massages, towel rental, lockers, photography service, snorkeling tours and more. Open every day from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There was a VIP section that opened for a while that did seem like a scam or certainly not good reviews but haven’t heard anything about it in a few years.

Are you saying the website is incorrect? I find that very strange - 3pm local time would be 2pm ship time for ships sailing from Galveston, hardly worth the effort or expense of a day pass. They used to have what they called “sunset hours” for ships arriving after noon but that was later than 5. As I stated I know the kitchen closes early because even that is odd to us since we generally just go to beach bars (not clubs) which stay open and serving into the evening, but we have always stayed our full time at Nachi when we have gone during land visits. I would have been disappointed to be thrown out mid-afternoon when the website says 5pm. What time is check-in and check-out? Open Monday to Saturday. Opening Hours from 8:30 AM to 5:00 P.M. (Cozumel Local Time). Open Sunday . Opening Hours from 10:30 AM TO 6:00 P.M (Cozumel Local Time). For cruise ship passengers arriving after noon to port, we remain open until 6:30 pm. (Apply for specific cruise ships and days only)

No seaweed can’t be guaranteed anywhere in that area - it will depend on season and weather conditions. Maya Chan will offer the most vendor free experience if you are comfortable walking outside port to transport. Malecon 21 would be my “in town” choice or Jaimies is popular if you want AI. They will both have vendors selling all day long. Otherwise find a lounger at the pool in the port. Maybe team up with someone on your roll call for transport otherwise you may be paying $16 each way for a five minute ride to town.

Not unusual since GetYourGuide is a broker who may well use Native Choice, a local operator. I agree if the tours are identical that sounds an excessive mark-up. This is why I am always wary of Resort for a Day whose prices are regularly higher than direct. We had a gift voucher once and used Get Your Guide in Cozumel for a local operator we could have booked independently. I don't recall any, or possibly a minimal, up charge. At least checking broker sites gives you an indication of what is available at a location for you to research further.

If it is a ghost town why are they restricting Diamonds on some ships? Some Diamonds may be understandably upset if they learnt “guests” are getting priority. Of course depends on shop and sailing but not a good precedent.

I have had them come round and say the kitchen is closing with drinks available for maybe another hour but to close the whole facility 2 hours early seems strange. I am sure some of the regular visitors will be able to answer better than me. At Del Mar (sister location) they have been quite happy for us to stay on the loungers after closing although they do lock the restrooms at official closing time. A little more difficult at Nachi because you need to be able to call for a taxi. When you have paid for a day pass to a facility and you are cut short 2 hours i think I would want to know why. Were you sailing from Texas and it was 3 o’clock ship time?

I have never known them close at 3pm? Are you sure there wasn’t confusion over the kitchen closing, which they do early then the bar or ship time vs local time? From their website Opening Hours - Monday to Saturday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 P.M. (Cozumel Local Time), Sunday from 10:30 am to 6:00 p.m. Yes that is a taxi scam that annoys me. Even worse now they have increased the prices.

Do you mean she forgot her passport, alien card, or both? It would never occur to me to only travel with one or the other. They serve different purposes. For the future, whilst Royal are only interested in alien card for closed loop Caribbean cruises they definitely want a passport for Colombia and a couple of other Caribbean islands, or if she had to fly home. Glad she was able to retrieve what was necessary a stressful start for sure.

Thanks! sounds like a busy day, glad you had fun! So to be clear for others looking to do the snorkeling- you took a boat to the west side of Big French Key to Brady’s Key, which is not where the cruise ships go? You drift snorkeled, south of the key towards Little French Key and were picked up in the water between the two and returned to mainland? Do they take you to the underwater submerged sculptures and objects?

Good choice for group of mixed ages especially teens and tweens. Lots of choices in Cozumel to suit all ages and budgets. Recent thread about check and tipping. I am not sure if this has changed again since AI fee includes an amount for facility usage as well as consumption. I have never received a consumption record at an AI and am not sure what purpose it serves. As i said perhaps they have changed again. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2957226-how-much-to-tip-at-paradise-beach/#comments

Adventure had it around 5/5.30 on the promenade most nights and sometimes in Boleros.

LOL And some like the taco truck, sounds like you’ll have to go twice! you will certainly be able to get quantity compared to Nachi, although i believe their drinks menu is limited unless you upgrade? I am still not understanding the purpose or concept of the itemized check when you leave if it is AI?

Should be 1 to 4, then 5, and 6 to 8. There has been a tendency to start asking for $20 and then hoping for a tip on top, whereas people used to round to $20 from 16, 17 etc since they would always claim no change anyway. I was just wondering if this was an actual union agreed increase.

+1

Is that official on the board at port or just requested? I haven’t seen any discussion of official increases.

I don’t understand the “no snorkeling”? The Brady’s Cay website states: The activities that are included in the packages that offer activities are - (Snorkel Gear, Kayaks, Paddle Boards or Aqua Park) *Transportation included * 4 or more people required for the banana boat, towable tube or touring boat cruise* and the reviews mention it. What was in question was, is it a separate new area on the other side of the cay or the area the cruise ship excursions use. Victor and Rony are both tour operators, whilst they may have additional discounts at preferential locations I don’t see why they can’t take you to any location you want.

OK, well I think it is a Carnival corporation excursion but I think outsiders can buy a day pass independently. I am not sure if capacity is capped when there are cruise line excursions. I have seen occasional reviews. It utilizes the land between Buccanos and Playa Azul.

Assuming you are on Carnival? It is a club in the north next to Buccanos with a website. No personal experience.

I don’t know specifically for Princess and cruise lines can change the location - that’s one reason they keep it vague, but if it includes a pool it is at the old Snr frogs next to Blue Kay, which may help with your search. I haven’t done it, but search on here for beach break there are old reviews but I don’t recall any since cruising resumed. Maybe try TA. Any reason you specifically want the cruise line beach club?