NurseMarla

The AutoProgreso bus referenced here is the city bus, not the tour bus - Its very easy to catch and cheap. There are plenty of restaurants in the plaza and just adjacent to it. La Chaya, a couple block off the plaza is worth the walk. I also highly recommend ice cream at Helados Colon which is in the plaza. Sight seeing wise, the buildings surrounding the plaza are almost all historic, including the cathedral, its ok to enter it and look around, provided something not going on inside. The plaza has the feel of an European center to it. Below is a map of the plaza and the area around it with some of the highlights.

 

Thanks! How do I tell the difference in the busses if they are all autoprogreso?

Just reread your first post.... ;)

So, did you tell them you wanted to go to the beach club or did they just go there? When I go to buy tickets should I tell them I want to go to the salt formations & the ruins & would like to go to the beach club & cenote?

When you get off the shuttle from where you dock, you are at the the AutoProgresso bus terminal. During the day buses run into the Merida city center about a every 20 minutes. I think the fare is about 25 pesos (less than five dollars US). There is a ticket office inside the terminal. The bus takes you to the center of the city. Ask the bus driver to let you off at "Plaza Mayor", the central square in Merida. There are lots of shops, restaurants and the cathedral on the square. Since you will be coming south bound on a one way street, you will not return from the same spot you were dropped. The bus goes back to Progreso on a northbound street one block west from where you were dropped you could walk to the Merida Autoprogresso terminal. Look on their website for fares and directions. We have visiting friends who take the bus into Merida in the morning. By the afternoon they are hot, tired and do not want to wait for the bus. They will negotiate with a cab to take them back to Progreso. A reasonable fare is about $30 US for a taxi that will hold 4 persons. Alternatively you can negotiate with a taxi in Progreso to take you to Merida, wait for you and return you to Progreso. I cannot estimate the costs for this service.

 

Enjoy. Once you visit, you will like the area and want to spend more time here. We will be in Progreso for our fifth winter in January.

Thank you for the info! I was looking at autoprogreso to take us into Merida & back. Your pricing seems to be a lot cheaper than what the website says. Anyways, if we decide to just tour Merida on our own, what are some must see places? How about to eat? Recommendations?

If you are leaving from Galveston, I would suggest the Houston Zoo, but like the previous person suggested Merida Zoo will be something to do after all the other great activities. I just came back and left post entry about Progreso exceeding our Expectations, you can click on the link below.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1894734

 

My nephew (11) was extremely excited with the salt formations (go figure). Cenote El Corchito was also a hit. Plus no body complained about being tired or bored in Xcambo. With kids you have to take the entertainment factor into account. The ruins were not too big, we were able to climb them. They had the opportunity to swim in the cenote and those places were never crowded, we were never approached by vendors, we always felt safe, and we all have great memories about our tour.

It was cheap, only about $20.00 per person plus what we spend on lunch. :D

Who did you do the tour through? Autoprogreso? That is a reasonable price & something we can manage. :)

We decided on Mr. Sancho's in Cozumel. Went to Nachi last year & enjoyed it, but wanted to try somewhere new this year. Last year we stayed on the beach in Progreso & while it was interesting, we couldn't really enjoy ourselves due to constantly being asked to buy things. Even with a polite "no thank you" they were back within a few minutes.

Thanksgiving for the response!

I would love to go to Uxmal, but since we are taking 5 of our 6 children & our grandson & footing the bill, that is just not in our budget this go around. I am looking for cheap/free things to do at the Progreso stop. We have an AI beach day planned for Cozumel, so don't really want to stay at the beach in Progreso, but want to venture into Merida at least. Even if we end up just walking around & looking some of the sites there & eating. :)

Has anyone been here? We are considering doing this while in Progreso. Any info appreciated. :)

We booked in advance, I THINK the email was

 

ELmaitred@carnival.com

 

The price is $75.00 per person.

I read somewhere that included gratuity.

We had such a great time we left additional, but I think that is optional.

 

Let me know if that is or is not the right email for the Maitre'D for Elation

 

Good luck

Thanks! I haven't emailed yet, still tryin to convince DH! :rolleyes:

Please send me recent copies too. Thanks! mswitch@ gmail dot com

Guess not.....

Just wondering if anyone has reserved parking for a cruise through this site recently. Is this for parking at the Fulton garage?

IF you enjoy a unique dining experience and IF you enjoy really wonderful food and IF you enjoy nice wine................

 

And IF you have the time and the interest and the desire and the $$$.........

 

Consider booking the Chef's Table on Elation. On our sailing it was offered on the last sea day dinner (not the best timing) and the experience was simply wonderful.

 

We just considered it an 'on board shore excursion'.

 

The event was nearly 3 hours in duration.

 

Chef was funny, engaging and interesting.

 

This was the first time we had ever done Chef's table (surprised my bride of 37 years on our anniversary) but it won't be the last.

 

In any case, enjoy Elation. She is a grand lady with a wonderful crew.

 

Bon Voyage!:)

Do you have to book this onboard? How much was it?

Thank you everyone! I can't wait to wear it!

Here is the dress I purchased for our upcoming cruise. I am in love with it!

Loving your photos! Can't wait to enjoy the Elation again!

If he drinks soda at all it's almost always Pepsi. I'll have to tell him to try it. Thanks!

Wow! That's insane! I think it's awful they cost what they do here!

Yes, we did in April.

 

Sent from my DROID RAZR

Thanks! He will be relieved to know this!

My SO is not a big soda drinker, but he does drink 1-2 energy drinks a day. Can he bring these onboard instead of soda?

DON'T WASH YOUR HAIR IN THE SHOWER!!

 

It's so good to finally get a health warning that is useful!!!

 

IT INVOLVES THE SHAMPOO THAT RUNS DOWN YOUR BODY WHEN YOU SHOWER WITH IT. WARNING TO US ALL!!!

 

I don't know WHY I didn't figure this out sooner! I use shampoo in the shower! When I wash my hair, the shampoo runs down my whole body, and Printed very clearly on the shampoo label is this warning: "FOR EXTRA BODY AND VOLUME." No wonder I have been gaining weight!

 

Well! I have gotten rid of that shampoo and I am going to start showering with Dawn dish soap instead. Its label reads: "DISSOLVES FAT THAT IS OTHERWISE DIFFICULT TO REMOVE"

 

PROBLEM SOLVED!! ;)

LOL :D That's great!

I think it was like $60 per person, which included the ruins.

Great tour, would travel with Pedro anytime

How do we contact him?

Looking forward to reading more. We are going on the Elation in November.

I'm decorating ours in November when we go on our honeymoon!