Costa Maya just confirmed for Western Cruises

[alex1963]

I just left my travel agents office from picking up my docs, and while I was there I asked for her to call DCL to see if she could find out more info on our Oct 9th Western cruise and Grand Cayman port. She was able (and I listened in) to get confirmation from the CM and her Supervisor that the next 3 Western Cruises 9/25, 10/09 and 10/23 would NOT be going into GC and would be going to Costa Maya instead. I hope this info helps people in their planning.

Good luck,
Alex

 

[jel0511]

Really?!?!?! We're on the November 6th sailing, so that sounds like they might be trying to make Grand Cayman on that sailing? Interesting, and I'll have to keep in touch with DCL and my TA to see what happens. Thanks for the info!!!!

 

[jfs9900]

Just called myself... Was going to call today to cancel the excursions for GC anyway. The CM said that they do not have any details on the arrival time or departure time from Costa Maya, or any possible alternatives.

 

[MarcyIn Florida]

There is an automated message now for upcoming cruisers (sorry, in my self-centered moment, I only wanted to see what was happening this Saturday) which says that the Magic will NOT stop at Grand Cayman. Here is the new itinerary:

Sunday: Key West
Monday: sea
Tuesday: Costa Maya
Wednesday: Cozumel
Thursday: sea
Friday: Castaway Cay

 

[mmouse37]

Yeah!!! I wanted to try Costa Maya.......I can just see myself relaxing on the beach right near the ship and then taking a dip in the pool...right near the ship!!!

Found this link in case someone wants some info on Costa Maya

http://www.cruisemates.com/articles/ports/costamaya.cfm

MJ

 

[MarcyIn Florida]

I just spoke to a DCL CM, and she said that they did not yet have the times for the Costa Maya docking, but expected to have them tomorrow. She also said it was unlikely that there would be any shore excursion info in advance of Saturday.

<------ Excitement over 2 stops in Mexico

 

[CGC33A]

Bummer. I was hoping for something a bit more exotic like Beleize CIty or Roatan (spelling?), Honduras. Anyone know of any decent excursions for small kids in Costa Maya? Nice beaches that won't be overrun like the one near the ship might be?

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

I'm on the Oct. 23 sailing and I am bummed, I loved Grand Cayman and was looking forward to going back. I really wanted my parents to see GC. Hopefully Costa Maya is just as beautiful.

 

[Wavegirl]

Well Costa Maya looks nice, Costa Maya Excursions some really good excursions and the beach looks nice!

 

[lbgraves]

From the trip reports of the 10 day cruise during Frances Costa Maya was very nice & there was a wonderful resort pool right near the dock that was open to everyone. I wouldn't be upset at all if we went there on our 12/4 cruise.

 

[talicskai]

Originally posted by CGC33A
Bummer. I was hoping for something a bit more exotic like Beleize CIty or Roatan (spelling?), Honduras. Anyone know of any decent excursions for small kids in Costa Maya? Nice beaches that won't be overrun like the one near the ship might be?

Disney cannot substitute Belize or Honduras because a valid passport is required for these destinations. They would not be able to advise passengers to get passports this close to departure. Perhaps in the future......

 

[budwmn]

I'm on the 12/4 cruise as well and kind of hope we visit Costa Maya instead of Grand Cayman. As much as I wanted to do Stingray City, Costa Maya is supposed to be beautiful and I like the idea of two Mexican stops. It would make it feel a little more "western."

 

[Karel]

When you look at Costa Maya from the ship all you see is green. It was lovely. When you look at GC and Cozumel, you see stores and roads.

It was really easy to get on and off the ship. They had a trolley pulling people up and down the dock. There's a little shopping 'mall' with a resturant and a big pool. Most everybody is selling the same stuff. Make sure you decide on a price that you want to pay and 'negotiate'.

There was one man and two boys painting small tiles with their fingers. Lovely outdoor scenes. Make sure you find them. Also, there was a man making poster size pictures with spray paint. I felt very badly for the dressed up donkey waiting for someone to sit on him for a picture.

There's a beach with nice chairs and umbrellas. The coast line is very very very rocky. I was told later there was a no swimming sign but there were a lot of people in the water. I ran back to the ship for my snorkle gear. There's a pool on the beach too but it looked really scuzzy to me and I wasnt' getting in that.

There is a small town that you can take a taxi to. There is a taxi stand in this small shopping mall with all sorts of prices listed. Do some research.

The shopping only took an hour or two. Like I said, you'll see a lot of the same stuff over and over again. I think they were some shows going on but I missed them. After a few hours here, you might get a bit bored.

 

[mmouse37]

I read that the pool was a salt water pool...maybe that is why it looked scuzzy???? Not as clear as a fresh water pool???

MJ

 

[rcomputer]

Costa Maya is a new development - a pier, a few shops, a restaurant and a seawater pool in the middle of nowhere. Our tour guide who lives three to a room in company provided accommodation said the dirt road was paved only a year ago and the electricity is more recent - Local water is rainwater retained in cisterns and only for locals to drink.

The nearby village consists mainly of fisherman's shacks but at least has some character unlike the pier. It was about a 20 minute pedal by bicycle from the pier.

The Mayan ruins tour offered last month (for Magic) was to one of the smaller ruins in the area - not the two larger ones - so we skipped that for the cycling/sea kayak tour.

Apparently there is a reef with several dozen spanish galleons just offshore and plates and artifacts can still be found but there was no dive tour to them ;-(

Belize City would be so much better - the tours are more varied and the scenery is spectacular. We went there mid-August with Enchantment of the Seas (passports were not required) and did the cave tubing with X-Stream. It is all tendered there like GC so maybe DCL do not want to pay for that.

 

[AnnMorin]

I would it if we went to costa maya instead of GC, don't get me wrong GC is beautiful but we have been there before, I wonder when they would let people know, we are still a long way off.

 

[jel0511]

Originally posted by AnnMorin
I would it if we went to costa maya instead of GC, don't get me wrong GC is beautiful but we have been there before, I wonder when they would let people know, we are still a long way off.

My guess is that the GC officials have indicated to DCL that the port will stay closed until at least the end of the month of October. That's why they have already rescheduled those sailings, and others following will be updated as necessary. We're on the November 6th sailing, the first one so far, that is still intending on stopping at Grand Cayman. I don't think it will happen, but you never know.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Lori, I'm on the same cruise as you We were sort of hoping for GC too. My kids really wanted to do the sting ray snorkel. I'm torn at this point whether to book the excursion or not.

 

[jel0511]

Originally posted by MiaSRN62
Lori, I'm on the same cruise as you We were sort of hoping for GC too. My kids really wanted to do the sting ray snorkel. I'm torn at this point whether to book the excursion or not.

I'm with you, DH and I took our first trip together as a couple to Grand Cayman, so it holds a lot of memories for us. We were looking forward to going back. We already booked an excursion with Captain Marvins, but who knows what's going to happen. I'm not going to bother them, and they indicated, if we didn't dock, we wouldn't be charged. All we can do now is wait and see what happens....

 

[markey]

I feel for anyone who has to miss GC, it is beautiful and that is why we again had booked the Western in August. However since we were unable to tender we skipped GC and went to Nassua before CC on Thursday. So be thankful that you booked a Western and are getting a Western Port and not ending up in the Bahamas as we did.