This place is a manufactured cruise ship port near a small village with a huge pier capable of hosting four cruise ships of any size simultaneously. It has grown and now the area has multiple hotels up and down the beach and is a winter escape for many Americans. Belize is not far to the south.
We had booked a morning tour to Chacchoben mayan ruins by bus with guide but cancelled when we found we would arrive later.
We arose rather late and did breakfast on the stern in the Sunset Veranda. Nice temperature, mid 80's. Land not yet in sight. We hiked around the ship, encountering the Captain near the photography shop.
O asked if he had been Captain of Journey in 2012 for our Baltic Cruise. He replied yes. We recounted that trip. We asked if Carl Smith would return to relieve him after the next voyage. He replied he was getting a new Swedish counterpart since Smith has gone to Onward.
We returned to the cabin to read and do these notes.
Link to Photos
We headed ashore soon after the gangway was put over. The walk up the short arm of the pier, then the long arm, was tedious. Finally we arrived at the pier head. As we expected, there was a line of excursions being gathered by their guides but we couldn't see any vehicles in which they were to ride. We saw a signpost directing us to various areas in the "village" of Costa Maya, but no way out to the land.
But we bought various little items, one bill coming to 1197 pesos ($57), the others smaller.
An act was performed where four men ascended a tall pole and arranged themselves in a square atop the pole. Then they flipped over, their feet being tied to a rope, and began spinning in a circle while descending as their rope paid out until finally they reached the ground. Interesting.
We tired of this foolishness and returned to the ship. A jitney took us out the long arm to the base of the short arm, so that cut the length of the return walk.