John Trivedi with Troy Weiler – Business Development Manager at Norwegian Cruise Line on the Norwegian Jewel PhD@Sea Program, 12/6/2009 – 12/13/2009

John Trivedi’s PhD@Sea Certificate

NEWS PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

JOHN TRIVEDI COMPLETES PhD@SEA PROGRAM

Norwegian Cruise Line University’s new program at sea promotes continuing education for its star students.

As the next generation of Freestyle Cruising® continues to evolve, NCL University – NCL’s CLIA-accredited online travel agent “college” – expands the higher education program for its travel partners from the computer to a real-life Freestyle Cruising experience at sea. This in-depth, on-board, weeklong event includes an NCL executive host, a 15-credit CLIA public relations seminar, behind-the-scenes ship tours, panel discussions and group activities. To qualify for this enhanced at-sea experience, travel partners must have completed, at a minimum, the Freestyle Specialist level at NCL U.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s online university opened its virtual doors in 2008 and is one of the most innovative and successful programs available to travel agents today. With thousands of registered students and growing, NCL U has enhanced its training from the interactive experience of its online program to a continuing educational experience that includes the PhD@Sea program aboard its ships.

“At NCL, we highly recommend the use of a travel professional when booking an NCL cruise,” says Andy Stuart, Executive Vice President, Global Sales and Passenger Services.  “With NCL U, we are investing in our travel partners’ product knowledge, marketing and sales skills so our guests will know they are relying on an expert who knows our product inside and out.”

By earning NCL U’s PhD@Sea certification, John Trivedi, who is Freestyle Certified, is considered among the most qualified and expert representatives for NCL’s cruise product. To reach John Trivedi, please contact him at (425) 205-9911 or john@worldtravelersunited.com. You may also visit his website to learn more about his specialized group cruise business at www.worldtravelersunited.com.

One of the best parts about being in the group cruise business is that I get to share my passion and knowledge with folks just like you about the world of cruising. Being able to plan and organize group cruising events is what fills my day with joy and happiness, and now, I have the opportunity to take my happiness to another level due to all that I have accomplished.

I’ve been given the wonderful and unique opportunity to participate in Norwegian Cruise Line’s PhD@Sea program which is an industry first. This special program was designed only for cruise professionals who became Freestyle Certified (highest level of certification) at Norwegian Cruise Line’s University (NCL U), and being selected as one of the professionals to go, I have to admit that I am beyond excited and truly honored!

Norwegian Cruise Line will be whisking away 40 cruise professionals including myself aboard the magnificent Norwegian Jewel (pictured below) for a 7-night Western Caribbean Cruise on December 6th. We will be visiting many beautiful ports including Roatan, Honduras; Belize City, Belize; Costa Maya, Mexico; and Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas – which is Norwegian’s very own private island (exclusive only to Norwegian passengers).

Norwegian Jewel

So what exactly is a PhD@Sea program and how is it different than any other cruise vacation? Well to start with, this program will give cruise professionals like myself an experience that is rare for anyone going onboard. Here are just some of the exciting activities we’ll be doing onboard in addition to having a week long of cruising fun:

• Welcome cocktail reception and sail-away party
• Behind-the-scene tours
• Panel discussions
• Meeting the shipboard leadership team
• Attending a group dinner
• Receiving a personalized PhD@Sea certificate, a group photo and a farewell gift
• A professional press release announcing my PhD@Sea status to distribute to my local newspaper, radio, and television stations
• Class credit for CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association)
• And much much more!

You can take a breath now. This special group cruise program is going to be jam-packed with so much fun and I’m so glad it is finally here!! I’ll be taking my sister on this cruise since she has never experienced one before and has been extremely eager to finally have the opportunity. And let me tell you, she is getting one special first-time cruise experience!

I’ll be blogging about my day-to-day experiences on the special PhD@Sea program and will be posting these entries upon my return.

All the professionals and I have already established a relationship in the NCL U forum and we’ve also created a special name for our group, and that is the “Family Jewels” – very fitting! I’ve always been excited about going on a cruise, but with this program, I can already tell it’s going to be something extra special.

Until next time…

Your Friend in Cruising,

John Trivedi, Owner
World Travelers United
(425) 205-9911

john@worldtravelersunited.com
www.worldtravelersunited.com
“We make your Perfect Group Cruise experience a dream come true!”

Foto: Internet

Fuente:  http://www.yucatan.com.mx

Por Luis Espadas García
14/11/2009

CHETUMAL.- Empresarios de la zona sur de Quintana Roo mantienen la esperanza de que en fin de año se reactive la industria hotelera en la Grand Costa Maya.

El Director del Fideicomiso de Promoción Turística de Grand Costa Maya, Fernando de Jesús Salazar Cámara, señalo que obtendrán buenos resultados de la promoción que se ha hecho del sur de Quintana Roo en diversos eventos.

“En días pasados se expusieron los atractivos de la Costa Maya a 200 operadores en la ciudad de México, quienes se mostraron interesados en los atractivos naturales del sur del estado”.

Agrego que en meses pasados, en la ciudad de Mérida la Secretaria de Turismo realizo otra exposición en la ciudad de Mérida, donde se concretaron varias reservaciones.

Otras de las acciones de promoción fueron los reportajes de la Grand Costa Maya en la revista Vuelo, que se distribuye en los vuelos de la línea de Mexicana.

La Grand Costa Maya abarca todo el sur de Quintana Roo, desde Majahual hasta Chetumal.

Hoteleros
Por su parte, Juan José Fernández Carrillo, Presidente de la Asociación de Hoteles y Moteles del sur y centro del Estado, dijo que tiene la esperanza de superar el 70 por ciento de ocupación durante diciembre.

“Actualmente tenemos una ocupación del 35 por ciento de manera general, tenemos la esperanza de elevar la ocupación como producto de las campañas de promoción que se han realizado en diversos eventos”.

Actualmente en el sur de Quintana Roo hay poco más de 70 hoteles donde se generan de manera directa 2 mil empleos.

Señalo que el turismo vía cruceros representa una alternativas para la industria turística, ya que de octubre a abril de 2010 se ha programado el arribo de 300 cruceros. “El arribo de cruceros se intensifica a partir de diciembre”.

Y parece ser que en los últimos años el nadar con delfines en Cancún se puso de moda.  O sea que si fuiste de vacaciones a Cancún y no nadaste con delfines…no, fuiste a Cancún.  Es una actividad tan solicitada, que hay más de 6 lugares en el área  de costa cercana para poder hacerlo !  O sea que no hay forma de escapar de tan tentadora y novedosa actividad.  Por supuesto que mis hijos quisieron hacer la experiencia, y no habíamos viajado tan lejos hasta México para sentarnos a mirar las olas durante todo el viaje…Delphinus ( www.delphinus.com.mx) es el nombre del nado con delfines…Sólo ellos tienen 5 lugares distribuídos en zonas estratégicas e inmediaciones de Cancún para satisfacer la demanda de los visitantes:  en el mismo Cancún, en Xel-ha, en Xcaret, en la Riviera Maya y en un nuevo lugar que está desarrollándose que se llama Costa Maya.  Cuando vimos la información, enseguida nos programamos para ir, pues realmente se ve como algo profesional, cuidado y controlado por los organismos internacionales.  Elegimos ir al de Xacaret !

Costa Maya - photo by lecates

The Mexican Government said last month that discussions on an ecotourism project on Costa Maya are back on. No further news has been reported since then.

The 47,938 acre- (19,400 ha) area would span 28 miles (45 km) of beach in the Municipality of Othón P. Blanco south of Tulum, near Mahahual, Noticaribe reports.

The project would create 30,000 jobs, said Delegate for the Environmental and Natural Resources Secretary (SEMARNAT) Gabriela Lima Laurents. This is extremely beneficial and significant, especially considering the devastating effects the H1N1 outbreak has had on the tourism industry in Mexico for the past few months.

“There are various spheres [of influence] involved and so the process is long – everyone must meet an agreement and respect the environment,” she said.

Sixty percent of the land will be reserved for ecological preservation.

Environmentalists, three levels of government, and – of course – private investors have been attending the meetings. This is precisely why the project was delayed. They were also awaiting a second meeting with representatives from the Urban Development and Environmental Secretariat (SEDUMA).

“It is a complex project because it has many subprojects, it is not SEMARNAT that has halted it … but the red tape,” she explained.

The beach in this area resembles that of Cancun, Lima Laurents noted, with white sands and waters in different shades of blue – which *cough* business(wo)men and tourists from all over the world would love *cough*.

Ecotourism + nature conservation = Fantastic

THURSDAY NIGHT

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FRIDAY NIGHT

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SATURDAY NIGHT

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SUNDAY NIGHT

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On board the SEAduction catamaran, the delegates for the Reina de la Costa Maya International Pageant enjoyed a day out at sea.

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Costa Maya, Gift of God to Humanity
In Costa Maya the Caribbean Sea and the Tropical Jungle of the Yucatan Peninsula kiss and embrace with brotherly love as a gift of God to the humanity.

Costa Maya, the nature virgin destiny for enjoy vacation While Cancun Island with 16 miles long has 40,000 accommodation bedrooms with 65% occupancy per year, Costa Maya is a coastal corridor with near 100 miles long, located between Cancun and Belize, on the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, in Mexico, and has near 350 accommodation bedrooms with 10% occupancy.

Great Mayan Reef
On the seabed opposite Costa Maya is the Great Mayan Reef, where living diverse plant and animal species, which are the scenarios that are fascinated and enjoy the lovers of the snorkeling, diving and fishing.

Snorkeling it’s a Caribbean Pleasure In the Great Maya Reef
Costa Maya compared to reveal the splendor of a reef with a maximum continuous development of living coral, huge clumps and broken coral and few channels of medium or high relief.

The builders of this coral world The builder of this wonderful Coral world is an animal whose size is equal or smaller than the head of a pin and is called polyp, classified in the family zoological Anthozoa.

These polyps processed minerals dissolved in water, such as calcium carbonate to build their house (exoskeleton), once the vacated because of death, is the next generation of polyps as a foundation to build their new building.

It is estimated that this polyps building process was repeated over a period of 20 thousand years to produce The Great Maya Barrier Reef that we enjoy today per cause of the development of a number of other species and chains of life.

The Great Maya Barrier Reef show all kinds of corals, multicolored fish such as rainbow, reef fish, trumpet fish, the eagle, manta rays, hawksbill turtles, the pink snail and lobster, among others.

Fishing it’s a Caribbean Pleasure front to Costa Maya
Near the Maya Reef you can enjoy a wide variety of fish such as Marlin, Permit, Barracuda, Bonefish, Grouper, Sailfish, Snook, Snapper, Tarpon, Wahoo and others, each one into his correspondent season.

White Sand Beach, Lagoons, Fly Fishing & Pyramids In the terrestrial portion Costa Maya offers vast white sand beaches, mangrove swamps and lagoons highly recommended for practice the fly fishing, and inside the tropical jungle various species of plant and animal origin, the Konhunlich & Chacchoben pyramids like testimony of the Maya civilization.

Cultural activities in the Maya region
Amid the tropical jungle of the Yucatan looming monumental pyramids that bear witness to the Maya Civilization in silence and wait for some one reveal prophecies of Chilam Balam of Chumayel that was a Maya High Priest singer in Mani.

In the Tropical Jungle of the Yucatan Peninsula can be seen species of trees like palo dye, mahogany, cedar and zapote among others. Especially emphasizes show the Maya sacred tree named Seiba.

In the Mayan prophecies the sacred Maya Seiba tree identifies in symbolic manner to our Lord Jesus Christ, unique son of Jheova God who in the Maya religion is named Hunab Ku, word that etymological meaning “the giver of the life and the movement”.

The Mayas symbolically represent Jehovah God with a circle and a square and name it Hunab Ku, like our own style logo, which also contain the Christian cross symbol.

The Low Tropical Jungle of the Yucatan Peninsula also hosts animals like porcupine, tiger, deer, birds like pheasant, turkey bush, eagles, owls and creeping species such as lizards, snakes and many varieties of insects.

In summary Costa Maya offers visitors extensive natural and cultural assets for their knowledge and enjoyment. In particular the followers of snorkeling, diving and fishing, the followers of the sun, the lovers of peace and tranquility offered to enjoy natural scenery full of light, sound and color in the wonderful out side and underwater world.

Costa Maya, Low Density Construction
In contrast with Cancun Island with 16 miles long, almost 40 thousand accommodation rooms with 65% occupancy, Costa Maya offers 100 miles long, 325 accommodation rooms with 10% occupancy, perhaps last unspoiled corner of nature.

Mahahual community, principal access to Costa Maya
The Mahahual community is the main gateway to the Costa Maya, located 220 miles at the south of Cancun and has around 200 permanent inhabitants.

Cruise businesses in Costa Maya
Costa Maya, there are two groups of companies in service to tourism and in 2006 attended the first one million cruise visitors, with annual revenue estimated at $ 50 million dollars, and have nearly 500 workers between direct and indirect.

Lodging business in Costa Maya
Meanwhile, the second group are small businesses that are represent by 325 lodging rooms with 10% occupancy in 2006, and annual revenue estimated at $ 3 million dollars with around 200 workers between direct and indirect.

People in transit to Mahahual During the 3 or 4 cruise ship arrival days per week in high season, the 200 permanents inhabitants in Mahahual grow to around 800 persons (500 workers from the companies of the cruise ship group, plus 200 Mahahual inhabitants, plus 100 or 150 handcraft marketers, where 600 or 650 persons go and return to home located from 45 to 220 miles distance from Mahahual.

Hurricane Dean in Costa Maya, August 2007
The conditions described for the two groups of companies prevail occur before and after Hurricane Dean on August 22, 2007, where hurricane Dean destroyed the cruise pier and 50% of lodging rooms, which were then little more than 300 rooms.

Economic Freedom in Costa Maya
Although small businesses had to restart activity 90 days after Hurricane Dean did that, and build winter national tourism in December 2007, per lack of his own leadership restart program they did 14 months later, when open new dock pier in October 31, 2008.

Per unknown reasons, almost two years to occur Hurricane Dean traditional Telmex telephone service has not been reinstated in the Old Mahahual, which is Internet cheap cost and useful for ATM cash machine and promoting lodging tourism and payment reservations. Obviously it’s recommend that keep cash money when you arrival to Costa Maya per lack ATM money machine for Credit Cards payments.

From November 2008 until March 2009, tourism high season was the arrival of 20 cruise ships per month on average. While in the next low season -April to October 2009, two cruises were expected per month.

However the arrival of the cruise was affected in April 17, 2009 per international alert of influenza the low season program was reduced from two to zero cruises per month.

As a small business hosting shows that all have operated almost broken and remain open through other income, usually the owner’s board. Other small businesses that complete this group are restaurants, water sport suppliers and local transport providers.

Another important income for small business come from visitors who arrive on cruise ships, and it’s an small percentage that choose to walk in the Old Mahahual beaches, where small business sale drinks, handcraft and water sports or rides to pyramids.

Costa Maya Community Hope The whole community celebrates a successful group of companies that cater around one million visitors from cruise ships that generate near 500 jobs with $50 million revenue.

It is also true that the community has hoped that the group of small businesses with 325 lodging rooms achieved success by growing its revenue from $3 million to $25 million dollars per year, with a multiplier effect on employment and income distribution.

Attract tourists that spend seven nights in Costa Maya Vacation Package
The solution to this community need, such as directly and bluntly from my dream, involves establishing an online travel agency that specializes in attract tourism to Costa Maya, through selling vacation packages in a specific market niche.

If you want to know and enjoy this virgin wonder nature hurry take action before the development of 20,000 or more accommodation rooms coming, act now and make reservation in order to enjoy this nature place of the Caribbean and the Yucatan Peninsula.

I like to say that I’m so happy and grateful now that I receive the enthusism to write this ad in order to came in to the Mark Joyner’s -founder of Simpleology, contest relative to “business coaching.” !

Following the latest guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on travel to Mexico, Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean International have announced that their ships will resume port calls to the country.

Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival Cruise Lines have announced that its ships will return to Mexico following the completion of all modified itineraries. The cruise line has 15 ships poised to revert to their original itineraries featuring Mexican ports.

From Miami, Carnival Imagination, Carnival Destiny, Carnival Liberty and Carnival Valor will sail itineraries calling at Cozumel. The Carnival Ecstacy and Carnival Conquest will operate cruises returning to Cozumel and Progreso from Galveston, Texas.

Carnival Elation will sail from San Diego on 3-day and 4-day cruises calling at Ensenada, while Carnival Fantasy returns to Cozumel and Progreso on 4-day and 5-day sailings from New Orleans.

From their respective homeports, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Glory, Carnival Inspiration, Carnival Legend, Carnival Paradise, Carnival Splendor and Holiday will resume calls to Cabo San Lucas, Calica, Costa Maya, Cozumel, Ensenada and Mazatlan.

For more information, visit www.carnival.com.

Royal Caribbean International

Beginning with sailings departing on or after 24 May 2009, Royal Caribbean will resume its port calls to Cozumel by the Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas and Enchantment of the Seas.

The 3 vessels had been sailing revised itineraries following the decision to suspend Mexican port calls late last month, spending more time at sea and calling at alternate ports in the Caribbean.

A fourth vessel, Mariner of the Seas, will continue sailing its modified 7-night itinerary in the Pacific Northwest up to and including the 14 June 2009 cruise.

Despite returning to Mexico, Royal Carribean International will continue to follow proactive measures as part of its Influenza Prevention and Response Plans, including the provision of H1N1 flu information from the US CDC, health screenings of all ship visitors, enhanced sanitization onboard all vessels and the isolation and treatment of guests/crew who display flu-like symptoms with anti-viral medication supplies.

For more information, visit www.royalcarribean.com.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) yesterday announced its 2010-2011 winter deployment, with ships based in Europe and North America. The 2,402-passenger Norwegian Jade will sail from Barcelona, Spain year-round, while Norwegian Jewel will join Norwegian Gem to sail from New York. From New Orleans, the newly refurbished Norwegian Spirit will operate cruises to the Caribbean and Norwegian Star will sail to the Mexican Riviera from Los Angeles.

Norwegian Jade will sail alternating 12- and 9-night cruises from its homeport of Barcelona, Spain. The 12-night Eastern Mediterranean sailings will call at Rome, Italy; Athens, Greece; Ephesus, Turkey; Alexandria, Egypt; and Valletta, Malta. The 9-night Canary Islands & Morocco sailings include stops in Casablanca and Agadir, Morocco; Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands; Funchal, Madeira; and Granada, Spain. Both itineraries can be easily combined to create a port-rich 21-night European tour.

The 2,376-passenger Norwegian Jewel homeports for the first time in New York, along with the 2,380-passenger Norwegian Gem. Both ships will sail a series of 10-night Eastern Caribbean cruises with stops in San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; St. John’s, Antigua; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and Tortola, British Virgin Islands. The vessels will also operate 7-day Bahamas & Florida cruises with stops in Orlando,  Florida; Great Stirrup Cay (NCL’s private island) and Nassau, Bahamas.

Norwegian Spirit, which underwent a multi-million dollar refurbishment in 2008, returns to New Orleans sailing a series of 7-night Western Caribbean cruises. Ports of call include: Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; Santo Tomás de Castilla, Guatemala; and Belize City, Belize. Norwegian Star sails back to Los Angeles to operate 7-night Mexican Riviera cruises with stops in Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Miami-based NCL operates 11 purpose-built cruise ships and is best known for its “freestyle Cruising” concept. The cruise line currently has a 3rd generation ship, the 4,200-passenger Norwegian Epic under construction and due to enter service in 2010.

Chris and I left cold wintry Virginia to go enjoy some rest and relaxation in the Western Carribean. We boarded the  MS Veendam of the Holland America line in Tampa and set sail for our first stop in Key West. We did the Duval Crawl – hitting some of the hot spots for a drink and ending up at the sourthern most point in the US!

Key West - Southern Most Point

B-I-N-G-O!

Dinner Time!

Snorkeling in Hol Chan, Belize

Sting Rays Playing

Sea Turtle

Arriving in Santo Tomas de Castilla

Chris, Bonnie, Brain and Thera

 Our last stop was to Costa Maya, Mexico. Again we booked an excursion outside the cruise line and took a two hour ride to see Kohunlich Mayan Ruins famous for well preserved masks. There were four of us on the tour along with a driver, a tour guide, and a guide in training. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable, teaching us all about the Mayan calendar, religious ceremonies, and  other traditions of the Mayans.

When we entered the grounds of the ruins, we heard this screaming coming from the jungle. It almost sounded like  spooky halloween music. As it turns out there were about six howler monkies yelling at us to get out of their jungle. 

Mayan Mask

Temple 2

Poolside on the back deck

Formal Night

Moon Handbooks Cancun and Cozumel: Including Isla Mujeres, Playa del Carmen, and the Costa Maya is available at Amazon for $13.22. To Order click here
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Other Products of Interest

• Playa del Carmen, Tulum & the Riviera Maya: Great Destinations Mexico: A Complete Guide, Second Edition
• Frommer’s Cancun, Cozumel & the Yucatan 2008 (Frommer’s Complete)
• Adventure Guide to the Yucatan, Cancun & Cozumel
• Fodor’s Cancun, Cozumel & the Yucatan Peninsula 2007 (Fodor’s Gold Guides)
• People’s Choice Guide: Cancun Travel Survey Guide Book

Royal Caribbean International’s newest Freedom-class ship, the 160,000-GRT Independence of the Seas, has made its debut in North America. Capable of carrying 3,634 guests, she shares the title of world’s largest cruise ship with her sister-ships, Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas.

Sailing from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the vessel features industry-first amenities such as a surf simulator and water park equipped with interactive sculpture garden for families. The adults-only Solarium boasts cantilevered whirlpools suspended 112 feet above the ocean. Other facilities onboard include a full-size boxing ring, ice skating rink, rock-climbing wall and Broadway style entertainment. The Royal Promenade, an entertainment boulevard with shops, restaurants, bars and lounges, stretch the length of the ship.

Independence of the Seas offers 4 categories of accomodation onboard. Guests may choose from interior, outside or balcony staterooms, or from the various suites available, including the luxurious 14-person family suite. Every room offers a television, telephone, private bath and shower, in addition to other amenities.

From Port Everglades, the ship will alternate between 6-night Western Caribbean and 8-night Eastern Caribbean sailings. Ports of call for the Western itinerary include Belize City, Belize and the Mexican ports of Costa Maya and Cozumel. The Eastern itinerary will call at San Juan in Puerto Rico, Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas, Phillipsburg, St Maarten and Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private beach destination in Haiti.

Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise line based in Miami, Florida with 21 ships in service around the world and 2 under construction.

When I was in Costa Maya, Mexico on a cruise My husband and I were walking around the port. We came across a donkey tied to a post. He was therefor picture taking reasons. I asked Chip to take a picture of me and the donkey. All of a sudden, the donkey grabbed a corner of the skort that I had on. My husband got a picture of this. I thought it was cute to have the donkey do this. I patted him on the head and had a couple of more pictures taken with us together. Costa Maya was a nice port. It was difficult to get to the beach because of the huge rock pile. I had to climb it crab style in order o keep from a possible fall. I did slip a little. Once I was in the water, it was great. You do have to wear water shoes at the beach in Costa maya because it is rocky on the bottom.

Costa Maya is sunny and hot. We tied up at the pier early this morning and our bike storage area was used as a second gangway. Thus, our bikes weren’t at the usual place when we were ready to depart but the crew found them within a minute or two and brought them to the gangway.

Costa Maya port area from the pier

I should say something about the NCL operations here. They have really made everything easy. We’ve been writing this blog on their network and they have been very helpful explaining about how to use their system and to complete email and printing operations,. They have consoles in one area of the ship and have several wifi hotspots. They even lent us a network cable so we can use our laptop in the room. There have been several operator errors on our parts, but the effort has gone extremely well overall. I’ve found all of the crew aboard the NCL Jewel to be helpful, courteous, and competent. The gangway crew seems anxious to get us our bikes, to help get them off the ship, and to learn what we did during the ride when we get back. The restaurant servers know how we like our meals and also ask about our rides. We also brought our own French Press coffee makers and coffee aboard and the servers are both fascinated and anxious to get us the required hot water. Many are also coffee “snobs” like we are and ask about our coffee varieties as well as our grinding methods. I’m very pleased with the room layout, the furnishings, and the ship location. The entire operation so far has been entirely enjoyable. We have had to live with the boarding rules affecting the elevator and stairwell usage since our room abuts the main gangway. This also means we can hear the gangway preparation evolutions each morning as the gangway doors bang and the ramps clang against the ship but this is a small price to pay. We walked off the ship with the bikes and started to ride off the pier until three uniformed soldiers pointed out “No riding” signs and we dismounted for the walk off the pier.

Marilyn and our friend at the alligator pit

The port area was very colorfully painted and filled with dozens of shops ranging from Mexican curio stores to bars, diamond and gem stores, real estate offices, and stores fronted by toucans, monkeys, Mayan dancers, etc. We ran the gauntlet and entered the road fronting the harbor accompanied by an occasional tourist bus and taxi. We passed a number of blocks obviously laid out to hold a planned community. Workers and prospective workers ambled about ready to begin the five year or so effort to turn this empty quarter of Mexico into a thriving tourist community. They aren’t there yet.

I have thought about the native use of this land area and come up with more questions than answers. I don’t see evidence of Mayan use of the coastal area. Most of the beaches throughout Yucatan are rocky rather than sandy. I don’t see that many gulls which would indicate availability of clams or other crustaceans for food. They say that the tiny city of Mahahuel nearby was traditionally a small fishing village, but I don’t see many small fishing boats anywhere in the area. The entire area seems very sparsely populated. Oh, the Mayan ruins are nearby, perhaps 30 miles away, mostly inland. But the habitat nearby doesn’t seem well served to provide most of the foods humans eat. Not much fish, not many small animals, too swampy for most grain and vegetable growth, and no fruit trees, neither bananas nor coconut palms nor citrus. It appears the national planners are trying to set up vacation communities, but I fear the local weather may eventually discourage that. It is clear that hurricanes ravage this area more than occasionally. The tops are blown off most of the trees and even bushes over 6 feet tall. The saltwater inundation seems to be killing large blocks of vegetation, likely over the past 5 or so years. The planners will have to ensure that the buildings are built to withstand annual 100mph and higher windstorms and that evacuation or some other defenses against hurricanes. Not impossible, but not easy or inexpensive either.

After a 2 km ride on streets paved with special patterned tiles, we entered the main highway and turned to the northeast to see how far we could get toward a hotel I hoped might provide us a turnaround point and a stuffed pineapple lunch. Marilyn and I discussed the possible stuffings for the pineapple as we passed occasional gas stations and construction material stores scattered among the low mangrove swamp habitat lining the highway. Occasional larger tree clumps dotting the horizon on both sides of the highway revealed high grounds capable of supporting trees not susceptible to salt water damage to the roots. Although Roatan and Belize City sprouted topical plants, Costa Maya were more swamp-like. The difference is likely because the hurricanes killed plants that stick up too high. A few birds circled 30-300 feet above, mostly vultures or hawks. We could hear only the occasional chirps of either a sparse smaller bird population or ones taking to roosts early to avoid the heat. The seashore was not visible, but dark brown stained water could be seen on both sides of the street in ditches from which the highway fill had been taken and also peeking through the low brush off into the distance. We passed some bushes familiar to us from Hawaii like the ones we call Halekoa.

Marilyn's kind of biking road again

The highway marker read 56km as we turned onto the road to Cancun. Trucks, buses and taxis passed only occasionally as we began to understand the loneliness of this sparsely populated area. The diving beaches were behind us and the Mayan ruins lay out of reach today, so we realized we would be lucky if this ride didn’t turn out to be only a four or five hour exercise period. We stopped about seven km along the road for water and to demonstrate to you all that this was another “Marilyn route”, flat and smooth as far as the eye can see. The ride was sunny the whole way, leaving tired earlier than we usually would have been. So what distance should we choose next week?

We did see occasional large white egrets, two pencil thin six foot long snakes slithering in the road, and a few butterflies, but the late morning heat began to get to us and I started to worry that we would outride our water supply. The wind was blowing gently behind us to keep us from overheating immediately, but we decided to make a go/no go decision at a white feature way off in the distance on the right side of the road. When we got there after two hours of riding, it turned out to be an “oasis” store whose owner was just opening the store for three customers. We pulled over, welcomed the sight of sodas in two refrigerators, and settled for two Coke Lights. Marilyn settled in a chair on the porch in the shade while I struck up a conversation with the owner, beginning with a question about the hotel we were heading toward. In Spanish, he indicated there was no hotel within 20 km ahead, sealing my decision to make this our turn around point. He began trying out his English while I began trying out my Spanish—nonexistent in both cases. Nevertheless, we developed a liking for one another. I asked about hurricanes in the recent past which I believe had devastated the area recently. He verified my belief by indicating he had hunkered down in his blockhouse style cement house behind while nearly everything else was blown away. That was the reason for the absence of trees taller than 5-8 feet.

He then mentioned alligators and showed us around the side of the store, revealing a circular walled area filled with brown water and a one tree island in the center. Near the side, he showed us a six feet long board barely floating just below the surface and a one foot diameter turtle swimming lazily alongside. He looked around and indicated the alligator was probably lazing in a channel beneath the path alongside the pond. Meanwhile, Marilyn discovered a small dog stuck underneath the porch alongside the store and she and the owner spent a few minutes releasing it. It turned out to be a three month old boxer whose leash had been stuck on a stick. Upon his release, Marilyn and the owner played with him while I searched the pond for the alligator. Eventually, I discovered the alligator on the island in the pond center. About 4 feet long, it was brown and barely moved. The owner came over and pointed to the carcasses of three or four chickens which he had fed to the alligator over the past month or so. I tried to tell the owner how much this area reminded me of Louisiana. He indicated the alligators do live in the swamps all over the area. By now, I had finished my soda and began to nag Marilyn to drink her entire bottle of soda because I was worried about dehydration. She did a pretty good job but then handed me the bottle with a few swigs left in the bottom. I finished it and we remounted for the return trip.

Still not many cars or trucks. Still not many clouds. Still the swamps on this side of the street. But I did notice the wind was now blowing in our face. My bottom began to feel numb as I thought about the two hour ride back. Marilyn was not any better. She slowed down in the slight wind. But she was still riding nicely so I began to concentrate on the birdlife. I saw the occasional vultures and egrets and began to notice a few yellow butterflies. But Marilyn was really slowing down and I began to work on her to make sure she forced down a whole bottle of water the next time we stopped. That occurred at the nine km point as I noticed motion behind a bush on the side of the road and spied a very large brown bird take flight, floating eight feet off the ground for 100 yards before settling in a grassy, watery area. I stopped and handed Marilyn the water bottle while I tried to get a good photo of this bird. I took ten shots, eventually getting one, but noticing how hard it was to find the bird in the viewfinder after zooming in to max zoom.

The last nine km wasn’t easy, but Marilyn sped up with the end in sight and we rolled back into Puerto Casa Maya and through the gate into the tourist traps again. Almost five hours without shade. But the lunch on the ship really hit the spot after I drank six glasses of water and iced tea. Next week, we’ll try the other direction. The other direction is fine, but not quite so far—unless there is shade!

Costa Maya is the third stop on this cruise. It lies on the Mexican Yucatan Coast. Cruise comments indicate there is not much around this barren region. Maps show a road somewhat inland along the coast. It goes past a village of Majahuel about three miles south. We’ll head that way.  There appear to be both paved and beach roads both to the north and to the south.  We’ll visit the beach roads to see if they are navigable by bike and revert to the paved roads if we decide they are  not.  The Mayan ruins of Xcalek are 20 miles south. I don’t know whether we can make that distance at our present level of training, but we may head off to see how far we can get in time to return to the ship within six hours. Some folks speak of a hotel on the way and we may try lunch there. I hear the stuffed pineapple is good. The beaches may be pretty and good for diving. Neither Marilyn nor I are much into diving, but we may get wet and enjoy a day on the beach. I don’t think we have many choices for this port visit unless we want to take a bus or taxi.

I notice a monkey reserve lies at Uyumil Che within five miles to the north.  We may try to get there too.  And there seem to be several archeological Mayan sites around here.  They lie at Chacchoben and Limones to the northwest and Xcabasl around the bay due west.  I don’t think we can reach any of them without a bus or taxi.  The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve  also lies to the north just outside our reach for this trip.