Travel: Regal Princess to Mexico and Honduras

On January 14, 2024, we boarded the Regal Princess for a one-week cruise to Costa Maya, Roatan, and Cozumel. It was definitely bittersweet.

Costa Maya

We did not splurge for any expeditions in Costa Maya. We went into this cruise with low expectations and a low budget. This was our view when we arrived:

Luckily, the fog burned off pretty quickly to reveal blue water.

Unfortunately, we were very disappointed with Costa Maya. When you disembark the ship, you take a walk down the pier to the shopping area. The salespeople were very pushy and aggressive. It made the whole experience negative right from the start. We didn’t even want to browse or shop. The worst offender were the beauty salons. They were handing out free samples with the intent to lure you into the shop to spend a lot of money on a very mediocre product. We quickly returned to the safety of the ship.

Roatan

We did not have any excursions planned for Roatan, Honduras. However, after seeing the beautiful water and sand in Costa Maya, I asked Casey if we could book a last-minute excursion. We opted to go to a private beach with lunch and unlimited drinks. The beach area was beautiful. The salespeople were pleasant and not pushy like Costa Maya. For lunch, we had coconut chicken, coconut rice and beans, plantains, and fresh fish. It was a bit out of my comfort zone, but it was all very delicious. I am not supposed to drink alcohol, but Casey let me splurge with a margarita and a strawberry daiquiri. Our tour guide was a very nice kid. Here’s the obligatory feet and sand picture. Check out my pink toes.

Cozumel

We decided not to splurge on another beach day. We both got enough sun in Honduras. Instead, we opted to hit the shops and then return to the ship. The vendors were not pushy like Costa Maya. We were actually able to browse without feeling pressure tactics. After we returned to the ship, we hit the adults only pool. It was nice because everyone was off doing their excursions. We took it easy in Cozumel.

THOUGHTS

First, let me say that I enjoyed the cruise. I got to spend a week with my husband unplugged from the world. That, in of itself, is a blessing. We enjoyed the food, the people we talked to, and all of the ship activities. We enjoyed the ship a lot.

However, I would not take this specific cruise again. Costa Maya really soured the trip. I do not think an excursion would have saved the day. You had to walk through the circling sharks to do anything. I found the ports of call to be a bit disappointing when compared to what was available on our Alaska cruise. I think we spoiled ourselves by going to Alaska first. There is plenty to soak in on the Alaskan cruises.

Again, I enjoyed myself and I am glad we went, but I would recommend an Alaskan cruise for a more immersive experience. Or, invest heavily on excursions. Beaches were not readily available right off the pier.

If you want, I made a four-minute slideshow that you can watch on YouTube.