Traveling with the Jones — Sharing Travel Discoveries

9 Fun Facts About Costa Maya, Mexico

by Janis on February 26, 2015

We’ve visited the port of Costa Maya, Mexico several times, but we’ve never made it past the Carlos’n Charlie’s in the port compound. We will visit again soon, so we did a little research to learn about the area.

9 Fun Facts About Costa Maya, Mexico

1. Costa Maya is a tourist region located on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, 100 miles south of Playa del Carmen near Belize border. It includes two small villages — Mahahual and Xcalak — and extends about 62 miles between Xcalak to the southern border of the Sian Ka’an.

2. Developers created the Costa Maya dock and village complex specifically to woo cruise lines.

3. The port — opened in February, 2001 — features swimming pools, restaurants, bars such as Carlos ‘n Charlie’s, shops, a dolphin experience and a small beach (though it’s too rocky to swim). The port compound is only open to cruise ship passengers.

4. The Costa Maya port developers also updated the 200-resident fishing village of Mahahual that’s about two miles from the dock. You can reach it with a 30-minute walk or $5 cab ride, to find a malecon along a row of seaside hotels, restaurants, dive shops and beach clubs that serve fresh ceviche and offer water activities along white sand beaches.

5. The port developers also own a club and water sports area on Uvero Beach. Mainly used for shore excursions, Uvero Beach is Costa Maya’s most popular beach area, and features white sand, clear blue water and a variety of beach restaurants and shops.

6. Diving enthusiasts love Banco Chinchorro, considered the largest coral reef in the Atlantic Ocean, with more than 500 varieties of fish.

7. Early Mayans were predominant in the area from 200 B.C. to 900 A.D. The ruins at Chacchoben, constructed by the Mayans in the 4th century, include magnificent stone structures and pyramids.

8. In August of 2007, the port of Costa Maya and the cruise dock sustained heavy damage when Category 5 Hurricane Dean made landfall with sustained winds of 175 mph, with gusts up to 200 mph. The port reopened in the fall of 2008.

9. On February 1, 2015, Costa Maya and the Mexican state of Quintana Roo officially adopted a new time zone that corresponds to Eastern Standard Time.

Have you visited Costa Maya? What was your favorite attraction? Please share in comments below.

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Viking River Cruises To Launch Mississippi River Cruises Out of New Orleans

by Janis on February 25, 2015

What exciting news in the river cruise world: Viking Cruises Chairman Torstein Hagen and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal announced that New Orleans will be the homeport for Viking River Cruises’ first North American river cruise itineraries sailing on the Mississippi River, starting in late 2017.

The Viking Odin plies the Rhine River in Europe. Viking River Cruises will begin offering Mississippi River Cruises from New Orleans in late 2017. Photo courtesy of Viking River Cruises.

Viking Cruises, a leader in European and Asia river cruises, and having recently launching an Ocean cruise operation in Europe, is on a huge expansion roll. Viking plans to build six new vessels to ply U.S. rivers during the next three years. The vessels will be built in U.S. shipyards at a cost of $90 to $100 million each, and crewed by U.S. citizens.

The new Viking River Cruises will take passengers up the Mississippi River from New Orleans to itinerary stops in St. James, East Baton Rouge and West Feliciana parishes; continuing upriver to Memphis, Tennessee; St. Louis; or St. Paul, Minnesota, depending on the season. The specialty-built riverboats will boast luxury amenities and host up to 300 guests, a much more intimate experience that large ocean-going cruise ships.

Viking, which has operational headquarters in Switzerland, was established in 1997 by a Scandinavian and Dutch consortium led by Hagen. The company has grown to become the world’s leading river cruise line, sailing 60 modern river vessels, including its innovative Viking Longships. The company first expanded into the U.S. market by establishing U.S. headquarters in Los Angeles. The Mississippi River itineraries will be the company’s first cruise offering in North America.

“The Viking team is very proud to partner with the State of Louisiana, and we are grateful for the support of Governor Jindal,” Hagen said. “We are excited about the prospect of bringing modern river-cruising to the Mississippi, a river that has been traveled by explorers for centuries. We know our passengers will enjoy the rich history, culture and cuisine of all the great cities and towns along the Mississippi River from New Orleans to St. Paul. Together with our U.S. partners, we take great pride in the economic benefit that river-cruising provides to the regions our guests visit, from the shipbuilders to the local businesses.”

viking-aegir — Viking River Cruises Aegir gives guests an up-close view of Europe’s river cities. Photo courtesy of Viking River Cruises.

River cruising has experienced tremendous growth in recent years, with cruisers drawn to boats that can navigate narrow waterways to port cities that massive ships could never reach.

All vessels sailing under the Viking flag in the U.S. will be owned by Tennenbaum Capital Partners, a Los Angeles-based alternative investment management firm. They’ll be dedicated vessels that are time-chartered to Viking.

The Viking river vessels will join the current Mississippi River fleet which includes American Queen Steamboat Company’s American Queen and American Cruise Lines’ Queen of the Mississippi and American Eagle (launching this spring).

Viking has built itself into a well-known consumer brand after launching a PBS partnership that includes high visibility spots run in conjunction with Downton Abbey and other Masterpiece shows.

Have you sailing on a Viking River Cruise? Will you be interested in sailing on the Mississippi River with Viking? Please share your thoughts in comments below.

To book a Viking Rive r crui se , click here.

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How to Get Your Preferred Dining Seating on a Cruise

by Janis on February 24, 2015

We love reader questions. Here’s a question from Dennis:

I booked a Carnival cruise through an agent in April and I asked for table for 10. What I got was 3 different tables. Carnival said the rooms were linked together. The travel agent said the table for 10 is only a request. Who is correct?

Dennis: we can’t speak to the particulars of your cruise experience, because we do not know all of the details:

How early did you make the booking before the cruise? (Early bookers tend to get dining priority), and tables for 10 are rare, as in there may only be two (or none) on a given ship.
Was the dining you requested CONFIRMED at the time of booking, or Waitlisted? Notes from the Carnival agent website:

“At time of booking, guests will be able to confirm their preferred dining choice. If their preference is not available, they may confirm an alternate time and be waitlisted for their preferred choice. Waitlists will be cleared prior to the sailing and guests will be notified by email. Parties traveling together who are waitlisted together will be cleared on the same dining time. Cross-referencing bookings does not guarantee parties will be eating together. They must be confirmed on the same dining time to ensure they will be able to eat together. Since bookings that are waitlisted for a particular dining time are not guaranteed to clear, make sure the guest is aware the entire party may not be eating together.”

Dennis, what wed can do is to offer advice for your future cruises on how to get the dining seating that you want.

3 Ways To Ensure Your Dining Seating on a Cruise Matches with Your Preferences

1. Book Early

One of the major benefits of booking early is to get immediate confirmation of your dining preference in terms of table size, timing of dining, etc. Book 9-12 months before your cruise. Book even longer in advance if it is a long, exotic voyage. If the price goes down or you need to change dates, generally you have until 76 days before departure to rebook or cancel your cruise. (Rebook if the fare goes down; just be sure your travel agent doesn’t charge a fee to do this

2. If You Are Sailing on Carnival Cruises, follow Cruise Director John Heald on Facebook
John Heald is a long-time Carnival Cruise Director who also blogs and has a very popular Facebook page. If you like his page, you will see his updates, and always be in the latest “know” for Carnival Cruises. He also forwards special requests, such as dining for a 10-top, to the Maitre d on various Carnival ships. Next time, send your request to John, as a confirmation, saying how your group is celebrating something special and wants to eat a one large table for 10.
3. As Soon as You Board Your Cruise, Find the Dining Room Manager to Confirm Seating
As soon as you get on board your cruise ship, find out where the Dining Room Manager is located, and seek him out. Generally, the hours and location are posted in the first day program, or the front desk should be able to direct you. There may be a line, but it is worth the wait to make your dining preference change selection. There are also people who have early seating who want late, and always late seating people who want early. If it is a difficult request such as a table for 10, a good dining room manager will likely suggest you move to open seating with a set reservation very early – i.e. 5:45 pm or very late – such as 9 pm to accommodate your request. Generally, they can’t change for the first night, but send a confirmation to your cabin for the second night, after all of the “dust settles.”
Thanks for the question, Dennis.
Carnival cruisers, what other advice do you have for Dennis? Please, share in comments below.
Other posts on cruising and cruise tips that you may want to check out:

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Planning a Cruise Vacation? Check Out These Tips for a Better Cruise Experience

Is the All-Inclusive Beverage Package on Princess Cruises a Good Deal?

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6 Fun Things to Eat, Drink and Do in Albuquerque, New Mexico

by Janis on February 24, 2015

Are you planning a visit to Albuquerque, New Mexico? We recently spent a fun weekend in Albuquerque. We’d visited the city before, but mainly as the place to fly into and out of on our way to Taos or Santa Fe. Even if you are visiting Albuquerque for only a short while before heading to other parts of New Mexico, you might want to check out these places before you go.

Here are 6 fun things to eat, drink and do in Albuquerque, New Mexico

1. Have brunch at the restaurant where all of the visiting politicians make an appearance.

El Pinto is a huge restaurant that is an Albuquerque “must-stop” for politicians of all political parties. You can see their photos while you are waiting for your table. El Pinto is known for its salsas and green chili sauces.

Our local friend Hank took us to El Pinto for brunch, served only on Sundays until 2 pm.

The breakfast burrito at El Pinto is a combination of scrambled eggs, hash browns, cheese and bacon (or sausage, which I chose), rolled up in a flour tortilla, topped with red or green chile, or some of both, as I ordered it.

This spot may not be featured on the New Mexico Tourism’s Breakfast Burrito Byway, but our Albuquerque friend Hank knows his local food when he recommends it. Simply perfection. It’s huge; I have a hearty appetite and could only eat half (I focused on the green chili half because it is most unique to New Mexico.

Mr. Jones couldn’t decide which egg to eat first: the one covered in red chili hollandaise sauce (left), or the one smothered in chile con queso. At El Pinto, the New Mexican Eggs Benedict features two poached eggs and a slice of Canadian bacon on a green chile cheese biscuit with red chile hollandaise sauce, chile con queso, and papitas.

2. Eat sushi with some green chili flavors at Japanese Sushi and Cuisine

Very close to our Albuquerque Marriott hotel, Yelp reviewers led us to the Japanese Kitchen Sushi and Cuisine– one of two restaurants across the alley way from each other — one focused on teppanyaki and the other on sushi and Japanese food. We were doubtful – Albuquerque is kind of like Kansas City — in that it is a long way from an ocean.

Yelpers were correct – the sushi rolls, (some localized with green chili), were fresh and terrific. The Japanese food was cooked to perfection. The service, well, it could have been better, but we’d still highly recommend this place.

3. Hit the highway for a half-day road trip out of town

We had a comfortable-riding rental vehicle with Sirius XM radio. We headed out of town, got coffees, (Los Lunas had the only Starbucks for miles) and drove the interstate I-25 to Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. Even since Taysha Ham wrote this guest post: Top 6 Fun Things To Do in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, I’ve been curious to visit the small city that changed its name from Hot Springs to Truth or Consequences in 1950 after a popular NBC radio program hosted by Ralph Edwards.

The highways are well-maintained and the scenery is interesting – for a little while. It was a good half-day road trip.

Green Chili Cheeseburger, Blake's Lotaburger

4. Check out the Green Chili Cheeseburger Trail

The New Mexico tourism board sponsors The Green Chili Cheeseburger Trail, a map that highlights the best place to eat green chili cheeseburgers throughout the state of New Mexico. While on my flight to Albuquerque, I pulled up the Green Chili Cheeseburger trail map, and quizzed my seatmates (who were both from New Mexico) on their favorite spot for one of these burgers. They both had several recommendations, but Blake’s Lotaburger was mentioned by both of them.

We visited the Blake’s Lotaburger while we were in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, and the Green Chili Cheeseburger had the perfect amount of chili “bite.” The burger was a very thin patty, and the bun was white fluff, but the burger was stuffed with fresh veggies and plenty of cheese and green chili and jalapeno sauce. Yum, you’ve got to try one.

5. Try different wines and terrific food at Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro

From our first visit to Albuquerque more than five years ago, we found the Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro in the Nob Hill district. It’s even more popular today. We loved sitting at the bar trying a number of small plates and a variety of 3 ounce wine pours from the interesting wine list. BONUS TIP: if you check in on Yelp, you get a plate of lovely chocolates on the house.

6. Enjoy an amazing sunset

Watching the sunset in Albuquerque is like looking at a beautiful painting develop.

The Sandia Mountains that run along the eastern edge of Albuquerque are the first mountains west of the Mississippi River. “Sandia” is Spanish for “watermelon;” the mountains often give off a reddish glow of color at sunset.

Have you visited Albuquerque, New Mexico? What was your favorite fun “find”? Please share in comments below.

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