Fah is a fun place we went to for dinner one night in December. They had a band playing, which was…read moreplaying some great music. I had one of kids tip the band at the end of their Pearl Jam cover. The drinks were good. Waitstaff was very responsive. We were shocked how fast the food came out. Tacos were amazing. We had beef, fish, and shrimp. Just 2 vs 3 but still so good. My daughter loved her wings. Prices were also reasonable. This is a great place for photos too. It's dark and loud but lively. So much energy.

Decided to have lunch and some day drinks with girlfriends this afternoon and headed to 5th for the…read moreHappy Hour menu at Fah. The service is good and the people watching fun. I appreciate that the Happy Hour menu includes both food and drink. Everything we ordered was solid-the Caesar salad was large with lots of chicken, the croquettes crispy on the outside and soft inside, the fries crispy and salty, the nachos and tacos good. A couple of drinks and more food than we can eat for less than 350 pesos per person (before tip) on 5th?! That works for me!

Having the same name as my favorite James Bond novel, the Casino Royale on the Royal Caribbean…read moreHarmony of the Seas provides Slots and a limited amount of table games for those cruisers who like to gamble (or just curious on how things work). It has the main area (over 18,000 square feet), divided into a smoking-allowed and non-smoking section (though there are no barriers so it is smoky in both areas). However, there is a dedicated (very small) non-smoking casino with a few tables and slots. It does have 456 slot machines and 27 gaming tables, making it one of the biggest floating casinos out there. I learned more about the casino rewards/loyalty program while on the ship. One uses their cruise card as their casino card, tapping it on a machine to signify play. The vast majority of people gambling were playing slots. The slot machine does allow a transfer of funds (up to $5000 a day) from your onboard account (which one settles at the end of the cruise) to the machine being played. Payout is still handled via the cashier, using the typical slips of printed paper that come out of every machine at cash out time. Points are attained by gambling, amount determined by length and amount. One gets 1 point for every $10 bet over a 1 hour period for table games (like blackjack). A lot faster (and accurate way) is to get 1 point for every $5 wagered on the slot machines. Once you reach 2,500 points for a calendar year (April 1 - March 31), one is considered Prime (there are two more levels above this). This gives free cruise offers, along with free drinks at the casino (up to the discretion of the bartenders, and no more than 2 every 10 minutes) and the ability to transfer money from your shipboard account for no fee (standard members have to pay 5% fee to transfer money for table games). The other thing that is kept track is how many points attained during the cruise. There is a published list of future cruise offers, based on the points attained starting at 400 points. These offers come directly from the casino. But the RC marketing department also uses these member lists to provide various offers throughout the year as well. I gambled more on this ship more than before, so curious what sort of offers will come.

This is such a belated review. I went TWO years ago! I walked up, and they didn't have someone on…read morestaff who could take my pictures for me, so I had to come back when there was someone, since I was alone. I had some beach time, then came back. I had an Excellent experience with Ellie. I thought the illusions were so much fun! The cake was incredible; it was definitely one of my favorite parts of the exhibit. This is especially good for people who like to pose for pictures or those of us who like to challenge ourselves to like the process. We (the photographer and I) had the entire place to ourselves, so we took a stroll around. I could see that if there were more people, we'd have to be strategic about where to start. It's a good time if you're in Playa and want to spend a little time in a museum.

We had the most fantastic time touring the 3D Museum of Wonder!…read more We did have a bit of a challenge to find it, tucked away was the entrance. Once inside we paid at a tiny kiosk then they takes you to the entrance. Once inside the museum you wait in a theatre for your guide collect you and to explain the art and take pictures for you. You will be given special sockets to wear as to not damage the art on the floor. The museum takes the top floor of the building. Amazing what you see through the lens of your camera. The building use to be a cinema and has been converted to a museum, Well worth a visit. The artist use to live in Playa Del Carmen, now lives in Italy. It's hard to explain it's a must see on your bucket list. To see the illusions through the lens of your camera or smartphone. We were there when the museum first opened so we had the whole place to ourselves.

Overall it was a decent show. Definitely have seen better ones. I agree with others viewers that…read morethe story line was weak and most of the performers were okay. Impressive yes, but nothing that wowed me like cirque du soleil usually does. Additionally, the start time of the show is misleading. Tickets state 8pm start time but that's not the case. Show didn't start until 9:15pm. You had to wait in an outdoor lounge in this humidity. Lastly, I would be weary of the food. I purchased a ticket that came with appetizers and oh my god. As soon as I ate them I started feeling awful. Fast forward to me throwing up several times that night. God only knows how long the food was sitting in that humid theater for. Overall, not worth the $200 ticket price.

This show was amazing. Now I will say I booked through the hotel which probably could've been a…read morebetter deal booking on own as you can book directly through the site with transportation to and from your hotel. The only reason why I recommend that is because I was able to take a ride share to the venue however coming back taxis were the only option and it ended up being double the price of a ride-share. With that being said the whole venue is set up very nicely. You get there plenty of time to check in walk around the grounds. They have a lovely open air bar area and plenty of things to look at while you're waiting for the show to start. I ended up buying the VIP dining experience which includes a pre show cocktail ( with mini bartender performance), the three course meal along with half of a bottle of champagne and an appetizer as well. Every part of the meal from start to finish really was a presentation. Started off with a beautiful round plate that had an interactive portion with a flower that had edible petals. You took off the flower petals and then poured the dressing on top of it and mixed it up, which was one of my favorite things for the evening. The plates themselves were definitely custom-made as each item had a little indentation to make sure that they were properly aligned in the exact same spot for every single person who received. The main course I selected was the beef short ribs, which came out in essentially a rock covered plate that once lifted off, you could see the lovely presentation of the beef. The veggies were presented in a small bone and then also the sweet potatoes were in a ramekin that had a lovely lid on them. Last, but not least the desserts came out in a book that when you turned it and opened it, presented four different dessert options three of the four were ok there was one I was just not a fan of. The venue itself was set up so almost every seat in the house had a really good view of the stage. Upon entering the venue, they had live music with a quartet on the stage that had a harp of all things, and that was super amazing. The quartet played while the main portion of dinner was served and then right when the desserts came out was when the show started. From start to finish, the show was extremely entertaining. I can't believe that the 80 minutes went by so quickly you blink and the show is over with. Although I do not speak Spanish. It was easy enough to follow along the theme of the show as well as a lot of it really is the acrobatics and showcasing the talent of all of the individuals as part of the production. I really enjoyed the fact that they have three platforms inside of the seating area and the show really does take up the entire space of the venue multiple layers, multiple levels and multiple different activities going on. It really made you feel like you were in an immersive experience. Every section of the performance really gave you a great respect for the talent and the energy that it takes to create their craft but also how precise they are doing so. There is even one part of the show where an audience participant got pulled up on stage, which was quite hilarious and the whole thing was just so entertaining. Since everything's already prepaid, once the show is over with you're able to depart without any need for waiting around for a check Only downside is that there are not a lot of restrooms in the venue itself. The ladies room had three stalls and one of which was accessible so that made for a long line after the show was over. If you have the ability to go see this, I'd highly recommend taking the time and pre-booking your transportation to make it a little bit less stressful.

What a treat! Less than a mile from our AirBnB lodging, this complex is at a local mall. The…read morestreets are safe and so it is an easy walk to and from, even after dark. The theater itself is state of the art ... all digital, the latest sound system, etc. I was surprised that you could even select your seats at the ticket counter, not unlike your seat on an airplane. The only negative? Climate control! The AC was set low enough to be uncomfortable without a light jacket or sweatshirt. Overall a wonderful experience. We'll go back (with our jackets)!

Great theater, with first run/premier films. Many are in English with Spanish subtitles or in…read moreSpanish , and also in 3D. It gets incredibly CROWDED, which is no surprise and it's recommended that tickets be purchased ahead of time at the self-purchase machines. They also offer reserved seating, which is super convenient. The theater is impeccably clean, and comfortable, temperature just right and priced right. Lots of cool specials with their fan cards, and a large snack bar with lots of choices. My only problem was the enormous wait on line to enter , and purchase at the snack bar. Also the ladies room smelled a bit funky. But on a Saturday afternoon with the amount of people, I'm not surprised. The staff were also super friendly and helpful. In fact with my poor Spanish, when I tried to ask a question the young lady was so sweet that she located another staff member, fluent in English to assist. She also let me know where she was going to be if I needed anything else. Honestly getting spoiled by the kindnesses here!

I went to this cute souvenir shop near the place we were staying in Akumal (they have another…read morelocation in Cancun that is just as cute). I purchased 2 pieces of art that I love and it was fun to look at all the other vibrant and electric items and displays. The tshirts at re unique and not over the top expensive. I'd recommended this a must stop of something cute to take home.

I did my research for a place to shop near Akumal Bay that sells real Mexican handmade art and…read moregifts....so I learned about Mexicarte and we headed straight over. Luckily, this little gem is very easily accessible and not hard to find (due to the pink exterior paint!). I hate those shops where the employees are hunting you down, basically forcing you to buy mass-produced items at ridiculous costs. We wanted a place where we could feel good about our purchases. Mexicarte sells all handmade items by artists throughout Mexico. It's almost like a fair-trade store. You leave feeling good about the money you just spent, and can come back home bearing gifts with a story behind them. Mexicarte has the prettiest, brightest, and most unique gifts in every corner of the store. We actually had to come back a few times because we kept comparing all the other shops to this one, and just wanted to spend our money here. From day of the dead items, skulls, crosses, to handbags, jewelry, wall art, clay art, you name it. Everything is handcrafted with such care and detail, you can see the love the artists put into it. Everything is priced very fair. You can find gifts for any budget, we brought back a couple little turtle figurines for about $1.50 USD for example...and great quality! I love how helpful the employees are, and can provide the backstory to all the items they sell. They let you roam around freely, and don't pressure you into buying anything. Parking? Not so sure. We stayed at Akumal Beach Resort, it took us 10 minutes to walk up the beach here. You will see the Akumal Dive Shop, walk through to the back of the Dive Shop and you will see Akumal Plaza. It's a bright pink stand-alone building. You can't miss it. Happy shopping! :)

Chichén Itzá is a blockbuster; San Gervasio is an indie film with more heart…read more When you think of Mayan ruins, you probably picture the soaring temples of Chichén Itzá or the dramatic cliffs of Tulum. Cozumel doesn't have those giants -- but it does have San Gervasio, and if you're stepping off a cruise ship and want history without a full-day bus ride, this is a must-visit. San Gervasio was the island's most important Maya site, dating back to around 300 AD. It wasn't a military fortress or a massive city -- it was a sanctuary dedicated to Ixchel, the Maya goddess of fertility, love, and the moon. Women from across the Maya world would travel here on pilgrimage, offering gifts and prayers to Ixchel. That makes these ruins less about war and kings, and more about family, spirituality, and daily life. The site was rediscovered in the 19th century by explorers and archaeologists cataloguing Cozumel's Maya heritage. Unlike mainland ruins, San Gervasio's structures are smaller, smoother, and more subtle -- but they tell stories just as powerful. What You'll See: * The Temple of the Hands (Las Manitas): named for the tiny red handprints still visible on the walls, believed to have been left by the temple's ancient inhabitants. It's eerie and beautiful at the same time. * Several plazas, temples, and causeways (called sacbeob) connecting the structures. They may not tower over you, but they whisper a quiet history of community and ritual. * Nature everywhere -- iguanas sunbathing on stones, jungle paths that make you feel like you're uncovering something hidden. Walking San Gervasio feels different than bigger ruins. It's intimate, personal, almost contemplative. Instead of being overwhelmed by sheer size, you're struck by the human scale -- families, priests, women on pilgrimage. You can almost imagine what it felt like to arrive here centuries ago, carrying offerings to the goddess. Cozumel doesn't have skyscraper pyramids, but it has temples where women prayed to the moon. San Gervasio may not wow you with towering pyramids, but it delivers something more meaningful: a glimpse into everyday Maya life and their devotion to Ixchel. For cruise passengers, it's the perfect ruin excursion -- accessible, fascinating, and filled with stories etched into stone. If you want to truly touch Cozumel's past, this is where you start. San Gervasio isn't about conquering empires -- it's about connecting to something bigger. Watch out for Mosquitos. Pay the 1.00 for a spray down of off before your tour. Support the local economy.

Alright, here's what you need to know about this historic site…read more There are some really interesting things about this site, the longest Mayan Road, the arch for the gate, and some of the buildings are also fantastic. Even if they were rebuilt to some degree, they are pretty cool to checkout. There are plaques around the sites that explain things, but a guide will definitely help you time things better and keep you moving a little better. As far as historic sites go, I would give it a ~7/10, there is some interesting things to see, but limited. As other people have said, this feels like a scam in a couple places. The fact that you have to pay two separate entrance fees, then get solicited for a tour guide and pictures. But that's not too bad all things considered. A few tips, form your own group if you must, but the tour guide is per Group, not per person. Pack your own bug spray. Bring water. One of the entrance fees is cash only, so bring some cash too. As with all historic tours, it doesn't hurt to fact check. There were a few liberties taken with some details.

I love this sports center so much! First off, it's free access to the public, has a stadium,…read morerunning track, basketball court, tennis court, and covered platform where people offer dance classes. Also, people offer donation-based workout classes daily, morning and night, or you can just go out there to workout in your own. There's also a cafe on the grounds. 10/10 recommendation to go there to find classes to join.