PROGRESSO MEXICO - CARNIVAL CRUISE

I have not been to Progresso, but on a cruise be sure to attend the excursions talk. They will tell you if there are areas or things to avoid. I would also suggest purchasing an excursion if you can swing it because then the transportation is provided by someone who wants to keep the Carnival business and will not let anything happen to you.

Stay on the boat. Plan a spa day or something. My family and I went on a cruise is September to Progresso and Cozumel and in Progresso we stayed on shore for about an hour and we went back. The people wont leave you alone until you buy something.

I've done that cruise, but it was a couple years ago before things got bad. I agree with the "stay on the boat" advice. We did a tour to (oh crap, was it Tulum or Chitzen Itsa?) Anyways....we were fine, but it was a really long day, and I heard nothing but bad things from people who did other tours or went into town and got hassled. Plus, it's not nearly as safe as it used to be there.

Yeah Ive hear that about the beaches, and that they are ugly beaches. I was planning on maybe heading into town where the shopping is to buy some stuff and then Ive heard of a cool bar at the end of the peir and then maybe head back to the ship... wasnt sure if anyone had been on any interesting excursions there...

Ahhhh... I dont know if I am going to want to stay on the ship after 2 days at sea LOL

Tulum is gorgeous. Just beautiful. It is a mayan ruins site on the ocean. It has a really nice beach there too and a cliff for really great views. I highly recommend it if you are at all interested in ruins.

Did you check the Carnival Cruise site for a list of excursions?

I live near progesso and i don't go overthere anymore. a lot of people still do because there life is over there but i haven't gone in while. it is really scary over there

Yeah I really dont understand why cruise ships still go there...

We went last July to Progresso and Cozumel on carnival cruise. We got off the boat and back on in less than a hour. We were shocked to see guards with guns and the people on the streets are really annoying trying to get you to buy stuff. The beach was dirty and also crowed with people trying to get us to buy stuff. We just hung out on the ship in the pool and had plenty of drinks

They're are plenty of shore excursions and Carnival would never take their guests to a port of call that was dangerous to them or their employees!! Trust me I know, I work for them!!!

I didn't go to Progresso but I did go to Cozumel less than a week ago on a Carnival Cruise, we went to dolphinaris in Cozumel for an excursion. There are men with guns that walk around in Cozumel too. You just have to be smart about what you do/where you go. If you're concerned about it, then meet friends and do something together so you aren't alone.

I went there in 2009 and here is a picture of the shopping area right by the boat.

the second picture is on the beach of Progresso. You have to take a bus from the ship to the beach. There is a bridge but its really long and you do not want to walk it.

The water doesnt look that bad. There is a beach there called Corona beach... wonder if that is any good.

Its the same beach, you just get an area of the beach.

I grew up in those areas and can share a little bit of insight. Because of bad engineering when they created the port of Progreso (only one S), the ocean has been "eating away" at the beach. Many people have lost their beach front properties as the ocean has carved away over 50 meters of beach front. Houses that were recessed away from the ocean are now literally on, or under the water. The port is nothing to look at, but the little town is still quite charming and can give you a good idea of life in Mexico without the complete tourist trap. Unfortunately, drug cartels have also started using it to make quick jump shots to FLorida... hence the gendarmes.

Tulum is a great place. Cozumel is pretty much "across the way" from Tulum. If you want to see more about the area, rent/watch "Against all odds" horrible movie, but the scenery is quite breathtaking. They filmed a good portion of it on location in Tulum and Cozumel.

If you're not the "adventurous" type, stay on the boat!

Port days can make good spa days. Carnival usually discounts their spa treatments when the ship is in port. They don't make as much money while people are off the ship, so discounting spas treatments is one way they try to keep people on board.