We are not closing. We are not selling. We are not relocating. We are concerned with RCI’s plans for the port of Costa Maya, but not for the same reasons our guests have been asking about.
If you take an honest look at Maya Chan and your reasons for visiting us, we are hoping you will see us for what we are. We do not line up chairs along the beach with absolutely no room between them to walk. We do not make you get up extra early so you can stake out a “good” location with plenty of shade. We do not limit our guests to one choice and no refills. We do not pour cheap booze into expensive bottles. We do not make guests fetch their own drinks. We do not nickel and dime you for use of kayaks, snorkel gear, water shoes, SUP’s, or floaties. I’m certainly not saying Perfect Day will do all this, I’m just saying we have worked hard not to. And we have always tried to be a part of nature and not a scar on the land.
Cruise sponsored beach breaks are always beautiful. They are usually located along the best beaches. They usually have big pools. There’s plenty of gift shops and Perfect Day Mexico will offer 3 international restaurants to choose from. And, least we forget, the cruise ship will never leave you behind if you are on a ship sponsored excursion. But, let me ask you: If you’ve been to Mahogany Bay, have you really been to Roatan? Does spending the day at Labadee make you a specialist on Haiti? Harvest Kay is perfect in every way, but does it teach you anything about Belize and its people?
There are a lot of reasons why people take cruises. I’ve never heard anybody say they cruise because they love to just sit onboard the ship, although there are a few of us around. Most say they cruise to see different countries. To see how different people live their lives. To eat the local food and experience different cultures. And to be able to visit 2 or 3 or sometimes 4 different islands, countries, or territories in a single trip. And, most importantly, only having to unpack once. Do Perfect Days give anybody that opportunity?
The future plans for the port of Costa Maya do make us worry a lot about the future of Mahahual. We feel the independent business owners and the local people will be affected by Perfect Day Mexico. With everything the locals currently offer on the malecon now being provided in a safe and controlled environment, why would guests "risk" leaving the port? At Perfect Day, They won’t get ripped off by the taxi drivers. They can feel confident that their food is clean, the water is drinkable, and there won’t be any surprises in the morning.
On a more grassroots note, we have no idea where RCI will find the water, energy, or supplies needed for such a grand venture. Our little town lives through a lot of blackouts. The current grid can’t supply the people who are already here. Where will ships be able to “plug in” once they port? Will they get top priority for electricity while our homes go dark? We also have experienced many water shortages where local residents can’t even flush their toilets for several days in a row. Will this be a constant problem once the new and improved port opens up, sapping our limited supply? All this plus the closest "real" store is almost 2 hours away. I’m thinking there will have to be a whole lot of infrastructure built in a very short span time. As a jaded gringo, I have a big chunk of “when hell freezes over” that tells me this venture will not be opening in 2027. But stranger things have happened. Money talks, especially in Mexico.
So we are most concerned for our community. We are worried about infrastructure and the effects this will have on the people of our little town. We fell in love with Mahahual because it felt like “Old Mexico”. We fear it won’t feel like that once the port becomes so commercialized. This expansion puts us up there with the big boys. Do cruise ship passengers really want another sterile environment to visit? Or do cruise ship passengers want to see the real Mexico with all its warts and hot sauce? I guess time will tell. But for now, we aren’t going anywhere.
