Hyatt Zilara Cancun REVIEW - MASTER THREAD
Jul 22, 2017, 5:20 pm
#331
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: CT
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 429
Anyone who have been in the Hyatt All-Inclusive also have done cruises?
I would like some opinions on the food comparison between All-Inclusive and cruises. I understand in an All-Inclusive the drinks are included while on a cruise it is not and quite expensive because that is where the cruise lines make their money. In other words, the drink dept on a cruise subsidize the food dept while it is probably the opposite at an All=Inclusive.
So this brings up an interesting thought - the All-Inclusive has to spend money on the drink dept while the cruise line primarily makes their money from the drink dept - how would be the impact on the food dept respectively?
It would be nice to hear from someone who has done both types extensive so to be able to offer some insight.
I would like some opinions on the food comparison between All-Inclusive and cruises. I understand in an All-Inclusive the drinks are included while on a cruise it is not and quite expensive because that is where the cruise lines make their money. In other words, the drink dept on a cruise subsidize the food dept while it is probably the opposite at an All=Inclusive.
So this brings up an interesting thought - the All-Inclusive has to spend money on the drink dept while the cruise line primarily makes their money from the drink dept - how would be the impact on the food dept respectively?
It would be nice to hear from someone who has done both types extensive so to be able to offer some insight.
As for the food, Zilara is much better when comparing it to the MDR on the cruise lines, I would say it is equal to what you would find in the specialty restaurants.
As far as drinks go the Zilara takes it because it is included, but with one caveat--NCL offers the free drink packages with most of their cruises nowadays once you pay for the gratuities up front which is $99 pp for the week. I've used that 2x and also have it for our cruise in November and that is a terrific deal. The one thing I have noticed though is that since they implemented this, the service around the pools has gotten a lot slower and harder to find a server at times.
I find the service on both to be fairly close but the Zilara is better, more genuine and personal but they also aren't dealing with 2-3k people at a time either.
Jul 22, 2017, 6:59 pm
#332
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,740
I've been to the Zilara 3x and we are currently getting ready to book it again for February of next year and have been on 12+ cruises--NCL,RCCL,Carnival and Princess lines. The entertainment on the ships tend to be more varied and better, plus there are the other options of the clubs and numerous bars, so for me the cruise lines win this one hands down.
As for the food, Zilara is much better when comparing it to the MDR on the cruise lines, I would say it is equal to what you would find in the specialty restaurants.
As far as drinks go the Zilara takes it because it is included, but with one caveat--NCL offers the free drink packages with most of their cruises nowadays once you pay for the gratuities up front which is $99 pp for the week. I've used that 2x and also have it for our cruise in November and that is a terrific deal. The one thing I have noticed though is that since they implemented this, the service around the pools has gotten a lot slower and harder to find a server at times.
I find the service on both to be fairly close but the Zilara is better, more genuine and personal but they also aren't dealing with 2-3k people at a time either.
As for the food, Zilara is much better when comparing it to the MDR on the cruise lines, I would say it is equal to what you would find in the specialty restaurants.
As far as drinks go the Zilara takes it because it is included, but with one caveat--NCL offers the free drink packages with most of their cruises nowadays once you pay for the gratuities up front which is $99 pp for the week. I've used that 2x and also have it for our cruise in November and that is a terrific deal. The one thing I have noticed though is that since they implemented this, the service around the pools has gotten a lot slower and harder to find a server at times.
I find the service on both to be fairly close but the Zilara is better, more genuine and personal but they also aren't dealing with 2-3k people at a time either.
The thing that I dont like to return to Cancun is, the gorgeous, super white and was silicon therefore never got hot under the sun, long beach by the hotel zone was destroyed by Hurricane Wilma. The beach since was a rebuilt with trucked in sands.. It always saddens me when returning to a once favorite place and see the former beauty is no more.
However with all the good reviews of the Hyatt all-inclusive, may be it is a good enough reason to revisit the once-beloved spot for short trips when we lived in Houston. We went to Sandals a couple time back then primarily for the all-inclusive water sport activities (scuba diving, sailing, kayaking etc etc). But later we realized that we did not have enough stamina to do them all, so a pay as you go method would work better than having everything included in a single price tag.
RCCL's MDR foods to me are subpar to Princess and HAL. Last time we cruised CCL was at least 15 years ago and I forgot how the foods were like. We never do NCL. The drink package you mentioned, is really a good deal - much cheaper than Princess or HAL. We have sailed exactly 20 cruises with Princess when I looked at my account last week. I believe we have done 12 or more with HAL - most of them are 10 to 14 days long cruises so if the foods are not good it would be really upsetting like the one time we sailed a TATL on Allure of the Sea - it took the dubious prize of the worst foods we had ever had out of over approximate 40 cruises.
Last edited by Happy; Jul 22, 2017 at 7:06 pm
Jul 23, 2017, 7:36 am
#333
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: CT
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 429
Thanks for the input. If the foods are comparable to the specialty restaurants of all the cruise lines you have taken, it would be quite good indeed. I think we may give the resort a try next year.
The thing that I dont like to return to Cancun is, the gorgeous, super white and was silicon therefore never got hot under the sun, long beach by the hotel zone was destroyed by Hurricane Wilma. The beach since was a rebuilt with trucked in sands.. It always saddens me when returning to a once favorite place and see the former beauty is no more.
However with all the good reviews of the Hyatt all-inclusive, may be it is a good enough reason to revisit the once-beloved spot for short trips when we lived in Houston. We went to Sandals a couple time back then primarily for the all-inclusive water sport activities (scuba diving, sailing, kayaking etc etc). But later we realized that we did not have enough stamina to do them all, so a pay as you go method would work better than having everything included in a single price tag.
RCCL's MDR foods to me are subpar to Princess and HAL. Last time we cruised CCL was at least 15 years ago and I forgot how the foods were like. We never do NCL. The drink package you mentioned, is really a good deal - much cheaper than Princess or HAL. We have sailed exactly 20 cruises with Princess when I looked at my account last week. I believe we have done 12 or more with HAL - most of them are 10 to 14 days long cruises so if the foods are not good it would be really upsetting like the one time we sailed a TATL on Allure of the Sea - it took the dubious prize of the worst foods we had ever had out of over approximate 40 cruises.
The thing that I dont like to return to Cancun is, the gorgeous, super white and was silicon therefore never got hot under the sun, long beach by the hotel zone was destroyed by Hurricane Wilma. The beach since was a rebuilt with trucked in sands.. It always saddens me when returning to a once favorite place and see the former beauty is no more.
However with all the good reviews of the Hyatt all-inclusive, may be it is a good enough reason to revisit the once-beloved spot for short trips when we lived in Houston. We went to Sandals a couple time back then primarily for the all-inclusive water sport activities (scuba diving, sailing, kayaking etc etc). But later we realized that we did not have enough stamina to do them all, so a pay as you go method would work better than having everything included in a single price tag.
RCCL's MDR foods to me are subpar to Princess and HAL. Last time we cruised CCL was at least 15 years ago and I forgot how the foods were like. We never do NCL. The drink package you mentioned, is really a good deal - much cheaper than Princess or HAL. We have sailed exactly 20 cruises with Princess when I looked at my account last week. I believe we have done 12 or more with HAL - most of them are 10 to 14 days long cruises so if the foods are not good it would be really upsetting like the one time we sailed a TATL on Allure of the Sea - it took the dubious prize of the worst foods we had ever had out of over approximate 40 cruises.
A couple of other things I like about the Zilara, all the rooms are ocean views, you can use the restaurants at the Ziva down the road, the Italian was good the French one not so much. The beach is still beautiful but I wasn't there before Hurricane Wilma so I can't compare it. The gym with the new infinity pool is also nicely done. I've heard Sandals is very good but have not been there either, so maybe someone who has been to both can compare them.
A couple of things I didn't like-- the pool in February of last year was way too warm and I like a warm pool. I don't know if that was a one off because the other times it was fine. And despite it being a more upscale adult only property in the hotel zone there have been incidents 2 times times with people just getting hammered and out of control, one guy kept running up to behind the dancers doing their show and starts twerking and the management didn't do anything about it until the third time. The other time a guy in his mid 50's who was so drunk that I thought he was going to drown in 3 feet of water, he was about a biscuit shy of 400 lbs and they struggled so hard to pull him out of the water, literally dragging him up the small steps while he tried to crawl his way out. Just something that I could see taking place at a couple of other AI's in Cancun but really did not expect it there.
Jul 23, 2017, 8:24 pm
#334
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,740
It is Cancun where they literally encourage people to get drunk... The night scenes at Senor Frog could be scary and that was many years ago...
But I agree with you the management should not allow some guests to behave those ways, especially the guy went behind the dancers.
Sandals has different focus - romantic and sportive. I dont know their current policy but years ago all water sports were included (when a 2-tank scuba diving even at cheap Cozumel would cost $50). Their locations also are in the more expensive Caribbeans.
While RCCL foods are bad, their shows are excellent, especially the production shows. Only Crystal has better shows but theirs are more like the quality of individual performers, very professional very high skill, they do not have the large scale production shows which RCCL does it Extremely Well. The "Blue Planet" show on the Oasis class ships is stunning.
Now I need to figure out when we could fit in a visit to Zilara next year.
But I agree with you the management should not allow some guests to behave those ways, especially the guy went behind the dancers.
Sandals has different focus - romantic and sportive. I dont know their current policy but years ago all water sports were included (when a 2-tank scuba diving even at cheap Cozumel would cost $50). Their locations also are in the more expensive Caribbeans.
While RCCL foods are bad, their shows are excellent, especially the production shows. Only Crystal has better shows but theirs are more like the quality of individual performers, very professional very high skill, they do not have the large scale production shows which RCCL does it Extremely Well. The "Blue Planet" show on the Oasis class ships is stunning.
Now I need to figure out when we could fit in a visit to Zilara next year.
Jul 30, 2017, 12:04 pm
#335
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: IND
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, National Exec Elite
Posts: 586
I'm hoping I'll get an additional upgrade to Ocean View at check in.
Aug 17, 2017, 2:38 pm
#336
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: SEA
Posts: 2,021
FYI. I am at the Zilara now. A recent change:
Rooms are no longer stocked with liquor. They still have beer and a bottle of red wine, but if you want liquor (or white wine), you have to go down to one of the restaurants. The front desk agent said this change happened about 2-3 weeks ago. Some staff are still unclear on this change.
She also said you could order a liquor drink to your room with room service but only with food; you can't order liquor drinks on their own.
I'm not 100% sure this is accurate; it seems like staff knowledge is inconsistent.
Presidential Suites (and perhaps swim up suites?) still have liquor but I was told it was in mini bottles only.
Rooms are no longer stocked with liquor. They still have beer and a bottle of red wine, but if you want liquor (or white wine), you have to go down to one of the restaurants. The front desk agent said this change happened about 2-3 weeks ago. Some staff are still unclear on this change.
She also said you could order a liquor drink to your room with room service but only with food; you can't order liquor drinks on their own.
I'm not 100% sure this is accurate; it seems like staff knowledge is inconsistent.
Presidential Suites (and perhaps swim up suites?) still have liquor but I was told it was in mini bottles only.
Aug 17, 2017, 4:10 pm
#337
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,475
It may have to do with this:
http://time.com/4900991/mexican-reso...ol-unsanitary/
Iberostar Paraiso Maya is just down the road from Zilara.
http://time.com/4900991/mexican-reso...ol-unsanitary/
Iberostar Paraiso Maya is just down the road from Zilara.
Aug 17, 2017, 4:23 pm
#338
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: SEA
Posts: 2,021
It may have to do with this:
http://time.com/4900991/mexican-reso...ol-unsanitary/
Iberostar Paraiso Maya is just down the road from Zilara.
http://time.com/4900991/mexican-reso...ol-unsanitary/
Iberostar Paraiso Maya is just down the road from Zilara.
Aug 17, 2017, 5:07 pm
#339
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Minnesota
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,101
Pretty sure that is the reason. I seem to recall some guest, not of Ziva/Zilara but other resort, was recently sickened to death from tainted alcohol. Tragedy for sure.
Oct 19, 2017, 8:41 am
#342
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 2,506
Last edited by lowfareair; Oct 19, 2017 at 9:24 am
Oct 22, 2017, 7:00 pm
#343
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: AUS
Posts: 276
Based on my historical research, everything should be included except if you want a fancy bottle of wine. I did send Hyatt Zilara Cancun a Facebook message Thursday morning asking about what extras they may have, and they replied that they would get more info and get back to me, but never did. I wonder if those prices are to buy to take with or take away?
Oct 23, 2017, 5:07 am
#344
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 2,506
Based on my historical research, everything should be included except if you want a fancy bottle of wine. I did send Hyatt Zilara Cancun a Facebook message Thursday morning asking about what extras they may have, and they replied that they would get more info and get back to me, but never did. I wonder if those prices are to buy to take with or take away?
It's not hard to avoid a charge. I stayed 4 nights there a couple years ago and spent $0 at the hotel, besides the room cost and (optional) cash tips.
