Professor Melissa

Professor Melissa Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Professor Melissa, Digital creator, Cincinnati, OH.

I’m a university professor who loves to cruise, and who loves to talk ship…

Next 🚢: MaS Islander 9/15

Visit profmelissa.com for FREE Port Guides, advice, and my top recommendations.

We tried a new beach club yesterday, KUZÁ, and it was a wonderful day, but there are some things about it that I didn’t ...
09/18/2026

We tried a new beach club yesterday, KUZÁ, and it was a wonderful day, but there are some things about it that I didn’t love.

The good: the property is absolutely massive, with lots of room to spread out. I love Cozumel’s all-inclusive beach club scene, but many of my favorites tend to oversell tickets and they’re just too crowded. That wasn’t the case at KUZÁ, even with several ships in port. And the beach area is expansive, and thankfully the ocean water yesterday was so crystal clear, you could look down and see fish… no snorkel gear needed. The variety of activities here also make it a great pick if you’re traveling with kids or want more than just a beach day. They have ATVs, zip lining, lazy river, a great toddler splash park, and water slides. Just be sure to bring closed-toed shoes if you want to do zip lining or ATVs.

The downsides? The food here is buffet style, and it’s just… not good. At all. If you want a bottled water, you have to pay for it. And service wasn’t great compared to the other beach clubs. The water in the pool and lazy river also didn’t seem the cleanest, and they literally only had four (I’m not kidding) inflatable tubes for the lazy river.

So, would I come here again? If I’m with my 13-year-old who loves water slides, yes. Otherwise, no. I wanted to love KUZÁ, but I just didn’t. We still had an amazing day, though, in Cozumel. 🥰

Have you visited KUZÁ? What did you think?

So far, we’re having a great time on Margaritaville at Sea Islander, and of course I’ll have a full and honest review of...
09/17/2026

So far, we’re having a great time on Margaritaville at Sea Islander, and of course I’ll have a full and honest review of everything once we get back home and I have a time to decompress.

Today was Cozumel, wheee I tried a brand NEW beach club (guess which one), and that full review is also coming soon.

But for now; I have two fun giveaways. The first person on our ship to email me at [email protected] will win a bottle of wine, and tomorrow on FB I’ll be doing a Margaritaville swag bag giveaway, so don’t miss that.

Oh, and did you know that MaS has FREE cruise opportunities for educators (including professors!), military, and first responders? Pretty cool!

"Is Cozumel safe?" I get this question a lot, especially recently. 🇲🇽Last year there was violence on Mexico's western co...
09/17/2026

"Is Cozumel safe?" I get this question a lot, especially recently. 🇲🇽

Last year there was violence on Mexico's western coast, and a lot of cruisers saw the headlines and got wary about anything with Mexico in the name. I understand the instinct. But it's worth knowing how far away that actually is.

Cozumel is an island. It sits off the Yucatán on the completely opposite side of the country, and it runs on cruise tourism, which makes it about as much of a tourist bubble as you'll find anywhere in the Caribbean.

I've traveled all over Mexico, not just the cruise ports, and I've never once felt concerned. Not in Cozumel, not anywhere.

That doesn't mean switch your brain off. The same things that are true in any port are true here. Don't flash cash, agree on your taxi fare before you get in, keep an eye on your stuff, don't venture off the beaten path of where tourists go, and get back to the ship on time.

Has a headline ever made you skip a port?

09/17/2026

I’ve always wanted to do a bridge tour, and it finally happened on board Margaritaville at Sea’s Islander. Have you ever done a bridge tour?

Today is our first full day on board Margaritaville at Sea’s Islander, and we occupied time with their Sparkling Brunch,...
09/16/2026

Today is our first full day on board Margaritaville at Sea’s Islander, and we occupied time with their Sparkling Brunch, a mixology class, and some spa time.

MaS does offer a traditional main dining room breakfast on all but debarkation day, and of course the buffet, but today we went with the upgraded option which is $19.99, and most of the options were big hits. My All-American breakfast was “meh,” but the fruit parfait was really good and Bati’s Nutella and fruit French toast was 🔥🔥

Tomorrow and the next sea day, we’ll try the included MDR breakfast for comparison, but I took a pic of the menu.

Dinner last night was interesting, because the mains didn’t appeal to most of us, so we just got a variety of appetizers. The soups (potato and tortilla) were outstanding (10/10), the meatballs were solid (7/10), and the gnocchi wasn’t great (5/10). Kelley loved her watermelon salad and Cesar salad.

As for desserts, MaS seems to heavily lean on key lime sponge cake, which we all disliked, but the chocolate cappuccino icebox pie was excellent, and Bati really liked the hazelnut cake.

The only casual dining we’ve had so far is Cheeseburger in Paradise, which is absolutely delicious. I’d go so far as to say it’s tied with one other iconic cruise line burger as our overall cruise fave. 🤤

The mixology class was really fun, even as folks who barely drink. I love learning new things. 🍹

09/16/2026

Mixology class on MaS Islander. Comment “PARROTHEAD” for an exclusive promo for up to $75 OBC and chance to win MaS swag, and comment “MYSTERY” for info on becoming a travel agent.

09/16/2026

Who else loves hiding trinkets on a cruise?

09/15/2026

Live from Islander

09/15/2026

Is Costa Maya still worth visiting before Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day Mexico changes this Western Caribbean cruise port? We discuss five downsides and five reasons Costa Maya is still one of my favorite cruise stops, from the confusing terminal and frequent weather cancellations to the beaches of Mahahual, affordable taxis, Mayan ruins, and Nacional Beach Club. If Costa Maya is on your cruise itinerary, here’s what to know before you go and why getting beyond the cruise terminal can completely change your experience.

**
5 Worst and Best Things About Cruising to Cozumel** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq7FD8IvP4o
**Nacional Beach Club: Hidden Gem or Overhyped Tourist Trap?
** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XukiRZt_BlE
**Nacional Beach Club Honest Review & Booking Guide** https://www.profmelissa.com/blog/costa-maya-cruise-port-nacional-beach-club-review

**CHAPTERS**
(0:25) How is Perfect Day Mexico changing Costa Maya?
(1:39) How persistent are vendors in Mahahual?
(2:22) Why is the Costa Maya terminal so confusing?
(3:10) What is transportation like outside the port?
(3:39) Why do cruise ships often skip Costa Maya?
(4:45) What makes Nacional Beach Club so special?
(5:53) How affordable are Costa Maya taxis and beaches?
(6:36) How easy is it to reach Mahahual?
(7:04) Can you enjoy Costa Maya without leaving port?
(7:34) What can you do beyond the beach?
(8:25) Is Costa Maya still worth visiting?

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PODCAST

Want this video in audio form? Stream my podcast:
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LINKS

🛳️ Get my Travel Insurance Guide for Cruisers: https://profmel.com/insurance
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🛳️ Want to become a travel agent? https://www.profmelissa.com/travelagent
🛳️ Get my top recommended travel card: http://www.profmel.com/card
🛳️ Want to book a cruise or take a cruise with me? https://profmel.com/book
🛳️ Grab my FREE Cruise Packing List & Planner: https://profmel.com/subscribe
🛳️ Want to book my favorite private drivers? http://www.profmel.com/drivers

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Please note that sometimes, my posts contain affiliate links. This means I may receive a commission through purchases, but this does not affect you as a consumer or cost you more in any way. I appreciate your use of my links, as this helps support my channel. ♥️

09/15/2026

It’s embarkation day and we’re on board Margaritaville at Sea’s Islander. I’ve heard a lot of mixed things, but so far we’re really enjoying it! Have you sailed this cruise line yet?

And if you’d like to try MaS, comment “PARROTHEAD,” and I’ll connect you with one of our amazing atlascoasttravel agents for an exclusive promo of up to $75 OBC!

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