Luxury Catamaran Trip to Isla Mujeres & Private Beach Club

My wife and I were celebrating our anniversary and wanted to do a nicer catamaran cruise, not the big party boats. We sailed on the Victoria, and the boat and crew were top notch. We had about 20 total guests on board, and everyone had plenty of space to spread out and relax. Our guide Miguel did a great job explaining our itinerary and keeping us updated on our trip and activities. The entire crew was extremely friendly and accommodating. For safety reasons, they don't serve drinks onboard until after snorkeling, but that still leaves alot of time during the trip for bar service, and the staff was great keeping your drink refreshed. The boat itself was modern, immaculately maintained, and very clean. Now the not so great stuff: The snorkeling is awful. Although there are some decent corals and fish to see, the snorkeling location is a "cattle call" for dozens of other day cruises, and there are literally a hundred or more people in the water at one time. For safety, the crew requires you to stay together and hang onto a rope being pulled by our guide in the water, so there's alot of bumping into each other and getting fins kicking you in the mask. I had read reviews of the catamaran trips in Cancun, and all commented on this, so it did not come as a surprise. Although the confirmation says that towels are provided, they can not be taken off of the boat. Our first stop in Isla Mujeres allowed us to walk to the beautiful Playa Norte beach, which my wife and I loved, but we did not bring towels from the resort, so we "drip dried" on the way back to the boat. The second stop in Isla Mujeres really soured the whole trip. The private "beach club" where we had our lunch (at 2PM) was a dingy place, and the food was not good. Drinks were to be included here, but when I ordered a beer it was a draft beer in a 6 oz cup, and it was warm. The beach itself was full of rocks and seaweed, and basically useless. Fortunately, we weren't there too long before getting back to the boat. Once back on the boat, all was right with the world again, with great service and a beautiful sail back to Cancun. I would definitely recommend this experience based on the service, the boat, and the sailing experience. Skip the snorkeling (get a drink instead!) and be sure to bring towels with you.