The Marina CROSSROADS Maldives — Restaurant in Malé Atoll

For those who have traveled through South Male Atoll by speedboat or air recently you will no doubt have seen the chain of reclaimed islands that have formed what is known as 'Crossroads' the newly opened development that brings a new kind of experience to the Maldives. During the reclamation and development period there was quite rightly a lot of coverage and discussion concerning the impact and damage created on the reefs in this area and because of my own personal feelings regarding this I will admit I was hesitant to visit. Crossroads currently comprises of The Marina, a retail and food/beverage outlet area, including the Discovery Centre and Marine Centre, Hard Rock Hotel and Saii Lagoon. Note access to the properties are only for guests having booked accommodation. Further development continues with another hotel and high end brand retail island to be completed along with  a 'picnic' island. The boat journey to The Marina from Male took just 15 minutes, tickets can be purchased from their ticket booth in the ferry terminal opposite Maagiri Hotel and one of their three day visit packages can be booked up to 24 hours in advance. On first impression the style of buildings were very Spanish/Portuguese and the whole concept reminded me of a shopping outlet. Whilst they have planted many tress and vegetation there is still some way to go before they mature and this in the long term will assist in creating more shade. As per the name, the Marina is built along the curve of a yacht marina, the first of it's kind in the Maldives and whilst not appealing in the heat of the day, it would make a pleasant evening wander. The final boat returns to Male at 23:00. Our first stop was the Discovery Centre, which I have to say was impressive and was developed by a UK based exhibit business. Perfect for families as well as adults wanting to learn about the Maldives, marine life, coral reefs and culture, with Emma the turtle acting as a link between the zones and also providing a positive 'spin' story on the issues regarding reclamation. With a sister working in Museums and Interpretation, I like to think I have a little inside knowledge on exhibits and I could see a lot of thought had been put into this to create an exhibit that was educational, fun and interactive. Would be very easy to spend over an hour in here particularly if you have children in tow. After the Discovery Centre you wander through the outlets, there are still quite a few to open at the time of our visit. There is also a spa, which was large and airy and treatments were reasonably priced starting from $40. There are a wide range of restaurants to select from including Hard Rock Cafe ( and store), Ministry of Crab, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and Mediterranean as well as Shell Beans coffee and a juice bar. For those looking to relax and spend some time in the ocean or by the pool, there is a beach with loungers and parasols at Hard Rock Cafe but I am guessing the place to be and to be seen will be at Cafe del Mar Maldives, when it opens, complete with infinity pool, swim up bar and private beach. Just across from the Hard Rock Cafe at the end of The Marina is the Marine centre. Here they offer diving and water sports as well as scheduled excursions, including a mini submarine.They also have a resident biologist who was knowledgeable and engaging and talked us through the importance of coral and their coral planting project. We took lunch at Hard Rock Cafe, Original sliders ( 3 mini burgers) and a very large platter of nachos, together with 2 very thick, creamy and yummy strawberry cheesecake milkshakes and a refreshing berry cooler came to just over $66, I guess that is what comes of dining at a brand! Overall, it was a a very different experience for the Maldives but not an unpleasant one! Certainly I am sure it will be popular as an entertainment and social venue for locals and expats and it's great for day visitors, tourists in transit or if you have time to kill before your...

This review is regarding Ocean Dive and Sport Centre at Crossroads.

I rarely leave negative reviews, but I am extremely disappointed with my experience with Ocean Dive and Sport Centre during my stay at Hard Rock Hotel Maldives. If I could leave no stars, I would.

The biggest issue was the poor communication about our excursion and the extremely poor customer service.

We booked a snorkelling excursion and on the first day it was due to take place, we did not know it was cancelled due to weather until we got there, they had not communicated this prior which they could have done via WhatsApp message or calling our room. We left the ocean centre disappointed, they said they would re-arrange for the next morning.

The next morning I messaged early to ensure the excursion was going ahead. I was advised that though the sea may be a bit choppy it would go ahead for me and my sister. With the excursion requiring 4 people minimum and only my sister and I attending, I asked a number of times whether it would go ahead with just us two. They said yes but later said the excursion was cancelled 20 minutes before we set off, due to there only being two people which is completely contradictory and unfair. This has left my sister and I devastatingly disappointed with us travelling home the next day and unable re-arrange the excursion. A trip we will never take again.

The staff recommended swimming with sharks or coral snorkelling as an alternative where there were the minimum amount of guests going. I stated that we did not feel comfortable with sharks and did not want to see just coral, booking the turtle talk excursion and wanting to see turtles also. Despite explaining this, they continued to offer these excursions reflecting the lack of care, empathy and attention to my sister and I’s preferences. Very poor customer service with vague answers, not addressing my questions or listening to me.

Speaking with other hotel guests regarding their experiences, they have also stated that excursions are often cancelled leaving guests including children extremely disappointed, being a once in a lifetime holiday for some guests.

There were several mix-ups that could have been easily avoided if someone had just kept me informed. I constantly had to follow up myself just to get basic updates, which was frustrating and unprofessional.

Overall, I am extremely disappointed with the level of customer service I have received which has been contradictory, money oriented and unfair on paying customers.

I can’t recommend them to anyone due to this extremely poor and...

Definitely a great place, especially if you have children. It is very accommodating for families. There was so many things to do, from water activities, children activities and late nights for the adults. I loved how it had the two hotels on the one island. It was good to have that change of scenery for the 5 days we were there. Restaurants are really good but obviously very pricey, as you would expect when visiting the Maldives. Paid $11 US for a small can of sprite (200ml). I would highly recommend to take your own toiletries, sunscreen etc…as previously mentioned, it is very pricey. The staff at Saii were so great, from their greeting of our arrival to the day we left. Such amazing and helpful people. Restaurants all have their unique talents, it was hard to go to every one of them but definitely a variety to choose from, there will be never a night you’ll have trouble choosing, but do keep in mind of their prices. I would highly recommend this island in the Maldives for families with children aged any where...