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My husband loves the avocado margarita. 

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Back To Day 6 - Cozumel
I let the crowds disembark and then headed towards town on foot.  




Looks like its lifeboat exercise day.


The last time I was here this sign almost complete.  Now it is.

The color of the water in Cozumel isn't too shabby.

The walk towards 'downtown'.


Sunset bar.  Time for a Marg.



On the way here I spotted a walkway down towards the water so I checked it out on the way back to the ship.

The water is pretty mesmerizing here.
 

Just wanted to share some drone shots I took from my backyard a few Sat’s ago. It’s really amazing when all the ships leave the port on their way out you get some great photo ops. She really is massive, my drone huffs & puffs to cover the distance. Can’t wait to board her again soon as she’s an amazing ship! Enjoy. 

I am looking for something similar to roll my current reservation into but haven't had any luck with OBC when using TAs in the past. Maybe I'll shop around and find the best OBC offer. Sure, $25 isn't huge but that's lunch at Chops or Sabor!

Last in, last out.  We departed Costa Maya just before the sun went down.  Winds have died down and it's a short distance up to Cozumel. Captain James announed we would be doing ~9 knots with smooth seas.









With that Saturday Night Fever tonight in the theater.  Photography ban continues, no pictures.  

I've booked all of my past cruises on my own, but due to Matt's blog post about the benefits of TAs ( https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2018/01/23/10-secrets-royal-caribbean-travel-agents-wish-you-knew ), I rolled my current reservation over to MEI ( 2 days  before the 60 day limit!) I don't feel like I've really given up control.  I can still check for price drops on my own - I just have another pair of eyes now in case I miss anything!  I can still go into the cruise planner and book excursions, dining, entertainment.  Honestly, the experience isn't much different except for the fact that you don't pay Royal directly.  Having someone to bounce questions off of, and talk to Royal on my behalf is nice.  Also, I got an extra $25 OBC for rolling my reservation over - it's not huge, but hey... that's more than I had if I hadn't!

The true benefits of travel agents only really apply to GOOD travel agents in my opinion. I have used 2 in the past and have not had the best luck, but I know there are tons of good ones out there and I'll find one eventually. I find it to be frustrating when I want to change anything because I have to wait to contact them. For one of the cruises I had to contact my travel agent to tell them the price had dropped and I almost missed out on the savings waiting on a response. I still plan to transfer my current reservation to an agent when I find one that comes highly recommended.
I think if you are the type of person that enjoys planning, organizing, and checking updated rates often then you should be fine without a travel agent. If you do not enjoy those things and only want to book the cruise and then go on it then I would highly recommend using one, but get recommendations for a specific agent. I would also recommend using one for your first cruise just to help guide you through the process. Before you book with any agency make sure that you check the price of the same room for yourself so you have a benchmark of what it should cost and also consider going with an agency that has a "best price guarantee".

I live in Texas so it's a little different for me, but I have never had a problem with Galveston's port and it's actually a pretty cool town if you know where to go. It's certainly no Miami, but Galveston definitely has a few things going for it. One of those things is definitely great rates on Liberty. For anyone who is there the day before a cruise there is a historic area downtown called The Strand that is worth checking out. Pleasure Pier is also a pretty cool little amusement park located on a pier hanging over the water. It is all lit up at night and also looks really cool from the beach during the day with the rollercoasters and Ferris Wheel in the background. It makes for some great photos on the beach.
 
Great Photos on this live blog @twangster. I went on the same cruise last April and it's been fun reliving it through this blog.

Day 5 - Costa Maya
We arrived on time but going topside I felt like we were station keeping 1/2 mile from the pier.  Sure enough the Captain came on to announce a Costa ship was having difficulty getting tied up at the pier in the wind.  I hadn't even noticed the wind until I went outside. 
It was pretty windy.  Soon enough the pilot boat came our way and we began to approach.   One of the benefits of azipod drives is incredible maneuverability and I learned on the Indy bridge tour that the Freedom class ships are like sports cars in terms of power.  Captain James had no difficulty making the pier despite a significant wind blowing us directly from the side and in the direction of the pier.  I'm sure it wasn't as easy as he made it look.
My last visit here was four or five years ago and they have done a lot with the cruise port area.  It's really quite nice here.







There is a snorkel area as well as a dolphin area right at the port - walking distance from the ship (both for a charge).



The pool area has been expanded immensely.  My understanding is the pool is free although some seating is reserved for the bar & restaurant.


With three ships in port it didn't feel that busy.

Today I chose to walk to town.  It's a cheap taxi ride but I needed the exercise and I had plenty of time.  It wouldn't hurt to burn off some Windjammer anyways.

At this point this is a nice concrete boardwalk along the ocean with amazing views at every turn.  


At Blue Kay beach I walked along the shore for a while.  The Mahahual beach area is known for seaweed.  I'm not sure what it is about this shore but they were raking it up and using a bobcat to remove.


Much like the boardwalk in St. Maarten there are lots of bars and restaurants along this stretch.




Ready for a beverage I stopped at the Krazy Lobster.






I opted for the $3 per person taxi ride back to the ship.  My driver was from Mahahual and he spoke very good english.  He told me how he likes this area of Mexico so much better then "up  North" (Cancun) and other areas where drug cartels operate.  None of that here he told me, it's quite safe.  I asked him if he likes or dislikes cruise ship visits and he told me he loves them.  it means work and income which is hard to come by in Mexico.  
Back to the cruise port he dropped me off and I made my way back towards the ship.  $10 between beer and a taxi including tip makes for a pretty cheap excursion day.




Hot from my day in Costa Maya I opted for a slide on Liberty to cool me down.

Guys - St. Lucia might be my favorite island I’ve visited. It is such a beautiful place  
Through the Cruise Line - Jeep Safari & Beach Break was AWESOME! Extensive island tour in an open aired Jeep followed by about two hours of beach time at Pidgeon Hill. Our tour guide was “Taurantula”, and he was awesome. He’d randomly stop the Jeep to pull spices like bay leaf and cinnamon off of the trees, and even cracked open an actual cocoa pod for us to check out! At the beach, beers and drinks were readily available for purchase, including a gentleman with a boat full of fruit who would sell you a hollowed out Pineapple and rum as well as fresh mangoes. Evidently, it is currently mango season in st Lucia and these tasted like candy! 
If you’re a craft beer fan, make sure you swing by Antilla brewing taproom inside the port area.  Great beers! 
Sorry for the short updates! This might become a little live-ish - keep the ship questions coming! I know I owe an update on at least coffee/card inclusion  
Photo dump -

Besides RCB, these are some of my favourite cruising sites:
Cruise Fever Eat Sleep Cruise Cruise Critic Cruiseline Disney Cruise Line Blog (my family sails with Disney, I sail Royal Caribbean solo) Cruise Radio Cruise Tips TV (highly recommend Sheri's YouTube channel as well)

I paid $115 for the 5 night package on the Allure last year. It was worth every penny in my opinion and really enhanced the dining experience and an additional benefit for those with dietary restrictions as meals are made to order. 

cruisecritic.com is also a good one too. But nothing compares to @Matt's resources 

I thought I would provide a post-cruise recap for those who are curious about experiences with both Disney (DCL) and Royal Caribbean (RCI).
We sailed on DCL three times (Fantasy 2013, Wonder 2015, Dream 2016) and our Oasis of the Seas Christmas 2017 cruise was our first on RCI. Here is a quick, high-level comparison between DCL and RCI based upon on our experiences. Of course, this is only our experience and others may vary ?
Websites -
Overall: DCL is much better
RCI's site is notorious for being glitchy; they need some work in their IT department :). That being said, I always had excellent service when I called to follow up on anything that I did online (because I didn't trust that my changes online had been captured correctly)
Embarkation process -
Overall: RCI slightly better
Both were comparable with regards to luggage drop off, parking and security. Both have online check in options which save a ton of time and effort at the port.
{Sidebar for my fellow US Citizens: Please take the advice that so many have shared here before: bite the bullet and get a passport for you and your kids. It will make your life so much easier and safer in the event you need it in a foreign location situation. It makes check in simpler as well, as you don't have to carry multiple pieces of information. Times have changed, doesn't matter what the cruise line websites say, everyone should have a passport. End sidebar}
On each trip with DCL we had some long lines and waits before we boarded. On RCI (Terminal 1, Port Canaveral) once through the quick security stop around 10:30AM, we went up the escalator, turned left and a quick right, and walked up to an empty queue with about 30 agents waiting to assist us! Because we had passports and all online check in completed, printed and signed, we had our Sea Pass cards in about 7 minutes and headed to the chairs to wait. They began calling for all the specialty boarding around 11AM (all Crown and Anchor levels, special assistance, etc.) and our boarding group (3) was called to board by 11:30. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!
Dining food variety and quality -
Overall: Slightly better with DCL
We found the food (main buffet and formal dining rooms) to be comparable for both cruise lines. On RCI we did My Time Dining and liked being able to pick different dining times depending upon our daily plans.
We had breakfast at Johnny Rockets and in the Park Cafe (both included in price of the cruise) a couple of times because it was closer to our room and quicker to get off the ship and both were ok.
Kid Feedback:
On DCL, the "free" soft serve ice cream was open from around 10am-midnight and there was always plenty. On RCI, it was only open from 11:00am - 7:00pm and many times the machines were not really frozen and/or out of order completely. They ran out of chocolate a lot! This was a BIG downer for our kids who LOVED getting a couple (ok, really more like 4+) ice creams a day, especially that last one right before midnight. Also, the kids really missed the variety of theme-ing and activities/interactions offered on DCL.
Dining food allergy concerns -
Overall: Both were exceptional
Our son has a severe tree nut allergy. Disney was great with this and a chef came out to talk to us almost every day to reassure us that his meals would be without contamination.
On Oasis OTS, our Head Waiter (Mariel) and server (Darcey) were WONDERFUL. They were extremely attentive to his allergy concerns. Each night after dinner they brought him the next day's menu where he could pick out what he would have the next evening. This way they could be sure to prepare his meal in the nut free area to ensure no cross contamination. If you are a food allergy parent, you know how wonderful it is to have food service take this issue seriously and alleviate some major worries. Plus, our son thought he was quite special with all the extra attention
Staterooms -
Overall: About the same experience
On Disney, we had a single, ocean view cabin for the 4 of us. On Oasis we had 2 adjoining inside cabins...and it was STILL cheaper than DCL (we'll get to cost later). Cabin layout, cleanliness, etc. are comparable between the two cruise lines.
Stateroom attendants on both were exceptional and they really do make you feel so pampered and relaxed on a cruise vacation. Janice on Oasis was a doll and made sure we had everything we needed, any time of day. Our son spent the last full sea day of our cruise in his bed with a fever (poor thing!) and she continually asked if he needed anything.
The only thing we really missed from DCL stateroom-wise was hearing Disney songs playing in all the corridors!
Entertainment -
Overall: About the same experience
We thought the quality of the shows (headliners, stage productions, comedians) were better on Disney.
But then again, Disney did not have the Oasis of Dreams water/diving show or the Frozen in Time ice skating, both of which were spectacular!
Come Fly With Me in the Opal Theater was a neat production as well, but we missed a lot of it because of where we were seated and due to the big fight – I mean screaming fight - that broke out among several guests seated behind us. After about 10 minutes, my husband got up and asked someone to call security. That was not something we experienced on a Disney ship. Not saying is doesn’t happen but we had not seen that before.
Also, we don’t gamble or smoke, so the one short-cut trip we made through the Casino was a mistake – the smell was pretty awful.
We missed the movie theater on DCL ships as well – it was fun to watch first run Disney movies while at sea.
Pools/Hot Tubs –
Overall: RCI was better
DCLs adult only lounging area was much smaller, even on their “mega ships” like Fantasy and Dream. On RCI we LOVED the Solarium area. I never had trouble finding a chair or lounger somewhere, despite being one of over 6,000 passengers. There was always room in a pool or hot tub, somewhere on deck 15. Lots of lifeguards around.
“Nightlife”
Overall – RCI was slightly better
The sheer variety of venues, from the Champaign bar, to the jazz club, to Vintages wine bar – so much to choose from and all had their own vibe. We had fun dancing on the Royal Promenade during the 70s and 80s dance parties. They venues were more spread out on RCI than what you have on DCL, but it helped you get your steps in for the day!
Cruise Line App-
Overall: DCL’s is better, but the new RCI one is getting closer
The newest RCI App is getting better with every revision. However, we found it was not kept up to date so the kids were disappointed when they missed something because they looked it up on the app and the information was wrong. The details on the Cruise Compasses were correct, but they didn’t carry that in their pockets like they did their phones.
The biggest issue was that we didn’t pay for wireless for the kids so it was hard to keep with them and/or our friends who were also on the ship.
On DCL, anyone can text anyone on the ship if they have the app on their phones – at no charge. So on DCL we could catch up easily, plan to meet, etc. On RCI, we constantly wondered where the kids and our friends were and missed out on doing things together because we didn’t know where everyone was. I do not like the idea of walkies, so next time, if they have not added the free texting feature in the RCI app, we will budget Voom for everyone so we can communicate better.  DCL also has wave phones to communicate and RCI did not have that as an option.
Disembarkation –
Overall: Both equally awesome
Walked off the ship, luggage found and loaded with porter and through customs - total time = 10 minutes at the most, no exaggeration. It’s a well-oiled machine on both cruise lines, mostly because it has to be.
Price/Value
Overall: RCI is the clear winner
A DCL cruise for the same type of cabin, the same number of days and the same ports is more than DOUBLE the cost of RCI.
Whew. That was a lot. Happy to answer any questions or provide feedback on areas I have not already.
We are very much looking forward to our next cruise on RCI (no kids this time!) in Sept 2018 - Anthem of the Seas New England/Nova Scotia to celebrate our 25th anniversary!

My approach to Maho Beach

Thank you so much for this! I checked the Costco site this morning and noticed that one of the extended balconies on deck 10 was available so I booked it.

I have said before, check the Costco website. You can view deck by deck and it's fairly live time to RC and shows lots of availability even when RC doesn't. 

I have never been to Mr. Sancho's but I have heard nothing but good things and plan to go the next time we are in Cozumel. Here is a pretty good video review that covers everything including transportation, beach, pools, activities, and food.
 

Here is some good drone footage showing several of the beaches in St Maarten. The video is only a few months old so it should give you a pretty good idea of how they have recovered so far. 

I’m leaning towards this myself when I board Freedom, if only because they have by all accounts the best margaritas of any bar on board, and that’s what I want my “I’m FINALLY on the ship!!!” first drink to be. ??

We also had a $2 mimosas happy hour in the casino on Liberty of the Seas. It will most likely be on the cruise compass if your ship offers that. Try checking some recent cruise compasses for Independence.
To answer your question yes, mimosas will be covered in the drink package. If you do not have a package I suggest bringing your own champagne as one or both of the two bottles of wine you can bring onboard. Just keep in mind that orange juice might only be available in the Windjammer during breakfast hours. My wife loves mimosas but we find them to be a bit overpriced outside of the happy hour in the casino. Obviously this is not an issue if you have the drink package.

I won't worry about it... and in fact the last time I was in cozumel I had several daiquiris and didn't!   Thanks for your reassurance! Jane

We also had a $2 mimosas happy hour in the casino on Liberty of the Seas. It will most likely be on the cruise compass if your ship offers that. Try checking some recent cruise compasses for Independence.
To answer your question yes, mimosas will be covered in the drink package. If you do not have a package I suggest bringing your own champagne as one or both of the two bottles of wine you can bring onboard. Just keep in mind that orange juice might only be available in the Windjammer during breakfast hours. My wife loves mimosas but we find them to be a bit overpriced outside of the happy hour in the casino. Obviously this is not an issue if you have the drink package.

Almost any resort or restaurant in Cozumel will have a sign stating that they use purified water to make their ice. This is definitely the case at Nachi. There is no way to really know for sure that it is filtered, but we have never had any issues with it. Like others have said the last thing they want is for you to get sick and never come back. If you're worried about it sticking to beer is always a safe bet. I know sometimes just being worried about it alone can ruin an experience. Our first time in Cozumel my wife and I were having a blast and enjoying some margaritas at a bar when some random guy walked by and said, "You shouldn't drink the ice in Mexico. It will get you sick". The restaurant had used filtered ice and neither of us got sick, but we worried about it all day after that. Never let "that guy" ruin your day.