Cozumel-mazing!!!!
In: 21 Sep 2013
Cozumel-mazing!!!
Today we were in Cozumel. When we arrived the weather didn't look promising. I'm sure you've all done a better job keeping tabs on the news, and have heard that Mexico has been slammed with some SERIOUS rain. Today, fortunately for us & them nothing but blue skies & fun to be had.
Cozumel is a late port day. We arrived at 10 (ship's time), so like Jamaica sleeping in & missing the WJ crush is easy.
Today, is the day I've stepped out of my 'I only do Royal excursions' box. The dune buggy tour has always intrigued me, but normally it's sold out. So I did some digging online & found A tour company called Groupo America (or Americana, I'll confirm later) that for a fraction of the Royal cost would take you on a 4 hour dune buggy tour.
We got off the boat around 10:30 ST grabbed a cab to the meeting place & found a hidden little gem. I guess 'found' is not accurate, because we had instructions to go there...there being varadero beach restaurant. This sign did say all the tours that leave from there & some business about free wifi (of course did we being our iPad? iPhone? Nope) anyway we did discover the most ah-mazing (see what I did there?) margaritas. The glass was the side if my face & when they say the key lime makes a better drink than the regular lime...lying they are not.
Another great thing about playing outside the royal lines is meeting new people. Not to say that I've met all 4,000 people on board but after being on the love & marriage game show, your cruising anonymity shatters (lesson learned) & you feel like you know everyone or at the very least they know you.
Anyway, we met a fellow newlywed couple from Israel, a federal forensic agent fresh off assignment in Afghanistan, and a diving enthusiast couple from California by way of Maryland.
The tour started right across the street from the restaurant with snorkeling. We didn't take part. I'm not a good snorkeler, plus they don't serve the margs in the water. Fast forward to post snorkel lunch. It was a classic Mexican feast. Fajitas, arroz con pollo, refried beans, guacamole, pico, fresh salsas (the habanero was hot & incredible). It was delish!!!
After lunch we were in our buggy & off in our tour. First stop, Punta Sur. After a bumpy, muddy (white mud...weird) ride down a road, we came upon a light house that we were able to climb (143 steps!) to get to a breathtaking view. (Just you wait till you see the pictures. Of course to me it could have been great because I had to climb all those GD steps to forth there... Once posted lemme know). On the way from the lighthouse there's a crocodile lookout place. Anyone who knows me knows I don't like anything without shoulders. Or equines/quadrupeds. So the croc stop, not necessarily my cup of tea. But I went across a rickety wooded bridge to see whatever we could see, which was one sitting like a statue, mouth open. Our guide apparently wanted us to see action (i was good with the statue looking one) so he climbed I've the fence & into the area to entice this one to move. Words that would make a sailor blush were said & I was outta there. On the way back to my buggy, a giant lizard scurried across the bridge right in front of me (!!!!! If you ask Sean he says it's was a tiny salamander, but I know what I saw & if I hadn't broken into a dead run, I could have been lizard food. Yeah I know they eat bugs, but still.)
We got on the road again, buzzing around this island on a coastal road, came to our next stop. A beach break that included a place to shop, willingly hold a lizard for a photo op (I opted not to) & to be on a beautiful beach with crashing waves & white sand.
On the road again to the PeePee station for a quick lesson in tequila making, tasting and some helpful hints buying tequila at home. Wouldn't you know Jose Cuervo is not real tequila?!
As the only cruise pax in the tour, this is where our day ended with our group. The second in command tour guide aka the if the first one had gotten eaten by a croc guide, hopped in our buggy & delivered us to the downtown shopping area to complete our day in Cozumel. To break it down. The whole tour was about 5.5 hours for $60/person. With taxi & tips &75/person. Not bad in my opinion. Oh! I meant to add along the whole tour unlimited complimentary water, soda, juice or cervesas all day. Totes worth it.
Back on board, post mud & bugs, showers were required, followed by snack time in the WJ & a nap.
We overslept a bit into dinner but were able to rush there & catch up.
After dinner we attended the 70's dancing in the street party. Always a hit & one of my favorite cruise director activities.
So there's this new activity I've never experienced before in any if my sailings. The silent disco. It's where all the people in the crypt have headphones on & dancing around... But when you slip yours off...it's funny to hear people singing along...in the 'silence'. It's a weird activity.
Tomorrow is the dreaded cruise day 7. The last real day if vacay for most. I know the compass you get says some crap about day 8 but that day doesn't count & we all know it.
We're at sea tomorrow. I anticipate it being a deck chair war kind of day. I probably should have brought a helmet.
In coordination with the announcement, Royal Caribbean is offering complimentrary premium beverage package for all new individual bookings made in balcony- and suite-category staterooms on 13 select 2014 Trans-Atlantic Ocean Voyages. The complimentary premium beverage package offer is available from September 11 through October 15, 2013 and vacationers must ask for option code SPV3 to receive the offer.
Royal Caribbean is reminding us all that winter is around the corner and for most of us, that means cold temperatures but the good news is Royal Caribbean has escapes to some very warm places.
Having already launched EVDO in November 2010, WMS has followed that up with the launch of UMTS (3G) services. This marks the first time that both 3G services have been successfully deployed onboard cruise ships, and marks a major milestone in passenger connectivity.
Specifically, the pre-booked tours area is getting a $400,000 refurbushment to help with traffic flow and passenger comfort. The traffic routing will be completed this month, according to William Tatham, VP of cruise shipping for the Jamaica Port Authority. Tatham also indicated landscaping and cover will follow, replacing the use of tents, for next summer.