It has been 26 years and a couple of hurricanes since Dan and I were inn Cozumel. We honeymooned here in October 1982. Back then it was a very quaint town and you had to be careful of the water…even the ice cubes. Dan ended up with Turista the last day of our trip. (If you don’t know what it is, you don’t want to. Not fun, especially when you go up in the airplane and the gas in your gut expands.)

 

But I digress. From the ship I can see lots of new buildings and hotels.

 

We plan to go on the clear bottom kayak and snorkeling excursion. Meeting at the end of the pier, we discover that choppy water doesn’t permit that. Checking into a few options we choose the catamaran, which has snorkeling and beach time. 

 

Since it doesn’t leave for awhile, so we head off the pier, right into a new take on  a tourist trap. The walkways force you to go up an escalator and over the road to a small mall. Lots of vendors are standing outside their stores vying for our attention. It is actually very well done. Two men are playing a large xylophone and the music is very nice. All I buy is a light jacket.

After the bike ride the group decides to go to Seven Mile Beach instead of heading back to NCL Jewel. We get dropped off at Calico Jack’s. The Mahi Mahi sandwiches are great. After eating we stroll down the beach a bit and back.

 

Our bus driver promised to pick us up at 2:30 but never showed. Since we had to get back to the ship (last tender at 3:30), most people were getting a bit nervous. Miss the tender and getting home or to the next port is our responsibility.

 

Another bus comes along, but it is close to 3:00. Now this is becoming an adventure, as there are already three people on the bus and our group is 18. Someone negotiates a price and makes sure the driver knows where we are going. The first two passengers had a little ways to go so the driver continued in the same direction and dropped them off. The third passenger realized our plight and got off, so we would not go further out of our way.

 

Arriving where the tenders are, long lines stretch for a few hundred yards. With three cruise ships loading, it took more than an hour to get on the tender. Everyone was good natured about it.

 

Now here is the amazing part. People were still coming at 4:30. Remember the last tender was supposed to leave for the ship at 3:30. If the tenders had been on time, those people would have been left behind! Very lucky group of people.

 

When you are ready to cruise, call us at 1-866-622-7447 or visit us at www.bestcruisebuy.com.  We would love to share our passion with you and we provide rates better than booking directly!

Huff and puff. huff and puff...

 

As we head out, I wonder how hard this is going to be. We’re told it is about 7 miles with minimum hills. Although it takes a bit to warm up and I stay at the end of the group, it is an enjoyable ride.

 

The  bike is much better than the one I used at Half Moon Cay. The gears work and it’s easier to get moving because the pedal can be turned backwards to get into the best position. This is important for someone who doesn’t bike often. Once at Half Moon a few months ago and before that was probably over 20 years.

 

We went to Hell, Grand Cayman first. In this case, Hell is a small area where there are short spiky rock formations. Although there is a land between Hell and the ocean, the tide raises and lowers the water as it changes. The story is that at sunset there is a fiery glow…hence the name. 

 

Other than that, there is a gift shop with lots of related items and you can purchase a postcard and have it postmarked from Hell. Cute!

 

Next stop is the Sea Turtle Farm. This was pretty cool. To preserve green turtles as a species, they have areas where the turtles can lay their eggs. Then they collected and incubated. The sex is controlled by the temperature of the incubation. The guide says that it is not genetically predetermined.

 

The farm is run by the government. Some turtles are kept for breeding, some used for turtle meat, some released into the wild when they are 2.

 

At the rum cake factory outlet store down the road we taste various rum cakes and rums. Yummy!

 

The ride back has one brief stop. I’m glad to say it was very well managed.

 

This men’s quartet must rank high for acapella groups. Their song list is a good mix that demonstrates the ability they have, and spiced with humor, it became a very enjoyable evening.

 

The bass, Brian Skinner, has a wonderful voice. His ability to mimic musical instruments is impressive. Between him and the other singers, there were times I would swear there was a soundtrack playing.

 

This acapella goup formed only three years ago and have been working on and off cruise ships for the last two. Four weeks ago they finally got a manager and I’m sure you’ll hear about them in the near future. Check them out at www.vocalmeow.com.

 

This is only one of the featured evening shows. All of them were top notch, playing to standing room only. Even being the early birds that we normally are, we went to a number of shows.  

 

Much to my surprise, the cruise shows were my favorite part of the cruise.  Ready to book?  Check us out at www.bestcruisebuy.com.

Ride a horse in the waves, take a bus around the island. Swim with the rays or dolphins? Kayak or snorkel…or do both! Glide above the island in a parasail. Shop till you drop.

 

Our preference is to do something out in nature that gives us a unique experience. Although we are still physically active, things like zip lines or parasailing are a bit more than we want to do. Port visits have limited time, so doing one excursion and wandering around is plenty to do.

 

A few tips to do what you want.

 

 

Prices vary from $15-30 to more than $100 but most activities are under $100 per person. The cost will be put on your room bill and paid with your credit card or out of your deposit.

 

Be aware that weather can cause your trip to be cancelled. High winds and waves can be too much for some water activities. If that happens, excursion staff are usually around it’s likely something else can be substituted.

 

This trip we plan to bike in Grand Cayman and kayak/snorkel in Cozumel. I’m looking forward to it. 

On board activities are similar between the cruise lines. Each has so many choices, and there is no way you can do everything. 

 

Everyone coming home from a cruise seems to talk about the food. There are always a number of restaurants and/or buffets. For a nominal charge of $10-25/person, you can even go to the nicer restaurants. Be sure to make your reservations as soon as you can. Food is available around the clock 

 

The casino always has lots of activity. Today I learned how to play roulette, craps, 3 card poker, and a special - Texas Hold Em. Although playing can be fun, I limit my stake because I know the odds are not in my favor.  I absolutely hate the cigarette smoke.

 

Now bingo is gambling and fun and it isn’t smoky. It also doesn’t cost much to play a few games.

 

Of course there is swimming, the spa, working out, reading (check out the library if you haven’t brought a good book), basketball, life-size chess, cards, art auctions, and a host of other things. 

 

My personal favorites are the night shows. The comedians are quite funny. The music is excellent. The special shows are great. Try to get a seat early and close. It’s worth it. 

 

Ready to book?  Check out www.bestcruisebuy.com or call as not all pricing can be discounted on the website.

This is my second cruise and I love lots of things about it. But I can get claustrophobia. We’re in an inside cabin and that is tougher than a room with a balcony.

 

When I get anxious I need to get out of the confined space immediately or I’ll…what? What will I do? I’m not sure - it feels like I’m going to explode or get hysterical.

 

Here are my tips:

 

 

Think about it. Millions of people are in these small spaces and survive just fine. What’s the big deal? Take a deep breath…maybe a bunch of deep breaths. Close your eyes and relax.