Day 03 - Tuesday 03/05/24 - Cozumel

Today found us backing into our berth in Cozumel which is an island about 45 minutes off the coast of mainland Mexico.  We arose early in order to eat before we were supposed to disembark at 8am and get to our meeting point by 8:10am. The Lido restaurant area was pretty wide open at 7am and easy to find a seat.  However, it was pretty slow getting water and hot tea delivered timely.  We finished breakfast and went back to our room and watched the docking maneuver before heading down to deck 5 to wait to disembark the ship which happens on Deck 4.  8am came and went and it wasn't until 8:20 that the ship was cleared for us to leave.  So much for the front deck person's assurances that we'd be ready to get off by 8am.


We scanned off the ship with our medallions and found Princess representatives at the end of pier.  We were instructed to turn left and turn left again.  When I asked where we were to go, the instruction was repeated until I asked what was our destination which was a port provided water shuttle.  We boarded it and found seats on the covered deck.  The ride to the mainland took 45 minutes and there was quite a chop along with a strong breeze.  I should note that there were 4 other ships in port today: The Carnival Magic, NCL Breeze, RCCL Enchantment of the Seas and MSC Divina.  






On shore we met up with our guide, Miriam, who was of French heritage. She led our group #9 to our van and we were soon off for a 30 minute drive to the Cenote or underground river.  This is a limestone cave filled with stalagtites and stalagmites.  The limestone cave has an underground river and the trip was to be a snorkeling trip except we couldn't bring our snorkel tubes or cameras which was a bummer.  While the caves were interesting, I think they should have disclosed the "no camera" policy in advance.  Additionally, other groups were using snorkel tubes and cameras, but Miriam blew the question off which I found a bit ingenuous.


The water in the cave was about 75ºf which she called refreshing.  It actually wasn't bad.  Besides the limestone formations, there were bats in the caves.  


The real insulting part of this visit was when we learned that the photos taken of us would only be available when one purchased the $60US package.  So we declined.


We then drove to a National Park at xx Bay to swim with the turtles.  We had to swim as a group and follow a licensed guide and Miriam acting as the tail gunner.  There were hundreds of people in the water swimming in groups and the water was very murky and hard to spot the green sea turtles.  I did manage to see a couple of them and got a picture of one along with a sting ray.  But the experience was not comparable with the fine turtle snorkeling we've done in Barbados or the Solomon Islands.  I wouldn't recommend this excursion.


We then drove another 30 minutes back to the port area and ate a wonderful meal at the company owned restaurant.  There was a choice of chicken or beef tacos or shrimp ceviche (our choice).  There was also a sweet roll filled with chocolate that was quite tasty.














We were then driven back to the ferry dock where there were at least 500 people waiting to board the ferry.  It took quite a while because the ferry was bobbing significantly at the dock.  We then sailed back to the Island which took 45 minutes in heavy rolling seas and wind.  When we arrived at the ship, I expected us to dock and discharge the passengers.  Instead the ferry pulled alongside the port side by an open door and we boarded the ship via a very short gangway, scanned on to the ship and then had ourselves and our goods scanned.  On board time was 4:30 and we were all onboard by probably 4:50 and the ship was underway by 5:10pm.


We showered and changed into dry clothes and ate a quick Lido dinner in order to make the 7pm Princess Theater show which was a vocalist, Alex Yost, who did a Michael Bublé tribute.  He was quite good.  We then went back to the Vista Lounge for another vocalist, Caroline Miller, who did a nice set on "Divas".

We returned to the room and there was a lady in front of our door, and she said we had to remove our door decoration because this was a public space.  I objected, but she was firm in it.  She went on to ask if there were any other concerns, so we politely unloaded on her some of our concerns: inadequate staffing in the Lido, a Princess APP which is missing key features, lack of a public front facing inside viewing area, a front desk staff that blows away questions with inadequate answers, and a bunch more.  We also did share some positives with her including the wide selection of great entertainment spread throughout the ship, good choices in the Lido, and friendly crew.  


It  ban public display of political hats or shirts).  Tonight was the 80's party, but we didn't attend. 


Tomorrow is another snorkeling day, Only this time it will be in Belize.  Here's hoping it will be better than today's excursion.



 

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