Journey log, day 4. Cozumel, Mexico (7AM – 6PM).
7-Evening Western Caribbean Royal Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral, Florida 
March 13, 2024
Cruise Compass – Day 4 | The Social Feed – Day 4
Marvel of the Seas Deck Plan

Immediately seems to be promising with a forecast calling for solar, and a hight of 87ºF! I used to be up and out of the room early to go get some espresso whereas Emily went to the health club.

I spent a while working, as we have been now connecting to a Starlink information middle in Mexico (which brought on a difficulty since distant connections have been blocked primarily based on geolocation). Fortunately, my VPN was not blocked, and I may re-route by way of Florida! That is one good factor about Disney Cruise Line’s new web plans; the visitors is routed by way of america (even once we have been crusing in Europe), which is vital for people who work remotely and have location restrictions.

Shorty after 9AM, we met up with our associates and headed ashore. The Marvel of the Seas docked any the Worldwide Cruise Terminal. Docking at this pier is new for us as we’ve at all times docked at Punta Langosta when cruising with Disney.

As soon as ashore, we made our method by way of the maze, I imply buying space, to the taxi line. Initially, the road appeared lengthy, nevertheless it moved rapidly as there was a line of taxis each vehicles and vans ready within the street.

At 9:25 AM, the 5 of us loaded right into a taxi van for a 20-minute drive from the Worldwide Cruise Terminal to a seashore resort. The taxi experience price $50 USD complete for five individuals.

The plan for in the present day was to benefit from the choices at El Cozumeleño Seaside Resort. We initially realized about this seashore resort day go from Matt over at Royal Caribbean Weblog. The seashore resort was not an tour booked by way of the cruise line; this was an ‘on our personal’ port journey/tour, which I fully perceive could also be exterior of your consolation zone. It isn’t unusual for us to enterprise ashore on our personal, or with third occasion tour operators and we’re properly conscious of the potential dangers and settle for the chance of reserving exterior the security internet of cruise line’s choices.

Upon arrival at 9:45 AM, we checked in on the entrance desk with our printed day go vouchers. We pre-purchased a $70/particular person El Cozumeleño Seaside Resort Day go from Resort for a Day. Technically, once we booked the day go we paid a $20/particular person deposit with $50/particular person due on the time of our arrival. In line with the knowledge we obtained following the reserving, the resort would solely settle for the ultimate cost with a bank card. Basically, they didn’t settle for money native or international forex. Additionally, be ready handy over your ship keycard or a authorities issued ID, which they maintain till you’re prepared to go away. As soon as we have been paid, signed the waiver/check-in type, we got day go bracelets to put on whereas on website. Additionally they met us at check-in with non-alcoholic welcome drinks!

The resort day go included snorkeling gear, limitless meals & drink choices on the on-site restaurant & snack bar, entry to the pool & seashore areas, a mini golf course, sport room & tennis courtroom. There was complimentary WiFi, principally accessible close to the foyer space. Take into accout, if that is one thing you select to do sooner or later, the day go does NOT embrace seashore towels, you will have to carry them out of your ship.

We got down to discover a place to benefit from the day. It was nonetheless earlier than 10am, however a lot of the loungers have been spoken for with onsite friends putting belongings out to safe spots. I don’t fault them one bit; they’re paying to remain onsite and may have first alternative. That being mentioned, the resort is promoting a day go, so from my perspective, they need to have seating to accommodate the day passes they’re promoting on any given day primarily based on resort occupancy.

We discovered a row of loungers and began our day of beachside leisure. Solely factor lacking was some shade, however the climate circumstances have been nonetheless nice the place the ocean breeze was greater than sufficient to offset the total solar. And, we have been armed with a lot of sunscreen.

Final yr over the Thanksgiving weekend, I bought a second GoPro to present me some choices on days once I need to movie a time lapse whereas nonetheless having a digicam to take into the water. Nicely, the brand new GoPro wouldn’t energy up and making an attempt to troubleshoot this in full solar was not figuring out, so I proceeded to arrange the next seashore view video that progresses right into a time lapse of the morning.

Whereas the digicam was working, I settled right into a lounger and plunged into my guide. I used to be excited to go swimming in the present day, however I had a disagreement with the Western Caribbean water temperature. Our pal’s daughter did enterprise out into the water to snorkel. She mentioned it wasn’t that unhealthy and Emily mentioned the identical factor to me later, as she simply went and waded out and did a bit swimming.

There have been two servers strolling the seashore offering beverage and meals service. We tipped early and on the finish which in flip, stored us refreshed all through our keep. The beer accessible was Dos Equis, and the bar was utilizing properly spirits, which isn’t unusual for these type of all inclusive choices

Whereas we may have ordered lunch from our server, we opted to stroll as much as the pavilion to take a seat and eat within the shade. Our choices included a buffet, or you may order from the identical menu that was supplied at our loungers on the seashore.

Beneath is a have a look at the assorted menu stations.

The spotlight of the buffet was a made-to-order quesadilla station. I ordered two and grabbed rooster from the buffet which I reduce up and added to the quesadillas.

Close to the eating space was a complimentary bar the place you may order cocktails, beer, and wine.

After lunch, we discovered a scorching tub close to one of many swimming pools that wasn’t essentially heated, however sufficiently small to be naturally heat. There was a whirlpool close to one other pool, nevertheless it was the identical temperature because the pool.

The steadiness of our time was spent lounging, studying, chatting. General, a pleasant day of doing comparatively nothing!

It was time to return and I had been tremendous targeted on trying out as a result of I handed over my driver’s license as a substitute of ship card like everybody else. Why, as a result of the woman on the desk requested for an ID and that’s what I handed her not realizing it was going to be held. I figured it was simply a part of the usual check-in process similar to at different resorts that verify identification upon arrival. Anyway, we checked out, and all of us had our IDs and ship playing cards again. We spoke with the bellhop to get a experience again to Worldwide Cruise Terminal. She waved to the road of taxis, however as a substitute of a van for the 5 of us, two vehicles pulled up. Bellhop mentioned will probably be $15 per automotive which sounded too good to be true and a half mile down the street the lead taxi stopped, driver walked again to our taxi to talk with our driver… Our driver rotated and mentioned, it’s $25 per automotive as a result of they have been below the impression we have been returning to Punta Langosta, not the Worldwide Cruise Terminal which is an extended drive. Ethical of the story, at all times affirm with the motive force, not the bellhop.

Be part of us for the condensed 20 minute drive again to the Worldwide Cruise Terminal.

One fast snapshot of the Cozumel signal with the ships within the background as we have been strolling again to the ship.

Shortly after boarding, I made a pit cease at Sorrento’s for a slice of pizza.

We proceeded again to the stateroom to wash up for dinner. This afternoon was the primary time our balcony obtained full afternoon solar. So far, we had afternoon shade.

Tonight, we have been skipping out on the primary eating room which was serving the Style of Mexico Menu.

Usually, I like to recommend sticking to the rotational choices throughout your first cruise or first time on a brand new ship. Nevertheless, this has lengthy been predicated primarily based on the experiences and setup of rotational eating with Disney Cruise Line and extra not too long ago with the night leisure choices built-in into the eating places. Nevertheless, after our expertise final yr with Carnival, and to date with Royal Caribbean, the primary eating rooms might be missed for different choices each included and for an extra cost. I’m not saying there’s something improper with the primary eating room, because the service has been distinctive and the meals a lot better than I anticipated given the choices accessible. For my part, Royal just isn’t lowering the standard of meals in the primary eating rooms to push friends over to uncharge choices. I solely point out this as a result of I’ve heard this up to now when people are evaluating cruise strains stating Disney could cost extra, however commonplace choices are a lot better and there isn’t a manipulative push to uncharge choices or paying for issues which might be included with Disney.

As I used to be saying, tonight we’re skipping the primary eating room for dinner at Solarium Bistro positioned on deck 15 ahead. Royal Caribbean promotes Solarium Bistro as a buffet provide serving recent substances and Mediterranean flavors for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There’s a fundamental seating space with a view ahead out to the Solarium space. Reservations are required, however there isn’t any further cost besides a number of choose objects in addition to sure drinks. The restaurant provides self service buffet stations with Mediterranean impressed dishes. Here’s a have a look at the menu offered exterior the doorway.

We ate in phases across the restaurant staring with appetizers and progressing as much as dessert relatively than filling up one plate in a single go. A part of the expertise features a server who will serve drinks and clear plates in addition to take your order from the choose uncharge objects listed on the menu such because the surf & turf.

General, this felt like a buffet. Dishes have been hit or miss. I might not exit of my option to return for dinner because it felt like Mediterranean evening at Windjammer. As a lot as I benefit from the flavors of the Mediterranean, I feel I might have loved the Style of Mexico choices in the primary eating room higher.

Later within the night we returned to Highlight Karaoke for what was marketed as Trivia: Film Posters, however resulting from technical issues it was switched to Romance Movie Trivia.

Nevertheless, extra technical issues arose inflicting the trivia to vary to Film Classics Visible Trivia. Seems, or so we have been advised in the course of the delay, the technical challenge stemmed from exhausting drive consolidation the place all of the trivia was transformed from slideshows to PDFs. It’s 2024, file storage shouldn’t be a limiting issue. Royal, I invite you to make use of my Amazon affiliate hyperlink to purchase 60TB NAS.

Technical points apart, the trivia was quite a lot of enjoyable and conveniently positioned to Sorento’s Pizza.

Simply want we may have gotten factors for naming Dopey, Doc, Bashful, Sneezy, Completely happy, Grumpy, and Sleepy. These further 7 factors could have given seasoned Disney Cruise trivia members a preventing probability this night.

After a extremely busy day of enjoyable, it was time for mattress. Tomorrow, now we have a new-to-us-port and an journey deliberate!

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