Wednesday (01/14): Cozumel

Cozumel (Puerta Maya):  7am-5pm
Temperature:  75 degrees

Princess Patter-Today's Activities:  Bible Study/Singles & Solos Get-together/Backgammon Lovers/Knitters & Natters Get-together/Cards & Board Games/Quiet Room (Skywalker's)/Ping Pong Competition/Morning Trivia/Game-Scattergories Challenge/Party Bridge/Carpet Bowl/Golf Chipping  challenge/BOGO Happy Hour/Water Volleyball/Afternoon Tea/Zumba Gold & Fitness/Sailaway with DJ Jokers Wild/Brainbuster Trivia/Spa Seminar: Fine Lines and Wrinkles Gone/Spa Seminar: Increase Your Metabolism/Mini Makeover/Rum Tasting event/Piano Melodies/50's & 60's Music/Acrobatix performance/The Blank Game show/Cabaret Show - Ric Steel/"Who Sang What?" 50's & 60's Music Trivia/Texas Hold'em/Jackpot Bingo/Rock & Roll Night/Princess Pop Star/Jeopardized game show/Dance the Night Away

Cruise Life:  This morning we woke up to an early 5:50am alarm. Only we slept a bit more because our body still needed to rest. We had plans to get off the ship once it docked and go window shopping before meeting with our excursion group at 7:50am. We dock at the Puerta Maya pier at 7am.

As we walked off the ship and onto the pier, we were hit with the warmth of the sun. Wow! What a difference from yesterday's rain showers. Hubby and I were both happy and knew we were in for a treat today. Our excursion for today: Palancar Reef (two snorkeling sites) and then to Playa Mia beach for a bit of relaxation.

They're building another pier in Puerta Maya

Shopping area in Puerta Maya

The Ruby Princess

We checked in with our tour guide and in exchange for our excursion tickets, we were given bracelets. We signed a waiver and was told we had 20 minutes to walk around the plaza before we leave. Hubby and I checked out some shops. They were opened at 7am sharp unlike some other ports we've been to (e.g. Havensight in St Thomas opened at 9am). We said "good morning" to many of the shop owners. A few handed me their business cards with a discount % marked on them. I guess they know who the real shopper is. Of all the islands we've visited, I think Cozumel has the best sterling silver pieces. They are made well, stamped with 925, and some have hallmarks that identify the designers. I should add...that's what I look for to make sure the piece is genuine. Yes, there are places that sell junk. Those places are avoided.

Our tour guide, Carlos, is efficient. We talk about the weather and he mentions that during yesterday's excursion the water was a bit rough. He said today was going to be calm. He gathers us at 8am and escorts us to a small pier where our catamaran, Aqua Dream 2, is waiting for us. There's only 27 of us going snorkeling. A nice size group as we are all able to spread out on the catamaran and have our own space. Sweet!

Aqua Dream 2 catamaran and Ruby (background)

We speed pass Playa Mia where we'll be after our
snorkeling tour

It takes an hour to reach Palancar Reef. As we approach the reef, Ricardo who is our snorkel guide, demonstrates the snorkel gear and goes over water safety guidelines. We drop some buoys in the water and we're ready to jump into the water. Well, I use the ladder instead. I don't dawdle as I'm one of the first five into the water.

We're all suppose to be following Ricardo who has a floating flag tied to him. I'm not a real follower and I don't like to be crowded (image of being snorkeled/run over) so I snorkel outside of the group just like Hubby who is actually following behind me. Carlos is also in the water and snorkels behind the group. He's also the one that keeps Hubby and I on track whenever we drift further away from the group. "Follow the flag!" "You're going the wrong way!" "You need to keep up with the group!" I know Carlos is having a good time with us...because we have real underwater cameras and we're not going to miss those Kodak moments. He even shows us a turtle that swims by.

Hubby...one big fish

Our catamaran...Aqua Dream 2

Just watching the fish swim by....

Beautiful coral

We spend an hour in the water. We snorkel along the Columbia Reef which is in shallow water. It's still deep to me. Then we swim over to the beginnings of the Palancar Reef. This area is quite deep and by this time, I can't really take any good pictures unless I dive...which I'm not about to. I signal to Hubby that I'm swimming back to the catamaran.

Back on board, I rinse off with fresh water from a hose and clean my mask and camera. A couple approaches me and asks about my camera and my experience. Sweet! I do love chatting about cameras and gadgets. I give them some pointers and find they are Nikon users. Sweet! Yes, I know I'm using a Canon point and shoot camera inside a Canon underwater housing. So, Canon does a great job in this area. I did recommend a GoPro to them. I also mention that I do not like using a waterproof camera (like the Olympus Tough or the Panasonic cameras) unless it can be placed into a waterproof case with rubber seals all around the case. I've had a bad experience with water leakage that destroyed my Olympus camera. The refresh on those types of cameras is at best two years. Hubby and I still have the Canon and it's waterproof case for over 5 years and it's still going strong. Enough said. I digress....

With everyone back onboard the Aqua Dream 2, we set sail to Playa Mia beach for a 20 minute boat ride.

We dock at a small pier and head over to building where we are given snacks: sandwich, salad, fried plantains. We have 1-1/2 hours here. There's a water slide park with an infinity pool, wading pool, water toys, and hammocks. Hubby finds a lounge while I head over to the hammocks. Now this is the life! I've always wanted a hammock. There's something about laying in one on the beach with the sun shining, cool breeze, and listening to the small waves crashing onto the beach. Are you getting the picture?

Having some fun!  Now, that's an iguana!

Playa Mia beach time!

We'll have to try this...next year!

Playa Mia beach and those gorgeous puffy white clouds!

It was a beautiful warm and sunny day in Coz!

The beach time went buy quickly. Hubby and I did not want our adventure to end. We were given the "all aboard" signal and joined our fellow cruisers who were also sad to leave. We wave a goodbye as we set sail back to where our ship is docked. I told Carlos and Ricardo that we'll be back next year.

Heading back to Puerta Maya and the Ruby

Back at Puerta Maya, we head to the silver shops I'm familiar with. Hubby wanders around and knows to leave me alone with the owners/sales person. He watches me from afar and knows when I look at him with a smile...we have a deal or I need his confirmation. It's funny when I walk away from a deal, how much more the price goes down.

We head over to Panchos Backyard for 2nd lunch. My favorite is their guacamole and chips. Hubby orders chicken nachos. We are sitting outdoors with a view of our Ruby Princess in front of us. Life is good!

Heading back to the ship.  Ruby on the left and Costa on the right

Another pier being built in Puerta Maya

Pilot picked up from the Ruby

Another ship sailing into another sunset

Life is good!

Tonight's movies at MUTS:  Guardians of the Galaxy!  Yes, this is one of my favorite movies.  I love the soundtrack and with the music blaring from MUTS...just awesome!