I've often heard from a lot of folks that taking a cruise was the best way to travel because for an all-inclusive experience you get accommodations, delicious food, an abundance of entertainment throughout the ship and port of calls in other countries! Cruise excursions, beverage packages, fine dining and internet packages are an upcharge.
One of the must-dos on my 2025 bucket list
was to take my first cruise. I booked a cruise on one of Royal Caribbean smaller class ships,
Enchantment of the Seas which home port is Tampa, Florida. The voyage
was five nights in the Western Caribbean sailing from Tampa Florida to Puerto Costa
Maya and Cozumel, Mexico, and return.
I wanted my first cruise to include
a stateroom that had a balcony rather than an interior room or ocean view to
allow me to get the full view of the ocean. I imagined myself having fresh
brewed coffee in the morning from my room watching the sunrise or sipping a libation in the evening
at sunset so having that balcony room would satisfy that experience.
We
spent all day cruising on Day 2, but we arrived at 8am on Day 3 in Puerto
Costa Maya cruise port. This is a popular cruise destination located on
the eastern coast of Mexico, in the state of Quintana Roo, near the small
fishing village of Mahahual.
I did not book any excursions in Costa Maya. I just wanted to take advantage of the variety of shops selling local crafts and souvenirs, restaurants (many serving Mexican cuisine) and boutiques. For those that are not into shopping, cruisers can relax by the free saltwater pool in the center of the Costa Maya cruise port or grab a bite to eat by a nearby eatery.
Also,
within the cruise port area, there are cultural performances that include the Papantla
pole dancers, also known as flyers, which is a traditional Mexican flying
performance that is on an extremely high pole. According to one of several myths,
the ritual was created to ask the gods to end a severe drought. The ritual
consists of scaling a 30-meter (98 ft 5 in) pole from which four of
the five participants then launch themselves bound with ropes to descend to the
ground. The fifth remains on top of the pole, dancing and playing a flute and
drum.
There
is a venue where you can swim with the dolphins as well as watch them interact
with the trainer. Lastly, for families, there is a water park with slides,
floating rivers, and obstacle courses.
For
those that want to venture away from the port, there was transportation
available via taxi, shuttle, and golf cart, where you can explore other
interests such as beaches, the Mayan ruins which are located about thirty miles
(50 km) from Costa Maya. The journey by bus or taxi is about 45 minutes to an
hour, depending on traffic and road conditions. So, there are activities for
all tastes whether you participate in the excursions or not.
Everyone
had to be back onboard the ship at 4:30 pm. By 5pm, we were underway to
Cozumel, Mexico with an estimated arrival time of 8:00 am the next morning.
On
Day 4 of the cruise, we arrived in the Cozumel’s cruise port which is Mexico's
busiest and most popular ports in the Caribbean. There are three terminals; Punta Langosta, Puerta Maya and the International Cruise Terminal but our ship docked
at Punta Langosta, which is close to downtown and located on the southwestern
part of the island, about five miles south of San Miguel. It took us about 10
minutes to walk from Punta Langosta to downtown. The other two terminals are
a 10-minute taxi ride downtown.
There
is a plethora of excursions in Cozumel such as going to the beach (Cozumel is known
for its gorgeous beaches), diving and snorkeling, visiting the Mayan Ruins or renting
an open-air Jeep for four-wheeling adventures. There is plenty of taxis that
will offer you a ride, but we decided we would just walk and explore the area shops and restaurants on foot. Puerta Maya even has a two-story
shopping mall with more than fifty different outlets. Also, several local
merchants sell handmade crafts and souvenirs from carts.
After
walking around checking out the shops, we decided to go eat. The folks I was
with had been to Cozumel several times so we agreed we would eat at Pancho’s
Backyard which is located on Av. Rafael E. Melgar and Calle 8, Col Centro in
downtown Cozumel. They serve authentic Mexican cuisine. The restaurant is in a
shaded garden courtyard outback amidst splashing fountains and tasteful décor,
with an adjoined waterfront store. You do have a choice of outside seating or
A/C seating. We chose the outdoors which was covered. There was a younger woman
and older man playing music on a xylophone which set the ambiance of fine
Mexican dining. The culinary fare had everything from perfectly
cooked chicken quesadillas and chicken enchiladas to stewed
steaks. I ordered the Chimichanga which was complemented with their infamous
margarita. Delicious!! The wait staff were very friendly and helpful in making
a food selection to fit every pallet. The food was excellent!!
Later
that afternoon, we were back underway and enroute back to Tampa. I spent the
last night of the cruise attending some of the musical venues, participated in trivia games and karaoke and even trying my luck in the casino. As I turned into
bed that night, I reflected on how relaxing it was to cruise and glad I booked
a trip. I can say I was pleased with the cruising experience and planned to
book another in the future. Hospitality wise, the service on the ship was stellar. They really aimed to make your cruising experience top-notch.
Overall,
a cruise vacation combines the excitement of travel with relaxation, meeting new
and interesting people, amazing entertainment and activities with exotic port
of calls.
All the best,
GMarie