Port Day #5

Day 8, Wednesday, January 10, 2024, the Island of Cozumel, off the coast of Quintana Roo, Mexico

It was a busy day in the port of Cozumel. On our port was Carnival Valor, carrying 2000 passengers. Then Eurodam, carrying 1850 passengers. (These numbers are as listed on the daily schedule on cruisetimetables .com.) On our port was Celebrity Apex, with 2910 passenters, Celebrity Ascent - 3260, TUI Cruises Mein Schiff 6 - 2790, Norwegian Cruise Lines Prima - 3099. If you pull out your calculator, that's the possibility of 16,000 tourists in and around Cozumel on this day. Jas and I didn't go ashore, and we saw lots of people on board with us. But the number is kind of mind-boggling, don't you think?

So what did we do? A wonderful breakfast in the MDR, with A.A. coincidentally being our server and Dwinda assisting in another section. I was happy to start my day seeing both of them. Then we walked several of the decks, exploring the artwork. HAL is known for the extensive art collections on their ships. We've been enjoying all the vintage photographs of HAL ships of yore which adorn the walls of decks 4-8, the decks where most of the cabins are situated. Afterward, I came back to the room to write, and Jas went up to the pickleball court to see if he could pick up a game. But it was windy and he was the only person there. When he came back, we went up to the Crow's Nest. We got coffee/mocha. It's the first time I've had a mocha with a heart on top. That made my day. (I'm a simple person. 😉 ) Jas sat and read the news on his phone. I spent the next hour-and-a-half working on a jigsaw puzzle and made great strides. It'll probably be finished by other people when I go back tomorrow. Jas went to soak his shoulder in the therapy pool, and then we met at the Dive In for burgers and fries. What a treat. Dwinda was there for her afternoon shift. The restaurant wasn't busy with so many people ashore, so we got to chat with her for a few minutes. She's happy to be going home, but will miss her friends on the ship.

Photos: 1) My first-ever foam heart! 2) Waiting for lunch, Jas with his margarita, and my Ultimate Unleaded Margarita - sans alcohol.

After lunch, we settled down to a movie in our cabin. "A Simple Favor," with Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively. It was a romcom/mystery. I realized about ten minutes in that I had seen part of this movie before, but I like Anna Kendrick, so watched to the end. And then it was time for cocktails and dinner with M&M. Tom and Kerry had gone to spend the day at a resort on the northeast shore of Cozumel, and we were already at dinner when they returned from a long day in the sun.

We had a lovely dinner again with the triumvirate, Hendra, AA, and Dwinda. These three people are such an asset to HAL and this ship, and how lucky we were to have been able to pair up with them.

Photos: 1) My artichoke and farro salad with olives and salami. 2) Jas's watermelon and feta cheese appetizer with mint and orange. Both he and Marilyn ordered this and both loved it. 3) The Club Orange Daily Special—Peruvian Roasted Chicken with creamed corn and salsa verde queso fresco. 4) For dessert, everyone ordered Tres Leches Crème Caramel with fresh berries. 5) The youngster, Dwinda, helping Marilyn navigate her photo gallery. 6) M&M with Dwinda. 7) J&J with Dwinda. 8) A Dwinda selfie. 🩷

Afterwards, another cocktail and more conversation in the Ocean Bar Lounge, and then home. Two more nights remaining for dinner in the MDR.