Today was a port day in Cozumel, Mexico, and it turned into quite the adventure. There was bacon, a little walking, some bargaining, a tequila shopping mission, a secret purchase for Airica, and a return to the ship that involved surrendering a rather impressive amount of alcohol.
But I'm getting ahead of myself.
Breakfast: Did I Mention Bacon?
I was up early today. Couldn't sleep, so I was out of bed around 6:15 AM.
For breakfast, I asked for the usual.
Bacon. And more bacon.
For a moment, I thought the bacon would win. I may have underestimated just how much I love bacon. Sorry, piggies!
Along with my bacon mountain, I had pancakes, decaf coffee, cranberry juice, and a strawberry granola parfait.
Did I mention I got a lot of bacon?
With breakfast out of the way, it was time to get off the ship and explore Cozumel.
Getting Off the Ship: Not Exactly an Easy Exit
I headed down to Deck 2 to disembark.
The gangway presented a bit of a challenge. The angles were fairly steep, and there wasn't much to hold onto as I made my way up or down.
As an above-the-knee amputee, these little things matter. What might be a routine walk for another passenger can require a little more planning and concentration for me.
I also felt like I was holding up the people behind me who were eager to get off the ship and enjoy their port day.
Eventually, I made it down, presented my SeaPass card to register that I had left the ship, and started the very long walk through the customary maze of the tourist port shopping area.
You know the one.
T-shirts, shot glasses, souvenirs, jewelry, and enough tourist merchandise to outfit an entire island.
I had a mission, though.
Mission #1: Authentic Mexican Tequila
I wanted to bring back some tequila for the folks taking care of Mom.
I wasn't looking for a huge quantity, just something authentic. My requirements were pretty straightforward:
100% agave tequila.
No sugar added.
Approximately 375 ml bottles.
I walked into one of the shops and explained to the owner/manager how many bottles I wanted.
He started at $30 and eventually came down to $25.
I passed.
I'd done some research beforehand and had a pretty good idea where I wanted to go. I wasn't interested in paying tourist-port prices just because I happened to be standing in a tourist-port shopping area.
So, onward!
The Long Walk to Mercado Soriana
Before I could make it out of the shopping maze unscathed, I had to navigate the rest of the port.
There were pedicabs available, but I declined. I figured I could use the exercise to work off some of that breakfast bacon.
After approximately 45 minutes of walking, I decided enough was enough and asked for a taxi.
The first vehicle offered was a 10-passenger van. Not a particularly large one, but one of those smaller Central/South American-style vans.
I passed.
It was just me, and I didn't want to take up an entire vehicle when another passenger might need it.
The next taxi was a small sedan with a manual transmission. Perfect. We were off!
Destination: Mercado Soriana.
When I arrived, I had a little trouble finding the entrance. I used some of the Spanish I'd picked up while working in Gourmet Delis and eventually found my way inside.
I had to check my backpack before entering. Apparently, they take theft prevention seriously.
Once inside, I got down to business.
I found what I was looking for and purchased enough tequila to supply a pretty substantial party. The kind of party where everyone attending might be nursing a headache the following morning.
The funny part?
I don't even drink.
But that's not the point. This was a shopping mission for other people, and I was determined to finish it.
Mission #2: A Little Something for Airica
With the tequila mission accomplished, I had another stop to make.
I needed to visit the other Cozumel cruise port..
I negotiated the fare with the taxi driver, reached an agreement, and off we went.
This time, the destination was a Pandora store.
Since Radiance of the Seas wasn't docked there, I had to check in as a guest. I presented my SeaPass card, was allowed through, and started what felt like another 30-minute walk to the store.
Eventually, I made it.
I went inside, bought Airica, and headed back out.
She knows I stopped at Pandora, but she doesn't know exactly what I bought.
I'll leave a little mystery for now.
The Return Trip: As Close to the Ship as Possible
After finishing up at Pandora, I made my way back to the taxi stand.
There were a few speed bumps along the way, but nothing particularly unusual.
The driver asked where I wanted to be dropped off.
My response?
"As close to the ship as possible."
I was dropped off near the crew entrance/exit, which was super convenient because it was right by the pedicabs.
I asked one of the pedicab operators how much the ride would cost.
"Tips only."
Awesome!
I probably should have taken one of these on the way out instead of walking for 45 minutes while working off breakfast.
Lesson learned.
Customs, Security, and a Lot of Tequila
I made my way back to the passenger entrance, checked in with my SeaPass card, and placed my bags on the X-ray machine.
Because of my prosthetic, I went through a slightly different screening process.
Meanwhile, my backpack, which was now considerably heavier thanks to all that tequila, went through the machine.
The security crew asked whether I had alcohol.
I said yes.
They confiscated it.
Now, before anyone gets concerned, I'm familiar with this from previous cruises. Royal Caribbean doesn't allow passengers to bring purchased alcohol directly back to their staterooms. They hold it and arrange delivery toward the end of the cruise.
So, I checked it in for delivery tomorrow.
One of the crew members looked at the collection and commented:
"That's a lot of tequila."
My response?
"Yeah, I know, and I don't even drink."
They laughed.
I thought it was a pretty appropriate ending to the shopping adventure.
Back to the Stateroom
I finally made it to the elevator, headed upstairs, and returned to my stateroom.
First order of business: check in with Airica and let her know I wasn't sitting in a Mexican prison somewhere.
Then it was time for a shower.
After all that walking, negotiating, shopping, and navigating, I felt really good.
I'd accomplished both shopping missions, managed the challenges of getting around Cozumel with my prosthetic, and made it back to the ship with everything I intended to purchase.
Not a bad port day!
What's Next? Halloween at Sea!
Tonight is Halloween aboard the Radiance of the Seas.
I'm back on the ship, cleaned up, and ready to see what Royal Caribbean has planned for Spooky Day.
Plenty has been happening on this cruise, and apparently the adventures aren't slowing down.
Stay tuned!
