Exhausting Excursion but Successful Snorkel

Today is Costa Maya the only port on this cruise that I have not previously visited. This is a relatively new port and it sustained some damage last year due to Hurricane/Tropical Storm Ernesto

Dressed up in Mayan costume

Mayan make-up

Disney gave us the option to do several different excursions, including

Mini Jeep Adventure
Active Adventures, Splashtacular
Take in the scenery on an off-road adventure as you drive your mini jeep through the tropical setting of Costa Maya. Later, relax under the sun or plunge into beautiful ocean waters–do as much or as little as you’d like.

beach buggies lined up for passengers

This one was out of the question for me as it was listed as ACTIVE

Jungle Beach Break

Enjoy a fabulous beach day at an exclusive, modern facility tastefully set on the Caribbean sea shore. Included in your tour are activities such as beach volleyball, soccer, kids' games, salsa lessons and beverages.

Beaches from the ship

I'm not interested in the beach, soccer, salsa lessons or adult beverages.

Dolphin Swim
Speed and adventure await only steps away from your ship. Swim with a dolphin and let it pull you through the water by its pectoral fins!

I am vehemently opposed to dolphin swims as any thinking person would be

Chacchoben Mayan Ruins

The fascinating Mayan culture is brought to life by visiting these breathtaking temples and structures set in stunning jungle scenery. Learn about Mayan lifestyle, traditions and rituals, plus their studies of the solar system and plants for medicines.

Fake Mayan pyramid outside the port

But I had been to Tikal and was not interested in a long hot day and my granddaughter wasn't that interested in Mayan Ruins. So we did a snorkeling trip - but the ruins is really the only actual Mexican tour that is offered, so if I didn't want to lie on the beach, and had the energy for it, this is the tour I would do.

June 11

Today my problem was getting to the tour because I would have to walk the length of two long piers in the heat and and then cross the shopping area to a parking lot. This was the reason for the long conversations with guest services and the excursion people. Originally I thought I could take the scooter and my granddaughter could take it back to the ship. There is a free shuttle along the long section of the pier but you have to walk to get to it. Eventually what we settled on was that we would get a wheelchair which the excursion rep would take back to the ship. They acted as though it was a terrible imposition to help in this way

So today, I slept until 9 and then we went up to Cabanas which is what they call their Lido buffet. I found out that we did not get all the way to Cabanas on embarkation day - we were just in a place by the pool. They brought my granddaughter gluten free waffles, and when she couldn't find the syrup, someone brought her a bowl with syrup in it. I made a bacon and bagel sandwich and also got a banana.

My breakfast and lunch fixings from the buffet

I thought my granddaughter would want to do the Aqua Duck. I thought it would be fun, but she said flatly that she would not, because when she was little she did something like this and someone came down behind her and landed on top of her. So I didn't do it either as I would not do it without her as an excuse

AquaDuck water coaster

Getting ready

We went back to the room and got ready. Unfortunately, both of the snorkeling camera batteries were flat, and I didn't have enough time to charge them but a little bit. We had the

Privacy card

Privacy card on the door and they wouldn't deliver the wheelchair with it on there. This time the wheelchair was much smaller and lighter. We were to meet in Lounge D. But tours were coming out and so we were swimming upstream, so to speak against the flow.

Lighthouse from ship

This time they did not bring me out first and put me in an elevator - we had to find our way down to the gangway on our own.

Sending people off on tours

After we got out on the pier we found our guide. His name was Diego and he said he was born in Mexico City but grew up in Arizona. He came back to visit family and an uncle offered him a job here so he took it.

Fantasy at the dock in Costa Maya

My granddaughter pushed down to where the free trolley was, but it had just left, so the guide took over and pushed the rest of the way (The guide was not a Disney employee so he could push the wheelcair). My granddaughter was thrilled that she didn't have to push

Down the dock where the shuttle runs

But then I had to walk to the bus. I had to stop several times and rest, but I got there OK.

Flags at the port

Official Transportation booth

We were loaded into several shuttle buses.

I was very happy to be able to get photos of the Mahahual Lighthouse - this one was a new one to me. I took photos from the taxi which had a cracked windshield.

Mahahual lighthouse

lighthouse through cracked windshield

This is an active lighthouse with a focal plane of about 75 ft.; It makes four white flashes every 16 seconds . The lighthouse is approximately 72 ft - a round cylindrical white concrete tower with four buttressed ribs, lantern, and gallery. Lantern roof painted red. Located on the waterfront in Mahahual. Accessible by road.

Our driver spoke no English (this is a very new port), and we got off at the first stop - but no that wasn't it.

First stop - no this isn't the place

Eventually we got to the dock and I had to stop and rest several times on the way down the dock. I was afraid I would have no energy left for snorkeling.

Glass Bottom Boat and Snorkeling

There was a grandfather and his son and grandchildren on the boat, one of whom was a boy who looked just like Shawn White the snowboarder with the same red hair and everything.

Shawn White look-alike

First we went out to see things in the glass bottom boat (it was hard to take photos through the glass because of reflections).

Glass bottomed boat

After we looked at the reef through the glass bottomed boat, they showed us how to put on and use the snorkels. My granddaughter did really well. She did better than her brother had done in Hawaii, and she was quite excited to tell him so. I was having a problem staying with the group. Eventually I just hung on to the boogie board with my granddaughter and let the guide tow me.

snorkeling photo

I did see two squid squirting along the floor. Unfortunately I didn't get a photo because the snorkeling camera batteries had died

Going back, I didn't have to walk far because they brought the vehicles right out on the pier. Then when we got back to the port, Diego got the EMTs to put me in a wheelchair and take me all the way back to the ship.

sign when we got back to the port

Generally I do not shop at the cruise ship shops at the dock. However my granddaughter had gotten a coupon for a free bracelet from Diamonds International, and she wanted to cash it in.

Cruise Ship Shops

So while I sat in the shade and waited for the wheelchair, she went to the DI store. Unfortunately they did not have a bracelet so she just got a duplicate of the charm she got in Grand Cayman.

My granddaughter beside the Fantasy

free dock shuttle

The EMTs also brought us in the far gangway and we were the only ones coming in there. Then the gangway people gave us the wheelchair and pushed me back to the room.

We both got a shower (My granddaughter first and then she showed me how the shower worked which she said took her awhile to figure out) and washed out our suits and hung them up (I showed her how to fix the clotheslines in the shower/tub. If you put the cord through the suit straps, you don't have to worry about them falling off the clothesline.)

line to get back on board from our window

We had dinner with the two boys and their sister as the parents were dining at Palo which is adults only. I got to talk to them. The one boy said he played baseball until HS but then he was kicked off the team for a bad attitude.

salmon appetizer

I had mussel soup which was interesting, and another salad with bits of apple in it

mixed leaves salad with apple and walnuts

My granddaughter had

turkey

and I had

peppercorn NY strip

.

Dessert

Towel rabbit

I have copied all the photos so far to the extra hard drive and have not downloaded any today. Our tour in Cozumel tomorrow is 8:30 so we have ordered room service and have a wake-up call.