Good morning! Today is a sea day but not your normal sea day. We’re meeting up with six other ships to celebrate Carnival’s 50th birthday. This is the lido deck camera on the TV.

We are approaching Cancun. The meetup is going to happen south of here between Cozumel and mainland Mexico.

Here is a look at the weather.

And today’s schedule of events.

 

 

 

This is a bunch of baloney sandwiches! They canceled my Costa Maya excursion due to not enough participation. Maybe they should’ve announced the port date sooner! You couldn’t even book this tour until we got onboard.

Kohunchich was the excursion.

They have the four hour Chacchoben excursion but I was hoping to knock one of the two six hour Mayan ruins excursions on this trip. That would save the shorter excursion for a time when I’m on one of newer ships and want to get back earlier. Chacchoben is the only other Mayan ruins excursion being offered by Carnival in Costa Maya.

I just booked Kohunlich through The Native Choice  and saved $35.

After showering and getting dressed, I took my sandwich plate from last night to the buffet. That is even more convenient here since there’s a coffee shop in the buffet on this ship.

 

I got a mocha and headed outside.

             

I’m going to have it in one of my favorite spots on this ship–The Serenity bar.

Since nobody is out here yet let’s take a tour of the adults only (21+) serenity decks. It’s two decks on this ship but one side of the lower deck is actually the kids club playground.

This is the upstairs portion.

Both of the hot tubs are upstairs.

In 2019 I was standing right here talking to some people in the hot tub and that horn went off. I spilled the coconut martini I was holding all over myself. 

And back downstairs to the Serenity bar.

After finishing that coffee I checked in for breakfast.

While I’m waiting for a table assignment I stopped by the Java Blue Cafe on the promenade deck for a black coffee.

It only took 8 minutes to get a table assignment today. That’s much better than yesterday.

On my way down to the dining room this guy behind me stops a crew member by the Alchemy bar and asks “where is Linda? Up or down?” Excuse me? “Where is Linda? Up or down?” Lido? “Yes”

I also picked up a screwdriver before heading down.

I ordered and the waiter says “That’s all, Ray?” I don’t know how people get Ray from Greg. It’s not the first Ray I’ve gotten. Craig, Gary, Gray, Ray.

You can’t go wrong with the skillet cake. It’s always good.

I had a side of crispy bacon and hash browns as well.

I was going to take that bloody mary to the morning show but they don’t seem to have a live one on this ship. It looks like you have to go to lido deck and watch it on the big screen there  or back in your room. I stepped outside instead.

 

I noticed we were close to Cancun so I decided to go starboard side and see what I could see.

I definitely recognize some of those hotels having researched them for my Mexico trips last year. That pyramid looking one was the first hotel I researched but opted not to book based on reviews.

After we left Cancun behind I stepped back inside for another bloody mary.

Let’s take a little tour of the Skybox Sports bar. I used it a lot last time when I was here during football and baseball season. For my late February and early March cruises I don’t use the Sports bar very much.

Not far from the Skybox Sports bar is the Cherry on Top candy shop.

They have the 2 for $25 T-Shirt sale going on inside the gift shop. It’s all port shirts. At least this time it’s ports we are actually going to. On Vista all of the shirts were ports we weren’t going to.

They also have Christmas sweaters for $10.

I’m back in the atrium for another bloody mary and some Carnival trivia.

After trivia I headed back up to Serenity deck. They have this sign at the entrance to lido to let everyone know they may end up on TikTok.

Still empty!

I’m going with a pina colada.

We are coming up on Playa Del Carmen on this side.

I grabbed a Caribbean colada.

That’s the ferry that carries people between Cozumel and Playa Del Carmen. I hear it takes about 45 minutes.

On the port side you can see three Carnival ships and two Royal ships at Puerta Maya in Cozumel.

 

 

This is a special beer they brewed for the 50th birthday.

I’m grabbing a thirsty frog red and getting some food before the fun ship meetup.

I have to break my no buffet rule for these jalapeño cheese fritters.

Red Velvet cake. The cakes on Carnival ships are much better since the restart. With the old ones I used to just take a bite or two then leave the rest. With these I usually end up eating the whole piece of cake.

Another thirsty frog red.

One thing you get out of New Orleans is a lot of Alabama people onboard who want to make sure you know they’re onboard. In addition to the “Roll Tide” you also get never ending requests for “Sweet Home Alabama.” It was just requested on lido. I heard it coming out of the piano bar last night. It’s everywhere. 

Carnival 50th birthday beer and 50th birthday burger.

I found two of the lucky ones to get ship heads before they sold out the first day.

I’m starting to see people crowd around the sides of the boat. I’m grabbing a thirsty frog red and finding a spot for the fun ship meetup.

Carnival Ecstasy is coming on the starboard side.

Most of the action is port side with Pride, Sunshine, Breeze, Vista, and Mardi Gras.

Finally a drink server came by. I thought I was going to have to choose between this spot and beer

After the party settled down I headed to the front of the ship to look at the other ships and catch the sunset.

Mardi Gras.

Ecstasy peeled away.

After the fun ship meetup I returned to the room to shower and get ready for dinner.

Normally I would have drinks at the Alchemy bar first but the ship meetup ate up all of that time. To see the shows I want to see tonight I need to eat now.

 

I didn’t like any of the main course options tonight. This is the night where I went with the portobello mushrooms last cruise and didn’t like it. Zita, tilapia, lamb, veal, and indian vgetarian are the other options. I’m just going to order multiple appetizers instead.

I’m starting with a Greek Salad.

Spring rolls.

Shrimp cocktail.

BBQ pork slider.

The couple next to me felt the same about the main courses. They just ordered multiple orders of shrimp cocktail, spring rolls, and sliders. I also discovered they are the couple that hid the duck I found in the glass elevator yesterday.

I wasn’t hungry for dessert so I headed straight to the variety show. It’s a singer/comedian named Rory Gardiner. He’s pretty good.

During that show I got really tired for some reason. I went back to the room and slept for an hour I think. I caught some news for the first time in a few days. Then got up to go to the 10:30 comedy show.

I got the movie list from the two free movie channels in the room. The newer ships have an on demand system with some free movies and some extra charge movies. The older ships have this system.

The internet has been bad all day. I thought it was just due to a lot of people streaming the fun ship meetup but it has continued into the night.

Comedian Geechy Guy.

Carl Faulkenberry.

What they’ve done about large comedy crowds is just start all of the shows after everyone goes to sleep. 

I was in the elevator with Geechy and Faulkenberry. They were excited because this is the first time they’ve worked together since 1988.

Good night! Tomorrow we’re in Cozumel.

 

 

 

 

 

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