Good morning from Costa Maya, Mexico! I have a three hour Mayan Ruins excursion today. I saved the short one for this trip so hopefully I can be back onboard the new ship for a late lunch.

I was talking about how quiet my room had been this week. Well I heard my first morning noises of the week this morning. At 7:15am there was a door slam. Then at 7:30 Cruise Director Lee made an announcement about Mexico’s agricultural laws in the hallway that you could hear in the room.

We’re in port with NCL’s newest ship, Norwegian Prima.

Here is today’s Fun Times.

 

 I’m going to grab a mocha at Bar 820.

Now I’m up at Big Chicken for a quick chicken biscuit.

On my way out of the room this morning I saw a new couple. Well could be that or could be father and daughter. I feel like he was about 80 and she was about 60 so it could go either way.

I go down the short hall, open the door, and there they are. I’m not used to seeing people there. I’m sure I had a “what are you doing in my private walkway” look on my face. They must be one of the balcony cabins. Might be the door slam I heard. Coming back I see across the hall the snoozing sign is on and the shark looks a little shook up.

Lee just announced that the gangway will be temporarily shut down while a Virgin Voyages ship docks.

I had a few minutes to kill so I got two shots of fireball at the Tiki Bar.

I just realized I don’t have my SPF. I knew I bought a new bottle last time. But I forgot I left it on Magic because I was concerned about my luggage being overweight. I was so close on the flight to New York.

All of the new kids are in town.

No coconut!

The good thing about booking an excursion through Carnival is the meeting point is at the end of the pier. With the outside vendor I had to walk through the port and outside. Then a few more blocks to their office.

I am going to skip ahead to after the tour. For full coverage of the tour please visit Chacchoben Mayan Ruins.    

We arrived back at 1:40 which was just a few minutes behind schedule. It would be nice if they dropped us off by the ship where they picked us up. Instead they dropped us where we had to walk through the entire port to get back to the ship.

I remember my shortcut through the ice cream place.

Once I’m done with all of my Costa Maya Mayan Ruins excursions I want to come back one day and get in this pool before the crowd arrives.

It doesn’t look that crowded right now considering three ships are in port. They do happen to be the three newest ships so I’m sure a lot of people want to spend time onboard as I do.

Lockers, showers, and tubs.

   

There’s another swim up bar on the beach. I didn’t see this one last time.  

I believe this is a jaguar head which is very significant when it comes to Mayans. The Mayans saw the jaguar as the most powerful creature on earth and one of the rulers of the underworld. At Lamanai in Belize we actually saw the Jaguar Temple where they made a representation of a jaguar face on each side of the temple.

Actually it looks like there are now four ships in port. And it’s Royal Caribbean with the 4th best ship on the pier today.

 

I added my excursion clothes to the laundry bag I wanted to go out yesterday.

I’m going looking for food. Street Eats is closed but the menus are still up.

Let’s go check out Sea Dogs.

This is the longest Big Chicken line I’ve seen. A guy in a white suit came by and told them to swing that line back around so they aren’t blocking the walkway.

I like this spot when there’s nobody directly in front of me. A good view and a wall on each side to provide privacy.

Let’s take a closer look at the Virgin Voyages ship parked right next to us.

If you go on Virgin Voyages, don’t use the bathroom by the gym while you’re in port.

They have a larger selection of inaugural shirts in the Carnival Store inside Pig & Anchor. I need to come back and get one.

Right now I’m getting a bloody mary.

Then I stepped out to The Watering Hole for a Watermelon Crush.

Then I stepped back inside and down to the Bar 820 to try some of the new drinks on their menu.

Key Lime Pie.

The Flamingo.

I have 10 minutes until the Alchemy Bar opens. I’m going back to the room to change for dinner.

I happened to pass by the Cloud 9 price list.

The Alchemy is slammed!

I continued walking down to the 555 Steakhouse bar.

Watermelon Martini.

And another.

Still slammed!

There was one seat available.

Nicola’s Key Lime Pie blows away what they’re doing at Bar 820.

The “let’s dance” song comes on. Nicola screams “Niiiicola.” The other Nicola screams “what?” Nicola screams “Let’s daaaance.” The other Nicola screams “ alriiiight.” Nicola starts to unbutton his jacket. Vlad says “Let’s not.”

Nicola’s strawberry chocolate cheesecake drink.

Hello from the other side or whatever it’s called is being played by a solo violinist downstairs. Nicola is singing Nicola from the other side.

I stepped outside to check out the sunset.

The Circus show is happening at Center Stage.

 I have dinner reservations at Rudi’s.

We dine!

I kind of like this spot because its in the back of the restaurant so people aren’t constantly walking past me. But every time that door opens I get a gust of wind.

Smooth Seas.

This was a steakhouse bar Pedro recommendation. It’s so good.

Coquilles Saint-Jacques
scallops, gratinated cheese sauce, parmesan crumbs.

Seafood Bisque.

Crab cake. I was going for something different. This is an underwhelming main course. 

Relish.

A guy just walked in from the outside area he said “No, we aren’t happy at all. This is bull spit.” And something else I didn’t understand. And he didn’t say spit.

I’m guessing the conditions aren’t great out there. Another couple just moved from outside to inside.

Island Spices. It tastes like chocolate cream pie.

Chocolate truffle cake. It’s not bad but it’s just too much chocolate.

They are giving out these books to every table.

After dinner I was carrying that book back to the room. I was kind of spinning it in my hand as I walked. The plastic is slippery and it…slipped. This is a loud ship at night. But when that little book hit the floor it sounded like I dropped a big book on the floor of the rose room in the New York public library.

Three women jumped and stopped at the same time. I picked the book up pointed it at them and said “I did that on purpose just to see your reaction.” One said “I know you did.”

I get in the elevator to 16. It stops on 10. Two guys get in. One pushes 17. The other pushes 6. The elevator stops on 16. As I’m walking out the guy who pushed 6 says to the other guy “take care of yourself” and starts to step out. I was walking away but I think the other guy caught him and told him he was on 16 not 6.

I got the book I asked my steward for. I’ll leave him something extra tomorrow.

This is what they had in the Main Dining Room tonight.

Jurassic World: Dominion is on the big screen.

I forgot about Seinfeld trivia and was late. But it’s a team situation so it wouldn’t have worked out great for me. I work alone.

Late night comedy in the theater. 

Happy Cole. Happy no longer posts what ship he’s on publicly for personal reasons. That’s why he is no longer on my Punchliner Comedy Schedule. Hopefully that will change at some point but for now he won’t be on it.

80’s Rock-N-Glow party.

Cruise Director Lee.

Lee got out of the leotard fast. This is The Liars Club with comedian Happy Cole, entertainment director Calvin Martens, comedian Cee-Jay Jones, and cruise director Lee Mason.

Good night! Tomorrow we’re in Mahogany Bay.

 

 

 

• Carnival Celebration
• Celebration
• Costa Maya