Carnival Valor 2017 4-Day Caribbean Cruise Review
Day 3 Part 1 June 24, 2017 Cozumel, Mexico
Scheduled Arrival: 9:00am Scheduled Departure: 6:00pm
Actual Arrival: 9:45am Actual Departure: Around 6:30pm
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Day 3 Part 1 June 24, 2017 Cozumel, Mexico
Scheduled Arrival: 9:00am Scheduled Departure: 6:00pm
Actual Arrival: 9:45am Actual Departure: Around 6:30pm
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Breakfast #2 at Rosie's Lido Buffet:
Since today was our Cozumel port of call day, I expected the buffet to be crowded. However, this was not the case. The breakfast buffet on this cruise was not crowded when it opened. Rosie's served continental breakfast from 6:30am - 10:00am and the general breakfast buffet lines were open from 7:00am through 10:00am. The Blue Iguana Cantina served breakfast tacos and burritos from 7:00am - 10:30am too. For cruisers that wanted to eat in the dining room, the Washington Dining Room was having open seating from 7:30am - 9:30am. For late risers, Rosie's was serving a late risers breakfast buffet from 10:00am - 12:00pm. I took some pictures of the breakfast buffet lines to show what types of food were available during my cruise. Here are the pictures:
Since today was our Cozumel port of call day, I expected the buffet to be crowded. However, this was not the case. The breakfast buffet on this cruise was not crowded when it opened. Rosie's served continental breakfast from 6:30am - 10:00am and the general breakfast buffet lines were open from 7:00am through 10:00am. The Blue Iguana Cantina served breakfast tacos and burritos from 7:00am - 10:30am too. For cruisers that wanted to eat in the dining room, the Washington Dining Room was having open seating from 7:30am - 9:30am. For late risers, Rosie's was serving a late risers breakfast buffet from 10:00am - 12:00pm. I took some pictures of the breakfast buffet lines to show what types of food were available during my cruise. Here are the pictures:
Main Breakfast Buffet Line
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Main Breakfast Buffet Line
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Main Breakfast Buffet Line
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Main Breakfast Buffet Line
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Continental Breakfast Buffet Line
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Continental Breakfast Buffet Line
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Continental Breakfast Buffet Line
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Continental Breakfast Buffet Line
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Continental Breakfast Buffet Line
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Main Breakfast Buffet Line
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Continental Breakfast Buffet Line
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Continental Breakfast Buffet Line
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Here are a few pictures of my breakfast plates from this morning's breakfast:
Omelet
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Hash Browns, Bacon, and Pastry
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Two Pastries
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Getting Closer To Cozumel, Mexico:
Our scheduled arrival was 9:00am. However, the ship docked around 9:45am. After eating breakfast I walked outside and went up to the Panorama Deck (11) to see our arrival into Cozumel. My camera lenses surprisingly did not become fogged like I expected. I was able to take several pictures of the ship's arrival in Cozumel. The Carnival Fantasy was sailing a few miles closer to shore than us and docked about 10-15 minutes prior to us at the same pier complex. Around 8:45am, our captain made an announcement that we were docking late. He did not provide a reason, but extended our time in Cozumel by 30 minutes. I have a feeling our weather delay from the first day was part of the reason why we were late.
Our scheduled arrival was 9:00am. However, the ship docked around 9:45am. After eating breakfast I walked outside and went up to the Panorama Deck (11) to see our arrival into Cozumel. My camera lenses surprisingly did not become fogged like I expected. I was able to take several pictures of the ship's arrival in Cozumel. The Carnival Fantasy was sailing a few miles closer to shore than us and docked about 10-15 minutes prior to us at the same pier complex. Around 8:45am, our captain made an announcement that we were docking late. He did not provide a reason, but extended our time in Cozumel by 30 minutes. I have a feeling our weather delay from the first day was part of the reason why we were late.
Carnival Fantasy
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Cozumel In The Distance
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Small Lighthouse Along Cozumel Shoreline
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As we got closer to docking, the pilot boat approached us. From the front decks of Deck 11, I watched the pilot boat stop at the Carnival Fantasy and then proceed over to us.
Pilot Boat About To Sail Behind Us
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Pilot Boat Ready To Get Alongside Us
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Pilot Boat Alongside Us
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Carnival Fantasy Getting Closer To Docking
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Puerta Maya Pier In The Distance
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Cozumel
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Arrival & Docking In Cozumel, Mexico:
The Carnival Valor, like most of my cruises to Cozumel in the past, was scheduled to dock at Puerta Maya Pier. This pier is affiliated with Carnival Corporation and typically Carnival ships will dock here. Last year when I cruised to Cozumel on the Carnival Triumph, three ships docked at Puerta Maya. However, for this cruise's Cozumel day there would only be two ships using the pier complex. The Carnival Valor and Carnival Fantasy were the only ships to dock at Puerta Maya Pier on this day. As we were approaching Puerta Maya Pier, the Carnival Fantasy was just getting fully docked. By the time our ropes were being tied, the Carnival Fantasy's passengers were already getting off the ship to head into Cozumel.
The Carnival Valor, like most of my cruises to Cozumel in the past, was scheduled to dock at Puerta Maya Pier. This pier is affiliated with Carnival Corporation and typically Carnival ships will dock here. Last year when I cruised to Cozumel on the Carnival Triumph, three ships docked at Puerta Maya. However, for this cruise's Cozumel day there would only be two ships using the pier complex. The Carnival Valor and Carnival Fantasy were the only ships to dock at Puerta Maya Pier on this day. As we were approaching Puerta Maya Pier, the Carnival Fantasy was just getting fully docked. By the time our ropes were being tied, the Carnival Fantasy's passengers were already getting off the ship to head into Cozumel.
Ship's Front With Our Pier In the Distance
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Our Leg Of the Pier
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View Of Resorts & Hotels In The Distance
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Our Pier
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View As The Ship Gets Closer
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Tip End OF the Pier - Workers Were Ready To Tie Ship Up
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Looking Down At The Pier
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Shops Located On The Pier
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Pilot Boat Near Us As We Docked
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Shortly after the Carnival Valor's ropes were tied to the pier, the gangways were put out. A few minutes later, passengers started pouring out of the gangways.
View Our Side & The Carnival Fantasy
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Two Gangways Put Out
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People Walking On the Pier
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Towel Animal Monkey
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Before going ashore we stopped by our stateroom to grab our passports for photo identification. Between the time of us leaving for breakfast and watching the ship's Cozumel arrival, our stateroom steward stopped by to clean our stateroom. He left a towel animal monkey hanging from one of the upper corners of the stateroom.
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Getting Off The Ship To Go To Cozumel:
Around 10am, we decided to get off the ship. There was a long line at the gangway because the lines were backed up due to the ship's photographers. Once our Sail & Sign cards were scanned, we were able to proceed down the gangway. The ship's photographers were waiting at the bottom of the gangway to take pictures of each cruiser. I did not want my picture taken because I knew I was not going to buy it. We used the middle gangway to disembark the ship, but this gangway was closed about 10 minutes after we got off due to the ship's staff only wanting to use the forward gangway. The middle gangway was reopened later in the afternoon to help get passengers back on the ship faster. Both gangways were located on the Carnival Valor's Deck 0, which is normally off-limits to guests.
After getting off, it was time to walk down the pier. I enjoyed taking some pictures of the ship as I walked into Cozumel:
Around 10am, we decided to get off the ship. There was a long line at the gangway because the lines were backed up due to the ship's photographers. Once our Sail & Sign cards were scanned, we were able to proceed down the gangway. The ship's photographers were waiting at the bottom of the gangway to take pictures of each cruiser. I did not want my picture taken because I knew I was not going to buy it. We used the middle gangway to disembark the ship, but this gangway was closed about 10 minutes after we got off due to the ship's staff only wanting to use the forward gangway. The middle gangway was reopened later in the afternoon to help get passengers back on the ship faster. Both gangways were located on the Carnival Valor's Deck 0, which is normally off-limits to guests.
After getting off, it was time to walk down the pier. I enjoyed taking some pictures of the ship as I walked into Cozumel:
Ship's Side - View From The Gangway
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Ship's Side - View From The Gangway
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Carnival Valor's Mid Ship Gangway - It Was About To Close
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Carnival Valor's Side - View From The Ship
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Carnival Valor
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Carnival Valor
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Carnival Fantasy
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Life Preserver That Says Puerta Maya
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View Of The Carnival Valor
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Before we were allowed off the pier, we had to walk through a long shopping area. Each time I am in Cozumel, I hate walking through these shops on Puerta Maya's pier. The workers are pushy and the spaces are crowded. After getting out of the shops, we had to go through an agricultural inspection. All cruisers with bags had to lay these on the floor and let a dog sniff them. There was a man that cut me in line and he got in trouble for not wanting to put his bag on the floor. The authority got a loud rude tone with the man to get him to cooperate. He did not have any fruit or food items, so I do not understand why he did not want his bag to touch the floor. The local authorities were looking for food and fruits that were brought into the country illegally. Most violators had their food confiscated, but the authorities did have the right to issue a fine (or worse).
Entrance To The Shops On The Pier
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Agricultural Checkpoint
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Three Amigos Bar Area
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Following the agricultural inspection, we were free to roam around the Puerta Maya shops or go elsewhere in Cozumel. We walked around and took a 2-3 minute walk to a mini beach that is a part of Puerta Maya. Puerta Maya has several places to shop, eat, drink, and look. The tropical look and feel of Puerta Maya offers several great areas to take some pictures.
Sign That Had Time and Ship's Names
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Puerta Maya
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Puerta Maya
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Tropical Palm Tree
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Little Beach Area Setup With Tables
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Shops
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Each time I am in Cozumel, this beach is one of my favorite stops at Puerta Maya. This is because this area offers a great look at the ships.
Carnival Valor & Carnival Fantasy
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Carnival Valor & Carnival Fantasy
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Looking Towards The Shops On the Pier
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Pancho's Backyard located at Puerta Maya
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Beach Areas' Tables and Chairs
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Hammocks Located Around The Beach Area
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Looking Towards A Different Cruise Ship Pier
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Donkey
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Puerta Maya
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Los Cincos Soles - Shop
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Puerta Maya
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Puerta Maya
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Crossing The Street To Leave Puerta Maya:
After walking around Puerta Maya for a little while, we crossed the street to see other shops and areas. This was no longer a part of Puerta Maya. Crossing the street was a little dangerous this time because there was no crossing guard. Typically, a crossing guard was present in this area on past cruises to make sure people safely crossed the street. The shops and areas located across from Puerta Maya have slightly cheaper prices for some of the same things sold in stores closer to the ship. We stopped at a Seven Eleven and got bottled glass Coca-Cola (with real sugar) priced at 2 for $1.00. The prices in the store were in pesos, but a local that was shopping in the store gave us an estimate of how much that would cost in US dollars. When we got to the cash register, the cashier accepted our US dollars and told us the actual price was two for one dollar.
After walking around Puerta Maya for a little while, we crossed the street to see other shops and areas. This was no longer a part of Puerta Maya. Crossing the street was a little dangerous this time because there was no crossing guard. Typically, a crossing guard was present in this area on past cruises to make sure people safely crossed the street. The shops and areas located across from Puerta Maya have slightly cheaper prices for some of the same things sold in stores closer to the ship. We stopped at a Seven Eleven and got bottled glass Coca-Cola (with real sugar) priced at 2 for $1.00. The prices in the store were in pesos, but a local that was shopping in the store gave us an estimate of how much that would cost in US dollars. When we got to the cash register, the cashier accepted our US dollars and told us the actual price was two for one dollar.
Sign Near The Entrance Of Puerta Maya
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Fountain Located Near The Entrance / Exit
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Sign Telling People To Be Careful
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Sign With Distances
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Street Crowded With Cars & Taxis
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Picture Of A Shop's Interior
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Walking By Another Shop
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Fish SPA - Never Heard Of These Things Before
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Tables Around A Shopping Area
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Parked Taxi
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Area Near Hard Rock Cafe
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Shopping Mall Area
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As we continued walking around, we were constantly bombarded with requests from shopkeepers to come visit their stores. Also, we were constantly hounded about paying for a taxi. Since we had no plans to go too far, we did not pay to ride a taxi. Next time we are in Cozumel, we are planning on paying for a taxi to take us to Punta Langosta (which is located in the downtown area of Cozumel).
Shopping Mall Area
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Shopping Mall Area - View From Upstairs
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Shopping Mall Area - View From Upstairs
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Looking Down At The Street
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Looking Down At The Street
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Walking Back Along The Street
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Cozumel
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Turtles
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Shopping Mall Area
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Shopping Mall Area
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Shopping Mall Area
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Shopping Mall Area
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Walking Along The Streets of Cozumel
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Walking Along The Streets of Cozumel
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Crossing The Street
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After walking several blocks on one side of the street, we crossed the street again to begin walking back towards Puerta Maya.
Carnival Fantasy's Back - View From Street
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Beach Area That Belonged To A Resort/Hotel
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Several Cars Parked Along The Street
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Royal Village Shopping Center - View From Across The Street
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Diamonds International - View From Across The Street
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Royal Village Shopping Center - View From Across The Street
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Looking Down A Side Street
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7-Eleven Where We Stopped For Cokes
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Walking Along The Street
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Getting Close To Puerta Maya's Entrance
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View Across The Street From Puerta Maya
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View Across The Street From Puerta Maya
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Several people were walking back to Puerta Maya from across the street and the blocks adjacent to the shopping complex. There are big block letters that spell Puerta Maya as you re-enter the area, but several people were taking pictures there so I was not able to get a good picture of those letters.
Walking Back Into Puerta Maya
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Puerta Maya
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Taxis
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After walking around Puerta Maya some more, we walked back by the little beach area. The Empress of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean ship, was in the process of docking at a different pier.
Puerta Maya
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Empress of the Seas
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Carnival Fantasy & Empress of the Seas
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Water Touching The Shoreline
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Puerta Maya
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Walking Around Puerta Maya
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Walking Around Puerta Maya
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Walking Around Puerta Maya
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Walking Around Puerta Maya
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