Carnival Triumph 2016 4-Day Caribbean Cruise Review
Day 3 Part 1 June 18, 2016 Cozumel, Mexico Arrival: 7:00AM Departure: 4:30PM
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Day 3 Part 1 June 18, 2016 Cozumel, Mexico Arrival: 7:00AM Departure: 4:30PM
Click Any Photo To Make It Larger!
Waking Up & Towel Animals By The Ship's Lido Pool:
The Carnival Triumph's Lido Deck pool area was lined with towel animals in the morning. Immediately after walking outside of the atrium, guests were greeted with multiple towel animals. Some of these towel animals I recognized from being left in my staterooms on past cruises, but others I had never seen before. While many would conclude this is a waste of towels, many children as well as adults enjoyed walking around looking at the towel animals. Here are some photos of the main lido pool area lined with towel animals:
The Carnival Triumph's Lido Deck pool area was lined with towel animals in the morning. Immediately after walking outside of the atrium, guests were greeted with multiple towel animals. Some of these towel animals I recognized from being left in my staterooms on past cruises, but others I had never seen before. While many would conclude this is a waste of towels, many children as well as adults enjoyed walking around looking at the towel animals. Here are some photos of the main lido pool area lined with towel animals:
Arrival & Docking In Cozumel, Mexico:
The Carnival Triumph was scheduled to dock at Puerta Maya Pier at 7:00am. This pier is affiliated with Carnival Corporation and typically Carnival ships will dock here. Last year when I cruised to Cozumel on the Carnival Elation, Puerta Maya was undergoing a pier expansion that would allow 3 ships to dock at once. The construction was completed prior to this year and the Carnival Triumph docked at the new leg of the pier. The Carnival Paradise was already docked when we arrived and the Carnival Sensation was scheduled to join us later in the day.
I was a little bummed with the weather. Our first sea day had nearly perfect weather and I was hoping Cozumel would be the same way. However, it was not raining as we were docking in Cozumel.
The Carnival Triumph was scheduled to dock at Puerta Maya Pier at 7:00am. This pier is affiliated with Carnival Corporation and typically Carnival ships will dock here. Last year when I cruised to Cozumel on the Carnival Elation, Puerta Maya was undergoing a pier expansion that would allow 3 ships to dock at once. The construction was completed prior to this year and the Carnival Triumph docked at the new leg of the pier. The Carnival Paradise was already docked when we arrived and the Carnival Sensation was scheduled to join us later in the day.
I was a little bummed with the weather. Our first sea day had nearly perfect weather and I was hoping Cozumel would be the same way. However, it was not raining as we were docking in Cozumel.
Breakfast At The South Beach Club:
Breakfast was served earlier today because of the ship's early arrival in Cozumel. When breakfast started many cruisers were already awake and lined up for breakfast. The scheduled breakfast time for South Beach Club was 6:30am - 10:30am. For cruisers that did not want to eat in the buffet the Paris Dining Room had an open breakfast seating time from 6:30am - 8:30am.
Once again, I ate an omelet, bacon, and hash browns. The service at the omelet station was quick considering there were many people already lined up. Here are some pictures from breakfast:
Breakfast was served earlier today because of the ship's early arrival in Cozumel. When breakfast started many cruisers were already awake and lined up for breakfast. The scheduled breakfast time for South Beach Club was 6:30am - 10:30am. For cruisers that did not want to eat in the buffet the Paris Dining Room had an open breakfast seating time from 6:30am - 8:30am.
Once again, I ate an omelet, bacon, and hash browns. The service at the omelet station was quick considering there were many people already lined up. Here are some pictures from breakfast:
After eating breakfast, I wanted to walk on the ship's open decks and take a look at Cozumel. I started on Deck 10 and walked towards the ship's front. I enjoyed looking at Cozumel and the Carnival Paradise.
While I was outside, I also took a few more pictures of the ship's main pool area:
Getting Off The Ship To Go To Cozumel:
In the early morning, we got off the ship. There was a short 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. Unfortunately, it started raining right as we got off the ship. The rain was heavy and walking on the pier was not fun. Due to this rain, I did not take many pictures of the ships. This was because I did not want my camera lenses to get wet. However, I did take a few pictures of the ship on the pier by using a hat to cover the top of my camera. This may sound like a crazy idea, but I really wanted some pictures!
In the early morning, we got off the ship. There was a short 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. Unfortunately, it started raining right as we got off the ship. The rain was heavy and walking on the pier was not fun. Due to this rain, I did not take many pictures of the ships. This was because I did not want my camera lenses to get wet. However, I did take a few pictures of the ship on the pier by using a hat to cover the top of my camera. This may sound like a crazy idea, but I really wanted some pictures!
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 a little 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. 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).
One thing I always like about Puerta Maya is the little beach that is close to the pier. Each time I am here, I try to take some pictures of the ships that are docked. Thankfully, the rain had stopped and I was able to use my camera freely without worrying about getting the lenses wet.
Our shore excursion was scheduled to begin at 9am and we were told to be at a meeting point by 8:45am. One of the tour guides was there early and taking tickets. We had to sign the back of our tickets to acknowledge the weather. It sounded like it would be nearly impossible to get a refund if we declined to sign. We signed the tickets and were able to go on the tour.
Shore Excursion - "Ancient Culture/Mayan Ruins & Island Sightseeing":
Typically, in Cozumel we do not pay for shore excursions, but this time we wanted to see some of the island's Mayan Ruins. Our tour was called "Ancient Culture/Mayan Ruins & Island Sightseeing". The tour was only offered once during the day at 9am. Our tour's description said we would be driven around Cozumel's main city, given a guided tour of San Gervasio, and have a quick trip to a beach. The drive around Cozumel was a little disappointing because the weather was cloudy, but the buses windows were fogged up. This meant I could barely see out and could not take any pictures. After about 40 minutes of being in the bus, the fog on the windows began to dissipate. We were shown the city as our bus driver took us to San Gervasio.
Typically, in Cozumel we do not pay for shore excursions, but this time we wanted to see some of the island's Mayan Ruins. Our tour was called "Ancient Culture/Mayan Ruins & Island Sightseeing". The tour was only offered once during the day at 9am. Our tour's description said we would be driven around Cozumel's main city, given a guided tour of San Gervasio, and have a quick trip to a beach. The drive around Cozumel was a little disappointing because the weather was cloudy, but the buses windows were fogged up. This meant I could barely see out and could not take any pictures. After about 40 minutes of being in the bus, the fog on the windows began to dissipate. We were shown the city as our bus driver took us to San Gervasio.
San Gervasio:
In order to enter San Gervasio, we were given a ticket and a wristband. It took a few minutes for the entire tour group to exit the bus and walk to the site's entrance. Each individual group had their pictures taken by a local. These photos would be available for sale after the tour was completed. Our shore excursion tour guide led us around San Gervasio. Throughout the tour he gave us facts and information about the Mayan people. Since the weather was cloudy, the temperature was not too hot. This was the plus side of having cloudy weather.
San Gervasio does not contain the large pyramids that many people think of when they hear about Mayan ruins. These ruins were smaller, but had a large historical significance to the Mayan people.
In order to enter San Gervasio, we were given a ticket and a wristband. It took a few minutes for the entire tour group to exit the bus and walk to the site's entrance. Each individual group had their pictures taken by a local. These photos would be available for sale after the tour was completed. Our shore excursion tour guide led us around San Gervasio. Throughout the tour he gave us facts and information about the Mayan people. Since the weather was cloudy, the temperature was not too hot. This was the plus side of having cloudy weather.
San Gervasio does not contain the large pyramids that many people think of when they hear about Mayan ruins. These ruins were smaller, but had a large historical significance to the Mayan people.
Our shore excursion booklet on the Carnival Triumph had a small fact in fine print that read, "Per government regulations, guests who would like to enter ruins with small video cameras will be charged $4.00. Professional video equipment is not permitted". After we had our tickets checked, cruisers with video cameras were given the opportunity to pay the small charge. However, regular digital photo cameras were allowed in free of charge. Since I use a digital camera I was able to use it for free.
The following photos were taken all around San Gervasio. Due to me not knowing the significance of each ruin, path, or area, I am unable to give a proper label. These photos do not have captions and are in a photo gallery format for easy viewing.
The following photos were taken all around San Gervasio. Due to me not knowing the significance of each ruin, path, or area, I am unable to give a proper label. These photos do not have captions and are in a photo gallery format for easy viewing.
Leaving San Gervasio & Heading To The Beach:
After our guided tour of San Gervasio, we were given about 30 minutes to walk around the historical site on our own. Our tour guide set a time, but this was a problem because our tour had people from the Carnival Paradise and Carnival Triumph. The Carnival Paradise's passengers were still using Florida's local time and the Carnival Triumph's passengers were still using Louisiana's local time. The tour guide had to think of a way of making sure everyone knew when to be back on the excursion bus. Most people were back on-time and we were able to start our journey to the beach.
After our guided tour of San Gervasio, we were given about 30 minutes to walk around the historical site on our own. Our tour guide set a time, but this was a problem because our tour had people from the Carnival Paradise and Carnival Triumph. The Carnival Paradise's passengers were still using Florida's local time and the Carnival Triumph's passengers were still using Louisiana's local time. The tour guide had to think of a way of making sure everyone knew when to be back on the excursion bus. Most people were back on-time and we were able to start our journey to the beach.
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