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The first two voyages we, or I, went to the dining rooms for dinners. You are to be paired with convivial people but we drew a policeman and corporate middle manager. The cop and I waited until dessert to fight.
The next voyage I had a table of singles and a lovely married couple originally from Panama (my wife stayed in Mexico) and they were a treat for my two nights on board. So the big, flashy dining rooms with mediocre food served as if it was 5 star can be fun. Or not.
I now know I prefer the freedom from dressing (one night is even formal), the ability to take my food from the cafeteria style serving area aft onto the deck. It is basically the same without the service and the china. Except the cafeteria has a 24 hour pizza maker and a deli counter with turkey sandwiches,Reubens (which I am not allowed) and smoked salmon on bagels. There is also yet another popular bar and, some nights, bacchanalian dessert spectaculars at midnight but, of course, I stay far away. These are not heart-healthy ships without work and self-control. Others get Black Forest cake and I settle for frozen yogurt.
For those who are cruising rather than traveling — the rest of the 1800 — There is, on the short voyages I take from Miami, a 5 hour stop in Key West the following morning. Then the second day the ship gets to Cozumel about noon (ship time) and stays until about 10PM. People crowd onto tour catamarans, a submarines with windows, party boats, trips to Tulum (recommended and take a bathing suit along), "Jeep Adventure Excursions", the beach at the Playa Azul (our favorite beach on the island, or shopping until dropping, drinking until returning at the last ship's horn blast.
Article comments
1 - Aaman
Nice article - different perspective on cruises.
Fixed some spelling/grammar and removed an email you had put - the format was incorrect, and the email not valid. Please put the correct email address in parentheses as a@b.c
2 - alpha
I always miss a few words, a comma in the wrong place. Email address format eludes me so you were right; people can cut and paste. Besides, International Reservations is for those of us from foreign countries or living in one. Everyone else can go to the website.
Thanks for making the post more readable.
3 - Natalie Davis
Whether a cruise is inexpensive or not is relative. I took a short cruise years ago and enjoyed it, but would be reluctant to do so again because of a fear of communicable illnesses such as Legionnaire's disease.
4 - Phillip Winn
I took a Carnival cruise for my tenth wedding anniversary, and enjoyed it a great deal. There was a bit of security when disembarking at various ports of call. It seemed that they were matching up disembarkers with reembarkers, so if you left the ship and didn't return, they'd be alarmed. I assume you have to let them know you're not getting back on board, yes?
5 - alpha
Natalie: Living in Mexico and using ships I am always very careful of food, especially buffet style anywhere. And, yes, any closed in environmental system - ship, plane, all-inclusive hotel - have potential for contagion. After the last big outbreak it was suggested that not touching others and handwashing often helps. It is a valid worry but less so than one of the fast food chains.
Phillip: security was the last and major problem we had but it is not usual. The "jumping ship" part is always preceded by lots of discussion and forms with the purser and a separate interview with the Mexican Immigration people. Returning I go to the 6:30 AM meeting of "people who are not US citizens or entered in foreign ports. All annoying but less than I gather the normal airport these days.
6 - Natalie Davis
Well, Mr./Ms. Alpha, I don't do fast food restaurants or salad bars or anything. I will fly, but the risk involved is worth it IMO. And I am near pathological about handwashing and not touching people anyway.
7 - alpha
Natalie: My response was general, based on the food-borne dangers here in Mexico. It was never meant to be a reflection on your cleanliness nor valid fears. I thought your worries quite appropriate.
By the way,What does IMO mean? And don't forget I prefaced the post with the problem that not being able to fly, cruise ships are my only way back to the States; so, for me, the risk is also worth it.