October 12, 2024

Day 6 - Cozumel, Mexico

There are varied plans for the day. 6 people are visiting ruins in Tulum, others a beach visit, and a few shopping. Lynn and I elect to remain on the ship.

The Enchantment of the Seas shares our pier. Being one of the smallest ships in the fleet, the difference in size is apparent. The only other ship here today is a Carnival ship.

Most passengers go ashore, leaving the ship nice and peaceful.

The usual stop in the lounge, followed by the ice show "365", then dinner.

I was unable to join several others in Wonderland, so I go to the main dining room for dinner....and another birthday cake from the staff, as today is my actual birthday.

The ship is late in departing as an ambulance was called to take a passenger to the hospital. I don't know if the demographics have changed, or it just larger ships, but I get the feeling that there are more medical emergencies than 10 years ago.

We will cruise at over 20 knots to get back to Port Canveral Sunday morning.


Day 5 Sea Day

The seas remain slight, we are well south of the reach of Milton. Florida is not so fortunate. Milton slams the gulf coast as a category 3 just south of Tampa and proceeds basically straight across the state dropping to a cat 1 as she moved into the Atlantic..

Everyone has concerns about friends in the storms path. Ultimately we determine all ours are safe. So far the worst damage is a couple of ridge cap shingles blown off Lynn's roof.

Eventually I figure out that I can use Alexa to determine if I have power. I do. Friends make a quick external house check to determine everything is OK. We are all lucky, the worst of the storm passed to our south. 

Early in the day we spend a few hours on the pool deck in the shade. Seating is scarce.

Lunch is at the dog house, after which we watch the performers rehearsing for the aqua show. Later we will learn that this is a new cast that will start on the next cruise.  This is one of the few shows where the full cast is changed out at the same time. For most shows only a few performers in the entire cast would be rotated out at the same time.

The "men" in the group have discovered the Mason Jar, a venue that has a very desireable super premium whiskey at a very low price. Low enough that it is covered by the free drink vouchers many of us have.

Since it is expected that I will nor be in the dining room tonight, our waitress presents me with a birthday cake a day early. A surprising nice thouht. The cake even came with a candle, which was carefully guarded by the staff. Candles are strictly prohibited on cruise ships.

After dinner some time in the Trellis Bar in Central Park, before the aqua show. One of the few areas where it is not apparent how many passengers are on the ship.

The high wire artist slipped, but caught herself without injury. Halfway thru the show the skies opened up with a downpour. The swimmers didn't mind, but many in the audience scurried for cover. We all remained dry.

Tomorrow we will be in Cozumel.