LauraS3

The ship is refurbished and is kept very clean. The food was good in the dining room, but service is sometimes very slow. Food in the cafeteria was good too. It was nice that the boat did not have any other restaurants where you have to pay an upcharge (for better food), food was delicious without paying more. Room stewards were very attentive, friendly, and kept everything clean. We were suppose to got to Cayman and Cozumel, but because of 35mph winds we could not tender in Cayman, so went on to Cozumel. Basically spent 4 days cruising, and one day docked in Cozumel. Our shore excursions where refunded, but my child was disappointmented because this is the 2nd time we booked the Stingray City tour and the 2nd time we were unable to go because of wind. In Cozumel, we paid $10 for 2 people to go 2/3 of mile down to Caleta marina to scuba dive with an independent vendor. Carnival paid to restore the old pier at Puerto Maya where they docked. It was destroyed in one of the hurricanes and sat in ruins for several years. (Saw it on the last 2 trips to Cozumel). Ships usually come in to downtown Cozumel where the shopping is competitive. Prices are high at Puerto Maya. The new refurbished dock and shops at Puerto Maya are encircled with a fence/wall, and the only way out is through a thatched roof area where all the taxis are parked with their posted prices. It is a few miles to downtown. I did not buy anything but a t-shirt $5 and some liquor(because I knew what the liquor cost back home). I remembered what all those souveniers cost on my last 2 trips over a 6 years time span. There is no way inflation is 50-120% in Cozumel. Maybe just at this port, hmmm? So if you wanted to leave Puerto Maya to shop downtown and save some money on souveniers, the taxi ride will be about $18-$20 there and back. They gotcha.