Disney Cruise Line Caribbean Cruise - Part 5
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From the moment we set sail from Port Canaveral, it was apparent that the DCL was delighted to finally have an itinerary to Mexico. Everything from the “Welcome Aboard�? banner at the terminal to the fans distributed on the first night to the countless array of margaritas at the bars had a distinctly Latin feel. Cozumel was to be the star attraction on this cruise.
We arrived around breakfast time as the Disney Magic pulled alongside the giant concrete pier protruding into the Gulf of Mexico. A Celebrity cruiser joined us on the island and the disembarking guests were certainly in awe of the majesty of the Magic. Comments like “Gee whiz Ma, why can’t we go home on THAT ship!�? and “My toilet overflowed again last night�? (true comments!) reinforced my conviction that the DCL was the right choice for me!
The DCL had certainly pulled out all of the stops to offer the finest array of excursions available. The selection is varied and it was extremely difficult to select just one. Cozumel is world-famous for its crystal blue waters offering superlative diving, sun-kissed beaches and other aquatic opportunities. However, most of the guests chose one of two trips; the Xcaret Eco archaeological park and the Tulum Ruins. Lindsay and I chose Tulum due to our fascination with the ancient civilisations of Latin America such as the Incas and Aztecs. The ruins are regarded as some of the finest still partially intact in Mexico. Most families chose the Xcaret excursion with its aquarium, bird sanctuary, replicated Mayan village and opportunities to swim in the sea.
To reach the ruins we had to find alternative transportation. My geographical skills must have failed me this trip as I was wholly unaware that Cozumel was actually an island suspended in the Gulf. Unfortunately, the ruins are situated on the mainland. My heart dropped like a lead balloon when a horrifying reality dawned; we would have to take a ferry across the straits to the mainland. The Disney cast were quick to point out that DCL had secured exclusive rights to the only high-speed ferry service on the island (with a few giggles, confirming that Celebrity guests had a rickety diesel “tug boat�? to ferry them to Playa de Costa). However, this did not settle my stomach as it rapidly degenerated into a series of knots and twists, relishing the opportunity to make the trip as miserable and uncomfortable as possible for me. I do not travel well on smaller watercraft, as anything with an engine causes waves of nausea. Although the trip was only twenty minutes, it seemed that the pilot was keen to split every single cresting wave on our journey, to ensure we swayed violently on both axis. Naturally, I was relieved to disembark after spending much of the trip with my head firmly wedged between my legs. Small children taunted me by exaggerating the swaying further.
Unfortunately, the pain was not to subside, as awaiting us on the dock was a series of coaches. Again, I do not travel particularly well on coaches (as can be reaffirmed by our intrepid LP editors who had the pleasure of my company at the Art Classics convention in May on our trip up “The Five�? to the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank). Now, readers might ask, “Why did you choose a cruise if you are such a bad traveller?�? and to that I have no answer. Luckily, Captain Henry and his crew ensured that the Magic never made be feel queasy, not even once.
An excitable young-looking guide, short in stature, hosted the trip to Tulum. He had been educated in Texas and his English was simply impeccable and his knowledge of the area was in exhaustive. We stopped half-way down the interstate at a tourist rest stop, selling a host of local wares, but more critically; fluid. The temperature was simply unbearable, and the dramatic temperature climb from the air-conditioned coach to the 100-degree direct sun of Mexico sapped every ounce of liquid from your body.
Once we arrived at Tulum, the coach was immediately bombarded with hordes of street vendors, hawking everything from liquid refreshment to “local�? wares (although several did have “Made in Taiwan�? stamped clearly on the base). Our guide quickly moved them on and we made our way to the Disney-esque tram system that would take us to the ruins themselves. The trams chugged their way down a dirt track, passing visitors reluctant to pass with the couple of hundred pesos that secured passage. As they grabbed their waterpacks with every other pace, it was apparent that the price was good value.