Gorgeous sunrise.
For those of you who do not cruise, you might not realize how hard it is to see a great sunrise.  There is so much cloud cover in the early morning.  Maybe it is just fog because of the contrast in sea and air temperatures.  But a crisp sunset is far more common than a crisp sunrise.

This one is through a sea-splattered window… so it was never going to be crisp. 

Early breakfast.  This time we had a window seat in the Washington Dining Room. 

Tab had been up all night long with emesis.  She was not feeling well at all. 

Though it was a smaller, “Port Day” breakfast menu, it was exceedingly generous.

I enjoyed another parfait.

As did Marie.

And Nigel.

This would become my breakfast go-to.  Poached eggs on avocado toast. 

The birthday boy enjoyed his frittata.

We went back to the stateroom briefly to grab our gear and that was the first time I noticed that our daily news papers were personalized!

It was raining on and off and had slowed to a sprinkle as we disembarked.

But it started pouring again as we waited for our excursion.

The girls dodged raindrops to take a few cheesy photos.

And in a short while we were escorted to our catamaran for our jaunt to the north end of Cozumel.

This marks my third time to Cozumel and the rest of the family’s second time. 

Our first trip was in 2016 when it was a port for our Norwegian Cruise.  In fact, that stop was the whole REASON I had picked the cruise I picked; I wanted to go to Playa Mia.  Here is a link to that day.  However, our take home from that day was that the sand was unpleasant and the beach was kind of yucky.  I learned after the trip that the sand on the north side of the island is different than the sand on the west side where most of the beach clubs are.

I visited again in 2018 with Jenn.  Although I was not eager to visit the west side again, we weren’t eager to spend any more than the minimum on our excursions.  We got into a group with a discounted rate to visit a club on the west side (Nachi Cocum).

When we picked this Carnival Cruise we did so because of its rock-bottom-low-price.  That left us a little wiggle room to splurge for an excursion to the north side of the island.

We had about a 40 minute ride to Pasion de Isla.

We passed the Disney Fantasy.  I am SO GLAD we weren’t in the same port.  Speeding past it was enough to tempt me.

It was a smooth ride and though it had rained on and off on our way, the sun was really breaking through as we arrived.

Tab was holding it together, but she was exhausted.

Let me confirm right now that the sand was exquisite.

We got the spiel on what is and is not included and how you can add on 572 different options to make your day nothing short of paradise.  (We passed on most.)

We found spots and started to the water.  It was a while before I remember to take some photos.

Now, I was not at all interested in sleeping through any of my beach day, but if I were going to allow myself a nap I can think of no better place on earth than in the sand in the Caribbean, canIgetawitness?

Non-alcoholic and well-alcoholic beverages were included.  We had plenty of the former and none of the latter.

Lunch was good.  The guac was not as good here as at Nachi Cocum last year, but it was still better than I what I buy at ALDI or Walmart. 

Before we knew it they were telling us it was time to return. 

I took a bunch of photos as we were leaving as if I could somehow capture this place and take it home.

I bought some vanilla for me and my friend Tiffany.  I confess I was a little worried we’d get home and find out it was water.  LOL.

Back on deck we took quick swims, got more drinks, and moved through the stages of cleaning up.

Marie drew a while on deck.

And we went to dinner.  Poor Tab was still tired and her appetite had not yet returned.

Prettier than it tasted.

You don’t say?

Ratatouille.

Blobbity-glob-glob??

I was ready for something a little simpler.

Do you see the Hidden Mickey?

Not going to lie – we gobbled dessert, quickly ordered Stewart’s dinner for tomorrow, threw the girls into, walked the girls carefully to their Club Ocean…

And watched Endgame.

Marvel on a cruise ship with coffee at my side.  I’m not sure there is much more you could offer me this side of Heaven.  (Just kidding. Sort of.)

John found Tab and I loungers half-way through the movie.  This is where we had been sitting and where they sat.

In case you missed it.

Probably not his idea of the best birthday ever, but it didn’t stink.  (He’s not that into beaches.)