Buenos días! Estamos en Cozumel, Mexico. Ok, that about covers the extent of my high school Spanish. It’s overcast, and as we made our approach into Cozumel, we hit a few scattered showers. With only a few small sightings of blue sky, we were glad there was nothing specific scheduled for today’s agenda. The only important goal was going ashore long enough to stock up on vanilla extract and maybe a little Mexican candy.
Disney Cruise Line docks at the Punta Langosta pier in Cozumel, or as Scott puts it, the good pier. Most other cruise lines dock further down the coast at the Puerta Maya terminal. The major difference here? Punta Langosta drops you in the center of town, literally into a strip mall that opens up to the main coastal drag where all the prime shopping is, if you can call it that in Cozumel. Puerta Maya, on the other hand, has little to nothing directly at the port, requiring you to either grab a taxi to reach the shopping district or book an excursion. There’s not a whole lot down that way for just carousing by foot.
This was perfect for us, as the few things we wanted were steps away from the ship. With the rain on and off, we thought we’d grab a break in the rain to head ashore around 10:30. Making our way down to the gangway, we were greeted with one of Disney’s little perks, they were handing out ponchos for guests to help avoid the liquid sunshine.
The initial all ashore was 8:45, with all aboard at 4:45. More than enough time to spend on this particular island off the coast of Cancun. While we were the only ship docked at Punta Langosta, the Puerta Maya terminal was packed with four ships, RC Enchantment of the Seas, Norwegian Viva, Carnival Valor, Carnival Paradise, and Carnival Jubilee.
While there is a definite convenience factor to the shopping center right at the pier, this is a location where you have to be ready for vendors sitting outside the shops and constant invitations to come see their wares. In many places you go, a simple “no, thank you” suffices to get them to move on to the next unsuspecting victim. Here, they’ll persist and often follow you for a few steps trying to get you to come back. It’s to the point that I recommend not even making eye contact and not breaking stride. This is one of the worst ports we visit in that regard. Coincidentally, it’s our second least favorite next to Nassau.
There are a few worthwhile excursions to book if you’ve never done them. In past visits, we’ve done a chocolate and piñata-making workshop, swum with dolphins, and visited the San Gervasio Mayan Ruins. I would recommend any of the excursions that include the chocolate workshops and crafting for kids. For the adults, there are also a number that incorporate tequila demonstrations along with it. If beach visits are your thing, you’ll need to book an excursion to reach them, as none are within walking distance from this pier.
The shopping available in the port is typical of what you’ll find on pretty much every island. The chain jewelry stores like Diamonds International, junk trinkets, and the obligatory Cariloha and Del Sol. Sprinkled in will always be a few destination-specific features, but for the most part, it’s same same. Of course, you won’t walk far for a Starbucks, and Señor Frog’s is waiting at the end of the shops.
During one of our previous sailings that stopped in Cozumel, our server told us about the Mega Store, stating that this was one of the favorite ports for crew simply because of this. He said that it is common for crew members who have time to go into port to end up with shopping lists from their cabin mates and friends to restock the essentials.
Since curiosity got the best of us, and we were thinking about getting a gift to leave for Ida when he returns to the ship next week, we decided to take advantage of a break in the rain to walk the few blocks down and check it out.
We’ll call it the Mexican Super Walmart. A large two-story general store that sold everything from groceries to appliances, as in full refrigerators and large flat-screen TVs. Of course, we had to walk around and see what treasures we could find. Not surprisingly, we also bumped into one of our baristas who was filling his cart. The fresh bakery items, in particular, caught our attention, and while there was a temptation to try some, the combination of not being able to take them back onboard along with the flies that were enjoying their samples made it a thanks, but no thanks.
With gift cards, vanilla, and Mexican candy in tow, that pretty much sums up Cozumel, back to the ship!
The afternoon was spent out on the Cove Deck visiting with the deck 13 family before the winds and rain really kicked up, sending everyone scattering for cover.
Dinner at Plaza De Coco on Disney Treasure
Fittingly, as we pushed off from the Mexican coast, our dinner was our first at Plaza de Coco. This particular restaurant is themed after a Mexican outdoor plaza, complete with a mariachi band serenading throughout the meal, with visits from Miguel and Abuelita to make sure you’re eating enough.
Now, last night we commented on the slow service. Tonight, they were on a mission to make it up to us. My Arnold Palmer was waiting for me on the table as we walked up. Then, as soon as we were seated, Deniz came over to apologize again for the previous evening’s experience and presented our daughter with a souvenir alebrijes sipper cup. If you’re like me and haven’t seen Coco, alebrijes are magical spirit guides that can shape-shift.
Over the course of the meal, we received the level of service we are accustomed to on DCL. Orders were taken in a timely fashion, and while we were served our appetizers, we received a complimentary bottle of prosecco. As my wife and I don’t drink, we asked if my mother would like it, and she enjoyed a few glasses with dinner. Ours was graciously exchanged for a bottle of Cloudem. We didn’t ask for any of this and didn’t even expect it. It was appreciated, though, and this is a nod to the lengths they are willing to go to ensure you are not just satisfied but happy with your experience.
We were looking forward to another new menu with Mexican cuisine, and it was wonderful both in selection and taste. I hit a variety of dishes, starting with the chorizo street croquettes and shrimp Diabla, then moving to the chicken tortilla soup. There was a need to do some sampling for the entrées, combining the red capsicum and green parsley grilled snapper with the beef short ribs.
The croquettes were incredible, resembling a mozzarella log filled with cornmeal and cotija cheese and drizzled with a chili-lime crema. While they were very good, they also sat a little heavy. I wanted to eat all three, but I was concerned I’d fill up too much to enjoy the rest of the meal, so I left one for the kid to try. The shrimp were decent, nothing to write home about.
The tortilla soup would have been more adequately named enchilada soup, as the consistency was closer to a tomato paste with a rich flavor. It could have used more shreds of chicken but wasn’t bad.
The pace through the first courses was pleasant. Not rushed, not too slow. As I said, they were making every effort to not leave us hanging. As I stated on day one, they do have multiple tables, and I think some of the others were needing a little more of their attention, and last night we kind of fell through the cracks a bit.
Snapper is one of my favorite fish, and this entrée offered two pieces, each with a different sauce on top. I liked both, but the red capsicum (red bell pepper) was the winner for me. When it came to the braised short rib, my expectations were high, as it was fork-tender and basically melted with the smallest amount of pressure. It fell short in the flavor department, though. Something that was obviously slow-cooked, you would expect to have absorbed a lot of juices and seasoning. Nope, nada. Just roast beef.
The best thing on either plate? The fried yucca. And I mean that in a good way. Yucca is a starchy root vegetable similar to a potato. While they looked like simple fried potato logs, the texture was light and the flavor offered a sweetness that was unexpected. You could almost make that into a dessert. Roll it in cinnamon sugar and serve it with a little chocolate or dulce de leche sauce.
Did I mention dessert? Again, there were too many options to leave anything out, so between the table we got Tía Gloria’s Flan Queso, the Mexican Chocolate Tart, Mama Coco’s Coffee Crème, and the Margarita Lime Cheesecake. Mixed reviews all around. I didn’t try the chocolate tart as I, unlike my daughter, read the description. Spiced chocolate crème. She was about halfway through it when she paused long enough between mouthfuls to have the spice kick in. The rest of us got a good laugh at her expense.
The margarita cheesecake was closer to a mousse, which we’ve noticed a lot the last two weeks. To quote Inigo Montoya, “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” It was lacking in anything spectacular, receiving a “meh.”
With the description of the coffee crème, I had visions of Animal Kingdom Lodge’s zebra domes that have reached the level of “must-haves” in WDW. Another disappointment. It actually lacked any flavor at all and was still frozen in the middle, clearly not having adequate time to defrost prior to serving.
Flan to the rescue! This was creamy and sweet enough, but not too sweet, with just enough glaze to accent the smooth flavor. I could have eaten six more.
The Evening on Stage
Following dinner, we caught a little evening entertainment. Starting off in the Sarabi Theater was a stage show billed as Choose Wisely: An Indiana Jones Comedy Adventure. This sketch comedy recreated some scenes from the Indiana Jones franchise with a twist. As each scene came to a pivotal moment, they paused to ask the audience how to proceed in a “choose your fate” style. It led to some interesting alternative endings. It was performed in an over-the-top acting style that made Jim Carrey seem tame. There were a lot of laughs and more than a few groans. Worth a watch for some old-fashioned slapstick comedy.
Next up was Fab Fox, take two. This time for the entire family, with a larger stage and longer set time. Much better than the previous evening. The energy level was high throughout the room, and he did a great job with some audience participation, including the kids. That’s always a crowd pleaser. Consider him redeemed.
After the show, I wandered around a bit trying to see what grabbed my attention. As we were at full speed and the headwinds were battling the ship, most of the outer decks were already closed off, with deck chairs fastened down for the night. That led everyone to be packed into the interior decks, so it was futile trying to find a spot to sit at any of the lounges. I decided to grab a few slices of late-night pizza and call it a night.
It’s off to Grand Cayman in the morning for a little money laundering, I mean cave exploration. Thanks for reading along. We’ll see you tomorrow!
Daily Planner
Coming soon!