Day Seventy Four - March 20

Today we are back in Mexico, in Costa Maya which is in Mahahual, Mexico. The ship is now sailing in the Gulf of Mexico having left the Caribbean Sea yesterday.

The port itself was built to accommodate cruise passengers. There appears to be three docks for ships to use at anyone time. Our ship arrived at 09:00 and was cleared by the local authorities shortly afterwards.

We had decided that today might be a good day to relax on the ship however Janice received a call from our new friends, Keith and Ilona. They were getting a taxi to the ruins of Chacchoben an hour away from Costa Maya. I went with them while Janice relaxed on the ship.

The ruins of Chacchoben are part of the Mayan dynasty that can be found scattered throughout Mexico. Some estimates have these ruins dating back close to 1,500 years while archeologists believe this settlement may have been inhabited as far back as 200 BC. The entrance fee to the park was $6 USD.

Having visited the ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru, I find it fascinating how the people of the time were able to build such solid structures.

Returning to the port I was met by hoards of people. All the shops had opened earlier expecting the 284 passengers on Insignia to make big purchases. Was I wrong.

While away from Costa Maya, RCCL Adventure of the Seas had docked. The ship does five day cruises from Galveston, Texas and Costa Maya is one of their stops. The capacity of the ship is 3,800 passengers and I believe it was sold out. Janice spoke to a ship's photographer who mentioned that there were 750 children onboard. We certainly do not miss those days when a ship photographer would take your picture and try to sell you the pictures at the end of the cruise. As Janice says, it would be a gong show! Although our ship is not an adult only one like the Virgin ships, there are very few children if any on Oceania as they are longer cruises and no kids entertainment.

Janice ended up enjoying an entertaining day on her own having her first hammock massage. Basically she lies in a hammock with a lady under her massaging with her arms, legs and feet. I will publish a picture once we get them from a friend who took some. Then Janice joined the Quebecers for lunch and a drink. Yes there are 4 lovely couples from Quebec so she gets to practice her french. Her priority though is to practice her Spanish with the many waiters and staff from South America. Of course she has a soft spot for the Peruvian ones!

Very limited or should I say no masks were worn by the RCCL passengers. A huge Covid spreader as someone mentioned on our ship when back on board.

I have not mentioned anything about the Cocktail of the day but I thought maybe its time to start recording them. Today's drink- Negroni (Campari, Gin, Sweet Vermouth).

Also at the evening's show in the Insignia Lounge the bar was reopened. Another small step in going back to precovid times.

Tomorrow is Cozumel 131 nautical miles away.