Aug. 15th Legend Family Cruise...with Photos

[AryMay]

Grand Cayman continued...

 

Here are a couple of the photos I took that day. I got a Canon D10 camera last summer and absolutely love it for snorkeling. It also does underwater videos! (And it is a great camera on dry land as well!)

 

 

 

There were three other ships in Grand Cayman that day besides the Legend...

 

 

...and our little “gap” between the lifeboats actually gave us a view! Not quite the same as sitting on a balcony…but not bad for the price we paid!

 

 

As we left Grand Cayman we were treated to a rainbow through our window in the dining room.

 

 

Next up…Cozumel!

[AryMay]

We were on this same cruise, and just down the hall from you. I remember walking past your door decorations. I think my daughter even left you a stickie note one day that said she was enjoying seeing your decorations. I am enjoying re-living the cruise through your review and photos. Thanks for posting that.

 

Thanks for reading! You weren't the ones who left the note for "Grandpa" on his cabin door were you? ;)

 

This was really the first cruise where we didn't officially meet anyone from Cruise Critic...the roll call just didn't take off like ours have in the past. The only folkson the cruise we got to know was a family from New York that we met in the hotel. I did say "hi" to Karen & her sister Mary (who posted on the roll call). They were sitting next to us on the tender in Belize and I recognized them from their photos I saw online.

 

I always wonder if these reviews are worth the time I put into them but then I remember how much I have gained from reading other reviews AND it is fun to think back on how much fun we had all week!

[Oakman]

Thanks for reading! You weren't the ones who left the note for "Grandpa" on his cabin door were you? ;)

 

This was really the first cruise where we didn't officially meet anyone from Cruise Critic...the roll call just didn't take off like ours have in the past. The only folkson the cruise we got to know was a family from New York that we met in the hotel. I did say "hi" to Karen & her sister Mary (who posted on the roll call). They were sitting next to us on the tender in Belize and I recognized them from their photos I saw online.

 

I always wonder if these reviews are worth the time I put into them but then I remember how much I have gained from reading other reviews AND it is fun to think back on how much fun we had all week!

The reviews are DEFINITELY worth the time!!! By reading them you fall into one of two camps: Reliving great memories of a previous cruise ( in my case Legend Sept 2009) or gaining valuable information for future cruises. Plus, they are just great reading. I find it amazing how many ordinary travelers have such a flair for writing.

[AryMay]

The reviews are DEFINITELY worth the time!!! By reading them you fall into one of two camps: Reliving great memories of a previous cruise ( in my case Legend Sept 2009) or gaining valuable information for future cruises. Plus, they are just great reading. I find it amazing how many ordinary travelers have such a flair for writing.

 

Thanks for the positive feedback! Just knowing that people are actually reading makes it easier to keep going on the review!

 

Oh my goodness...what a lot of cruises you have been on! You could probably write a whole book on cruising! :)

[AryMay]

Cozumel - Wednesday, August 18, 2010

 

The Legend docks at Puerta Maya in Cozumel…yea!...no tenders! And…it doesn’t dock until 10 am so once again there is time for breakfast in the main dining room. Breakfast is open seating and unless you ask to be seated alone, you will be escorted to a table with others. Since we were such a large group we always got a table to ourselves regardless. The hostess did tell us that if we requested a table by the window they would be happy to do so…BUT you have to ask. It was raining that morning while we ate…but cleared up by the time we got off the ship.

 

 

The dock in Cozumel used to have shops running the entire length of the pier. To get to shore you walked THROUGH the shops (aaahhh…air-conditioning!). Here is the OLD pier...

 

 

Right after we visited Cozumel in 2005 the island took a direct hit from Hurricane Wilma and all of the shops AND the concrete pier were gone. Last year we stopped at Cozumel on our Freedom cruise and it looked so strange to see this extremely long pier…with no shops. Here is what it looked like in July 2009.

 

 

I didn’t get a photo this year, but there was some construction going on and I wonder if perhaps they are rebuilding these shops?

 

With no more air conditioned shops to go through, the hike to shore is a long, hot walk. Sister has a little trouble walking so she took one of the bicycle taxis and met us in the shopping area.

 

 

Carnival has built this little shopping center and it has many of the same shops that you will find downtown. We didn’t take time to do any shopping in the morning…that could come later. Instead we made a bee-line for the cabs on the other side of the shops.

 

 

Our plan for the day was to take a cab to the Money Bar at Dzul Ha…a relativey short cab ride from Puerta Maya.

[Oakman]

Thanks for the positive feedback! Just knowing that people are actually reading makes it easier to keep going on the review!

 

Oh my goodness...what a lot of cruises you have been on! You could probably write a whole book on cruising! :)

 

Living in Florida and being within easy driving distance of the ports makes it very easy for us to "pick up and cruise".

[luvofthecruise]

Thanks for the pictures of Eden Rock! We leave Sunday and I have been debating between Eden Rock or doing the Sting Rays. First time to Grand Cayman so I think we will do Sting Rays this time...not really wanting the whole wedgey experience.;)

[LostAgain]

AryMay,

No my daughter didn't leave a note to Grandpa. I think her note just said she enjoyed your door decorations.

I agree with you, by the way, about Grand Cayman. My mom said, "Have we even left Florida?" It did not look Caribbean to us. We did the stingrays and had a great time, but it was not our favorite port. My husband, who was not with us on this trip, has always wanted to see Grand Cayman, but we told him he wasn't missing much. I know some people won't like that, but it's just our opinion. However, we LOVED Mr. Sanchos in Cozumel, which had a lot of character and was different than anything we'd seen before, and we LOVED Roatan, which is a beautiful island.

[cmtom89]

I am thoroughly enjoying your review! Your family looks like a great bunch and so much fun to be with....so glad you all have this wonderful experience together.

 

So far your port activities are exactly what we have planned for our October Legend cruise so I feel like I am getting a preview....how FUN!!!

[whendoweleave?]

I just booked a cruise for January today! :D While it's not on the Legend, I will be going back to Cozumel and was beginning to try to figure out what to do. I've done royal dolphin swim at Chankanaab and snorkel, eat and drink at Playa Uvas and LOVED both of those, but I did consider Money Bar last January and I can't wait to see your write up.

 

Thanks for taking the time!

[AryMay]

Cozumel continued...

 

Our first trip to Dzul Ha was in 2005 and what we saw that day nowhere near resembles the area today. At that point there was a small snack bar type place that had damage from Hurricane Emily just a couple of weeks before we arrived. Shortly after we left it was destroyed the rest of the way by Hurricane Wilma. Here is what we saw in 2005…

 

 

Today the Money Bar stands on the beach at Dzul Ha in the same place…what a contrast!

 

 

DH and I spent a day here last summer and pretty much had the place to ourselves. Dzul Ha is known as a good place to snorkel from shore so I wondered if word had gotten out and we would be sharing the beach with massive crowds.

 

Since it is so close to Puerta Maya a cab ride is only $8 for a car taxi. The van price was listed at $18 but I think we were able to get them to agree to $16 so that we could all ride together. There were only a few people there when we arrived and that was pretty much how things stayed all day…very UNcrowded!

 

 

[kml2000]

This is beautiful. I have been trying to decide what to do in Cozumel, this may be a good option. We aren't doing any big excursions this trip, just trying to take it easy.

[AryMay]

Cozumel continued...

 

There were 8 lounge chairs in the shade of some trees so that became home base for the day. The Carnival ship in the background is the Imagination coming into port to join the Legend.

 

 

The girls alternated between the shade, the water and the sun but it wasn’t a problem since there were many open chairs.

 

 

Our day was spent snorkeling, relaxing and enjoying some food and beverages from the Money Bar. Before the cruise GF’s only request was that she get to have a beach day…and a massage. A half hour massage at the Money Bar is $30, but they have a package for $35 that includes a massage plus lunch and a beverage and a cocktail! I had emailed before we left and asked if the package needed to be booked in advance and was told we could just request it when we arrived. (You can check out the other packages available at moneybarbeachclub dot com.

 

DS1, DIL and GF all did the massage package. The rest of us just ordered off the menu. The portions are pretty large and the prices were decent. You could eat at one of the tables in the open air restaurant or they would take your order and deliver right to your beach chair.

 

 

 

These photos make it look like we spent a really lazy day but actually we did spend a lot of time in the water! Coming up...our snorkeling pics!

[AryMay]

Cozumel continued...

 

Dzul Ha is not what most people consider a “beach”. There is sand around the lounge chairs, but the shoreline is very rocky.

 

 

There were a couple of places where you could enter the water. It took a bit of caution but not a big deal.

 

 

 

Before our cruise I had read a report that someone said they had encountered lots of jellyfish while they were snorkeling in Cozumel. The kids saw a few very small jellyfish (almost invisible) and got a couple of bites…but nothing too bad. (And certainly not enough to make them get out of the water!)

 

 

 

[AryMay]

Cozumel continued...

 

A few more snorkeling pics.

 

 

 

When you swam out a ways from shore you could see the Legend and the Imagination at the pier. (This was taken using the zoom so they look a little closer than they actually were.)

 

 

 

 

[AryMay]

AryMay,

No my daughter didn't leave a note to Grandpa. I think her note just said she enjoyed your door decorations.

I agree with you, by the way, about Grand Cayman. My mom said, "Have we even left Florida?" It did not look Caribbean to us. We did the stingrays and had a great time, but it was not our favorite port. My husband, who was not with us on this trip, has always wanted to see Grand Cayman, but we told him he wasn't missing much. I know some people won't like that, but it's just our opinion. However, we LOVED Mr. Sanchos in Cozumel, which had a lot of character and was different than anything we'd seen before, and we LOVED Roatan, which is a beautiful island.

 

I was just joking about the note to Grandpa...it was on the cabin several doors down from ours. I figure "Grandpa" must have been getting confused trying to find his cabin so a family member labeled it for him!

 

I actually did get the note from your daughter...how sweet of her! We didn't get onto the other decks with cabins but I really didn't notice any other door decorations on deck 4.

 

Maybe we will have to consider Mr. Sanchos for our next trip to Cozumel. The most beautiful beach I've ever been to is in Akumal, Mexico (a land vacation...not a cruise.) It is the standard by which I compare all other beaches.

 

Here is a photo taken at Akumal Beach...

 

[LostAgain]

After we saw the note labeling Grandpa's door, my daughter made one up and labeled my mom's door as a joke. We all had a good laugh over that. I had told my daughters before we went on the cruise, "You think I'm lost half the time? Wait until you see how Grandma is! You can call us Lost and MoreLost."

[Prairie_Gal]

I am really enjoying your review, especially the underwater pics. You look like a very fun-loving group.

[AryMay]

After we saw the note labeling Grandpa's door, my daughter made one up and labeled my mom's door as a joke. We all had a good laugh over that. I had told my daughters before we went on the cruise, "You think I'm lost half the time? Wait until you see how Grandma is! You can call us Lost and MoreLost."

 

LOL...I know what you mean! Every single time I got off an elevator I went the WRONG direction! I KNOW the cabin numbers get higher as you go towards the back of the ship and one time I still walked all the way to the VERY BACK before I figured out I wasn't headed towards my cabin!

[CFitzRN]

Really enjoying your review. We all (me, DH, DS's 1, 2, 3, 4 and DS1's GF) sailed on the Legend for my graduation from nursing school trip in June 08. It's awesome to relive it - and see it from a very different perspective. Thank you!

[AryMay]

Cozumel continued...

 

When it was time to leave I was going to ask if someone could call us a cab, but when I walked up to the bar a van taxi was just dropping off some other folks. We were able to get right in and were back at the pier in a short time.

 

 

Our first cruise was in 2002 and since then we have cruised often enough that I have been able to keep a supply of Mexican vanilla on hand. I joke with DH that when the bottle starts to run low it is time to book a cruise! This time I had used the last little bit the week before our cruise so buying vanilla was on my to-do list for Cozumel.

 

When we got back to the port I was hot and not in a shopping mood so I headed for Los Cinco Soles since I knew I could get vanilla there. I bought a liter bottle for $14.95. The kids stopped in one of the shops to buy some bottled water and I noticed that their vanilla was a bit cheaper. The lady in the shop showed me that the bottles also contained the vanilla beans. If I wasn’t so worried about the weight of the bottles in my luggage I would have bought a bottle just to try. A few last photos around the shopping area and then we headed back to the ship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coming up next...Roatan!

[CFitzRN]

Roatan was by far my favorite! Can't wait to hear about your visit.

[AryMay]

Roatan

 

Sorry this is taking me so long to finish! I had good intentions of getting it done much sooner...

 

Deciding what we should do in Roatan was easy. Six years ago Roatan was a port on our Carnival Paradise cruise that we did with another couple. On that cruise the two guys did scuba and my friend and I booked a tour with Victor Bodden. Back then Victor’s business was just getting started and the two of us spent the day with Victor touring the island in his car. That day in Roatan was the highlight of our cruise!

 

I emailed Victor and made arrangements for the 6 of us to do a private tour. (DH and DS1 did not do the tour with us. Roatan is one of the top scuba destinations in the world so they absolutely wanted to dive. In fact the cruise was chosen so they could dive in Roatan. They booked their dive through the ship and had a great time!)

 

The one concern I had was that sister has trouble walking and I knew from reading other reviews that we would have to walk up the big hill to get to where the independent guides were located. I explained this to Victor and he said we could have part of our group walk up the hill to meet the guide and once we were in his van then we would be allowed to drive down and pick up the rest of the group.

 

Our original itinerary had us in Belize on Thursday and in Roatan on Friday from 8:00 to 3:00. In March Carnival revised this schedule by flip-flopping those days and changing our time in port to 11:00 to 6:00 for Roatan. I actually liked the new times better…it gave us a chance to eat breakfast in the dining room and then watch as the captain maneuvered the ship into the dock at Mahogany Bay.

 

The ship passed by two shipwrecks near the pier...

 

 

 

...and then the captain turned the ship around and backed into place at the dock.

 

 

 

DH watching as the ship turns 360º.

 

[Eeyoregon]

Thanks again for taking the time to write your review and for the photos! What kind of camera do you have? Your snorkeling photos are some of the best that I have seen on CC.

 

Your review is getting me soooooooooooo excited for my turn on the Legend in 32 days!!!

 

Gina

[AryMay]

Thanks again for taking the time to write your review and for the photos! What kind of camera do you have? Your snorkeling photos are some of the best that I have seen on CC.

 

Your review is getting me soooooooooooo excited for my turn on the Legend in 32 days!!!

 

Gina

 

Thanks for compliment on my photos! I bought a Canon D-10 last summer before our cruise on the Freedom and I really like it. It takes underwater photos down to 30 feet...but I've only used it for snorkeling on the surface. It also does underwater videos which is fun. (It still makes me nervous putting the camera in the water though! :eek:)

 

The camera is a bit bulky so I ended up using my old Canon SD200 for all of the photos around the ship. It is small enough to slip in my pocket. All of my underwater and port photos were with the D-10.

 

I use Picasa to organize my photos and do a little bit of editing. It is fun to take an "OK" photo and play around with it until it is good. When I'm bobbing around in the water snorkeling I just point the camera and shoot...and hope I get something. With a little cropping and color adjustment they don't turn out too bad!