GAPearl's "MAGIC"al Birthday Cruise! Complete Magic picture review-6/14/15 sailing.

[gapearl]

Finally caught up! I am really enjoying this review especially since it looks like we will be sailing Carnival in 2016. As you can see from my signature we are not the biggest Carnival fans; however the best itineraries out of Canaveral are on Carnival, and I must admit I am more interested in sailing with them now that I have seen the Breeze (and now Magic!) in pictures.

 

As for Miss Jamaica...yes she was SCREWED ROYALLY out of the title! What a shame that was.

 

Looking forward to reading about your birthday!

 

Thanks so much for reading! I think you would enjoy Carnival, especially on a newer ship like the Magic or Breeze. Many people have preconceived ideas about how Carnival is from what other people say without experiencing it for themselves (although I see you have one Carnival cruise many years ago). I only have one Royal Caribbean cruise to compare Carnival to, but generally speaking I find them to be very similar in terms of food, service, passenger demographic and activities. I say if the itinerary and price are right, go for it. You'll enjoy yourself! :)

 

And yes, Miss Jamaica IS Miss Universe!

 

Have you ever done the dream?

 

No I haven't been on the Dream yet. Originally this cruise was going to be on the Dream but ultimately the Magic won for convenience for my Texas people.

[gapearl]

I left you hanging in the Vibe Nightclub at 1:18 am, the very early morning of my birthday.

 

 

After taking our happy birthday shots of Patron, I told Jason he should request Atomic Dog. You should remember him from the sea day out by the pool. Jason said if I requested it, he and another fraternity member close by would set it off for my birthday and that would be my birthday present from them. So I went to the DJ booth and requested the song. Next thing you know, he leaves and says he'll be right back. Of course the song comes on 20 minutes later and he's still not back yet! There weren't too many people left in Vibe at that point, but when when Atomic Dog came on, the crowd literally parted like the Red Sea. You could hear a few people saying "Where the Ques at?" I looked out in the hall and the outside club exit to The Lanai, and there was no sign of him. Well at least this guy was there and gave a little show all by himself.

 

 

There's never a dull moment on my cruises. lol :D

 

 

Vibe Nightclub closed at 2 am tonight. I spotted Jason as I was headed back to my room and gave him "the look." He said he went to his room to refresh his drink and took a detour through the casino, not planning to be in there as long as he was. I was really looking forward to seeing them and being taken back to my college days for 3 minutes. He promised he'd make it up to me later in the cruise. Suuuuuuuure, if you say so. :cool:

Edited July 2, 2015 by gapearl

[gapearl]

Happy birthday to me! Feliz cumpleaños a mí! :D

 

I woke up at 8 am, feeling like I should be exempt today from a morning workout. As excited and energetic as I was, it surely would have been a good one. Instead I got all dolled up, pretty in pink, and headed to the lido buffet for a quick bite to eat before we left the ship. There was a towel animal invasion on the lido deck!

 

 

 

 

 

[gapearl]

We docked in Cozumel at 10 am. Surprisingly we were docked at International Pier and not the usual Puerta Maya, I suppose because of the last minute itinerary change. We left the ship as soon as the announcement was made that we could leave.

 

Thank you! But how did you know that it's my birthday?

 

 

Selfie with cruise director James and another member of the entertainment team. I hate I never got his name because he was awesome.

 

 

They have pedicabs to drive you down the pier if you don't feel like walking. I thought CJ might would need one, but she said she was going to try to walk today and she was fine.

 

 

 

 

Edited July 2, 2015 by gapearl

[gapearl]

I was looking forward to getting in some Spanish practice today. I started learning Spanish about 3 years ago through a few apps I downloaded to my ipad. Then I went to Barnes & Noble and got some workbooks. I went lesson by lesson and page by page, conjugating billions of verbs in all the different tenses, learning vocabulary, writing sentences, and translating paragraphs. I listen to a TON of Spanish music. I went to a Spanish school in Guatemala last year and went to another in Nicaragua earlier this year. I've continued Spanish lessons with my teachers in Nicaragua through Skype and practice with my Spanish speaking friends when I can. But still, I don't consider myself totally fluent. I think people toss around that word too freely. Just because you took a semester of Spanish in high school, can easily say una cerveza más, por favor at your local La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant, have been to Cancun 5 times, and can sing the chorus to Vivir Mi Vida, does not make you fluent en español. It takes time to learn another language, especially as an adult. I usually say I have a high level of proficiency, although people say I sound fluent when they hear me speaking Spanish. Any chance I get to put my Spanish to work, I take it. I am very serious about becoming fluent, even considering a near future move to somewhere in Latin America for a year or two.

 

Viva Mexico!

 

 

 

 

So to those of you who buy sombreros here, do you ever wear them again? lol

 

 

 

To get to the taxi line, you have to go across a bridge and down the escalator. All day I got many happy birthdays from other visitors and hugs and felicidades (best wishes) from locals.

 

[cruisebarbie]

I was looking forward to getting in some Spanish practice today. I started learning Spanish about 3 years ago through a few apps I downloaded to my ipad. Then I went to Barnes & Noble and got some workbooks. I went lesson by lesson and page by page, conjugating billions of verbs in all the different tenses, learning vocabulary, writing sentences, and translating paragraphs. I listen to a TON of Spanish music. I went to a Spanish school in Guatemala last year and went to another in Nicaragua earlier this year. I've continued Spanish lessons with my teachers in Nicaragua through Skype and practice with my Spanish speaking friends when I can. But still, I don't consider myself totally fluent. I think people toss around that word too freely. Just because you took a semester of Spanish in high school, can easily say una cerveza más, por favor at your local La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant, have been to Cancun 5 times, and can sing the chorus to Vivir Mi Vida, does not make you fluent en español. It takes time to learn another language, especially as an adult. I usually say I have a high level of proficiency, although people say I sound fluent when they hear me speaking Spanish. Any chance I get to put my Spanish to work, I take it. I am very serious about becoming fluent, even considering a near future move to somewhere in Latin America for a year or two.

 

Viva Mexico!

 

 

 

 

So to those of you who buy sombreros here, do you ever wear them again? lol

 

 

 

To get to the taxi line, you have to go across a bridge and down the escalator. All day I got many happy birthdays from other visitors and hugs and felicidades (best wishes) from locals.

 

 

 

 

Kim,

 

The guy in the picture with you and James is Jonathan. He was great! We did a lot of trivia with him He kept calling my younger son "Jake from State Farm"

and my son got the biggest kick out of that.

[gapearl]

Me with the Hooters girls. I love this picture.

 

 

 

I hired a private driver through Tours Plaza to take us out for the day. I found our driver, Victor, and we were on our way by 10:30 am. The cost was $157 for five hours (3 hour minimum at $107 plus $25 for each additional hour). We began our day with a drive through town and saw some of Cozumel you typically don't see.

 

 

 

 

I'm not a parent, but gosh did this have me worried!

 

[iloverags2]

Selfie with cruise director James and another member of the entertainment team. I hate I never got his name because he was awesome.

 

 

 

If you zoom in on the picture, it looks like his nametag says Jonathan.

 

I totally love the towel animal invasion on the pool deck!

[gapearl]

Our first stop was the Kao Kao Chocolate Factory for our 11 am reservation. It's a good idea to book your tour online as spaces are very limited. The cost is $15 for an hour tour, and that includes making your own chocolate. There was a little mix up with my reservation as I had booked for Tuesday and they never received my emails about the date change. All was well though and we were accommodated with no problem.

 

 

 

 

 

We had to wash our hands with chocolate soap before we began.

 

 

OMG I neeeeeeeeed a sink like this in my house.

 

[gapearl]

There were two other ladies on the tour with us from the Dream. Each tour is limited to 10 people. We started with a short video about the history of the chocolate here in Mexico, and our guide directed us all around the room with more history and information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[gapearl]

 

 

 

After our lesson, we now had our turn to make some chocolate. The table was set up and ready for us.

 

 

There were ladies on the other side of the room making chocolates to sell in the gift shop.

 

 

First step is to grind the beans.

 

[gapearl]

This is hard work.

 

 

As you're grinding the beans, your partner takes a spoon and and scoops the excess off the wheel.

 

 

Then you mix in some cinnamon and grind the chocolate through the wheel two more times.

 

 

Finally, you mix in some vanilla.

 

 

Here's the almost finished product.

 

 

You package up your chocolate and it's ready to take home with you. This isn't a chocolate bar, but used for making hot chocolate. You can also put it in your coffee. This bar should give you 2-3 cups of hot chocolate.

 

[gapearl]

Me with my just made chocolate.

 

 

Here it is for sale in the gift shop.

 

 

They have lots of goodies for sale, including the chocolate soap that was in the lobby. They offered samples of all the different chocolate bars to help you decide what to buy.

 

 

 

Our guides for the morning gave me a complimentary large milk chocolate bar as a birthday present.

 

 

I bought a few others to bring home with me. Half of it is gone already. lol

 

 

We had a lot of fun here today. If you're looking for something unique and different to do in Cozumel, check out Kao Kao next time you're here.

[flyawayca]

Just caught up on your review and really enjoying it. Thanks for taking the time! :D

[gapearl]

While we were at the chocolate factory, Victor went to a grocery store for an unusual request I had to stop by a grocery store for some sugar. The sugar used in Latin America is sooooo much fresher, better tasting, and less processed than what we have here.

 

 

Victor gave us a rundown on the rest of the day. CJ wanted to go see the lighthouse, but it was 30 minutes away and cost $14 to get in as it was inside of Punta Sur eco park. I wanted to see the ruins on the island, which were much closer. The entry here was $10.

 

Mom- I don't have that kind of money.

Me- Why didn't you bring any money off the ship?

Mom- Cause I didn't.

 

In my best John Heald voice, oh FFS.

 

I have no problem paying for my mom to get into the sites, but whyyyyy did she not bring any cash off the ship is what I just don't understand. Ay Dios mio, no puedo con ella!

 

We skipped the lighthouse and took a 15 minute ride to the tequila tasting tour. Victor and I conversed a little in Spanish and my family was clueless in the back as to what we were saying, which was comical. This was a short tour and free to take. There were several guides waiting at the entrance and one randomly came along with us.

 

 

We were told about the agave plant and how it's used in tequila making.

 

 

 

 

Edited July 2, 2015 by gapearl

[gapearl]

More from the tequila tour.

 

 

 

Everything I was about to sample was for sale.

 

 

And now the fun begins!

 

 

Número uno!

 

 

[gapearl]

Número dos.

 

 

That's Victor on the left.

 

 

Número tres. How much tequila have you had today? I'm on 3, not 2. lol

 

 

Nah, I didn't like that one.

 

 

This was a coffee flavored tequila.

 

 

Número cuatro!

 

[tiggerttfn61]

OMG I am so loving this review. I have been to Cozumel twice and we always go to the beach...I love Tequila this would be so much fun. Happy Birthday and you look stunning in Pink! Hope our paths cross on a cruise or in the air.

 

Kathy

 

PS...I keep refreshing my lap top to see if you have added any more posts. Wonderful review and so real (refreshing)

[gapearl]

Keep them coming!

 

 

Número cinco.

 

 

Meh.

 

 

Number seis! Hahahahaha!

 

 

Now that's how you celebrate a birthday!

 

 

Some of the tequilas were really good and very smooth. They were a little more than what I was wanting to spend though (like $70-80 a bottle). Gracias for the free samples though!

 

[gapearl]

Casa Mission Restaurant was also here onsite in case you need some lunch to soak up all the tequila.

 

 

 

 

 

[gapearl]

After the tequila was another short ride to the San Gervasio ruins. As we were getting out of the van, Victor gave us some bug spray to use. Cozumel had recently gotten a lot of rain and he said the mosquitos were really bad right now, and he wasn't kidding! We had barely made it to the entrance and the mosquitos were tearing into us like a bucket of chicken.

 

 

 

We were offered a guide for $18. I offered to pay for it but the family didn't want it. I kind of wanted to know what we were looking at and the history behind it. We ended up staying only about 20 minutes, just walking around and taking some pictures. I'm sure we would have stayed longer if the bugs weren't so bad.

 

 

 

 

Edited July 2, 2015 by gapearl

[gapearl]

 

 

 

 

There were some placards detailing each area. They also gave us a map when we first arrived.

 

 

[gapearl]

 

 

 

There's a little sitting area here.

 

 

Time to head back out and get the heck away from these mosquitos.

 

[gapearl]

Our last stop was for some Mexican food at Coconuts. We had a scenic 15 minute ride to get here from the ruins.

 

 

I remembered this place from Wrigley80's Breeze review when she came here on the Cozumel bar hop.

 

 

 

 

The place was packed but they found an empty table in the back somewhere and brought it out front so we could be seated immediately without waiting.

 

 

[gapearl]

These guys are working hard in the kitchen.

 

 

The food and drink menus.

 

 

 

I had a sex-at-Coconuts to drink. This fruity concoction had all kinds of fun stuff in it.