Review of our time in Cozumel

[jjstexas]

We just got back from the July 29 – Aug 5th Rhapsody of the Seas cruise with Royal Caribbean. We enjoyed Cozumel – we did the Royal Dolphin Swim, which we booked directly through Chankanaab Park. This was more intensive (kiss, hug, foot push, fin pull) than the ship’s excursion and less expensive. It also included admission to the park. We had a fantastic time at the Swim (not to be missed!) – the pictures were good, and actually worth the money (although we also took our own). We didn’t buy the video ($50), although another couple at our table paid another couple less to get a copy of the DVD for less. We did not encounter any problems from the staff with taking our own pictures with a waterproof camera.

After the Swim, we wandered through the gardens of the park and looked at the sculptures, which was fun. These seem to be mostly recreations of older authentic sculptures, but they were fun to look at and well-landscaped. There is also a portion of the park where a little old woman makes homemade corn tortillas that you can try with salsa. If you get the map when you enter the park, that portion is under the “Mayan House.”

We left the park, and then went to what is still one of our highlights of the trip, La Choza, the best restaurant we visited all week in any of the ports (I think this is it: http://www.lachozarestaurant.com/index.html). We went there at the recommendation of an employee at the park, and we enjoyed it so much – excellent chips and dip, fantastic ceviche, and the best flan we had ever had (and I usually HATE flan). This is also a cute restaurant, with open windows and a thatched straw roof. The drinks are delicious too. I enjoyed my ENORMOUS margarita so much that we had to call Cozumel a day and go back to the ship after only a brief glance through the shops. It is also a few blocks from all the shopping on the beachfront that is encouraged on the ship.

We enjoyed Cozumel a lot and would highly recommend both the Royal Swim and La Choza.

[2PinaColadas]

Where was the restaurant located? Closer to the pier or the park?

[jjstexas]

Closer to the pier than to the park (on the other side of the pier than the park) - It worked out well for us to take a taxi to the park, then a taxi to La Choza, then shop a bit (all the shops on the beachfront along the main drag are just 3-4 blocks away), and then take a very short taxi ride back to the pier.

[TrqoisWtrs]

Man, I could make a meal of their chips and dips and a huge margarita. :D Especially the creamy one....mmm