Cozumel Today, Next Stop Havana!

Another day, another 1 1/2 hours in the gym!  I'm outdoing my goals this trip!

Cozumel is recommended for the diving, snorkeling and copious drinking.  Of course there are the requisite silver jewelry stores (seems like hundreds of them!), and t-shirt shops, but don't come here for the culture, museums, historical monuments, etc.  A little lacking in that regard.

So today I replaced the Cozumel T-shirt I accidentally got bleach on about two years ago, am thinking about buying a bottle of vanilla, and successfully resisted any more silver jewelry because I seldom (pretty much never) wear it.  Spent some time wandering around with Kate taking photos and then back to the ship.  I've been to Cozumel a couple of times and what seems to change the most is that the vendors are getting more aggressive.  God bless them, they're just trying to make a living like you and me.

Although I can't currently speak for the other ships, I feel as if Holland America is milking this ship for all they can.  Buy your robe in the cabin and they will monogram it for $24, take home a beach towel for about the same - if you don't return it to your cabin you will be charged.  They have sectioned off areas that used to be the buffet for "optional" dining venues at additional cost, you can attend a lecture on foot health and posture where they will try to sell you orthotics,  exercise classes are at an extra fee... there is a bit of complaining about them having their hands in the passenger's pockets at every opportunity.  Even the "On Deck for a Cause" - a 5K walkathon around the promenade deck that you get a t-shirt for completing costs $20 to join.  I wonder how much is going to the American Cancer Society

Maybe it's better to upgrade to a luxury cruise line such as Regent Seven Seas or Cunard where the initial cruise fare is higher, but there is far more included in the onboard experience without quite the degree of nickel and diming.   I understand the cruise lines are in it for the profit, as a stockholder I appreciate that, but in the long run I'm afraid they may be alienating long term clients. . Even the fountain drink card (for this Diet Coke addict) is no longer good for unlimited refills.  Harrumph!

But our steward provides the usual level of outstanding service,  the towel animals are great - so far we've had a crab, an elephant and this, which I think is a dinosaur and Kate says is a turtle.  And I've forgotten to mention the food which is uniformly excellent!



And for the weird souvenir of the day:  would you bring this home???