A cruise to Mexico. There was much to observe. But one observation stood out-Excursions…

Observation-Excursions: The advice is to always take the excursions from the ship. If there is a problem, you are guaranteed to get back on. What could go wrong if you book it yourself? Well!!!

Perhaps you select a company with good reviews that offers a variety of activities in Cozumel. You can go snorkeling and take an ATV ride through a jungle, sample some local tequila, and enjoy a Mexican lunch. Upon arrival at the port you head for the meeting location. When no one is at the giant Hardrock café guitar you were told to meet at, you call the tour company. They tell you a new location. After asking locals on the street how to get there, the location is found. You are even early. Turns out this really is just the meeting place, so you go back past the giant guitar a few blocks to the starting location. The first question asked is “Who wants to drive?” It seems they don’t do groups of 6. Turns out you need two vehicles-jeeps. One group is given a yellow jeep wrangler with 250,000 miles, frayed seatbelts, and no gas and you have to drive it yourself for ½ your group, while the other ½ of your group has a newer looking jeep with Johny our driver/guide. Stop 1–local tequila! Nice and local. After some samples and a few purchases you are ready to move on to the next adventure. Unfortunately the jeep with the guide won’t start. After some shaking of wires and a few phone calls you have to be picked up in a van for stop number 2-ATV rides to a cenote. After the ATV ride you have a cute little dune buggy waiting for you. What fun. Oh, but wait, the yellow jeep truly is out of gas and you have to siphon gas from some ATVs you just rode. Gas in-here we go. At stop number 3 you see alligators in a lagoon. Ready for stop 4, a lighthouse. Oh, but wait again, the dune buggy now won’t start. Everyone out—push! Nope still won’t start. Everyone climbs into the yellow jeep. Have you ever been in a jeep wrangler with 7 people? We make it to the lighthouse just fine. No one fell out! We climb the lighthouse stairs for a beautiful view. By the time we get back down another jeep is secured by the company and all are off to the next stop. Snorkeling and lunch. BUT wait, now we’re about out of time and the water is supposedly not good for snorkeling today anyway.

“Is it OK if you go to a local restaurant for lunch and skip snorkeling?” “Sure, why not.” The food was actually very good. Next stop back to the cruise ship. We made it back on time. What an adventure!

Why book through the cruise ship?:)