Hi, everyone!
After two days at sea, we docked at our first port! The sun was just rising when we got to Cozumel. Cozumel is an island off the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico. That’s a new country for me! We docked at Punta Langosta. After breakfast, Grandma and Grandpa took me for a walk on Avenida Melgar, the street that runs right beside the sea. We found a town square with a sign like the “i amsterdam” one. Can you see me posing in the sign? I’m right in the letter “o”! I made some new animal friends on the walk!
When it was time to get back on board MS Marina, we walked back out on the pier. The ship is moored with really big lines! Climbing the stairs to the fifth deck entrance is hard for a little lion, but I like to do it all by myself! Whenever we get back on board, I have to go through security screening, too! We stayed at Cozumel until dinner time. There was a pretty moon rise just about the time we left.
The next morning, we were in Costa Maya, Mexico! Costa Maya isn’t an island, but it is a port that was built just for cruise ships to visit. There are real Mayan ruins to visit far away from the port, but there are also new pretend ruins for cruise passengers to visit close to the pier. The exit from the pier goes through a shopping area for souvenirs and duty free goods, just like the one at Cozumel. The sea at Costa Maya is very blue!
Grandma and Grandpa took me on an excursion to the Beach Escape Club. They did some snorkeling, but I just wanted to lie in the sun! There was lots of it to lie in! I made a new coconut friend and another palm tree friend. It was nice to find palm tree friends that were just my size!
Yesterday, we woke up at Roatan Island, off the coast of Honduras! That’s another new country for me! We docked at Mahogany Bay, then Grandma and Grandpa and I took a bus ride to Gumbalimba Park beach for more time in the sun.
First we paddled around the reef just off the beach in transparent kayaks. Really, the only transparent part is the bottom, and it’s hard to paddle and look at what’s underwater at the same time. I wanted to go snorkeling with Grandma and Grandpa, but there were no swim fins that fit my paws!
I stayed on the beach while Grandma and Grandpa snorkeled. They saw lots of fish and some pretty corals.
We went back to MS Marina for a late lunch, then we went walking right around the cruise ship pier. Guess what? There’s an entire park and beach just for cruise ship passengers! I liked the nature trail! At the beach, I made some more new friends!
Did I tell you how much I like going to afternoon tea on board MS Marina? It’s a special treat when Grandma lets me have a scone with clotted cream and strawberry jam! The cakes are yummy, too, and there are different ones every day. I have a new friend at tea: Michael-san is a sous chef on board, so he can tell me how the food is made!
I found a special spot in our cabin to hang out! I can watch everything that’s going on from the shelf next to the bed! Grandma says we’re all done taking special tours off the boat to go to the beach. From now on, we’re going to be visiting Mayan ruins, instead!
Love,
Lion-san
If you keep enjoying all those scones and cakes at afternoon teas you’re going to be one chubby little lion-san! Sounds like you all are having a wonderful cruise.
Wonderful photos, Lion-san. I enjoyed looking at them. I love seeing you in the O of Cozumel sign. You found some wonderful friends too. I like the sorts of friends you found. Have fun during the remainder of your trip. Here in Rosendale, NY, we have a lot of snow on the ground. Day before yesterday we had high winds all day. Now we have a huge number of sticks and pieces of branches all over the yard. Want to come help pick them up in the spring, Lion-san? It will be a big job. Our weather and scenery is quite a contrast to the beautiful blue oceans you are seeing. I do not mind winter. It can be very beautiful.
It seems like there are of lot of ports made for cruise ships! We liked your new friends too but especially the parrot pirate one. Have fun looking at the ruins.