On Board

Our alarm goes off and we get up quickly to get ready for our shore excursion. Kyle knocks on our door and the four of us head up to the buffet for breakfast. We get through the meal without the other people in our group joining us, and we start to worry. We go knock on their stateroom door to check on them - apparently their alarm didn't go off, and they have just awoken. Kyle, Jeremiah, Zelda, and I go down to the Java Bar to get coffees, and the four of us disembark. The others will catch up to us on shore.

Puerta Maya

We walk down the pier and join the waiting area for our shore excursion in Puerta Maya, one of Cozumel's three cruise ship ports. We get divided into a few different lines: a VIP line, an all-inclusive line (us), and the non-inclusive line (just beach, no food or drinks included). The other three soon catch up, and we all wait patiently for our guide to give further direction.

KUZÁ Beach

We are led to a coach bus, which takes us to a tram, which takes us to KUZÁ Beach. We march to front row beach chairs and set our stuff to ensure we have enough seats for each of us, at least the adults.

Zelda and I go to the water, and as the waves come up to kiss her toes, she laughs and tries to stomp the sea. I pick her up and go a little further into the water and she cuddles up onto me, laying her head on my shoulder. Jeremy soon joins us. She reaches for her dad, and I hand Zelda over to him. He goes further into the water with her as I swim nearby, and soon Kyle joins us. Kyle and I swim out to the rope barrier keeping us in the safe-swim zone while Jeremiah and Zelda stay where he can comfortably stand in the water.

Zackary calls for me from the shore, so I go and get him. He manages to come into the sea with me for a bit before wanting to return to shore. There, safe on the sand, he and his dad dig a hole to Timbuktu.

Zelda falls asleep on Jeremy's shoulder after an hour of Caribbean cuddles, and we make our way back to the beach for lunch. Jeremy settles onto a lounger, and I go have lunch with Norman, Bethany, and Zackary. I finish eating somewhat quickly, and return to where Jeremy, Zelda, and Kyle are. Jeremy hands the sleeping toddler over, who doesn't wake up from the hand-off, and he and Kyle go to eat.

Zelda sleeps for almost the remainder of our time at KUZÁ. I love my peaceful beachside cuddles with my daughter, and take the opportunity to read my book and snap a few photographs. Kyle borrows our snorkeling gear and puts it to good use, returning to do some shell hunting with Jeremiah. Norman, Bethany, and Zackary are playing at a playground. They soon return and Bethany and Zackary go and get henna tattoos.

It's time to pack up, and we walk back to the tram, which takes us to a bus, which takes us back to Puerta Maya.

Back to Puerta Maya

Kyle and the three of us decide to do some shopping. Norman, Bethany, and Zackary go off to do their own thing - what exactly I'm not sure. We find a store we like in a corner of the shopping area. Kyle buys himself a magnet. We buy a decorative Toucan bird that sits on a metal ring that hangs from a hook. We will be hanging it on our porch back home. We also buy a bamboo and coconut wind chime designed so that the top of it looks like a turtle. We buy this for Jeremiah's dad as a thank you for watching and caring for our plethora of pets.

Norwegian Dawn

We make our way back to the ship and decide to try lunch at the restaurant called O'Sheehan's. I want to try the other complimentary dining areas besides the buffet. It ends up being alright. We go sit on the deck afterwards to relax and digest before going to the atrium to partake in '80s Trivia. Zelda falls asleep on the booth, laying behind Kyle. What a sleepy girl!

Kyle and I go to an art seminar for Peter Max, then go to EFFY to get our free amulets. While we are doing that, Jeremiah and Zelda are in the play room. We rejoin as a big group for dinner in the buffet, and then all retire to our rooms.