May 5th 2007 Western Magic CINCO DIS MAYO!

[Madisonznana]

I will try for the brunch. I would like it either on the Key West morning or one of the sea days. But I presume that is when everyone else would like it too! Now I just have to patiently wait until February 19th to get my shot at picking.
Karen

 

[Madisonznana]

I have PURCHASED Valentine's cards...

 

[KimberlyC]

me either on getting up early...what all do they have on the menu for the brunch? i was thinking about signing us up for it and surprise hubby. but couldnt find much info on the brunch items..maybe i hsould check this site and my pasporter boook huh? didn't think about that.

Once upon a time someone posted pics of the brunch. It looked yummy. I wish the search feature on this board was useful, but its not, so I can't find it. I really want to do the brunch, but have no desire to do Palo for dinner. I don't want to miss rotational dining and I want to have dinner as a family. If Devin was older and wanted to live at the kids club, I'd probably try it though.

 

[KimberlyC]

well only thing they had available for brunch was sunday while in a key west which wont work and thrusday the last day at sea at 1030am..i decided to just forgo the palo altogether though..we got to talking and decided to just wait and if we decide to then maybe see if we can get it once onboard otherwise we really arent too interested.

Well I guess I'll be making a mad dash to Palo once we board, so I'll definitely be getting to port early to get an one of the first boarding passes. Coordinating it with Flounders should be a trip. Maybe I'll lose a few ounces running back and forth on the ship.

 

[KimberlyC]

Madisonznana.....
I am soooo enjoying this 86 degree weather! That's why I like Calif. Friday it was 60 today 86!

Today it was -21 (yes that's a negative) with the wind chill. School was cancelled because its dangerous for kids to walk to school or even stand at the busstop when its this cold. You Cali folks are lucky duckies.

 

[pppiglet]

Today it was -21 (yes that's a negative) with the wind chill. School was cancelled because its dangerous for kids to walk to school or even stand at the busstop when its this cold. You Cali folks are lucky duckies.

Yeah...lucky...except for traffic! Lucky for me I don't drive very far ever! DS and his GF went to the beach last night and BBQ'd and even went in the water that's how nice it was yesterday. Of course I had to clean up all the mess he left me in the laundry room last night. Sand everywhere!

 

[BLTOH]

I have PURCHASED Valentine's cards...

woohoo..me and amber signed hers last nite..but the ones she picked out didn't come with envelopes so i have to get some tomorrow when i am out and about..it was just to bitter cold out today for me..i didn't even go the the ymca tonite.

 

[BLTOH]

Once upon a time someone posted pics of the brunch. It looked yummy. I wish the search feature on this board was useful, but its not, so I can't find it. I really want to do the brunch, but have no desire to do Palo for dinner. I don't want to miss rotational dining and I want to have dinner as a family. If Devin was older and wanted to live at the kids club, I'd probably try it though.

i did look in the passporter book today and they had a better listing for what they serve for brunch and dinner for the palo then the castawayclub.com site did

 

[Madisonznana]

Tracy, The Hallmark store will sell plain envelopes. I got 12 for $1. I figured you can't mail or fit pictures in the regular valentine envelopes so I bought bigger ones to fit the valentines inside.
Karen
>>>>>>>.not any further along than when I bought the valentines..

 

[BLTOH]

Ok we decided last nite to splurge for the parasailing and letting jon do the teen thing on castaway cay..is anyone else doing the parasailing? if so what time? i haven't reserved ours yet..need to decide on times but maybe i can get the same time frame as someone...also anyone else letting their teen do the wild side excursion on castaway cay? i will be signing ds up for that. we decided we would just check dd into the scuttles cove while we parasail and then come back for her when we get done.

 

[KimberlyC]

Ok we decided last nite to splurge for the parasailing and letting jon do the teen thing on castaway cay..is anyone else doing the parasailing? if so what time? i haven't reserved ours yet..need to decide on times but maybe i can get the same time frame as someone...also anyone else letting their teen do the wild side excursion on castaway cay? i will be signing ds up for that. we decided we would just check dd into the scuttles cove while we parasail and then come back for her when we get done.

I got the impression from the Passporter that its boat launch parasailing. Have you seen it? I prefer launching from a beach but I can see why DCL wouldn't want to do that since its not as safe. Assuming there are even any spaces left when I can finally book, I'm considering it. I just feel bad leaving Brian alone to take care of Devin.

 

[Madisonznana]

Hi Tracy, I want to do the parasailing!!! Bob did it years ago in Hawaii and he said you go ahead. So since I do make it under the weight limit I will try to sign up if the calendar EVER moves ahead to Feb. 19th. I am really excited about it. I hope I can get a time. How many boats and how often do they go? Oh and Kim, Bob is the greatest Papa in the world, him and Madison (the little mommy) would help Brian watch Devin!

 

[MickeyD]

Yep, I signed up this time. We signed up last time in May, but because we had an earlier time, it was too windy and they cancelled the excursions. This time I booked it for 2:30 because that were the first ones to go out last time.
You do launch from a boat and they will dip you if want, otherwise you are brought back into the boat.


Lisa

 

[KimberlyC]

Hi Tracy, I want to do the parasailing!!! Bob did it years ago in Hawaii and he said you go ahead. So since I do make it under the weight limit I will try to sign up if the calendar EVER moves ahead to Feb. 19th. I am really excited about it. I hope I can get a time. How many boats and how often do they go? Oh and Kim, Bob is the greatest Papa in the world, him and Madison (the little mommy) would help Brian watch Devin!

That would be cool! I hope there are spaces left when we can book.

 

[KimberlyC]

So for those of you hitting the beach in Cozumel, which one? Paradise or Playa Mia (aka Playa Sol)? Playa Mia/Sol has a pool and volleyball which seems to be the biggest difference. I get the impression (from many posts on cruise critic, etc) that Paradise feels more crowded (but its so hard to tell since you never know when people travel or how many ships in port, etc.)

This is some of what I found:

Paradise Beach Club

Location:Approximately 8 miles south of downtown and an easy beach stroll from San Francisco Beach.

Amenities:restaurant and bar, clean restrooms, lots of water toys which are free to guests including some floating mattresses, a water tramp and a floating iceburg

Comments: New and very clean with nice showers, lockers and dressingrooms. Food here is outstanding as the owner has lured away the chef from downtown's famous La Cocay restaurant. Down side is it can get pretty crowded as a lot of cruise passengers have started coming here. Hit this place no later than 11 to stake out a good spot

POST WILMA - FULLY OPERATIONAL
Hours: Daily 9 am - 5 pm
Location: Carretera Costera Sur Km. 14.50 between San Francisco & Playa Sol (Mia). Located 9 miles south of downtown, Paradise Beach is a short taxi ride away.
Website: www.paradisecozumel.com
One of the newest beaches on the island, Paradise Beach is a great beach for having fun in the sun or taking a break in the shade. The free entrance includes comfortable reclining lounge chairs and umbrellas. The atmosphere is relaxed and fun with a wide variety of attractions and beach activities for all ages including the chance to snorkel, jetski, hold tight on the Spacewalker bungee or simply relax with a massage.

Friendly staff will be pleased to serve you on the beach or in the bars and Paradise Beach Restaurant, offering you cold beer, cocktails and soft drinks, as well as great food from the extensive menu.

The white sand beach is kept clean and tidy and the warm water is safe and inviting for swimming, snorkeling or just splashing around. Changing rooms, clean bathrooms, showers, temporary tattoos, hair braids and souvenirs are all also available on the beach.

Paradise Beach is also home to Rockie & Gonzo ~ two colorful photogenic Macaw Parrots that you won't want to miss.

It is free for everyone to enter and use the lounge chairs and umbrellas at Paradise Beach. The Fun-Pass – which usually costs $8 – gives you unlimited use of the floating sun-mats, kayaks, water trampoline, climbing iceberg and full snorkeling gear as well.


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Cozumel Beaches - "Playa Mia"

Hours: Daily 9 am - 5 pm
Pricing: Admission Packages:

US$12 ~ “Basic Package" includes entrance fee for use of the facilities and all non-motorized water toys such as kayaks, iceberg, hobbiecat sailboats. Food and drinks can be purchased a la carte.

US $35 “Fiesta Package" includes “Basic” + open bar for domestic drinks.
(a.k.a. "Beach Break" through cruise ships)

US $42 “Premium Package includes “Fiesta” + international buffet lunch 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. + snorkel equipment & towel. Group rates vary.
Note: Kids under 3 are free while other kids simply pay for Package #1 + consumption if no package is desired.
Location: Carretera Costera Sur Km. 14.50 between San Francisco & Playa Mia
Services: The dive shop rents snorkel and scuba equipment and arranges trips to Colombia and Palancar reefs. .
Food Service: There are 3 restaurants for guests to enjoy
The Big Palapa Buffet
La Cantina Snack Bar
El Burro Quesadilla Grill

The Big Palapa Restaurant menu serves a range of international selections from pasta dishes to Mexican food but according to the staff, the house specialty is breaded fish.

Open since 1986 and featuring 300 meters of powdery, pristine white sand, Playa Mia is a large commercial “Beach Adventure Park” that specializes in hosting groups from cruise ships and the mainland. Of course other island visitors are welcome too!

Boasting the largest palapa on the island and a maximum capacity of 1000, this facility regularly accomodates 500-800 persons with food and fun in the sun. According to management the 1500 m2 palapa is the largest on the SE Pennisula of Mexico and is "hurricane ready." Apparently the gentlemen who constructed the palapa covering have done so in such a way that the thousands of palm fronds can be removed in less that 1 day and preserved from damage in the event of a large scale storm.

This beach facility is similar to an all-inclusive resort with a comprehensive selection of activities and a beach party atmosphere. Topside attractions and services include: a small zoo, shopping, children’s play area with swings & slides, swimming pool, massage services, ping pong, volleyball, skywalker trampoline, hammocks, bathrooms, indoor and outdoor showers, phones for international and local calls, lockers, towels, a first aid center and plenty of lounge chairs in the sun or shade.
All public areas are wheel chair accessible.
Non-motorized water sports included in the entrance fee: kayaks, pedalboats, sailboats, inflatable hubs and platforms, water trampoline and inflatable aquatic iceberg. Motorized water sports for rent include: wave runners, parasailing, banana boat rides, water skiing and more.

Playa Mia is a sand beach with very little coral; however, snorkelers can explore a reproduction minature Mayan city sunk in 3-12’ water. There are 60 concrete replicas of Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Palenque and Tulum. A great place to “play”, but it may not be a good fit if you are searching for solitude.

Playa Sol has largest selection of stores for Artesan shopping!



So anybody, been here done this or planning on either of these? I'm having a hard time deciding.

 

[pppiglet]

We are doing the jeep tour in Coz, but if we had time after we were going to go to Paradise. CC did have great reviews on it. Looks like our excursion might be later though and we might just shop afterwards.

 

[sherrie]

For those of you with younger children(8), which dinner seating do you have, we eat late here and currentl;y have the early seating.

Courtney and dakota, Katie rec;d your letter but has not been over yet to get it,( I am grandma) I am sure she will write back this weekend

 

[Madisonznana]

Sherrie, We have the early seating, not sure what time though. I am really hoping for 6. Any earlier really cuts into time on shore and excursions. We are coming with our 5 yo dgd!

 

[KimberlyC]

We have early. From what I've read DCL tends to put people with small kids in the APL rotation, older kids = PLA, and adults LAP. I don't know how accurate that is, but I'm ok with APL. At least it will put us in Lumiere's on Formal Night and PC on Pirate Night.

Schools were closed again today because it was well below freezing again. I just want it to be May 5th already so I can hit the

Devin got Courtney and Koty's Valentine and pic. How cute!

 

[BLTOH]

Yep, I signed up this time. We signed up last time in May, but because we had an earlier time, it was too windy and they cancelled the excursions. This time I booked it for 2:30 because that were the first ones to go out last time.
You do launch from a boat and they will dip you if want, otherwise you are brought back into the boat.


Lisa

ok got us booked for the 2:30 pm parasailing..karen..hope you can join us on that same sailing..

I also got ds booked for the teen wild side excursion that does bike riding, kayaking and snorkeling. they meet at like 9am though so it will be a rude awakening for him as he is used to sitting on his but that early in the morning

i am sooo ready for may 5th as well..we got some snow today and the bitter cold temps are suposed to stick around till the start of next week. ugh
i will say booking this cruise and all is making the time go a bit faster. i have audits coming up next month so that should help march go faster.