Just Another Day in Paradise
Paradise Beach- Cozumel, Mexico
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
While we were at a familiar beach our two children faced their fears and we all had the time of our lives in the ocean. It was brutally hot and we all got pink (and even red) in the hot Caribbean sun but it was worth it all! I think I had the more fun with Natalie and Luke then ever before!
Morning
We were so tired and slept right through the Room Steward knocking on the door but the light of him opening the door woke us up after 9AM. This was easily the latest we have slept on a cruise ship in recent memory, especially for a port day. We quickly got up and dressed and went to breakfast on the Lido deck. There we saw the Carnival Fantasy and the Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas. This was an odd combination as these are the 2 ships we are planning on booking in the VERY near future- Fantasy November 2018 for all of us and LOTS June 2018 for just Chris and I. While the kids and I ate breakfast Chris got the bags and stuff ready to get off the ship but the safe would not open so we had to have someone come and fix it. This stalled us by about 30 minutes but we eventually got all of our wallets and passports out of the safe and were ready to go.
Natalie spotted the Carnival Fantasy (family cruise tentatively planned for Nov. 2018)
We had spoke to Guest Services the night before about Chris and his condition and they gladly offered us a rental wheelchair for the day in Cozumel FREE OF CHARGE! Anna, the Guest Services agent was so nice and helpful. We arrived down at Guest Services around 10AM to get our wheelchair but despite calling ahead that we were coming down we had to wait! We waited about 15 minutes and a wheelchair was brought out but the arm rest had a snag in it so Anna requested a new one. I told her we were going to be late for our beach excursion as we wanted to get there early enough to get a shaded spot. Within 5-10 minute the 2nd wheelchair was ready and we were off. Before we inspected the chair ourselves we were off the elevators to get off at Deck 0. By the time we got to the gangway we realized there were no foot rests on this wheelchair. That made for a pretty interesting day of wheelchair adventures.
Waiting for the wheelchair!
The Carnival Breeze was parked in slot #3 which was a fairly far walk to the terminal and even further to the taxi stand so I was very glad we got the wheelchair for Chris. We walked all along the pier and through the shops to get to the Taxi stand to go to Mr. Sanchos Beach Club.
We LOVE the Carnival Breeze!
They want to go on the Liberty of the Seas SO BAD... But it will more than likely just be me and Chris in June 2018!
The Carnival Fantasy docked in Cozumel!
Good Morning from Puerta Maya, Mexico!
We loved this place in 2015 and were anxious to get back! I got in the car and said "Is it $15 or #17 to Sanchos?" Of course, the driver said $17... another Rookie mistake, I know better! We got all the way out to Paradise Beach just 2KM from Mr. Sanchos and the driver said, "Show me your reservations". We didn't have any as they are not needed but she said on this specific day they were. We told her just to go to Paradise Beach as we knew it was a good beach! Looking back, I think she must have had a deal with Paradise Beach of some sorts.
Taxi in Mexico selfie!
She wants to be a mermaid!
We were making memories we will cherish FOEVER... Rain or shine and Walk or Ride!
We loved this place in 2015 and were anxious to get back! I got in the car and said "Is it $15 or #17 to Sanchos?" Of course, the driver said $17... another Rookie mistake, I know better! We got all the way out to Paradise Beach just 2KM from Mr. Sanchos and the driver said, "Show me your reservations". We didn't have any as they are not needed but she said on this specific day they were. We told her just to go to Paradise Beach as we knew it was a good beach! Looking back, I think she must have had a deal with Paradise Beach of some sorts.
Paradise Beach is a great beach resort that charges a $3 entrance fee for all guest ages 5 and up. This entrance fee gets you a chair and umbrella coverage. This beach also offers a FUNPASS that allows you all day access to the beach inflatables, snorkeling and even kayaking and paddle boarding for only $18. (We didn't buy those upon entering as we didn't know if Natalie would like it and we knew Chris needed to just rest on the beach.) They do ask each guest to purchase $10 from the bar and restaurant which is easy to do with food and a few cocktails. They offer a pool with a swim up bar, walking and nature path, showers, restaurants and a few 3rd party activity options like Parasailing and massages. The beach entry is somewhat rocky in areas so be sure to bring water shoes. The taxi fare is a flat $15 from the Punta Cana cruise terminal.
We got there and paid our $9 entrance fee and got our covered chairs right at the beach entrance. Natalie and I got into the ocean and we swam around while Luke played in the sand. He is not much of a water baby... well until NOW! After a little while he agreed to let me carry him in the ocean and the rest is HISTORY!
Natalie got right in and felt right at home!
Luke on the other hand... just wanted to play in the sand.
In fact, I pretty much told myself he would be there ALL DAY!
But he surprised me and got in and had fun in the ocean instead!
Me and my girl having fun while the boys stayed at the beach!
Him, Natalie and I swam and played in the ocean most of the rest of the day. Natalie faced her fears and climbed up on the inflatables and fell in love with the slides and teeter-totter. She played on those for hours and hours. Later in the day we found a large float and Chris even came out and laid out with us.
I have officially arrived... now time to relax!
Meanwhile the kids buried each other in the sand!
This was the MOST FUN I have had with Luke EVER! We LOVED swimming and splashing in the ocean! Thank you Luke for facing your fears and having a fun day with me!
Natalie on the Teder-Totter!
In fact, I pretty much told myself he would be there ALL DAY!
But he surprised me and got in and had fun in the ocean instead!
Him, Natalie and I swam and played in the ocean most of the rest of the day. Natalie faced her fears and climbed up on the inflatables and fell in love with the slides and teeter-totter. She played on those for hours and hours. Later in the day we found a large float and Chris even came out and laid out with us.
Meanwhile the kids buried each other in the sand!
Afternoon
It was well past 2PM and the kids were hungry so we ordered quesadillas from the restaurant and ate on the beach! I paid the waiter and closed our tab and before I knew it 70% of the food was gone! I guess they really were hungry. We finished eating and then went and showered to go back to the pier and get on the ship. I noticed in the changing room that Natalie, Luke and I were all sunburnt pretty bad despite re-applying sunscreen 2-3 times. I love cruising but during the summer time it is just BRUTAL to us fair-skinned peeps!
We learned the hard way in Costa Maya in 2016 and will never order nachos so we opted for quesadillas. They were YUMMY!
Just another day in Paradise!
I love my FUN family!
We got a taxi easily and made our way back to the shopping area. We stopped at a few stores to get the kids souvenirs and Natalie got her 1st Diamond International charm bracelet and started her charm collection. Eventually we made it back to the Duty-Free shops that lead to the ship pier and made a few last minute purchases all while it began to rain.
Luke had to show us where we were!
Then rain some more... then POUR down rain! We decided that you only live once (YOLO) so we took off running to the ship down the pier, wheelchair and all! I swear to you it was the most fun I have had in a long time. I can't explain it but when I am on a cruise I am the most happy and carefree! Y'all who know me know I can be uptight and in real life I would have waited HOURS for that to pass... But not on a cruise! I LOVE IT!
This was SO MUCH FUN!
Taxi back to the ship and they gave us a HUGE van!
We got back on the boat soaking wet and returned the wheelchair before heading back to the room to drop off our stuff before going to the WaterWorks. The Carnival Breeze didn't leave Cozumel until 6PM and it was barely 4PM so we knew there would not be a lot of lines. We played at the WaterWorks until nearly 5:30PM before getting ready for dinner.
Luke went down the Twister slide on this day 5 times because there were no lines!
Luke loved running freely in the WaterWorks area!
A view of the Carnival Breeze from the Serenity Deck!
When we got back to the room we noticed that Anna from Guest Services had left us a sweet note and chocolate covered strawberries just for being loyal to Carnival and for waiting so long for the wheelchair. Once again, Carnival goes above and beyond! Thank you CCL!
Anna was SO SWEET and did not have to do this!
Our favorite part... David Jr.
Thank you Anna! These were delicious!
When we got back to the room we noticed that Anna from Guest Services had left us a sweet note and chocolate covered strawberries just for being loyal to Carnival and for waiting so long for the wheelchair. Once again, Carnival goes above and beyond! Thank you CCL!
Our favorite part... David Jr.
Evening
We took the kids to the Camp Ocean dinner on the Lido deck and then Chris and I went and enjoyed a nice quiet dinner in the Main Dining Room. The food was really good, much to our surprise. We remember night #3 being a lull but it turned out to be a fantastic dinner. After dinner we tried to go to the comedy club but we were too late and there were no seats so we headed back to the Atrium. There we ran into Schwartz and talked to him for a while and got our traditional cruise director picture. We learned Schwartz is going on a 5 week vacation directly after this cruise and then headed to the Vista to cover Matt Mitchum's vacation while Mike Pack does a final contract on the Breeze before he takes over the brand new Carnival Horizon. Schwartz will be back on the Breeze in December and it will be "his ship". We made it to the Atrium for the Mardi Gras party and booty shaking contest which was very entertaining. Don't worry... we didn't participate.
Our traditional Cruise Director Picture! We love you Schwartz!
The Mardi Gras party in the Atrium!
Despite building a base tan back at home for weeks before hand and then applying and re-applying sunscreen at the beach... I got BURNT! Burnt BAD! It hurt.. So I got an ice pack and walked around like a crazy hobo!
The Mardi Gras party in the Atrium!
We went and got the kids from the kids club and then went to the Mega Deck Party on the Lido deck. We danced the night away and even "pirate Luke" danced with us! It was a great way to end the evening! We made it back to our room after 11PM and crashed pretty quickly as we were all tired!
I love my dancing family!
Me and my babies having the time of our lives!
I really wish Chris would have been feeling better!
Arrrrggg says Pirate Luke!
Goodnight Carnival Breeze!
There was a silly teenager dressed up as a T-Rex that came to all the fun events on the ship! She wasn't a CCL employee but a fellow passenger! Now Natalie wants a dolphin costume for our next cruise! HAHA!
Mega Deck party on the Carnival Breeze!
A family that dances together...
I really wish Chris would have been feeling better!
It was a great day of fun in Paradise at Paradise Beach and we were so proud of our littles for each facing their fears and having the time of their our lives! The next day we would be in Belize... stay tuned for the day of adventure!
Thanks for following along!
God is good... ALL the time!
Click on a link to see our past cruising adventures:
Our Cruise Ship Experiences 2006-present
Carnival Dream- 2017
Our Cruise Ship Experiences 2006-present
Carnival Dream- 2017
Great post!!Thanks for sharing it with us....really needed.Beach Tours Mexico was founded 9 years ago out of a dream: To offer cruise passengers and beach tourists, the best selection of Beach Tours, Shore Excursions, Watersports and Activities available at the lowest prices possible and in a single place.
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