It is February on Long Island, New York, and winter is still in full force. A one-week cruise in the Caribbean is a cure for the winter blues. Our cruise began in Tampa, Florida, where we stayed two nights at the Current Hotel, a Marriott Autograph Collection Hotel.
We embarked on the Carnival Pride, setting sail for a thrilling three-port extravaganza in the western Caribbean. Our journey began in Tampa, Florida, where we had the unique opportunity to view the ship sailing under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. This 430-foot-high and 4.1-mile-long bridge connecting St. Petersburg to Bradenton was a sight to behold. As we sailed under it, the ship’s minimal clearance added an element of excitement. The bridge, illuminated in multiple colors at dusk, was a highlight of our adventure.
The first port was Costa Maya, on the southeastern coast of Mexico, 200 miles south of Cancun. We spent half the day exploring Puerto Costa Maya, an easy walk from the ship. There are many souvenir, jewelry, and specialty shops, and ten bars and restaurants offer all types of cuisine. Costa Maya is known for some of the best Mayan ruins that hardly anyone has ever heard of. We did not visit them, but the cruise offered excursions that were one to two-hour drives from the port.
The next port was Isla Roatan, located about 35 miles off the northern coast of Honduras. Roatan is home to the second-largest coral reef in the world, the Mesoamerica Reef. We disembarked the ship at Mahogany Bay, a 10-acre private island owned by Carnival, and that day was exclusively for Carnival guests.
The white sandy beach is ideal for snorkeling and swimming because of its calm, clear water. The walk from the ship to the beach consists of tropical foliage and takes about 15 minutes. There is a chairlift to the beach from the ship as an alternative to the walk. The area adjacent to the beach had a cute outdoor shopping area with souvenir and jewelry shops for tourists.
The final port was Cozumel, Mexico, an island about 10 miles off the east coast of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. It is the largest island in the Mexican Caribbean. This island is also located on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, which highlights great snorkeling and diving. We took a cruise excursion to Passion Island, which is private, and that day was exclusive to the guests on our ship. It is about a 30-minute speed boat ride from the port and worth the trip; the beach has white sand and crystal clear blue water. Our excursion included a Mexican buffet and an open bar. The port area included the typical tourist shops, restaurants, and bars.
Carnival Cruises always have nonstop activities on sea and port days. They publish a daily magazine called Fun Times, highlighting the day’s entertainment, music venues, specialty restaurants, parties, casino activities, and much more. Our favorite was the ‘Silent Nights’ party, a silent disco held on an outdoor deck. Everyone had a headset with three channels, each with a live DJ playing different types of dance music.
This was our sixth Carnival cruise and our third on the Pride. We were lucky to have beautiful weather and calm seas throughout the entire cruise. Next year, we are planning another Caribbean cruise in February, this time on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship leaving from Miami.
