Our first international trip was aboard a Royal Caribbean Cruise ship in September of 2019 for Brandon’s mom’s 50th birthday (we went big for that fantastic woman! (She deserves the world)). The ship disembarked from Galveston, Texas, and we journeyed to the Yucatan Peninsula and Cozumel, Mexico.
The night before our cruise ship disembarked, we arrived in Houston, Texas. It is a good thing we did because my bag did not arrive in Houston when we did, and this caused some panic. This was our first serious trip where we checked a bag, and we usually would only have a carry-on. Luckily the airline retrieved my bag and sent it to the hotel before we left at 10:30 am.
It was also our first cruise! So I brought all the things. We brought a three-port plug-in, which was taken away at security, a shoe holder to hang on the door, and a bottle of wine; you name it, we had it. Way too much!
The first few sailing days were packed with exploring the ship, eating food, enjoying the free activities, and relaxing. However, my favorite part of the cruise was getting off the boat.
The first stop was Progresso on the Yucatan Peninsula. We did a cruise ship excursion to see the Mayan Temples and swim in the caves. This was by far the most incredible day. It was so nice to have transportation set up for the activity. We hopped on the bus and traveled for about an hour to get to Tecoh, Yucatan, Mexico, where we explored the ruins and learned about the history. Then, we went swimming in an underground cave. I am sad we do not have any pictures because it was incredible!! The water was cold and clear, and we were surrounded by rock. It was amazing. The swim was followed up with a traditional meal. This experience was unforgettable!
The following day in Cozumel, we did not have anything planned. We got off the boat and explored a little of the area. Then we found a cheaper taxi (not by the port) to take us to a resort for the day. The beach was so beautiful. They offered us snorkel gear, which looked questionable. But the goggles worked perfectly. Seeing all the colorful fish and enjoying the warmth was an excellent way to spend the day in Cozumel.
What a time we had! But I think the most important thing we got out of our trip was family time together and our passports. Well, kind of the passports
Funny enough, Brandon’s passport didn’t get to him before the trip. We both went to get our passports well before the recommended time, and I received mine with no problem at all. Brandon, on the other hand, had… some issues. The Department of State had to send him additional paperwork to fill out, including his past living addresses, siblings’ addresses, and other details. He eventually got it, but luckily cruises took birth certificates!
Ultimately, we both got our passports, and then covid happened, putting all international trips on hold until 2023. Our official year of international travel!
