We had an early morning excursion in Progreso so we got an early breakfast in the Windjammer. It was the most packed that I’d seen. Especially for breakfast. That could very well be because the other days we were in port we ate breakfast in our stateroom.

Progreso Port
Excursion Time
Some Beach Time
Back at Port
Time for Lobster
Rockin’ with the Captain

After getting our sustenance, we grabbed our bags and excursion tickets. Then, we headed for the excursion meeting area in the Aurora Theater. We picked up towels from there and waited until it was time to be escorted off the ship.

Progreso Port

The Progreso pier is the longest one in the world. I couldn’t see just how long it was because that morning was extremely foggy and humid.

We were off the ship so early, we didn’t get a chance to take picture at the port. They lined us up for the excursion, we signed our waivers, met our tour guide, and headed towards the bus.

The drive down the pier helped to realize how long it was. It took about 15 minutes just to get off the pier.

Caesar, our tour guide, had a lot of energy and was very fun despite the gloomy morning. He told us that the dinosaurs used to inhabit the area of Progreso thousands of years ago until the meteor wiped them out. We drove by a dinosaur themed park while he told us about this. The kids were very excited about it.

The excursion was the most my friends and I interacted with kids and let’s just say, we were glad it was just this excursion.

Excursion Time 

While riding to our first stop, the clouds lift and the sun started shinning. We saw flamingos in the estuary which was a river that was a mix of fresh water and salt water. These are used to harvest salt which was a part of the first place we stopped. Caesar told us how the harvesters gathered the salt in the different boxed off estuary. We saw huge chunks of salt in bags that they’d had already been gathered.

There were some local business people there selling frozen treats, tacos (I can’t remember the meat but it wasn’t the usual chicken, beef, or shrimp), and of course salt. I knew I would regret it, so I bought a bag salt (much smaller than the ones we saw on the path, of course. It was only one dollar so why not?

Mayan Ruins in Xcambo

Afterwards, we went to Mayan ruins in Xcambo where we learned more about how Mayans honored each other if they were a great warrior. The warriors wanted to go to Xibalba so they’d be decapitated or have their hearts cut out to give blood as an offering. As a way to honor them, the faces of the soldiers were carved into rock.

We were allowed to climb the ruins but, I felt like it was a little disrespectful to do so.

Remember in the Cozumel post when I said Cali told us that the plumbing in Mexico is different? And toilet paper is supposed to be put in the trash and not flushed? Well, I definitely forgot that when I used the bathroom at this stop. I had been holding it because I didn’t want use the restroom on the bus (especially while it was moving). I hope I didn’t cause any damage.

Dzemul

Our next stop was the church in Dzemul where we saw these beautiful women in hand-embroidered dresses perform a traditional dance while balancing glasses of water on their heads. It was impressive with their amount of skill, maintaining the water.

We were able to walk inside and learn about the saints on the wall. Celeste noticed the similarities between the saints here and ones in the Philippines.

There was an offering/tip plate for the church and I felt so bad I couldn’t leave anything for them or the performers because I only had large bills.

Some Beach Time 

Our last stop before going back to port was a beach club. We had a buffet of tacos, quesadillas, rice, beans and other toppings. I also finally got to drink some soda! After eating, we went out to the beach. There were only a handful of people there outside of our tour group. My friends and I walked along the shoreline and found some shells.

Branching off from them, I bought a couple of bracelets for my sisters. Someone was selling their wears on the beach so I thought this would be one of the last times to get souvenirs.

The beach club also had a pool. How could it was shocked but I still dipped my feet in there for a few minutes before we had to head back to the bus.

Back at Port

I felt so bad that I couldn’t tip Caesar and our driver because I had no singles, only two 20-dollar bills. I tried to buy a souvenir in port for my mom and step mom quickly to make change before they drove off but it was too late.

We walked around the port for other souvenirs, getting a fan for my step-mom. I got a scrunchie, cajates (a caramel spread filled communion wafer), and Mayan chocolate for myself.

We got back on the boat with some time to spare. Celeste and I went to the hot dog place on the ship where I tried bratwurst and Sauerkraut for the first time. It didn’t taste different from other sausages I’ve had before. I’m not sure what the big deal is for this combination or why it took so long for me to try it.

We all rested in the room, munching on our snacks, before getting ready for dinner. It was another formal night and the night I’d been waiting for: lobster night.

Before changing into my dinner dress, I ran up to the NextCruise desk to fill out my book later form. I plan on taking a cruise with my mom later this year. I paid the $200 non-refundable deposit and my mom would pay me $100 later. The process was easy and simple.

Tip: If you plan on using NextCruise while on you’re current Royal Caribbean cruise, have an idea of what cruise you want to go on. Confirm if you’re using a travel agent or just doing everything with the cruise line. If you’re like and prefer to speak in person, rather than the phone, settle everything on the ship. If you fill out the book for later form, you’ll have to call to finish up everything.

Time for Lobster 

Once I finished starting the process for my next cruise, I got dressed. My friends and I took photos at all the different backdrop options. Every single one. It was model time!

We knew we wanted to eat in the main dining room this night because of the free lobster tail (well, free for the first one and an additional cost for any more).

Tip: Lobster night is for 6-night long cruises or longer, normally on night 5 or night 6.

We got the waiter from our first night, seated at the same table.

I ordered the vegan potato soup and a Caesar salad for an appetizer, lobster tail for dinner (of course), and baked Alaska and the pineapple sunshine cake for dessert.

The potato soup wasn’t bad but the one I had for lunch the other day was better. It was definitely missing some seasoning. The lobster tail was really good just small. The baked Alaska was good but not what I was expecting. I thought it was going to be a mini baked Alaska but it was more like of ice cream cake. I took the pineapple sunshine cake to go and it was delicious (so delicious I got it at lunch the next day). Cali followed my lead on the dessert and got the pineapple sunshine cake to go as well.

During dinner, all the chefs came out and greeted us with the waiters dancing around the tables as a thank you/farewell.

Rockin’ with the Captain 

After dinner we went back to the room but we remembered that the captain and some of the crew were doing an event so we went back out.

Originally, I wasn’t sure what to expect but as we walked down the hall, I could hear the music and cheering get louder and louder. The crew members were performing songs!

We missed the first two performers (based on everyone who sung at the finale) but it was such a fun time. They had some great voices! Three more crew members sung before we got to the captain.

“I’m sure everyone will know this next song,” he said. I did not know the song.

He performed “It’s My Life” by Bon Jovi, which surprisingly, I’d never heard until that night.

The last song they performed was like a goodbye to the passengers (even though we still had one more full day) but it also dedicated to those fighting the war in Ukraine which was heart warming. I’m sorry to say I can’t remember the exact song. I want to say it was “We Are the World” but that doesn’t sound quite right.

After “Rockin’ With the Captain” we fell right asleep. The long day took a lot out of us.

What’s the best farewell experience you’ve had on a cruise?