All over Yucatan Penninsula you can pay in US dollars. We decided to exchange some dollars for pesos which is recommended for shopping.

The exchange rate at the airport was not good. We got 10,5 pesos for one dollar. In Playa you get 12,5 pesos for one dollar.

Pesos are really beautiful and colorful and they are transparent in some places.

To put your foot on Mexican ground you must go through passport and customs control and fill in two documents.
The whole process is quick and easy. Very funny is the customs control. You give the customs officer a document and press the mysrerious, red button and then BINGO, we have a green light and we are now literally in Mexico.

A flight from Miami to Cancun takes 1:40h. It is really pleasant and the views from the windows on Miami and Key West are breathtaking.
First, you see Miami Downtown and the Port, then there is the blue lagoon and thin islands.

The flight was exciting because this time there were many turbulences, which made me a little bit uncomfortable.

In the past we used US Delta Airlines and they were simply OK. Of course European lines are much better but we have never complained about Delta.
This time we booked our tickets with American Airlines. The first surprise was at the airoport, where we were asked to pay $50 for our two light bags. (We did not have excess luggage.) Nowhere have we found any info connceted with charging passangers for their luggage, but that is life. We have lost our hard-earned 50 bucks. That was just the beginning.

The second incredible thing is the fact, that the flight attendants were late for our flight. In civilized world, flight attendents are on time so that they can help with boarding. In wild America is the other way. The pilot was ready but he had no people to serve the passangers on board.

The airport service did not seem quite inteligent giving the loudspeeker announcement that the boarding will be 15 min delayed as the crew must go through security control.
Then there was one more ridiculous announcement, namely: ” We are still waiting for one more flight attendentand and when he comes, we will start boarding.”

I thought: Has the steward got diarrhoea or stomach ache, or maybe he does last minute shopping in duty free shops or is he sitting somwhere and drinking?
Suddenly THE STAR ATTRACTION OF American Airlines COMES and the boarding begins for good.

I admit that it was the fastest boarding and take off I have ever experienced and due to pilot skills we landed on time in Cancun despite much delayed take-off.

There are both pros and cons connected with crusing, but one thing is sure, we do not regret choosing the Carnival Cruise.
The pros are as follow:
1. The price
Choosing a cruise is a cheap option to see some beautiful places. For one week the total price for two people will not exceed $1000 if you choose a low deck for accommodation.
2. Spectacular views
When you are on a cruise, picturesque views are guaranteed, you will see lovely places that will stay forever in your mind. You will familiarize with some bits of history and local cuisine.
3. Perfect organisation
Everyting on the ship and around the ship works like in a well-oiled machine. Every crew member knows his/her duties. Everyting is on time and this is
perfect for me.
4. Food and beverages
There is a wide selection of different dishes and drinks so everyone will be fully satisfied. One can try the dishes belonging to various cuisines.
5. Cleanliness
The ship is spotlessly clean.
6. The weather
Apart from some storms and hurricanes which may happen and which the ship always avoids making a reroute, there is always warm and sunny weather.

When it comes to negative aspects, they are as follow:
1. Terrible overeating and incredible waste of food.
2. Extra costs some people are unaware of.
For example, when you order a drink, an extra charge of 15% is added to your bill for the service.

When you book your cruise, the inicial price is awesome, but when you want to pay for it, goverment and port taxes are added as well as gratuities and as a result the price doubles.

3. Ecology
There is no ecology. Crusing is an industry producing a lot of sewage and waste.

The ship is huge and there is a lot of waste generated by both the people and the service. Where does the waste go? Unfortunatelty, it is pupmed or discarded to the sea.
4. Visible division of people. Highly motivated, hardworking and really slim crew members vs relaxed and lazy, quite often obese and food obsessed passangers.
5. Days spent at sea on board the ship.
For us, ship is something like a prison, there is limited place and no freedom.
6. Too small pools.
On Carnival there are 2800 passangers and only two bigger pools, one small pool and some whirlpools. It is not enough for the amount of people on board.
7. Too little time spent on land.
The places you visit during the cruise are magnificient. What a pity that we can only spend there a couple of hours.

We are now in Miami, however, after spending 8 nights at sea, we experience a kind of gentle rocking on the ground. We feel as if we were on the ship, sometimes we have slight problems with balance kreeping. A little bit weird.