From The Deck Chair: Photo of the Week

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Photo of the Week - October 21

"Cruise Ship Alley" - Independence of the Seas

and Grandeur of the Seas docked in Cozumel, Mexico.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

There's no shortage of things to see and do in Cozumel, Mexico. Located just a short ferry ride away from Playa del Carmen and the mainland, Cozumel serves as the gateway to the ancient Mayan ruins at Tulum as well as the modern-day resort and shopping mecca that is Cancun.

One of the greatest joys, however, is merely docking in Cozumel. There can be as many as eight ships in port in any given time, docked alongside each other at three sets of piers. Only in the Caribbean do passengers and cruise-enthusiasts get a chance to look at so many ships up close and personal.

Independence of the Seas & Grandeur of the Seas

tower over their passengers.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

This is one port you definitely want to be up early for: watching your ship tie up alongside an empty pier is one thing, but seeing a much larger vessel maneuver alongside yours - almost seemingly close enough to touch - is a one-of-a-kind experience that simply isn't replicated in other destinations. Piers in places like Alaska are often subject to much higher tidal conditions, and ships tend to dock alongside a central pier in a row.

Not so in Cozumel and many Caribbean ports. Because of this, the pier area is often a hub of activity and can often be as interesting as the town itself. It's also an excellent chance for passengers to scope out the competition. On a visit in 2009, the Grandeur of the Seas felt like a large ship until the 1,112-foot long Independence of the Seas tied up next to us. Four complete decks higher than us - not counting the funnel - the 2008-built ship made the venerable Grandeur feel like a tugboat in a bathtub.

Sun setting over the Caribbean Sea.

Sunrise and sunset are particularly spectacular here, and out on deck is once again the place to be at departure time. After a hard day of exploration - whether it was venturing all the way to Tulum or merely to Senior Frogs at the end of the pier - watching up to eight ships pull away one after another and sail into the sunset is a memorable experience passengers won't soon forget.