Mayan Riviera 2022 - Part II - Breathless Riviera Cancun

 

The view from my balcony

After staying with my friends, and seeing what Tulum and its environs have to offer, I checked into the Breathless for 3 nights. Dear readers, it was not long enough. This is a gorgeous resort with lovely amenities, and I easily could have stayed a full week. The room was spacious, bright, and comfortable. 

Sofa with a variety of cushions

Comfy chair

Comfy king bed

Double vanity

The biggest hot tub I've ever seen

The grounds were gorgeous. There was a massive hot tub, and several party pools. There might be a quiet pool, but I didn't really go hunting it. The conversation pits in the main pool were usable by anyone, no cost, no reservations. I quite liked that.

Window into main pool

Conversation pit in main pool

One of the perks of staying Xhale Club level (minimum 3 nights) is a bottle of champagne at the party pool near the hot tub. Some kind souls helped me drink it (can't let it go flat, chugging isn't wise).

Mickey with the Veuve Clicquot

Mickey sunbathing on the gorgeous purple towels

Champagne party pool

Champagne at the party pool

The beach is nice, although all loungers are behind a plant border. I believe it is the demarcation between private and public property. The water temperature was lovely.

Plant border on the beach

View of lounger and shade

The club lounge had a variety of hot and cold snacks available most of the day, as well as bar service, and wonderful concierges.

Xhale Club snacks

Another thing included with my Xhale Club stay was a complementary spa water circuit. This was a nice little perk, although finding time to fit all the little perks in to my short visit was challenging, to say the least. 

Water circuit steam room

Water circuit jacuzzi

Water circuit sauna

Water circuit outdoor spa

The dining was good as well. I never had to resort to the buffet.

Mexican themed restaurant menu

Nice atmosphere in the restaurants

The ravioli was delicious

Chocolate with a side of chocolate

Hibachi starter

I had the shrimp and veggies - delicious

The flight back had the same excellent service I'm spoiled enough to be used to. I was informed, however, that hot food would be reinstated three days after my return home. Oh well, I can report on that next time.

I honestly don't remember what this was

Next: Walt Disney World Spring 2022

Mayan Riviera 2022 - Part I - Tulum

 

Air Transat Club Class seat with comfort kit, etc.

It had been a long time since I had been in Mexico, and I had friends to visit, so I figured I would combine the visit with a little onsite experience. To start with, I booked Club Class on Air Transat to see what their experience is like now that the world is starting to open up again. The flight was indecently early, and there were no lounges open prior to boarding, but there are now regular bars in Pearson that will serve you even at ridiculous hours of the morning (I was tired, so I just had a latte). 

Club Class slippers at my bulkhead seat

Boarding was quick, and service was excellent. It was nice having the bells and whistles back. A note: Club Class should not be confused with premium economy. It is a business class level product, and very enjoyable. 

Club Class sparkling wine *starting my day off right*

For a cold breakfast, the selection was pretty good: including granola, fruit, croissant, and yogurt. I will be pleased when proper trays and dishes come back, though. The service was faultless throughout the flight, and my glass was replenished as often as I wished.

I was told hot food would return 2 days after I got home 👻

Customs in Mexico was fairly straightforward, and I was soon with my friends, headed for Tulum. They're not running a resort, so I will just say the accommodations were genial, and then concentrate on the touring parts of the trip.

The Mayan Riviera is famous for, among other things, swimmable cenotes. The first one we stopped at was quite lined up, so we went to Aktun Ha. The water was a little bracing, but very blue and clear.

Serene landscaping

Adequate facilities

There were piers where you could step down into the cenote

This is an unfiltered photo -- that is the colour

El Pescador is a fun restaurant/dance club. Walking past, I noticed swing seats, and really wanted to dine here. The atmosphere and service were great as was the food. The only caution would be that the music does get very loud as the evening progresses.

Nothing Like a Foggy Shooter

Salsa service to Begin

I love the decor of this outdoor restaurant

The lobster tail was huge

Xel-Ha is a classic natural water park. It's all inclusive, with food and drink amply available. There is no place where swimming is allowed without life jackets, which seemed an excess of caution to me, but I appreciated it when I was in the "lazy river" and the wind picked up causing me to have to swim against the current to get out.

There's lots to do

The centrepiece is the stunning lagoon

Lizard!! 😍

Loungers were abundant

The Punta Laguna Spider Monkey Reserve was wonderful. The monkeys were abundant, but free roaming. This is not a place where the animals are forced to interact with tourists. Instead, our guide just pointed at the monkeys in the trees, and took us on a lovely nature hike.

Swimming and canoeing are also offered

Spider Monkey!

Another monkey.

The reserve is well worth visiting

Next: Part II - Breathless Riviera Cancun

Celebrity Edge 2021 - Part V - Wine Tastings

 

I brought Mickey to the Select tasting

One of the perks of my loyalty tier with Celebrity is a complementary wine tasting.  You get small samples of 2 reds and 2 whites. They are tasted in order from lightest to fullest, and a lot of information about tasting wines is also passed on.

A couple of reds and a couple of whites

Free wine tastings are nice, but... At dinner at Eden, I had a chat about wine with the sommelier, and she offered me a chance to do the Superstars in the Glass tasting. $300US after the $50 gratuity. Worth every penny. 😍 I didn't see this advertised, and it's a very small event. But, it's 5 full glasses of the kind of champagne I had previously only dreamed about, each one paired with the perfect nibble.

The tasting pairings

The red rose was just a nice extra

The bottles

The order of tasting

The Perrier-Jouet was accompanied by the oyster topped with roe.

My absolute favourite was the Cristal with the ceviche

Everything was spectacular, right down to the finale of the salmon with caviar, accompanied by the Veuve Clicquot. To be honest, you will always have me at caviar, and this was a particularly delicious example.  I would do this experience again in a heartbeat. And I discovered that I aspire especially to taste Cristal again.

Tuna carpaccio was a lovely choice with the Dom Perignon

Celebrity Edge 2021 - Part IV - Ports of Call

 

Merry Go Round in San Juan

Our first port of call was San Juan Puerto Rico. It was an evening stop, and I had already been here several times, so a ship board friend and I just did a bit of wandering around, and found a nice patio for Mofongo. Sadly, the service was not good, but these things happen. I get the impression that they were still ramping up for cruise passengers. 

Celebrity is very nice at welcoming you back, greeting you with cold towels, and multiple flavours of water.

Refreshments when you return to the ship.

Philipsburg, St Maarten

St Maarten is one of my very favourite ports of call. I love the water, always so warm and inviting, and the old-world charm of the streets. The beach clubs are a wonderful way to experience a beach day with drinks, food, umbrellas, and lounge chairs available for variable fees.

The boardwalk is full of cafes, restaurants, and bars

The Guavaberry store is a must-visit

Your humble narrator on the ferry

We stopped at Tortola, and I had chosen to do a ship's shore excursion here to the Virgin Gorda Baths. From the pier, we were escorted to our ferry, which took us over to Virgin Gorda. From the Virgin Gorda pier, we were loaded into open air buses, and driven to Devil's Bay National Park. 

Looking back at Tortola

Love the colour of the water

There was a bit of a hike through the park

Very scenic

You trek through boulders and seawater

There are a couple of tight squeezes

It's a bit of an obstacle course

The tour stops at 2 beaches

Both beaches had a somewhat active current when I was there, but the water temperature was luxurious. The second beach has showers, a bar and grill, souvenirs, and bathrooms. And it's a short walk up the hill back to the buses. 

Water off the pier at Virgin Gorda

Wake from the ferry

Next: Celebrity Edge 2021 - Part V - Wine Tastings