Patricia M

We lucked out with great weather on Coco Cay. Fortunate indeed since we had booked parasailing and wave runner tours that day. I booked the first appointment for parasailing, bright and early that morning because I figured it would be cooler. A bonus I did not about know at the time was they give first appointments free tickets to rent floating mats – normally they cost $8.00. I guess this is an incentive to get up early. We were the second one up in the parasail – I can tell you I was petrified to do it, but it was terrific fun. If you are having doubts about trying it, take it from me and give it a go. The worst part is the first jolt upwards (when you realize it's too late to get out of the harness – hah!)  I intended to do the wave runner tour with my son, but I was concerned about the cavalier method in which people were asked to leave their personal belongings behind. There was no security, just open shelves outdoors on the beach where anyone could come up and take your stuff. I did not want to risk losing our passports, money, or credit cards, so I stayed behind and sat with our stuff. I don't know why there isn't some secured area (behind the front desk check-in, perhaps) where you can leave your things in order to go waverunning. In this day and age, it seems like an awfully naïve gesture to leave your purse or backpack out in plain view of any passing stranger. Coco Cay got very hot very quickly, and shade is sparse. It's a rocky, unimpressive little island, but the waters around it are beautiful.

Lunch was a massive free-for-all with hundreds of people jostling to get a few scraps of food. I had a dry hamburger and baked beans. It was too exhausting to go through the lines all over again for condiments. I think a good solution would be to ask one of the waiters back on the ship to pack you a bag lunch to take ashore – if they do that. Ours always sent our desserts back with us to our cabin, so I don’t see why not. We both sampled the "Coco Loco" (mine super leaded, my son’s without alcohol). They were probably the best drinks we had on the cruise, and we got to keep the colorful mugs.

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