I know this cruise report is taking way too long, but things at work and home are preventing me from posting as regular as I'd have liked. I hope you'll allow me a few more posts. I'll also try to post a few more pics since I've had some folks comment to me in person that they enjoyed seeing them.

Wednesday in Cozumel –

When we originally booked our cruise the Mexican port of Cozumel was supposed to be our final stop on Friday. All of us had been there previously and Donna & I had planned on possibly skipping the place anyway. Then Hurricane Katrina came and reduced much of the city to ruins. For several months after the cruise ships were completely bypassing the port, as well as Cancun, which had been similarly hit. Eventually the ships began to return, but the piers where most had tied up were totally destroyed, now the only way to get from ship to shore was by use of the various commercial tenders.

We spoke to several people over the months preceding our trip and read stuff online. It was apparent that the shops and duty-free mall that we had briefly decided to visit had been victims of the hurricane. They were at the end of the cruise ship piers and didn’t stand a chance between the surging waves and wind. When we actually arrived within sight of Cozumel you could see what was left of the piers as piles of rubble, marked by warning flags, only slightly above the surface of the water. The sea was a bit rough with waves crashing on the existing beach, and the tenders were making slow progress in the swells. It was just as well that the four of us decided to stay aboard and take advantage of the pool and other activities.

As I mentioned earlier, I had won a session in something called the “Alpha Capsule” located in the spa. As Fran and The Lovely Christina already had appointments for massage and facials I called ahead and booked my own session. The four of us enjoyed a late breakfast and then hit the pool for a while, with some early afternoon drinks. Around 2:15 three of us headed off to the spa and Donna went back up to our room for a nap.

Now folks who know me will tell you that I’m not a real ‘new age’ kind of guy. My idea of relaxation doesn’t include electronic massage machines and aroma-therapy sessions. Nonetheless, if you tell me it’s free I’ll give it a chance. Plus at my age I don’t get much chance for new experiences!

At the reception desk I was directed to locate the gym and speak to Halmud, who would get me set up. I had no trouble as there were only a few people working out at the time, and Halmud was the only guy completely dressed. He asked me if was familiar with the Alpha Capsule and I told him that I really had no clue. Maybe his smile should have clued me in. I followed him to a smaller workout room with some nautilus equipment, which was off to one side. Apparently used only when the main room was overbooked. There taking up a good section of one wall was the world’s second biggest egg (hat tip to the late Don Adams!), covered partially by a flowered drape of some sort. Naturally, this was the Alpha Capsule!

Halmud touched a button on the side of the egg and it split in half, revealing what looked way too much like the inside of a coffin. It was totally black with two thin white cushions on the lower half, each of which had a small knob along the side. Halmud covered the mats with two white towels and asked me to lie down inside. This should have been my second clue, but I did as he asked making me as comfortable as possible. Then he closed the egg!

I’m not claustrophobic by any means, but to suddenly find yourself enclosed in this huge white plastic thing, with only your head sticking out…well, the idea of calling the whole thing off crossed my mind. Probably because he’d gone through this before Halmud had me push up with both hand, not quite trapped at my sides and I found the top lifted quite easily. He told me that when my session ended I could just let myself out and that he would lock the door from the outside. I had only to climb out and let myself out when finished. Famous last words, right?

As I may have mentioned this ‘prize’ from the trivia contest was for a 25-minute introductory session. Halmud punched some buttons on a panel just below my chin, which I could see if I tilted my head. There were a few lights blinking on and off, as well as two digital displays. One with red numbers indicated the temperature in the capsule, which Halmud said would range from around 86 to 90 degrees. After setting me up he then pulled the flowered sheet over me and told me to just relax. I was now complete enclosed and unable to see anything but the display blinking at me. It was now time for me to relax, which is not something you should really have to think about. I closed my eyes, inhaling the slightly flowery aromas from the grill and listened to the New Age/Easy Listening mix.

What seemed like a few minutes later I opened my eyes and noticed a second green panel blinking numbers below my chin. It read 4:10 and I couldn’t believe that I had been in the egg for less then five minutes. Boy, it was getting pretty warm as well and I seemed very thirsty. Still it seemed I had another twenty minutes of this left and I decided to close my eyes again. When I next looked the clock read 5:15, making believe that barely a minute had passed. I lay there wondering if I could actually stay here for a full twenty-five and noticed that the digital readout was not showing seconds. It was actually a clock and I had been in the capsule for several hours!!

I pushed the top up and it gave way easily, but when I tried to sit up I found I was very weak and drenched in sweat. I sat with my legs over the side until I could finally stand, but only made it a few feet to one of the folding chairs where I had left my shirt and shoes, along with my watch. I checked and discovered that it was 4:30. I had been in the Alpha Capsule for two hours! Apparently the clock on the capsule was on Central time, causing me to be totally disoriented.

Still groggy I let myself out and found I couldn’t find my way back to the gym. After couple of turns I went through a door and realized I had made my way into the Women’s spa area. Fortunately, I wasn’t seen and quickly made my way back, this time discovering the correct route and finally the registration desk. My good pal, Halmud was there and asked me if I was “coming back”. With a few choice words I explained that in fact I had not left in the first place. He and the young lady beside him seemed surprised, but offered no explanation as to why the alarm didn’t go off. It was more the fact that Halmud didn’t come to check up on me that bothered me, to be honest.

When I made it back to my room Donna was worried and had even asked Fran & TLC if they had seen me. They assumed that I had gone off to the cigar bar or was back at the pool, even though I had said I’d go back to the room when finished.

Let this be fair warning that if you ever get the chance for a treatment in the Alpha Capsule you bring along a travel alarm clock or have a friend check on you when your time is up.