Carnival Spirit - May 2013, Day 5 Mare

Mum and I had been to Mare during our January cruise on the Jewel but my sister and the kids hadn't. This is a tender stop which sometimes can mean there maybe delays getting off the ship and this was no exception. It was due to the water being a little choppy which makes it quite difficult for the tenders to dock at the ship and at the pier. You need to collect a tender ticket before you can board and these were being handed out on the Lido deck and each person had to get their own ticket. You couldn't send just one person up to get all of the tickets. I think they do this so they can ensure everyone is ready when their tender ticket number is called. If you're ready you get your ticket if your not you wait until you are ready and then get your ticket - makes sense.

We were tender number 31 - there was a bit of a wait but the weather wasn't that special, a bit drizzly, so we weren't in any real hurry. The only tour option that is available on Mare is a shuttle bus around to Yejele Beach. The bus takes about 30mins each way and was $18.99 per adult and $15.99 per child. We didn't bother with the bus as we new we could swim at some of the other stops our cruise was doing and it does add up when you have to pay for 6 of you. We have heard that the beach is gorgeous so maybe on another cruise we might just splurge!

You can swim near where the tender drops you off as there is a small swimming hole plus a few places along the coast that you can get down to the water. There is also a small beach area if you head to the left after walking up to the road from the pier.

Mare

One good thing about the tender ports is that they use our tender so we actually get a lovely view for the day - pity we're out most of the time!

After getting to Mare we just walk around - it isn't a very big place so you can see everything with 30mins. There are some markets setup by the locals but that's about it for shopping. You can get you passport stamped but there was never anyone sitting at the table when we walked passed. It was also raining a little bit and there wasn't much shelter so I don't think we would have risked getting our passports wet anyway. If you don't plan on getting your passport stamps you don't need to take them off the ship all you need is your cruise card.

 

After a couple of hours walking around we head back to the ship, it is almost lunch time you know! Mare isn't one of my favourite islands, there isn't anything horrible about it but there just isn't a whole heap to do if you don't catch the shuttle bus.

 

Once we've filled our bellies again we decide to get a bit sporty.

Putt Putt! This was a big hit with the kids (big and little).