Missed Port, Found Magic: My Unexpected Best Day on the Encore

I woke up at 6:47 AM to my phone buzzing with a text from my sister: "Did you see the announcement? We're not stopping in Cozumel." My stomach dropped like we'd hit a sudden swell. I scrambled out of bed and checked the Norwegian Cruise Line app, and there it was in black and white—sea conditions too rough for tender operations. We'd be at sea all day instead of snorkeling at my dream destination. I sat on the edge of my balcony cabin staring at the gray-blue Atlantic, genuinely disappointed. This was supposed to be the highlight of my week on the Norwegian Encore. I'd already planned my snorkel spots, researched the best fish tacos in town, and bought new underwater camera gear. My husband Mike was still sleeping, blissfully unaware of the day I thought we were about to have. When he woke up and I delivered the news, he just shrugged. "More time on the ship then. Could be worse." That's Mike for you—eternally optimistic in a way that sometimes drives me crazy. But sitting there in our cabin, feeling genuinely grumpy, I realized I had a choice. I could spend the day moping around the Encore like it was some kind of punishment, or I could actually explore the ship I'd barely touche…