Just returned Mexican Riviera cruise June22 sailing

[martinikath]

Hi all, Just wanted to thank this board for all of the info before our June 22nd Mexican riviera cruise. It was simply fantastic. Here are my factoids for those going in future weeks.

Weather: Wonderful but chilly on at sea days, upper 60's with breeze. Heated pools though so the cool air does not deter children from pools( or adults!) Very warm in ports. Upper 80's. I took a wind breaker and a white cardigan that was plenty for warmth on at sea days.

Food: Very good. Some meals outstanding, but overall very, very good with a good variety. CHildrens meals have old stand bys burger, chix fingers, mac n cheese, but they also have one or two chef's choice for kids like grilled chicken, or mickey shaped ravioli in red sauce, etc...

Kids activites; Wow, my kids didn't want to leave! Biggest hit: 3-4's and 5-7 have a royal ball on formal night where Cinderella shows up and gives them princess lessons: how to wave, curtsy, and what to do when the King yells: The waltz! My daughter was in HEAVEN!

Stayed at the Renaissance Long Beach Sat before: nice hotel, Rock Bottom brewery next door, and Budget car rental one block away with Sunday hours. We rented a car at LAX on Friday and returned it at 8am SUnday in Long beach. $65.00 total for 3 days-- got rate on internet. Cab to port was $15.00 for 4 of us. Took 10 minutes.

Excursions: none in Cabo, Mexican Family Fiesta in Matzlan, and Paradise beach in Puerto vallarta. Enjoyed them both fine. The beach was really nice with kayaking and boogie boarding. Great pool and very nice buffet lunch. Was a great time for our kids who are 5 and 8.

Time to get some sleep! We need a vacation from our vacation!

[BeachyGirl]

Thanks for the tips!!;)

[andriade]

Thank you so much for posting! It sounds like you had a wonderful time. We are going in August. A lot of posters are saying that some days are chilly. I never planned on bringing jackets. I guess I should plan on packing a couple of sweaters.

[koalagurl]

Thank you so much for posting! It sounds like you had a wonderful time. We are going in August. A lot of posters are saying that some days are chilly. I never planned on bringing jackets. I guess I should plan on packing a couple of sweaters.

Definitely check the weather closer to your sailing, but in August you may not need too many sweaters.

I was also on this past cruise, and the warmest I dressed was jeans and a light "hoodie" sweatshirt (not even full sweatshirt weight). June is notorious for the "June Gloom" ocean layer, but August you may escape it. :)

We also just got back and had a great time! After a week of 110* temperatures, that first overcast sea day was a nice change.

[TrojanJulez]

Martinikath,

Thanks for the wonderful trip report! We leave this Sunday (:cheer2: ), and I have been in intense-planning-mode for weeks now! :lmao: I was wondering about the boogie boards and kayaks at the Paradise Beach Resort. Were those included, or if not, how much did they cost? Were there lockers that you could use?

Thanks a bunch! Glad that you had fun! :)

[martinikath]

Boogie boards and kayaks were free, you just leave them your key to the world card and they ask that you bring it back in an hour. No lockers but everyone just put there stuff on their chairs. If I had it to do over, the only thing I would change would be putting our stuff on chairs by the pool, not on the ones by the ocean. My husband and I both were in the ocean with our kids and then when we went to the pool, we had no place to sit while they swam. If you have older kids and actually have the luxury of sitting by the ocean, I'd get the umbrella chairs by the sea. Also, they tell you to eat at 12:30 and i would do that, no line and tables in shade. It 's a buffet and everyone (5 buses) were told to eat at 12:30. But everyone was still in the ocean etc and at 12:30 no line to eat! Also, under the island by the slide is underwater caverns that you can swim underwater to get to. Once inside there is about 10 inches of air to breath. Our son was gone longer than he should have been (we thought it was a tunnel) and when my husband jumped in on rescue mode :scared1: found him "hanging" out. :rolleyes1 After that, he could only go under with an adult. Great time-- we really enjoyed it. Oh, bathrooms are bathrooms with 4 stalls. I would wear your suit on bus, both ways. Everyone did. Even a bit wet. have fun!

[TrojanJulez]

Thanks so much, Martinkath - that's a huge help! :flower3:

Did DCL hand out towels on your way out, or did you get them from the resort?

[martinikath]

Yes, when you go to meet before getting off the ship and check in, they have big carts of towels for you to take as many as you like. They had them for all the excursions we went on.

Also, when we went to leave at 3:30, they had originally told us to get on the bus we came on. However, when they started loading, they told us to just fill the bus in front of the lobby and another would pull up, fill up, leave etc.....

Enjoy!

[TrojanJulez]

Yes, when you go to meet before getting off the ship and check in, they have big carts of towels for you to take as many as you like. They had them for all the excursions we went on.

Also, when we went to leave at 3:30, they had originally told us to get on the bus we came on. However, when they started loading, they told us to just fill the bus in front of the lobby and another would pull up, fill up, leave etc.....

Enjoy!

Thanks again! You rock! :woohoo:

[andriade]

Boogie boards and kayaks were free, you just leave them your key to the world card and they ask that you bring it back in an hour. No lockers but everyone just put there stuff on their chairs. If I had it to do over, the only thing I would change would be putting our stuff on chairs by the pool, not on the ones by the ocean. My husband and I both were in the ocean with our kids and then when we went to the pool, we had no place to sit while they swam. If you have older kids and actually have the luxury of sitting by the ocean, I'd get the umbrella chairs by the sea. Also, they tell you to eat at 12:30 and i would do that, no line and tables in shade. It 's a buffet and everyone (5 buses) were told to eat at 12:30. But everyone was still in the ocean etc and at 12:30 no line to eat! Also, under the island by the slide is underwater caverns that you can swim underwater to get to. Once inside there is about 10 inches of air to breath. Our son was gone longer than he should have been (we thought it was a tunnel) and when my husband jumped in on rescue mode :scared1: found him "hanging" out. :rolleyes1 After that, he could only go under with an adult. Great time-- we really enjoyed it. Oh, bathrooms are bathrooms with 4 stalls. I would wear your suit on bus, both ways. Everyone did. Even a bit wet. have fun!

This again was very helpful. We booked this excursion after reading this review. It sounds like it would fit our family. Our kids like to play in the sand but swim in the pool. Thanks again!

[martinikath]

Beach has very gentle waves and is very shallow for a good distance before waves. also the pool has a very generous shallow area for young, short ones! Perfect for 5 and 3 year old!

[jd99]

This again was very helpful. We booked this excursion after reading this review. It sounds like it would fit our family. Our kids like to play in the sand but swim in the pool. Thanks again!

Hi Andria! We'll be there too!!!

[bcnb103]

we will also be there!:cool1: Thanks for the report.;)