The 'Wonder'ful Mexican Riviera with a nut (allergy) Full report w/pics!

[Stinkerbe11]

Thanks for your report! Sounds like you guys had a great time.

Jill in CO

We honestly had a blast, it was just perfect for our family. I am having to hold myself back from planning for the next one but I think I will give DH a break (at least for a few months).

 

[Mindyjoy]

It was definitely a challenge but it drives me crazy when people take a year to finish a TR I know that there are lots of people going on these MR cruises and all the negative threads were ammunition to write an honest and accurate (from my POV) report to reassure future cruisers.

Just want to add to the chorus of Thank Yous for finishing your trip report so quickly. I really didn't think I'd ready any detailed MR reports prior to leaving in April, since generally they take so long to complete. I really enjoyed reading this and you answered a lot of questions I didn't even know I had.

 

[Disgram23kids]

Stinkerbell, I just read your entire trip report today. It was absolutely wonderful. We are thinking we may add a MR trip in fall of 2012 when we take the grandkids to DLR to see the new Cars Land. We thought we would spend 4 days at DL and then maybe stay by the beach for a few days. I thought a MR Cruise would be more fun but my son thought it might be too much. After I read your report and talked to him again, I think he may be on-board.

Thanks, Marsha in Colorado

 

[simbasmom2]

It was good but the activities felt a little rushed. The kids enjoyed the entertainment on the boat on the way over- crew danced and they played a game part of the time so that kept them happy. The adults liked the drinks.

For the snorkeling, my boys didn't have the right size fins for snorkeling so by the time we walked back up the steps twice to change them, the group was gone. They had not snorkeled before so they needed more time to figure it out the first time. They had kayaking afterwards which we didn't do and people were swimming. The water was cold as it always in in LA but the weather felt like only in the 70's so I was a little cold so I didn't swim. If it had been warmer that would have been better but I guess they can't control the weather! The food was good and the setting was beautiful. When we got there and set down to eat, our kids were so impressed and said how much they liked the place as it was beautiful and so nice to have a table waiting for you to eat lunch. I thought it was odd that they have BBQ ribs as people who grow up in Mexico don't often like BBQ ribs and they didn't have guacamole but it was good otherwise. We never saw the monkeys but another boy said they had them when we got off the boat but we only saw parrots when we got off with their handlers. The kids did do the nature walk in the jungle and a baby boa constrictor slithered his way across the path so that was exciting for them and that was real, not staged. We are glad we went but wouldn't do it again as it was expensive so would try something else next time. There was no sea lion swim going on when we were there. At Cabo, there were opportunities to swim and snorkel near lovers beach although the boats were close.We would do water activities in Cabo next time to save some money and try something different. We just arranged with some people in Cabo to parasail and go on the glass bottom boat when we got there at Cabo so that worked out fine for us and was less expensive.


Sorry to hijack your thread, Stinkerbell. It is the best review! You are a fun and entertaining writer! We went to Beach Blanket on Saturday and got there at 2:30 when they were closing so never saw all of the seafood that you saw in the pictures above- just the little bit that was left but we were just happy that they stayed open later than on the schedule because they said people were still coming and they had to stay open later. I just appreciated that they were still open for a few minutes longer until they ran out of food. That just goes to show that some people can be on the same cruise and have different experiences- so ignore all of those bad reviews that you saw on other threads! It really was a great cruise.

Hi,
We never met up with half of our FE group...and your family was one of them. I was on the Las calietas tour with you and didn't know it. I think I know who you are now. Blonde family? We had a good time, but agree with you -wouldn't do Las Calietas again. I wish it had been warmer. Although that was really the only day we got a little sun. It WAS BEAUTIFUL I will have to say. We also did the walking tour. We saw a parrot, monkey and boa. The girls held them all!!! Glad you had a great cruise...we did as well.

 

[Camonkeygirl]

TQ, thank you so much for taking the time to write out your TR. I enjoyed reading it, as it gives me some insight as to what to expect on our first cruise in Sept.

Hope DH comes home soon.

 

[Dicecatt]

What a great trip report, thank you so much! It was so helpful, especially since this itinerary is so new! You really seem to have reasonable expectations, and when you said anything negative, it didn't sound like an exaggeration...just truthful.

I really can't stand that elevator thing...and when people are on the elevator and can't get out because others are pushing on. My twins did that once along with a random middle aged couple on the Dream christening...I corrected my twins LOUDLY and said that is one of the rudest things you can do, push your way onto an elevator without letting those on it off first! I made sure the adults heard loud and clear. It embarrassed me that my children would do that but they are young and I corrected them...sheesh, what is the adults' excuse...

Your family is beautiful.

 

[nsiordia]

Thanks for the awesome TR!! You just made me more excited for our MR Cruise!

 

[True Romance]

Awesome trip report, thank you. Yours is the first one I have read all the way through. Looking forward to our MR in April, 8 weeks from tomorrow

I was curious about the seafood buffet. I never knew there was one, and I have sailed DCL twice before. Is that listed in the Navigator? I wonder if it is always on the last sea day? I need to keep a look out for it, because it looked yummy.

Thanks again.

 

[Stinkerbe11]

Awesome trip report, thank you. Yours is the first one I have read all the way through. Looking forward to our MR in April, 8 weeks from tomorrow

I was curious about the seafood buffet. I never knew there was one, and I have sailed DCL twice before. Is that listed in the Navigator? I wonder if it is always on the last sea day? I need to keep a look out for it, because it looked yummy.

Thanks again.

I don't think its listed in the Navigator, we just happened to overhear someone say "sushi" and we ditched Triton's for the buffet.

 

[travel luvr]

I too thank you for the wonderful report. What is the advantage of being in Triton for formal night and Parrot Cay for Pirate night?

 

[ptmom]

Love it, thanks for sharing!

Question...you said you arrived around 9:45. Can you go into more detail? Did you have to wait outside? Did you get right in? What time was your online check in time?

*

 

[mnsweeps]

Stinker or other ..

In my party of 4 adults and a 6 yr old girl, 3(wife,daughter and father in law) of them are vegetarians.. I and my mother in law eat chicken/shrimp but nothing else meaty... You think we would have enough choices?

 

[colmom]

Thanks for the great trip report! It was so helpful.

I do have a question about currency. Did you just use US Dollars the whole time in Mexico? Is there any need to use Mexican currency?

 

[Stinkerbe11]

Stinker or other ..

In my party of 4 adults and a 6 yr old girl, 3(wife,daughter and father in law) of them are vegetarians.. I and my mother in law eat chicken/shrimp but nothing else meaty... You think we would have enough choices?

I have heard that the vegetarian dishes are excellent and I do recall seeing options on every menu. If you want a specific answer, I would ask this question on the main page and also try the food porn thread for pics and descriptions.

 

[Stinkerbe11]

Thanks for the great trip report! It was so helpful.

I do have a question about currency. Did you just use US Dollars the whole time in Mexico? Is there any need to use Mexican currency?

I used my credit card for all purchases and cash (USD) for the cab, but we stayed within 5 miles of the port. This would also be a good question to post on the main page, especially for those who went on excursions and ventured away from town.

 

[mnsweeps]

I have heard that the vegetarian dishes are excellent and I do recall seeing options on every menu. If you want a specific answer, I would ask this question on the main page and also try the food porn thread for pics and descriptions.

Thanks.. From your day 7 pictures I think I saw some nice Indian dishes like Samosa and Indian curry..Did I guess it right? We are originally from India but I have been here for over 15 yrs.. In laws are visiting from India... As you might know by now , I work from Disney in LA Let me call cast members line and check it out.. Thanks anyway

 

[Stinkerbe11]

I too thank you for the wonderful report. What is the advantage of being in Triton for formal night and Parrot Cay for Pirate night?

It's personal preference really, the menus are all the same on "theme" nights, but the restaurants are very different. Triton's has a more formal decor and Parrot Cay is a Caribbean or tropical setting.

 

[COASTIEandMATE]

Thank you so much for your 'SUPERCALIFRAGILISTIC' trip report!! My DH and I are going on our first ever cruise, back to back LA Repo and the first cruise to Alaska, on the Wonder. We will enjoy it much more because of your kind advice!! I only have one question - what brand of camera took those gorgeous pictures? Thank you again, and please come see us in Hawaii soon... Karen and Ron

 

[Stinkerbe11]

The camera is a Pentax K-x and we are coming to Hawaii in October for our 10th anniversary

 

[pthuhges2]

AWESOMEly detailed trip report. I am coning out of my skin with excitement for our MR cruise in April!
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