7/6 Mexican Riviera and Disneyland pretrip (now complete with PIX!)

[jmatias]

Can't wait for the next installment

Jen

 

[Valencia Joe]

I am doing the same tour as you did in Cabo with my two daughters (8 & 4) while my wife goes out and scuba dives. Couple of questions for you about that tour:
1 - you mentioned that they you can take or buy pictures of Los Arcos. Do they take your camera and take the pictures or do you?
2 - when the bus drops you off in Cabo for some shopping, how far away are you from the ship and from places like Cabo Wabo and Hard Rock?

Thanks!

 

[Dsnylndlvrs]

I am doing the same tour as you did in Cabo with my two daughters (8 & 4) while my wife goes out and scuba dives. Couple of questions for you about that tour:
1 - you mentioned that they you can take or buy pictures of Los Arcos. Do they take your camera and take the pictures or do you?
2 - when the bus drops you off in Cabo for some shopping, how far away are you from the ship and from places like Cabo Wabo and Hard Rock?

Thanks!

When we first got on the boat, a girl came around and asked if we'd like her to use our camera to take a picture of us. No cost. This was before we were out by Los Arcos, but the picture was still a good one. Then when the boat was right by Los Arcos, the same girl came around with her camera asking to take our picture. By the end of the boat ride, she was coming around with copies of the pics she took with her camera, offering them for sale. We bought one. It was good and showed Los Arcos in the picture right behind us.

For the bus drop off, I'd say it was only a couple miles at most of easy walking to get back. Hard Rock was on the way (we stopped to get shirts!) and we saw Cabo Wabo also. Hope that helps!

 

[anc22]

Great report. I will be watching for your next installment.

 

[Dsnylndlvrs]

Here’s a quick recap of what’s happened up to this point:

First sea day was wonderful – particularly because DH and I had the MOST relaxing possible visit to a spa villa on board. I should add that DH liked it so much that he decided we should book the spa again, this time not for a spa villa but just a couple’s massage. How could I turn that down?

In Cabo we had a nice, short excursion followed by a little shopping.

Mazatlan, well, was OK, but not a favorite.

Las Caletas in Puerto Vallarta was absolutely beautiful. Loved it!

So far, so good. Now it was time to move onto two sea days in a row. Honestly, that’s what I was MOST looking forward to (well, other than the spa villa on the first sea day.) DH and I started Friday with the earliest brunch in Palo. It was really good. I’d taken my camera and forgot to have the waiter take a picture of us. We were OK with that though because we were planning on doing Palo dinner that night too! Yes, maybe that sounds a little crazy, but, whatever. I’ve been reading about the chocolate soufflé at Palo for years now and was finally just hours away from getting my chance to try it first hand!

After brunch we decided to stop by the DVC presentation. We’d talked about DVC some in the past and didn’t think we’d go for it but thought “hey, why not?” Besides, they were going to raffle off $500 on board credit. That right there was our main purpose in going. Shhh, don’t tell anyone! It was actually a quick paced very informative presentation that only lasted an hour and I was surprised when it ended. The time flew! Anyway, we were also surprised when they announced we’d won!!!

OK, so Friday has gotten off to a good start! And we still had Palo dinner to look forward to that night, along with massages the next day, final jackpot bingo and pub night the next night and lots of other things in between. Life was good. Can you tell I’m trying to focus on all the positive stuff here? If I remember correctly, I was a little tired at this point so we went back and I napped for a little while (such a nice thing about sea days – naps are easy!) Eventually it was time for bingo. I was in a good mood, feeling lucky from earlier, but didn’t quite feel like going. I normally really like playing and something just wasn’t right. Two or three times, I got one number away from winning and had to stand. It was a chore to stand each time. Despite the effort to stand, we never won and it was back to the room. As soon as I got to the room, it was straight to the bathroom for a bout of dia******. As soon as I got out of the bathroom, it was straight back into the bathroom for a bout of vom******. (I’m trying to keep it as ungraphic as possible!) At that point I knew my fun was over and that the med center on deck one was my next destination.

The med staff was good. I did have to fill out a form stating EVERYTHING I’d eaten for the past three days and EVERYWHERE I’d eaten it. I was told it could be norovirus or flu or some other gastrointestinal something or other. At that point, it didn’t really matter which one. I was to be confined to the stateroom for the next two days, in other words, until the cruise ended. They gave me some meds and offered me a shot for naseau which I said I’d go ahead and do. So, the nurse came in, asked me to pull my pants down and gave me a shot in the rear. Very quickly after that, he showed me the bandaid he would be using. I should have known. It’s a Disney ship. They would have Disney bandages. My bandaid was Nemo. Through my tears about missing the rest of my cruise, I was laughing about Nemo kissing my tush!

Well, there isn’t really much else I can report on is there? I did in some sort of way become a concierge guest for the rest of the cruise. They brought me a combo flat screen TV/DVD player and a long list of movies I could borrow for free. (I watched 27 Dresses and August Rush. Enjoyed both!) I was told I could order off any restaurant menu (honestly though, the lobster that night was no longer sounding too great!) And they called frequently to see if I needed anything like free Powerade or water. (Likely it was more to check that I was still in the room like a good girl!)

The one positive experience that stands out in my mind while I was cooped up was this. On Saturday, there was a knock on the door. A cm handed me two certificates signed by Mary Jo from merchandising (remember, I’d met and chatted with her back on Monday?) She sent a certificate to each of my kids naming them great pin traders and giving them each a pin. I cried! She may have sent that bit of magic to my kids, but it was a little bit of magic that I really needed and it was wonderful!

For the last morning, I was allowed to go have debarkation breakfast and say a last, rushed goodbye to our serving team. And then we went home. The end!

Unfortunately, I have no more pictures to add, but I’d be happy to answer any other questions anyone might have!

 

[FirstTimer]

I'm glad you had a great time overall. But how awful to get sick your last 2 days and you missed Palo dinner.

We also have reservations for Palo on Friday night. Is that the night they serve lobster?

 

[Dsnylndlvrs]

I'm glad you had a great time overall. But how awful to get sick your last 2 days and you missed Palo dinner.

We also have reservations for Palo on Friday night. Is that the night they serve lobster?

Yes, that would be lobster night, but when we made our Palo reservations for that night, one of the Palo servers told us they'd be having lobster in Palo too!I don't know if that's normal or not.

 

[Valencia Joe]

I heard that this bout of stomach problems was caused by a restaurant that a number of the Disney cruisers ate at.

BTW, wierd question, if you do get sick on the cruise, and you purchased cruise insurance, does anything get reimbursed?

 

[SuJo]

I was also on this cruise. I have heard that someone may have picked it up in Cabo but it spread throughout the ship. It was definitely the flu because my DH got it and the other family we were sailing with got it and we were never on the same excursions together. My DH came down with it on Friday night, towards the end of the cruise, so he only had to stay in his cabin on Saturday. But the ship sure smelled like bleach and cleaning detergent. I was constantly washing my hands and using the wipes every time I saw them.

Susan

I heard that this bout of stomach problems was caused by a restaurant that a number of the Disney cruisers ate at.

BTW, wierd question, if you do get sick on the cruise, and you purchased cruise insurance, does anything get reimbursed?

 

[Kouris_Family]

We were on the June 29th cruise and my daughter got really sick on friday, lasted 5 days, and other members of our party in another stateroom all vom...... Saturday early morning, a total of 5 in our party were sick by the end of the cruise.

We were on the 11 night med cruise last summer and no one got sick. Interesting.

Kay

 

[Dsnylndlvrs]

It sure sounds like something is going around with more than a couple of the Mexican Riviera sailings! Wow! To all future cruisers - make sure you wash your hands at least twice as much as you think you should!

I was REALLY glad that my kids didn't get anything.

Speaking of kids, I should add that the new age grouping on the Magic really seemed good to me and especially to my daughter! With Ocean Quest being dedicated to the 11-13's it gave them their own hangout spot and activities more interesting to their age groups. Some of the activities were like what's done in the Stack. Prior to knowing about the change in age grouping, my DD was a little concerned about doing the Lab again, with the same activities that were a little more geared to the younger of the age range. She couldn't have been happier with what she experienced in OQ though. Thought I'd pass that on if anyone was interested!

 

[FirstTimer]

Yes, that would be lobster night, but when we made our Palo reservations for that night, one of the Palo servers told us they'd be having lobster in Palo too!I don't know if that's normal or not.

how does lobster night work? Is it whatever dining room you have, they all serve lobster that night or is it only if you're in a specific dining room that you get the lobster?

 

[Bellarina]

Great photos. Thanks for sharing.

 

[andriade]

Your report is great aside from the sickness! We are going to Las Caletas the week of Aug. 10. It was more than we wanted to spend but it was the only one that seemed worth it.

Thanks for including these beautiful pictures!

 

[Dsnylndlvrs]

how does lobster night work? Is it whatever dining room you have, they all serve lobster that night or is it only if you're in a specific dining room that you get the lobster?

Yes, for the night lobster is a menu item, all 3 restaurants have the same menu. So there's 3 main dining rooms and for one visit to each of those dining rooms, they'll have dining room specific menus. The other menus of the week are the same no matter which of the 3 you're in. For example, Pirate Night has one menu and it doesn't matter which restaurant you're assigned to that night. The other three menus that are the same no matter which restaurant are called Captain's Gala (that's lobster night,) Golden Mickeys, and Till We Meet Again. Does that make sense?

 

[Dsnylndlvrs]

Thanks Bellarina and Andriadi! And you're welcome! I'm pretty partial to some of those pictures to. And, I thought some people might enjoy seeing what Las Caletas looks like too. Glad you enjoyed!

 

[FirstTimer]

Yes, for the night lobster is a menu item, all 3 restaurants have the same menu. So there's 3 main dining rooms and for one visit to each of those dining rooms, they'll have dining room specific menus. The other menus of the week are the same no matter which of the 3 you're in. For example, Pirate Night has one menu and it doesn't matter which restaurant you're assigned to that night. The other three menus that are the same no matter which restaurant are called Captain's Gala (that's lobster night,) Golden Mickeys, and Till We Meet Again. Does that make sense?

Yes, at first I was like Huh? but then I got it. Thanks!