I was hoping we could have a separate thread with information on shore excursions, ideas and info for people that want to go off on their own on the ports of call
If anyone doesn't think it is a good idea feel free to have the moderators merge this with the regular thread
I can update this first post with information as it gets added for quick access to all the information in one place
We usually don't take many shore excursions from the ship and always are looking for other things to do
Sunday Aug 17 - sail away
Tuesday Aug 19 - Cabo San Lucas - in port 9am-4:30pm
Wednesday Aug 20 - Puerto Vallarta - in port 9:30am-11:30pm
Friday August 22 - Acapulco - in port 6:30am-1pm
Tuesday August 26 - Cartagena - in port 9:30am-5:30pm
Thursday August 28 - Aruba - in port 7am-11:30pm
Sunday August 31 - Castaway Cay - in port 9am-5pm
Information I have gathered so far
Cabo San Lucas - you can take a short taxi ride to any of the bars / restaurants on Medano Beach (Playa Medano) where you can use the beach chairs and umbrellas. They just ask that you purchase some drinks and/or food
Puerto Vallara - Krystal Vallarta - you can use the pools, towels free of charge they just ask that you purchase a drink or two and/or some food. Westin at the Marina offers a daypass for $15 per person to use their pools, chairs, towels, etc. Both are close to where the ship docks
Acapulco - The following information is from an employee at the Acapulco ship terminal
"The ship docks at the Acapulco Cruise Terminal, located in front of the Fort of San diego, we are the only cruise terminal in Acapulco, so it’s very easy to ask a driver to take you to the port. The closest hotel, is the Excalibur hotel located about 1 mile from the cruise terminal (5 minutes away by cab), from there you can find a lot of hotels since it’s the golden zone and where most of the hotels are lined up. There are a few much closer, but, I strongly advise not to ise them as for they do not have any amenities and very poor service. I recommend the Fiesta Villas Condesa (they recently changed names, used to be called Fiesta Americana Condesa) or the Fiesta Inn, located about 15 minutes away from the port and are the hotels we use for crew members or the Hyatt on the other side of the bay (20 minutes away) these 3 have received the best comments from our visitors since they have quality control processes and are much better than the other hotels."
Cartagena - known for emeralds
Here is a review of a private guide http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=681760
Aruba - Palm Beach - near the Radisson you can rent beach chairs and umbrellas. Water sports rentals are available on Palm Beach in front of the Holiday Inn and on Eagle Beach. I am sure there are other locations but this is a start
Casino's - a lot of the hotels have casino's the closest hotel to the pier is at the Renaissance
Horseback riding for anyone with children under age 12
http://www.thegoldmineranch.com/
If anyone doesn't think it is a good idea feel free to have the moderators merge this with the regular thread
I can update this first post with information as it gets added for quick access to all the information in one place
We usually don't take many shore excursions from the ship and always are looking for other things to do
Sunday Aug 17 - sail away
Tuesday Aug 19 - Cabo San Lucas - in port 9am-4:30pm
Wednesday Aug 20 - Puerto Vallarta - in port 9:30am-11:30pm
Friday August 22 - Acapulco - in port 6:30am-1pm
Tuesday August 26 - Cartagena - in port 9:30am-5:30pm
Thursday August 28 - Aruba - in port 7am-11:30pm
Sunday August 31 - Castaway Cay - in port 9am-5pm
Information I have gathered so far
Cabo San Lucas - you can take a short taxi ride to any of the bars / restaurants on Medano Beach (Playa Medano) where you can use the beach chairs and umbrellas. They just ask that you purchase some drinks and/or food
Puerto Vallara - Krystal Vallarta - you can use the pools, towels free of charge they just ask that you purchase a drink or two and/or some food. Westin at the Marina offers a daypass for $15 per person to use their pools, chairs, towels, etc. Both are close to where the ship docks
Acapulco - The following information is from an employee at the Acapulco ship terminal
"The ship docks at the Acapulco Cruise Terminal, located in front of the Fort of San diego, we are the only cruise terminal in Acapulco, so it’s very easy to ask a driver to take you to the port. The closest hotel, is the Excalibur hotel located about 1 mile from the cruise terminal (5 minutes away by cab), from there you can find a lot of hotels since it’s the golden zone and where most of the hotels are lined up. There are a few much closer, but, I strongly advise not to ise them as for they do not have any amenities and very poor service. I recommend the Fiesta Villas Condesa (they recently changed names, used to be called Fiesta Americana Condesa) or the Fiesta Inn, located about 15 minutes away from the port and are the hotels we use for crew members or the Hyatt on the other side of the bay (20 minutes away) these 3 have received the best comments from our visitors since they have quality control processes and are much better than the other hotels."
Cartagena - known for emeralds
Here is a review of a private guide http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=681760
Aruba - Palm Beach - near the Radisson you can rent beach chairs and umbrellas. Water sports rentals are available on Palm Beach in front of the Holiday Inn and on Eagle Beach. I am sure there are other locations but this is a start
Casino's - a lot of the hotels have casino's the closest hotel to the pier is at the Renaissance
Horseback riding for anyone with children under age 12
http://www.thegoldmineranch.com/
