Diez (10) Noches Calientes en la Riviera Mexicana/17 de abril 2011 (4.17.11 Wonder!)

[LV Disney Fan(atic)]

DH always like to dine there in the private rooms with 12 other friends! If anyone is interested in doing either a group brunch or dinner let me know. We need a min of 12 people for either. Brunch is great in a good bc the waiter will basically bring one or 2 of everything and it is fun to taste everything!

DH and I would join up for a group dinner. We did brunch last cruise and loved it, but we've heard so much about the chocolate souffle that we promised ourselves we'd do dinner next time so we can try it.

And thanks for your idea of an early Palo dinner and then joining DD for her dinner later. We really enjoy dinner time on the ship as a family and with our servers - this way we can do both!

 

[michellert]

In regards to dining nights and specialty nights, will we have those by the 75-day mark when I can start making reservations for Palo?

I want to pick a night at Palo for dinner when nothing else is going on, and we already have tried the three restaurants. Pirate night is probably good. So many things to work out but so fun working them out!

 

[Brooklyn]

In regards to dining nights and specialty nights, will we have those by the 75-day mark when I can start making reservations for Palo?

I want to pick a night at Palo for dinner when nothing else is going on, and we already have tried the three restaurants. Pirate night is probably good. So many things to work out but so fun working them out!

We may or we may not. The best thing to do is to make reservations online and then if you have to switch them then you can when you get onboard the first day.

I am a seafood fan! Are we talking crab and lobster or shrimp and scallops? Would dinner have more of the crab and lobster? Then I think i would try dinner. If it's only shrimp and scallops, then I think I will pass...

Here are pics I found online...

It is lots and lots of cold seafood.

 

[True Romance]

DH always like to dine there in the private rooms with 12 other friends! If anyone is interested in doing either a group brunch or dinner let me know. We need a min of 12 people for either. Brunch is great in a good bc the waiter will basically bring one or 2 of everything and it is fun to taste everything!

Count my husband and I in for a group dinner or brunch Either one, does not matter to us. I want to try and do tea, brunch and dinner in Palo this cruise.

I am really hoping for a relaxing cruise and not over schedule us. My DH hates when I schedule too much and he says it stresses him out. I am thinking of just doing our own thing in 3 of the ports and maybe just doing an excursion in PV. I have not looked at them yet, but the Las Calientas interested me when I was researching.

Sorry I have been a little MIA lately. End of summer and school started last week has had me occupied.

So excited we past the 8 month mark.

 

[Jareds_mommy]

DH always like to dine there in the private rooms with 12 other friends! If anyone is interested in doing either a group brunch or dinner let me know. We need a min of 12 people for either. Brunch is great in a good bc the waiter will basically bring one or 2 of everything and it is fun to taste everything!

I think there are 6 more of us who would like to join you for brunch too us and 2 other couples we are traveling with i will PM you
Rae

 

[TNShellBelle]

So is Palo really that great? I've never done it because of the kids and I'm usually content with the food in the main dining rooms. What is it about Palo that blows you away?

We have done both brunch and dinner at Palo. Dinner is excellent but brunch is HEAVEN. Just my opinion. For this cruise I will try to book brunch and the kids will hang out in the clubs. Last cruise brunch was not available so we did dinner. Ds went to Flounders and dd went to the club.

 

[Susiesark]

DH always like to dine there in the private rooms with 12 other friends! If anyone is interested in doing either a group brunch or dinner let me know. We need a min of 12 people for either. Brunch is great in a good bc the waiter will basically bring one or 2 of everything and it is fun to taste everything!

Stephanie, are you keeping track? I think we have 11 or 12 now (including your mom) for dinner, although some are interested in brunch. Either sounds good to me, but DH isn't a morning eater. He makes up for it at dinner.

 

[True Romance]

Is anyone thinking of doing Las Caletas in PV? It looks very cool and that both kids and adults will enjoy it. For kids the website says they have a new Kids Adventure with
Activities:
* Face Painting
* Hanging Bridge
* Tarzan Swing
* Climbing Net
* Ziplines

Through DCL it is pretty pricey and they charge for all kids, even under 3. However through Vallarta Adventures kids 3 and under are free. I wonder if I could book direct through them or does DCL have a contract with them. Hmmm, maybe I will call and find out.

If we do this, it will probably be our one excursion splurge and will do the rest of the ports on our own.

 

[DisneyManFamily4]

Is anyone thinking of doing Las Caletas in PV? It looks very cool and that both kids and adults will enjoy it. For kids the website says they have a new Kids Adventure with
Activities:
* Face Painting
* Hanging Bridge
* Tarzan Swing
* Climbing Net
* Ziplines

Through DCL it is pretty pricey and they charge for all kids, even under 3. However through Vallarta Adventures kids 3 and under are free. I wonder if I could book direct through them or does DCL have a contract with them. Hmmm, maybe I will call and find out.

If we do this, it will probably be our one excursion splurge and will do the rest of the ports on our own.

I wouldn't be surprised if you can't do it on your own because we had to take a boat to get there. It was pretty secluded and everyone that was there seemed to be from cruise ships. It was a blast though! Maybe I can convince the family to go back since there's new activities. The ONLY thing that was a let down to me, was that the "pyramid" was basically the stage for their night shows. That was the extent of my efforts to give my kids a taste of the ancient Mexican culture.
Let us know if you are able to book directly with them, we might join you.

 

[True Romance]

I wouldn't be surprised if you can't do it on your own because we had to take a boat to get there. It was pretty secluded and everyone that was there seemed to be from cruise ships. It was a blast though! Maybe I can convince the family to go back since there's new activities. The ONLY thing that was a let down to me, was that the "pyramid" was basically the stage for their night shows. That was the extent of my efforts to give my kids a taste of the ancient Mexican culture.
Let us know if you are able to book directly with them, we might join you.

Okay, I had an instant message chat with Puerta Adventures who runs this excursion. I asked if we could book directly with them if we are coming in on a cruise. She did not say no, but she did say to guarantee a spot I should book directly through the cruise line. Also I asked the ages requirements for the kids zip-lining, it is 4-11. My 5 year old will be ecstatic, he is dying to zipline. Watches too much Diego I guess

I just hate spending $50 for my 2 year old to go on this excursion, when really it should be free. I have an email into a 3rd party operator who runs this tour as well asking about kids under 3. People on Cruise Critic have used Johann and Sandra and have liked them.

 

[dallgower]

My family and I are booked on this cruise, and we are so excited. This will be the first cruise for my dd's (6 and 8) and the first Disney cruise for all of us. We are from Henderson, NV (a suburb of Las Vegas), but I grew up in Southern California.

I just visited Puerto Vallarta in April and we did 3 tours with Vallarta Adventures. They are a great company and would highly recommend them. We did the Dolphin Swim, Las Caletas (their Ryhythms of the Night evening program there and a sailing trip) My friend who is also coming on the cruise just came back from Cabo and they did all their tours with Cabo Adventures (same company) and they also had a great experience with them (Dolphins, zip line and ATV I think). I noticed that the Disney excursion price is higher than if you booked online with either company for the same excursion.

We are looking forward to this vacation, but it still seems so far away ...

Devon

 

[True Romance]

My family and I are booked on this cruise, and we are so excited. This will be the first cruise for my dd's (6 and 8) and the first Disney cruise for all of us. We are from Henderson, NV (a suburb of Las Vegas), but I grew up in Southern California.

I just visited Puerto Vallarta in April and we did 3 tours with Vallarta Adventures. They are a great company and would highly recommend them. We did the Dolphin Swim, Las Caletas (their Ryhythms of the Night evening program there and a sailing trip) My friend who is also coming on the cruise just came back from Cabo and they did all their tours with Cabo Adventures (same company) and they also had a great experience with them (Dolphins, zip line and ATV I think). I noticed that the Disney excursion price is higher than if you booked online with either company for the same excursion.

We are looking forward to this vacation, but it still seems so far away ...

Devon

Welcome Devon and family! Your family will love DCL. There seems to be a lot of girls in your daughters age range on this cruise.

Excursion prices are always going to be higher through a cruise line. The problem is some companies, like Vallarta Adventures, has a contract with the cruise lines that they will not sell direct to cruise passengers. Usually you can find another company to go through that sells the same excursion.

I emailed Puerto Vallarta Tours, as they also do Las Caletas. Their kids price is 3+ so my 2 year old would be free with them. However the price difference is only a total of $45 less than DCL. I don't know if it is really worth it to book through them and not DCL.

 

[Jareds_mommy]

I called about a week ago to see if we could be put in a wait list for early dinning since the 8.45 and hour time change would be too late for the kids. I checked our reservation today and it says main seating
Also the benefit of booking excursions with the cruise line is, if something happens and the tour is late getting back they will hold the ship, if you book on your own and something happens you are on your own

 

[LV Disney Fan(atic)]

My family and I are booked on this cruise, and we are so excited. This will be the first cruise for my dd's (6 and 8) and the first Disney cruise for all of us. We are from Henderson, NV (a suburb of Las Vegas), but I grew up in Southern California.

We are looking forward to this vacation, but it still seems so far away ...

Devon

Hi, neighbor - we live in Henderson too! Welcome to the cruise.

 

[DisneyManFamily4]

My family and I are booked on this cruise, and we are so excited. This will be the first cruise for my dd's (6 and 8) and the first Disney cruise for all of us. We are from Henderson, NV (a suburb of Las Vegas), but I grew up in Southern California.

I just visited Puerto Vallarta in April and we did 3 tours with Vallarta Adventures. They are a great company and would highly recommend them. We did the Dolphin Swim, Las Caletas (their Ryhythms of the Night evening program there and a sailing trip) My friend who is also coming on the cruise just came back from Cabo and they did all their tours with Cabo Adventures (same company) and they also had a great experience with them (Dolphins, zip line and ATV I think). I noticed that the Disney excursion price is higher than if you booked online with either company for the same excursion.

We are looking forward to this vacation, but it still seems so far away ...

Devon

Dallgower

 

[Susiesark]

I called about a week ago to see if we could be put in a wait list for early dinning since the 8.45 and hour time change would be too late for the kids. I checked our reservation today and it says main seating

We had the Main seating, and I changed to late, because I thought the other would be too early for us on the days we are doing shore excursions. Is the late at 8:45?! I thought it was 8:15. That is kind of late. Someone please clarify!!

 

[Brooklyn]

We had the Main seating, and I changed to late, because I thought the other would be too early for us on the days we are doing shore excursions. Is the late at 8:45?! I thought it was 8:15. That is kind of late. Someone please clarify!!

It is usually 8:15. I like late bc my girls are so much more awake for the shows. The care more about the shows then dinner! They eat something small and then the clubs come pick them up and they just play till the wee hours of the night!

 

[True Romance]

It is usually 8:15. I like late bc my girls are so much more awake for the shows. The care more about the shows then dinner! They eat something small and then the clubs come pick them up and they just play till the wee hours of the night!

That is exactly why we like late. We currently have Main, but I will be switching soon. I like the casualness of the afternoons in the pool when others have left for dinner. Also we can stay even longer at the pool when the show is an act we don't care for. Also the Dine n Play is a life saver for us. There is so much food around the ship available, I am not worried about them being hungry and having to wait until 8:15pm. We usually grab a snack/meal at one of the quick service restaurants by the pool. There is no way my kids are going to be hungry. I think we eat all the time cruising.

My only problem with everyone staying up so late, is my 2 year old. He does not nap now, but on the cruise he will have to nap if he is going to make it. Now he goes to bed at 7pm. I am kinda dreading trying to get him to nap in the room. I am hoping we exhaust him so he falls asleep easily.

 

[Susiesark]

My only problem with everyone staying up so late, is my 2 year old. He does not nap now, but on the cruise he will have to nap if he is going to make it. Now he goes to bed at 7pm. I am kinda dreading trying to get him to nap in the room. I am hoping we exhaust him so he falls asleep easily.

Benedril to help the little ones (and adults) fall asleep. Even my Ped recommended it for my DD as an infant when flying.

 

[Jareds_mommy]

you are right its 8.15 and 5.45 I got them crossed
we are not o west coast time so for ours it would just be to late of a dinner