From the Far East to MEXICAN RIVIERA Updated 1/31 with pics!

[JJsmama]

Kimmiepie and cnj,

Don't let me dampen your excitement. We still really had a GREAT trip (but yes, I think they are cutting corners in a lot of places.) You are going to have a super time! I hope your weather is as good as ours and cnj, the water in Mexico will probably be warmer for your cruise, I would think.

 

[Merryweather11]

Kimmiepie and cnj,

Don't let me dampen your excitement. We still really had a GREAT trip (but yes, I think they are cutting corners in a lot of places.) You are going to have a super time! I hope your weather is as good as ours and cnj, the water in Mexico will probably be warmer for your cruise, I would think.

I just wanted to add--we had never cruised before and had the most "basic" level of reservations as far as the room and port excursions. We were trying to keep spending to an absolute minimum during the trip--no smoothies, no alcohol (we don't drink, so that was easy), one low-priced excursion. And we had the best time. We felt the service was exceptional. Every single crew member we talked to did their best to answer our questions, or just spend time and chat with us and get to know us or tell us about their country. We spend a lot of time at Disneyland and felt we knew what good service was--this blew it away. The crew members made the trip for us. Maybe it was that we had no other cruises to compare it to--and this might be the case--but we were very happy with most of what happened during the week!

And, what the heck--here are a few more pictures!

Here is a whale tail from our whale watching excursion:

This is a picture overlooking Puerto Vallarta while we were out exploring the town with our taxi driver:

And this one is a little dark, but I love the sunset in the background--I believe this was our second day at sea: