Morning all...thanks you posting your family pictures...I will add them to our list. Still havent' gotten my room assignment yet. I am hoping we get them soon. Our doc should be coming soon too. Can't wait to do the doc dance
I still owe you a family photo. We have some family in town and I'm working on a conference this week so life's crazy but I will get it out hopefully by the end of the week
Hi Everyone! Hope you all had a terrific weekend and all the Mom's got appropriately pampered
Secretkeeper - Hope DL was great....how's DD's toe? Feeling better we hope!
Just an FYI...
Having never been to Mexico I did some research on whether we needed to convert our money or not. We do not. It seems like US currency is accepted everywhere however it is suggested we bring small bills because they will not give you change in US Currency. The conversion rate is about 10:1 so also keep that in mind since it might look like an item is marked $100 but really it is only $10.
OK back to planning
That however would not be me 
about DD's toe...she must have seen stars poor thing! At least it will all be healed by graduation and the cruise Thanks for the great info! Also if you are in a place that takes credit cards, use those. You will then be guaranteed the best exchange rate of the day on those purchases especially if anyone is going to Diamonds International
so we needed them to be adjusted. We had been told in St. Thomas that would not be a problem as all DI's are owed by the same company. Well... got to DI in Mazatlan with a "note" from the Shopping Specialist aboard RCCL and NO ONE wanted to help us once they found out we weren't shopping. Hmmmm.....I'll go back to St. Thomas and get it done there.
We did this exact itinerary in April so I can tell you, they all prefer US $$ but you will, more than likely, receive your change in peso's so it's a real good idea to have small bills.
Also, we had a really bad experience at Diamonds International in Mazatlan. We had bought very expensive watches at a DI in St. Thomas last August but DH and I lost some weight
FYI - didn't find the shopping to be anything to write home about. In fact, DH was very happy I didn't find anything I just couldn't live without!
We found a little kiosk in PV's dock that sold organic coffee that was very good so I'll probably get some of that for DH since he can't make it. The tequila prices at Wal Mart in PV were decent; especially for the good stuff - Reposado or Anejo.
Also, depending where we dock in PV (found on another DIS site that there are 2 berths/ports) there is the normal ship photogs but there are also local photogs that will take your picture with a burro or some other character (similiar to other cruise line port photos) but they only charge $5 for a 5X7. They take the photo as you leave the ship and when you return, they somehow have your photo ready for you. We weren't going to buy it but then overheard someone say it was cheaper than the ship's photo's and they were right. Just FYI!
I'll try to wrack my brain on any other "tips" if anyone is interested. I don't want to bore people with my opinions!
Checking the DCL site multiple times to see if the staterooms have been assigned yet and if the sold out excursions have "magically" opened up!
Airtita:
What excursions are you hoping to book that are sold out? I know Brooklyn booked a dolphin encounter on her own. Also there is a guy on the boards Mazatlan Frank that will answer any questions abount Mazatlan and he might have some ideas about some of the reputable venders there.
Sorry to hear about your D.I. experience. I was just mentioning a name that I remembered from last cruise. I've never been there but probably wouldn't go if I was in the market for something sparkling after hearing your story. Alas, I just have to enjoy those sparkling waters we will be sailing in 1 month & 3 days
Sorcerer Mom tell DD congrats on helping her team to do well in their competition. I'm sad she won't being swimming though
Hi Secretkeeper!
Yes, DI was a disappointment ~ this was the 1st time we've bought jewelry outside of the U.S. but I had seen these watches on Oprah, priced them in the US
We wanted to to do Cabo Dolphins in CSL. I had done it with DS in April and he showed his cousin the pictures and she has her heart set on swimmng with them as well. They're only 15 months apart in age so they have similiar interests! I tried to get a reservation for 2 or possibly 3 for the Dolphin Swim in CBL for a few reasons; The facility is a 5 minute walk from the tender pier, we're not dependent on a bus so once we're done we can get back to the ship and enjoy her and there wasn't anything else we were interested in doing in CBL. I did a lot of the sightseeing last time we were there in April (had an awesome view of Land's End from our aft balcony) and walked around a bit, did Squid Roe and Cabo Wabo. I also didn't like all the federale police around. I felt a bit uncomfortable that there was a need for so much public displays of protection.This is just me! There really wasn't much more we wanted to do in Cabo. Well, the excursion in Cabo is sold out. I managed to get 2 slots but they are at different times. DCL rep suggested I book what I could and keep going back to the site to see if someone has dropped out and maybe if I'm lucky, I'll be able to get that slot(s) for at least 1 of the kids. I've explained to DS that if only 1 opens up, DN will get to do it since he's swam with the dolphins last month. He's not happy about it but does understand; as much as a 6 yo can! I tried to book Cabo Dolphins (emailed them numerous times) on my own but was told that DCL and RCCL have booked the entire day and they had none available.
I do have a back up with the PV Dolphin Swim but would rather do Cabo Dolphin Swim. In PV, you have to take a 30 minute ride to the facility, my Mom has to buy an observer pass so she can ride the bus and the only excursion time I could get was at 4p so we may miss the Pirate Night dinner! The excursion says a meal is included but I'm hoping there will be earlier busses returning to the pier if we want to get back in time for dinner. Oh, and we also have the Tequila tour booked for the entire party and that doesn't get back until 2p so the 4p slot was the only one we could do. I hope Brooklyn knows the PV Dolphin facility is a ways away and not walking distance like Cabo Dolphins are.
In Mazatlan we're doing a DCL tour that takes you on a Sierra Madre tour that includes some factories, a bakery and a pottery place that the kids can make a clay animal and keep it.
Anyway, thanks for asking and for the suggestions. Guess I'll just have to pray for a little magic and pixie dust!
Good night all!
Sorry for being nosy but you wrote that your DS4 is in the 8:30a Cabo Dolphins or is that a typo? Reason I'm asking is we don't get to Cabo until 9a or 9:30a. The Cabo Dolphin rep I've been emailing back and forth said the earliest a cruise line passenger can do is the 10a one since we get in later and there is a tender to the pier. I don't want you to miss out since this excursion is not cheap! I've got 1 slot at the 12:30p and 1 slot at the 1:30p so if by chance someone in your party opts not to do it, please let me know! I'll buy the ticket off of you! 
Thanks for the suggestion to do a "walk on" but even Cabo Dolphins said they are completely booked and said they couldn't take any reservations or waitlists. RCCL and DCL are mirroring this itinerary so wherever we go, so will RCCL! I think the only difference is DCL leaves an hour or so earlier than RCCL. Even when I told Cabo Dolphins that I've got 1 slot at 12:30 & 1 slot at 1:30 and thought maybe I could combine the 2 slots at the time they overlap (does that make sense?), I was told no.
So.....just waiting for some pixie dust to fly over me and hope something opens up!!! Thank you again for your suggestions and help ~ there's still 4 weeks until reserved excursions are finalized so all hope is not lost yet!
Morning everyone :wave1:
I just asked the people who are cruising on May 25th when they got their room assignments...I am dying to get mine. I also asked them to bring back Navigators and give us as many details as possible. Hopfully we will get lots of info back before we leave. I want to be on the ship right now
I'm cranky today (right Christine?) but this picture makes me feel muuuccchhhh better. It is good, yeah good 
Good Morning Secretkeeper!
Thanks for the info, I appreciate it!
Jana
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