Just back from first Mexican Riviera trip - Any questions?

[JennyW]

We just got back today and had a wonderful time! Our first cruise. We've got two kids, and all four us had a ball.

 

[chuotnho]

I hope you have had a good time. Few questions:

1- Could you share the navigators with us?

2- Did you try the zipline tour in PV or BOB in Cabo? If so, please give feedback.

Thank you!

 

[aseal]

Did you do excursions?? I would like to know how you would rate your experience. Thanks

 

[dleyel]

Welcome home! Glad to hear you had a wonderful time and thanks for offering to answer questions. We're leaving on August 3rd. It will be our first Disney cruise. How old are your kids? I've got DD6, DS9 and DS12. We're also cruising with my in-laws, or I should say courtesy of my in-laws! Did you do DCL excursions? We've reserved the dolphin swim in PV and the Santa Maria sail and snorkel in Cabo. After hearing a negative review of the Mazatlan City Highlights tour, I just changed it to the Mazatlan Highlights, Folkloric Show and Mexican Buffet. Any advice on excursions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[laurenbcl]

I would love to hear your thoughts! Here are my questions from a separate thread:

I would love to hear about your trip! Specifically, how hectic was check-in at the port in LA (how long did you wait)? Also, any input on excursions -- most interested in hearing about Nikki Beach trip in Cabo, city highlights and Mexican Mardi Gras Fiesta in Mazatlan (got horrible comments from another cruiser), canopy adventure in PV and dolphin swim in PV? When were character breakfasts? How was the evening entertainment? Which movies were playing? DH and I will be cruising with our DD (10), DS (6) and DS (20 months) - so any great pointers for things not to miss with kids those ages would be appreciated! Finally, how was the weather? Many thanks!

 

[JennyW]

To answer everyone who has asked so far:

I read someone else is going to try to scan or photograph their navigators. Mine are still packed, but I'll try to do it if someone else doesn't get to it first.

Didn't do zipline tour (wanted to, but it was my daughter's birthday that day and she was too young to go, and we didn't want to ditch her), nor the one you mention in Cabo.

We did do the 4 hour private driver tour in Puerto Vallarta. Highly recommended. We had Bernardo. Very sweet guy. He appreciated that we were interested in what life was really like there, enjoying the differences and not being upset that it wasn't "just like the U.S."

My DD is 7 and my DS is 4. They enjoyed the Oceaneer Club quite a bit, though they still spent most of their time with us. We also sailed courtesy of my mom and stepdad. There's no way we could afford this cruise otherwise!! We went with them, plus my sister and her family. It was great to know other people on the boat.

We waited an hour or so (didn't measure) in the terminal. But they had a movie on for the kids, and a good but too loud band playing.

Our character breakfast was on Friday. Overrated, I thought. It was just regular breakfast food with lots of characters dancing around and keeping the kids (and some adults) from eating their food.

Evening shows - most were just so so. Disney Dreams was nice, and I really enjoyed Twice Charmed. Those were the only two that seemed like cohesive shows to me.

Someone else listed movie times in another thread, and we didn't see any, so please refer to the other threads.

Storytime with Belle was great, in the kids area. Though it may have been for the group that you don't have a kid for! Parachute time is always good. Fragile Forts was a great one. We enjoyed the Pirate night party a lot more than the Sail Away party. For much of the Sail Away party, we were at the front of the boat watching ourselves leave port. It was great! Mostly, we just enjoyed spending a lot of time with our children. Oh, and the napkin folding activity was great with my 7 year old.

 

[theporterhouse]

Was there a tea with Wendy? or Alice?

 

[laurenbcl]

Thanks JennyW! We're mostly looking to spending time with our children too. We are sailing with another family with children similar ages as our children. It sounds like there are lots of things to do (like the story time) that don't require much planning. Thanks for the pointers. Looking forward to seeing the Navigators so I'll have a better idea of what our options will be.

 

[chuotnho]

Thank You!

 

[LOLA2]

Was there a Mexican night deck party besides the pirate deck party?

 

[DMMarla07860]

did they have any special Mexican Riviera shirts, mugs, postcards,pins or anything?

 

[Sailingpartyof10]

There is definitely special Mexican Riviera merchandise. They brought it out at the end of the repo cruise. I remember red and lime t-shirts and I think mugs, but there were some other things, too.

 

[Sorcerer Mom]

Any feedback on the parking at port? Was it well organized, were any staff directing you where to go and how was the availability of spaces? Also, was there any specific time you could actually get into the parking lot or could you enter at any time? (we plan to get there pretty early). Thanks!

Glad you had a great time and welcome back!

 

[JennyW]

Was there a tea with Wendy? or Alice?

This was one of the things I forgot to look for!!

 

[JennyW]

Was there a Mexican night deck party besides the pirate deck party?

Not that I saw. Only deck parties were Sail Away and Pirate Night.

 

[JennyW]

did they have any special Mexican Riviera shirts, mugs, postcards,pins or anything?

Yes yes yes yes. Lots of tshirts/sweatshirts, a pin, some post cards, I think some mugs and shot glasses and the like. The items specific to the Mexican Riviera cruise were all in Treasure Ketch, NOT in Mickey's Mates.

 

[JennyW]

Any feedback on the parking at port? Was it well organized, were any staff directing you where to go and how was the availability of spaces? Also, was there any specific time you could actually get into the parking lot or could you enter at any time? (we plan to get there pretty early). Thanks!

Glad you had a great time and welcome back!

We parked at the Doubletree and had a shuttle. Though when we got off the ship, I wished we'd parked at the port! It would have been nice to just go to our car.

 

[Michelle2]

Do you know what time the terminal opened? I know someone said they arrived at 10:30, but is that when the terminal opened, or did it open at 10:00 am?

I am confused about holding the boarding group 2....sounds unfair. I know they hold aside boarding group #1, but I wish I knew what the 2s were for, and if they are doing that for every cruise.

 

[koalagurl]

I am confused about holding the boarding group 2....sounds unfair. I know they hold aside boarding group #1, but I wish I knew what the 2s were for, and if they are doing that for every cruise.

What are boarding groups?

 

[DMMarla07860]

Yes yes yes yes. Lots of tshirts/sweatshirts, a pin, some post cards, I think some mugs and shot glasses and the like. The items specific to the Mexican Riviera cruise were all in Treasure Ketch, NOT in Mickey's Mates.

thanks for the info