Mexican Magic - July 6th - July 13th / Post trip Disneyland

[TiaMaria]

Well, I'm going to do my best to do a trip report this year - not only for a record of our trip - but to pay-it-forward for any other DIS'ers. We have benefitted from TR's for the last 2 years - let's see if I can help anyone else out!

This will be the 2nd DCL cruise for myself, my nephew (who will turn 11 on the cruise) and my 9 1/2 year old niece.

This will be the first DCL cruise for my sister and BIL - actually their first cruise ever.

I have cruised multiple times on several different lines, but had the pleasure of treating my niece and nephew to their first cruise last April/May (now they are completely spoiled!).

We came back with such great stories and pictures last year that we talked my Sis and BIL into joining us this year.

Just a bit of backround - we were supposed to be on the March 17th sailing last year, but due to my Dad's passing away (after a long illness) we moved to the April 27th Magic Eastern sailing. (Thank heavens for trip insurance!)While the kids and I were gone, their parents were in the process of moving their family from St. Louis to San Antonio. When we returned, the kids (and my sister) lived with me for 1 month while they finished up the school year. We have traveled back and forth to visit (for both short and long stays) ever since.

With all that commotion (and emotions) we still managed to have a fantastic time last year - but are really looking forward to this years trip now that everyones life is more settled.

I am flying out to LAX tomorrow from STL (nonstop - on Southwest! Could not believe there WAS a non-stop) and my Sis and the kids are flying from San Antonio through Las Vegas (hopefully they won't miss their connection because she decides to hang out at the airport slot machines all day!). My BIL, due to work, will be fllying from San Antonio to LAX early early Sunday morning. That makes me nervous but he is on a flight arriving about 8:30AM and is taking a cab to meet us at the hotel as long as his flight is on time.

Our plan tomorrow is to take Pioneer Limo to the Crowne Plaza Hotel in San Pedro where we will be sharing a suite for 2 nights. The hotel advised they have a free shuttle to the port (actually just a couple of blocks away) but that it doesn't begin until 10:30AM. Well, the port opens at 10:00AM - so we may be making a short cab trip instead. I don't think my Sis totally gets why I am so obsessed with getting there when the doors open!

The kids and I will be in a Cat 5 - #7550, and my Sis and BIL will also be in a Cat 5 - #7564. There were no adjoining or connecting Cat 5's when we made our ressies last year. We had #7568 last time - great stateroom, but we wanted to be closer to the elevators/stair lobby for the Lab - my niece had an awfully tough time remembering our stateroom # last year. The Lab would page me that she was on her way back to the stateroom, and I had to either go find her or stand outside our doorway so she could find it! This year we figured being close to the lobby - as well as having some door signs - will make her life easier! (if all the little darlings on board don't steal them )

So far we are planning to do the Dolphin Swim in Cabo, the City/Beach (Tony's on the Beach Restaurant) tour with Mazatlan Frank, and Las Caletas in Puerto Vallarta (the early time).

Our plan for after the cruise is Disneyland and California Adverture. BIL is flying home upon debarkation (again due to work) but the kids, Sis and I will be staying 3 nights at Disney's Grand Californian (2 bedroom Artisan Suite). We know WDW like the back of our hands, but none of us have been to DL before! We are relying on tips from the DIS'ers to get around without trauma! Thanks goes out to "Justmestace" for providing info about VIP seating at the ELP in CA! In WDW we know all our favorite spots for the parades - but we needed some help for the DL/CA parades!

If anyone has any questions, or wants me to check into anything for them, please don't hesitate to ask. I cannot promise to report "live" from the Magic, but I will be glad to do so if time permits. I can promise to do a full report upon my return home on July 16th. I know we are more than halfway through the Mexican Riviera itins now, but everyone that has sailed on them recently has been such a big help to us and I would love to do the same for someone.

Well, I have all my documents in order and my laundry is finished - now I just need to fit it all in my luggage (bless Southwest - they don't charge until the 3rd checked bag! ) My biggest failure so far are the 8 pairs of shoes that I cannot bear to leave behind. I know, I know -BUT I NEED ALL OF THEM!

 

[TiaMaria]

Well, I have all but the last minute toiletries packed. The good news is - I got rid of 1 pair of shoes. The bad news - I bought another pair for my niece at Nordstrom this morning.

Total luggage count - 1 large checked bag, 1 small checked bag, a small duffel carryon and my Baggallini messenger sling/purse. Not too bad!

Sis and the kids called from San Antonio before their take-off. They checked 5 bags between them and had 3 carry-ons and 1 purse. No lines at Security in SAT - thank goodness because my Sis only printed the Las Vegas-LAX leg of her boarding passes and had to get out of line to go reprint the SAT-LAS legs.

Hopefully the lines will be light in St. Louis also.

Will try to report tonight or tomorrow on the Crowne Plaza San Pedro.

Still taking questions......

 

[TiaMaria]

Got back home last night - exhausted but happy....

We rebooked again on board for next summer - July 18th - Eastern/Tortola...so as of midnight tonight - we will be exactly 1 year from our next cruise (holy cow that sounds long!).

I'll do my best to recap our trip to LA/Mexico/Disneyland

July 4th:

I got to the airport in plenty of time to board my non-stop Southwest flight to LAX. Got a call from my Sis/nephew/niece while waiting reporting that they were getting ready to board their connection in Las Vegas with no loss of vacation funds. They got into LAX about 1 1/2 hours before me and took Pioneer Limo to the Crowne Plaza Hotel in San Pedro.

Once I landed I was met by my driver at the bottom of the escalator. My bags came quickly, he took charge of them and we were on our way. Pulled into the Crowne Plaza about 25 minutes later (not bad on the 405 for a Friday evening at 5:30!) In fact due to the holiday - LA looked like a ghost town - the San Pedro area was very quiet.

The kids had gone to the pool (a very nice/clean pool with plenty of towels - but keep in mind - no poolside service so bring your own snacks/drinks) and were just coming out of the shower when I got to our suite. We had a 1 bedroom corner suite on the 7th floor that overlooked the pool on one side and the harbor area on the other. It was sort of an "L" shaped suite. Upon entry you were in a long hallway that had a small closet and wet bar on the left - just a wall on the right. It entered into the living room that contained a large flat-screen TV on top of a chest of drawers, a full-sized sofa sleeper and 2 leather club chairs with a coffee table and 2 side tables. We had the rollaway up against the windows so we moved one of the club chairs into the bedroom.

Around the corner was a hallway/niche area with the bathroom on the left and a big desk/deskchair on the right under the windows which ran the length of the wall.

From there you flowed right into the king bedroom. The bed and nightstand were on the wall to the left. The wall to the right (again all windows) had a small armoir with another flat-screened TV and several drawers and another small area to hang clothes. An additional leather club chair was in this room. This was a bit of an odd set up as there were no doors dividing any of the rooms - except for the small bathroom - but it suited our purposes.

We were all hungry and wanted to go out, but so many places in San Pedro and nearby Long Beach were closed due to it being the holiday.

The hotel has a shuttle bus that will take you to/pick you up from any destination within a 5 mile radius, which was nice. We ended up eating at a place a couple of blocks uphill called Niko's Pizzeria. Way bigger and better menu than just pizza. Great salad and pasta dishes. I had the manicotti, my sister and nephew had a chicken alfredo dish and my niece had some kind of shrimp and pasta. Great breads and the dessert case looked fantastic, but we were way too full to partake. Since it was so close to the hotel we walked back at dusk, which was a little scary but we did just fine.

We were all tired due to the 2 hour time difference from Missouri and Texas and watched the fireworks at Cabrillo Pointe from our room before turning in.

July 5th:

We woke up about 8AM this day and had the hotel shuttle take us to the Omelet and Waffle Shop in San Pedro (up the hill and over several blocks from the Crowne Plaza) for breakfast. This diner was fantastic - HUGE PORTIONS. Sis and nephew had waffles, bacon, sausage and eggs. Niece had some kind of fruit and eggs and I had scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon and pancakes. Whew! After we ate, we walked a couple of blocks to a CVS to purchase a couple of items we had forgotten. We called the shuttle to pick us up and then spent the rest of the afternoon at the pool - it was a crystal-clear beautiful day and we were getting very relaxed - yet very excited knowing what we would be doing that time the next day.

The kids had seen something in the hotel info guides about Mini Golf in nearby Torrance and we had the concierge arrange a car to take us there/pick us up that evening ($60.00 r/t for the 4 of us). First we took the hotel shuttle down to Port-O-Call Village down by the water in San Pedro to eat at the Crusty Crab (not to be confused with the SpongeBob version!). Now let me say that there are many eateries, both indoor and outdoor at Port-O-Call Village, and that at first glance they do look questionable. However after walking around a bit after dinner - we thought it was a great area. If you go to the Crusty Crab, to the right is the "fishy" area - there are all the fish on display for you to choose from. We turned around (because I like most of my seafood to be well-disguised by the time I eat it!) and went into the sit-down portion of the restaurant. Well worn, but very clean with a large menu, great food and very attentive service. One note - don't use the restrooms here or the public ones out front by the parking lot - hold it if possible!

Afterwards, we went out back and listened to several mariachi bands, watched the harbor and the boats and had some ice cream.

Our car came (a Lexus SUV) and our driver Mr. Kim took us to the Mulligan Fun Center in Torrance (about a 20 minute drive). We all played a round of mini golf then the kids did go-karts and laser tag before we all played some arcade games with tokens. Mr. Kim picked us up about 9:30 (we had arrived about 6:30) and back to the hotel where we fell into bed early. We were going to be on the Magic in no time at all!

 

[TiaMaria]

July 6th - Day 1 - Embarkation Day!

Sleep was impossible the night before sailing. I think I woke up 2-3 times to check the time due to excitement. Sis reported she did the same thing. Thankfully my niece and nephew slept soundly. It looked very misty/foggy outside once I gave up for good about 5:00 AM. Sis was up and we started watching the harborway for the Magic. About 5:15 the fog horns began. That woke up the kids although once they were assured we would call them once we saw the ship, they dozed back off. It was so foggy that we could not see much until it was almost right in front of us. Now the Crowne Plaza sits a few blocks up from the water with the Maritime Museum building between us and the water. Suddenly we would see a tug or something moving but could not make it out until almost parallel with us. And it was still dark. Suddenly we see a hull.....and......no - not the Magic, it was a container ship! More fog horns, it's getting lighter....and....I think....I think....I think - YES! There she was, coming towards us all lit up. Sis called the kids and we all sat in the windows watching and marvelling that she slipped in so quietly. We could see a few lonely people on Decks 9 and 10 and the Ariel Vision screen all lit up.

The kids got into the king bed after she berthed and watched "Hocus Pocus" while we all took turns with the shower.

We went down to the hotel restaurant for the breakfast buffet and wished that we had gone to the Omelet and Waffle Shop again. Note: If you stay here, beware of the breakfast - terrible - omelet station was pretty good, but the other selections were 2 cereals (with whole milk only), a couple of fruit trays, some horrible scrambled eggs, icky potatoes and something that resembled bacon that must have been recovered from the California wildfires! So not worth the money.

Sis's husband arrived as scheduled and since it was 8:30AM - had his limo driver bring him to the hotel instead of the port. After rearranging our day bags, we hopped on the hotel's comp shuttle for the terminal. Note: the shuttle was dropping off arriving cruisers from both the Magic and the RCCL ship that arrived right behind her the same time they were picking us up. Be careful to stay with your luggage out front and make sure each piece gets loaded into the shuttle as they off-loaded the arriving luggage practically right on top of ours.

It was a quick 5 minute trip to the terminal. My gosh, she looked so beautiful next to that dingy old RCCL ship!

We got dropped off on a traffic island/curb area right across from the entrance and this is where the porters greeted us. We walked in, were greeted very warmly by Disney personnel and directed up the escalators. At the top of the escalator, another Cast Member greeted us and told the kids and I that we could proceed to the CC windows which were on the righ hand side (they also said that Sis and BIL could line up there also although this was their first Disney Cruise because they were linked/travelling with us). Sis had to stop at a table there to complete her documents (she had waited until the last minute to do online check in after numerous reminders from me and online check in was unavailable by then). We then all proceeded to check in where the CM was promptly flummoxed that they were NOT CC members and had to consult with a supervisor. I must say that although very friendly and willing to assist - you could tell that the majority of these local CM's were just not up to speed. He then proceeded to give them CC lanyards, but forgot to give us all the Embarkation mini-Navigator!

After check-in we were directed to another doorway on the far right where they were handing out the boarding cards. We got #5.

By now it was about 10:45 and Sis and BIL got seats while the kids and I got into the Kids Clubs line (it didn't look too bad - we were about the 10th family in line). Well....we waited and waited and waited. It never moved - - they were having trouble getting their computers online and 1 machine that issued wristbands was not working. I just knew that if we got out of line, it would immediately beging moving, so we stayed put. About 11:10 it did!! At the front of the line we met a counselor named Edsen that told my nephew that since he was turning 11 on the cruise, he had the choice of the Lab or Ocean Quest (which was his group) He said he would be allowed to switch back to the Lab if he chose OC and it was too "old" for him. Nephew agreed to give it a try and therefore did not get a wristband. My niece got hers (with sign-out privelages this year as she was so responsible last year - with the caveat that the Lab had to page us whenever she checked out and we would meet her at her destination. After 10PM - we would meet her at the Lab upon check-out or at the stairs). They both did great again and were very responsible in reporting their whereabouts (with 1 hiccup which I will cover later).

Meanwhile, in the terminal, the band started playing VERY LOUDLY, I might add. Conversation was difficult but it got us in the mood for Mexico. Sis had visited the Excursions Desk to see if she and BIL could get on our Dolphin Swim in Cabo. No openings, but they were told to keep checking and were signed up as observers at least.

Before we knew it they called Boarding Cards 1 and 2. About 10 minutes later 3 and 4. About 5 minutes later Boarding Card 5! We went through another opening in the dividers and had to put our purses and daybags through the X-ray at that point and show ID's and KTTW cards again. Then voila! Embarkation photos which were on the outdoor walkway of the terminal, then we went across the gangway and onto Deck 4!!! We walked on the ship and were "welcomed home" at 11:50.

The kids were SO happy to be back and to be able to show their Mom and Dad the chandelier and the Mickey statue in the Atrium. We went off to Parrot Cay for lunch and had a good laugh at my BIL as he filled up 1 whole plate from the bread basket - just for himself!

Did a little exploring and stopped in Rockin Bar D to confirm Spa appointments and added some more. Also signed up niece for a mini-mani/pedi for when we returned from port in Mazatlan, and signed up nephew for a haircut/trim just prior to Formal Night.

Headed up to Deck 9 and changed the kids into their suits in the restrooms. Grabbed 3 loungers at the Mickey pool as the kids thought this would be their best opportunity to hit this pool/slide (they were at the Goofy pool the rest of the cruise). Then Sis, BIL and I sat in the sun and sipped a Pina Colada, Margarita and a BBC respectively!

Rooms were not ready until 2:00PM per the card we were given at check-in...so about 2:30 we all went downstairs to Deck 7 to put our things down. Half our bags were already there, so we started to put things away. Sis and BIL were 7 cabins further aft, so I snuck down there to put their door signs and Mickey Ears on their door to surprise them. We had pre-ordered some food and beverages so the kids and I had some of that and watched the doings on the pier for a bit.

The kids showered quickly, changed back into clothes and down we went to Deck 4 (station I) for the Drill. Back up to 7, dropped off the lifevests and up to Deck 9 for the sailaway. Sis and BIL were surprised when we began moving, they had been so focused on the entertainment. We walked around a bit and decided to go to the staterooms to relax and change before the show.

I must say, my Sis gets motion sickness quite easily - can't ever sit in the backseat of a car - but she had no problems at all on the cruise. A bit woozy the first evening in the Walt Disney Theater, but she had taken ginger pills and had a Ginger-ale and felt fine.

Our rotation was PLLAPLA and we had the 8:30PM seating, so we always did some family activity between the show and dinner. Some nights it was pintrading with the officers, sometimes Mickey Mania or Who Wants to Be a Mouseketeer?, sometimes a family sing along or a dance party - but we always had time to do what we wanted.

The one difference I wanted to point out however, was that on this cruise, the dining room staff seemed pressed for time. Last year on our cruise, we had the 8:15 seating and except for 2 nights, walked up at 8:00 and sat right down. This year, they never opened the dining rooms on our rotation before 8:30. That was OK with us, we expected to be seated then, but I would have been annoyed if I had the 8:00 seating and didn't get seated until 8:30, and especially if I was with children to whom that half hour could make all the difference. I'm not sure of the reasons for this - but more on that later.

Our staff consisted of our server, Leo, from India and our assistant server, Natasha, from St. Vincent. Our head waiter was Roberto. They were all very nice but seemed somewhat distracted, drinks were very slow, went to the wrong people and refills were never offered - you had to ask - and even then they sometimes never came. Leo was sweet, but seemed like he was pulling double duty. He was bussing tables and getting drinks also. There was not much interaction although they were all quite pleasant. We chalked it up to Night 1 chaos. Sis and BIL had no comparison - all they knew is what we told them about our previous experience, so they didn't think anything was amiss.

We were quite tired due to our early morning and BIL's early, early flight. Niece and I went up to the stateroom after dinner and sat on the verandah. Sis and BIL retired also. Nephew went to check out Ocean Quest and came in about 11:00 and off to bed we went.

Our stateroom was 7550 - starboard, 1 stateroom aft of the midship elevator lobby. I did notice some noise from the elevator lobby (mostly teens and tweens running up and down the stairs and shouting out to each other) but it usually subsided by 11 or 11:30 or so. The noise in the AM was usually younger children running down the passageway to breakfast - their little feet pounding away, their little voices telling Mom and Dad to hurry up. And then Mommy and Daddy shouting for the little ones to be quiet and not run! Guess they never thought that the shouting was as bad as the running? Otherwise, a great location as the Lab was just 2 floors down for my niece and the Deck 9 attractions were just out the door and up 2 levels. I ended up taking the stairs way more than the elevators this time. I would stay in this location again, but we moved a bit further forward next year in order to get adjacent rooms.

July 7th - Day 2

First day at sea. True to the other Mexican Riviera itins this year, the day started overcast and cool. It was probably not more than 70-75 degrees this day. There were still people in the pools and out on decks, but it was never hot. The sweatshirts sales in the shops were in full force as it was freezing in most of the public areas. It did seem to get a bit warmer as the day wore on and the further south we sailed.

Could not get up and moving that morning for my hot stone massage, so called and rescheduled it for when we returned from Mazatlan. Went to breakfast with the kids and Sis. BIL discoverd the Rainforest Room and probably sweated off 60 lbs that week in the steam rooms!

After breakfast, the kids went to their clubs and Sis and I played some bingo. I really like the electronic bingo machines as I get distracted. We didn't win but we say next to some people we met in the terminal and had a good time.

I had lunch up on Deck 9 and read on my verandah for awhile. The cruise staff came out about 2:00PM and got some activity going at the Goofy Pool. As the hour wore on the mist cleared and soon it was sunny and a bit warmer. It just felt better seeing the sun. Niece went to see "Camp Rock" and I took nephew to get his haircut. He was stylin'!

We all got ready for Formal Night. Nephew looked great in his tux (white dinner jacket - last year he was worried he would be mistaken for a waiter! ) and niece looked great in her white gown with many petticoats. She also got to wear her Titanic "Heart of the Ocean" necklace and was quite proud and impressed when Christiaan pointed that out later that evening!

After the show we had some drinks in the Atrium/Guest Services area and got photos with the Captain and chatted with some of the officers. Off to dinner at about 8:30 - again the doors of Lumiere's just opened.

We sat at our table (which we had to ourselves all week - the first night, the staff asked if we were expecting 2 more and we said "Not with us" - no one ever showed up. ) We had no water or drinks and we were asked again if we were expecting other diners. Again, we said, no. Leo took our appetizer orders, and brought them out. No drinks. We asked Leo if Natasha could at least bring water until she took our drink orders, and he looked taken aback. Once we finished our appetizers, she finally took our drink orders. We had wanted to order wine, but since we were being served our main course, skipped it and just ordered sodas. In fact, with the exception or 1 or 2 alcoholic drinks and a few smoothies for the kids, we stuck with sodas all week as we were never sure what we would get or when we would get it. I got 1 diet Coke and only 1 all night. Sis ordered a Ginger-ale as did my niece. Natasha kept putting them in front of my sister - at one time she had 3 full ones in front of her and she kept passing them to my niece as hers was never replaced. I never got another diet Coke (and did not ask as my Sis's got replaced automatically - I thought mine would too - plus last year we NEVER had to ask for anything - I guess expected the same service). I found myself apologizing to my Sis and BIL as I thougth THEY must think I exaggerated about the fantastic service last year.

Finall Leo brought dessert menus. Nephew, BIL and Sis were on 1 side of the table. Niece and I on the other. He took their dessert orders and walked away - leaving niece and I sitting there with stupid looks on our faces. Natasha still had not come back. At this point, I had had enough, excused myself, and told my Sis and BIL that I was going to get to the bottom of this and fix it. As I stood up, Leo returned and asked if everything was OK (I think I had a red, angry face at this point). I said no - to ask my family why - because I was leaving. I stomped (the best I could on that marble floor in high heels, lol ) out in a bit of a huff!


I went out the side door and flagged down a server over there. I requested that he get Roberto, our Head Server, and bring him to me immediately. Well, 5 minutes later and he still did not come. I think I said something about making a scene to the server and he ran to get Roberto. When he came out, I asked if they were short-staffed. He said no, why would I ask? I went over all our disappointment - again saying I understood and excused the confusion on the first night, but that this night the service was completely unacceptable. I think he paled when I told him that at that point the gratuities were at zero and I was considering eating at Topsiders the remainder of the week. Now, I am a generous tipper and would be quite reluctant to ever "stiff" a person who depends on tips for a living - but I was that angry and disappointed - and the service up to that point was that bad. As I type this, it does not really convey how bad it was - there is not enough bandwidth here to cover it all, lol. He talked me down, promised to speak to the staff and asked for another chance - which I was happy to give. He assured me he would personally oversee our service from that point on and wanted feedback. He kept his promises and the next night was 200% better, and while we never the perfect service we had prior our service was better than acceptable. We ended up tipping a bit over the recommended because of the renewed efforts.

The kids and I went up to Deck 9 that evening so they could swim and we could all watch National Treasure together. It was still a bit chilly, and once they got out, niece bundled up in towels and snuggled with me while nephew went to OQ and was told to be "home" by midnight - which he was.

We slept well this night, looking forward to Cabo and the dolphins the next day and cautious optimism about dinner the next night!

I will try to knock out a few more days tomorrow!

 

[sejejoemmiev]

Great Start. I am really enjoying your report! Part of me wishes we booked the Cabo Dolphin Swim. I booked our family for the Resort Pool Getaway instead. I am looking forward to your review on this excursion! I hope your BIL and Sister were able to get in on the Swim too!

 

[suzcruz]

hi, great trip report so far. my question is: you first wrote that you were not going to take the crowne plaza shuttle because the first one was not going to leave until 10:30 a.m. But from your report, it sounds there was a much earlier one. Anyway, what time was the shuttle & did you have to reserve it upon check-in?

we were thinking of staying at the CP but not sure if we can just drive there faster from home, what do you think? TIA!!!!

 

[TiaMaria]

hi, great trip report so far. my question is: you first wrote that you were not going to take the crowne plaza shuttle because the first one was not going to leave until 10:30 a.m. But from your report, it sounds there was a much earlier one. Anyway, what time was the shuttle & did you have to reserve it upon check-in?

we were thinking of staying at the CP but not sure if we can just drive there faster from home, what do you think? TIA!!!!

We were told upon making our hotel reservation and again upon check-in that the shuttles to the terminal started at 10:30. I think this is because they are bringing people to the hotel that are disembarking that day. However, upon speaking to the bell staff during our stay, we were assured that they could take us earlier. We asked if we could go at 9:45 as the terminal opened at 10:00 and we were told "yes". That morning, we had the bellman come get our bags at 9:15 just to be safe.

Once down in the lobby area, that was a bit chaotic. I've noted that you need to be watchful of your bags once out the front of the hotel as they are just sitting there - and they are off-loading the arriving guests bags in the same area. We just stood back a bit and had my BIL help out the bell staff in moving arriving bags and making sure our departing bags were all loaded on the same shuttle. There were 2-3 other small families doing the same thing. We probably did not leave the hotel until about 10:00 or 10:05 once al was said and done.

We liked the Crowne Plaza and would stay there again. Our room was immaculate, the pool was very nice, the location was good and the comp shuttle to nearby restaurants and attractions was very convenient. Only dislike - the restaurant in the hotel for breakfast.

I'm not sure where your home is in reference to the port area, so unfortunately I cannot answer that question. I will say that it is always nice to be able to get a good nights sleep and arrive as fresh as possible to the ship on departure day. It may eliminate any worries you have about oversleeping or car trouble, etc.

 

[suzcruz]

thanks for sharing your experiences!! looking forward to more TR!

 

[jfletcher]

Great report. We were in 7562, so those may have been our kids running in the hall! Sorry 'bout that.

 

[TiaMaria]

Great report. We were in 7562, so those may have been our kids running in the hall! Sorry 'bout that.

Wow, you were right next door to my Sis and BIL - they were in 7564!

 

[TiaMaria]

July 8th - Day 3

We woke up to see gorgeous Cabo sparkling in the sun. The kids and I had an 8:45 meet time in Sessions along with my Sis and BIL who were still "Observers" at this point. The 3 of us grabbed a quick meal in Topsiders and they had RS.

Once we got to Sessions, we checked in and asked about any cancellations. The Cast Member did not have that info, but said to keep our ears open. Just before we went to disembark, we realized that 2 people were "no shows". Sis asked the guide from the Cabo Dolphin venue about taking those 2 slots while on the pier, and he told her it could be arranged - to stick by him once we got there - which she did. It was a short 5 minute walk from the pier and once inside, we got color-coded wristbands that indicated which group/dolphin we would be with. Had we known this indicated which dolphin, we would have hung back because my Sis and BIL DID get to go - but got different colored wristbands - no big deal - we could still all see each other.

Our wristbands were yellow and that meant we got to swim with Jeni (pronounced Yeni). Jeni is 10 years old and is expecting a baby. First we all sat in the courtyard and waited for our guides. Note: Try to sit under the umbrellas, as you cannot be wearing any sunscreen and our wait was about 10-15 minutes - long enough to burn. The kids had on SPF swim shirts from Lands End so they were fine in the pool. Our guide took us up the stairs to the Dolphin public swim pool and fitted us with lifevests.

Note: Down next to the courtyard is a locker/changing room - make sure to put all your valuables including your cameras (you cannot take any pictures on your own here) in a locker. Word had it that a member of our group put their wallet in the waterproof container by the lifevest stand and it got ripped off. Only put things like your sunglasses, etc. in that container.

We got right in the water with Jeni - there is a shallow shelf about 10 feet wide that you sit on and that Jeni can swim up on for pictures, and then you also get to slide off that into the deeper water for swimming, kisses and other tricks. One fun thing we did - which was surprisingly strenuous - was to swim out into the middle of the pool with a 6-8 foot long pole. I was in the middle, my niece and nephew on either side, and the guide yelled to "hold up the pole!" and Jeni would leap over it - over our heads. You would be surprised how hard it is to tread water (even with the lifevest holding you up!) and have an 11 year old and a 9 year old dangling off either end threatening to submerge you! We had to try this a couple of times before Jeni was comfortable with us.

We all got to swim individually with her also. My niece and I chose the "belly swim" where Jeni flipped over onto her back, swam next to us and we caught onto her side fins just at the point where they meet her body. She then swims out and around the pool with you hanging on. She goes at a pretty good speed. My biggest fear was that my swim shorts were a little too big, and I could feel them slipping down as we swam!! I remember thinking, "Good God, don't take a picture now!!"

My nephew chose the "dorsal swim". He swam out to the middle of the pool, waited for Jeni to swim by him, and then had to do a 3-move-hand-thing to catch on and turn himself around and then hold on for the swim. He made it look easy, but I was too pooped from the "bar-over-the-head-with-dangling-family" trick to swim all the way out there and attempt to get my hands in the right place!

There were 6 of us in our little group and I would say we were in the pool with Jeni for close to 30-35 minutes. Sounds short, but it was worth every penny we spent. Afterwards, you go back to the couryard and are given a piece of paper that entitles you to 1 free bottle of ice-cold water from the concession stand in that area. You also have time to change and retrieve your belongings in the locker. After that we viewed our pictures (expensive!) and chose what we wanted. We left BIL in the picture area, as we had to walk across the courtyard and back into the check-in-souvenier area to pay for them. We then sent my nephew back across the courtyard with the receipt for BIL to claim the photos while we did a little additional shopping.

After this, we walked along the marina and did some small shopping at all the dozens of little stands along the way. There are dozens of restaurants and bars along this marina, and they are very nice about letting you use the restrooms if you ask. We walked slowly all the way around until we got to the Plaza Bonita where Hard Rock Cafe way - BIL wanted a glass or a shirt, but we decided to eat lunch here as well. Keep in mind that the entrance to the Cafe is on the opposite side of the building from the marina (on the busy street that runs behind it).

After a very nice lunch, the kids and I split us from Sis and BIL who wanted to explore the shops in that area a bit more and we wanted to hit some of the vendors we had seen along the way again. The kids got bracelets with their names embroidered and some of the whistle necklaces that every vendor in town seems to blow/sell. Sorry to any of you that may have been nearby and were annoyed by my niece blowing hers out on the verandah! She also got one of the Mexican dolls (after trying to barter with an extra Hard Rock Cafe plastic guitar glass! ) and I got a pretty oystershell with a "Cabo" painting inside. After about another 30 minutes of strolling, we took the tender back to the ship. Sis and BIL had taken one of the 3 wheeled bicycle taxis back to the pier. I think she told me the guy asked only $8.00, but she gave him $20.00 as it was far and they had several bags/packages with them.

Note: The tenders were quite easy, but keep in mind you are in a busy harbour - they tend to bounce and rock if another boat causes wake. On the way in, we sat down in the front - which was semi-enclosed with small, high windows (closed) and a bad gasoline smell. My niece was not feeling great, nor was my Sis - they were glad it only took 5-10 minutes. On the way back, we sat in the back - completely open, fresh air, good view. Niece had no trouble whatsoever sitting here.

Once on board we got a snack, showered and were ready for the show - I forgot to mention the previous 2 nights were the Welcome Aboard with Jeff Civilico and Don Freisen and the Golden Mickeys. Tonight again, it was Jeff Civilico (who Sis and BIL had also seen in the adult area last night). This guy is great - the kids were belly-laughing throughout as were we. After some time in Studio Sea with "Who Wants To Be a Mouseketeer" (no - none of us got on stage much to the kids disgust), it was time to go to dinner. I have to say I had dreaded this most of the afternoon and evening - not knowing what to expect and worried about backlash.

My fears were groundless, however as things were 180 degrees different from the previous 2 evenings. True to his word, Roberto hovered around our area and drinks were on the table when we arrived and refilled frequently (and given to the right person!). Leo seemed much less distracted (or maybe he had more help with Roberto nearby and bussing tables also) and they actually all paid attention to the kids. I have to say that's what bothered me the most - the lack of acknowledgement of the children. Both these kids are very well mannered, but very outgoing - they don't know a stranger. And to have them barely acknowledged, not interacted with, was such a shock. After all, this is for THEM. If we wanted someone indifferent to our kids, we could go on any other cruiseline. Well with the renewed attention, the kids ate it up - literally. Dinner was fun and relaxed. Plenty of food and beverages to go around. At the end of dinner I had a private talk with Leo and told him how grateful we were regarding the changes - and that we were not angry - just puzzled compared to our other experiences. While things were so much better, as the week wore on, they still were not at the level we have seen previously - I guess that's to be expected as all servers have different personalities. Again, we ended up tipping a bit above the recommended for all dining staff, but not as much as I had budgeted.

The kids were off to their groups and we adults turned in. Niece had the Lab page me about 11:00 saying she was on her way to the stateroom - I met her at the top of the stairs. Even staying close to the lobby and with our door signs, she still got turned around once in awhile - kept wanting to head down the port hallway instead of starboard. Nephew had asked permission to stay in OQ until 1:00AM as they had the Glow Jam on the WWOS deck (Deck 10). He was given permission as long as he stayed with the group/counselors and under no circumstances went anywhere else without asking. True to the good boy he is, he was back in the stateroom at 12:45.

We were off to bed as we had to meet Mazatlan Frank at 8:30 the next morning!

 

[Dizney73]

Great trip report! I am really enjoying this...

 

[TiaMaria]

July 9 - Day 4

We woke up to dark skies and a thunderstorm in rainy Mazatlan. I was up before the kids and enjoyed time out on the verandah watching the ship slip into the harbour. It was cool listening to all the roosters on the little island across from the port as the ship went by them. The street across from the pier area looked flooded - which was not a good sign. We had planned to meet Mazatlan Frank for a private van tour today - Old Mazatlan, downtown, the Golden Zone with lunch and swimming at Tony's on the Beach - it was all in danger at this point.

We all got up and again had a quick bite at Topsiders. By the time we disembarked, it was still raining a bit, but was much brighter (and the street was no longer flooded). Frank had given us instructions to go through the terminal and meet him on the other side, but we didn't realize until we had disembarked that we needed to take a tram to the terminal. We had disembarked starboard - forward. You guessed it - the trams were picking up starboard - aft. We walked down there in the rain, and got on the open air tram for a 5 minute ride to the terminal building. There are shops in that building - and once through it - a whole courtyard full of shops and another enclosed market at the far end of the courtyard. We heard later that many passengers only went this far and went back. I am glad we had Frank or we may have done the same thing.

Frank and his 12 year old son Hector met us and took us to his clean, air-conditioned van parked outside. He outlined our day but made sure to tell us that it was completely flexible as it was our private tour. We started out with a bit of a scary drive up to a viewing point (Faro?) that the big buses could not get to. We say the city on one side and the ships on the other. It had stopped raining and although cloudy, we still got some wonderful pictures and did a little shopping from some vendors outside the restaurant there. Note: That restaurant would have been wonderful to eat at later in the day when the sun came out - find Frank's thread and ask him the name if you are interested.

We then went to the downtown area and toured the cathedral (the Disney group was there at the same time) and the Cty Market. The market was built about 100 years ago and you can get EVERYTHING there. It is enclosed and we did a bit of shopping - also picked up some beach towels as we had forgotten to get towels from the ship for our swimming later. There is a Senor Frogs store right behind the cathedral that has clean bathrooms and they do not mind if you use them. There is also a wonderful bakery/restaurant catty-cornered to Senor Frogs (on the street that runs next to the cathedral) where you can use the restrooms, and has wonderful baked goods that you can purchase to nibble on.

From there Frank took us to Old Mazatlan. I have to say this was my favorite part of the day. The sun just started peeking through and we saw the oldest part of town that was left to deteriorate when the Golden Zone became "the place to be". It is now being rehabbed and it is magnificient. Again, the big tour buses cannot get down most of these streets. It truly looks like "Old Mexico" with the ironwork, the flowers, the brilliantly painted buildings. We got some great pictures and stopped at a shop that sells artwork and leathergoods - they are friends of Frank's. Since my Sis lives in San Antonio, she got some great little Carnivale-type masks that will enhance her southwest decor. Really beautiful shop/home and their work is fantastic.

From here we went to the Cliff Divers - great fun and great views - and made 1 or 2 more shopping stops on our way to the Golden Zone. I got a beautiful sapphire ring at one shop at a pretty good price. Frank took us into a gated community so we could see some of the beautiful homes and villas - some are available to rent weekly/monthly should one ever want to go back - this area was very beautiful.

We then got to Tony's on the Beach. The sun came out! You could tell there were still storms in the area - but very isolated. Great food at Tony's. My Sis had a fajita, the kids got cheesburgers/fries, I had fried shrimp and BIL got 1/2 of the special - a HUGE plate of grilled/steamed shrimp, clams, oysters and several other kinds of seafood. Only the kids were interested in swimming, so after they ate, they went down the few stairs to the beach with BIL and made sand castles and did a bit of swimming in the surf. Note: If you go to Tony's on the Beach - be aware that there are rocks to the right - keep the kids more to the left of the restaurant. Also be aware - there is another Tony's - not affiliated - and it is not on the beach. If you go by taxi - make sure they take you to "Tony's on the Beach" just past where the new Senor Frogs is going to be.

By now it was about 1:45 and although our original plan was to end the tour at 3:30, we decided to head back. Frank took us through the new Marina and back to the terminal. He was fantastic and his son was so sweet. I highly recommend him for your Mazatlan day. There was another Disney group that was taken out by his partner - they sat next to us at Tony's. We heard many people knocking Mazatlan - but while not my favorite place of all the places I've been in Mexico - we had a great day with Frank (who speaks impeccable English, by the way).

Once back on board, we showered and while nephew chilled, niece went to her mini mani/pedi and I went to my Hot Stone Massage - pure bliss.

The show this evening was Twice Charmed and I thought it was even better than last year. After the show we asked if the kids wanted to go to the High School Musical Dance Party (which they loved last year) but they turned us down! We even promised not to dance and embarass them! Nope. They wanted to hang around the Atrium. I guess this is because my niece has "graduated" from Zac Efron to Joe Jonas these days.

Dinner was in Animators and was uneventful - very pleasant. Nephew, for the 2nd year in a row, missed the "show" in Animators so he could go change and get down to Ocean Quest. Again, he came in at 12:45 with no problem.

Off to bed, because the next day was nephews 11th birthday and Puerto Vallarta (our 3rd port in a row! Whew!).

 

[TiaMaria]

Great trip report! I am really enjoying this...

Thank you! I am enjoying reliving it!

 

[TiaMaria]

July 10 - Day 5

Happy 11th Birthday to my dear nephew!

Once again we were up early as we were to meet in Studio Seas for our 8:45 departure for Las Caletes. We didn't get breakfast this day as we had read on a previous trip report that there is a continental breakfast on board the ferry that takes you there (and there was!). After getting checked in and grabbing towels (they also give you plastic bags to carry them in) we were off. Note: For all tours, they want to see everyones KTTW cards regardless of age and a photo ID for each person 18 and older - every Disney excursion we took was delayed because many people had to send someone to their staterooms to gather these items up. You will also need these items even if you are not on a Disney excursion to get on/off the ship.

We disembarked and met our main tour guide, Pepe, on the pier. Now Pepe looks like that Richard-Whatever-Shoe-Bomber guy, but is a fantastic host on the ferry! He gave a bit of information and we walked about 100 yards to where the ferry was waiting. We snagged seats on the top deck - a bit less noisy - and to help Sis and niece in case of any motion sickness (they had absolutely none - in fact Sis took 2 ginger pills the entire week and that was it!) It was overcast, again isolated storms in the area, but we did not get rained on.

Our ferry ride to Las Caletas was about 45-50 minutes total. It's not really an island, but can only be reached by water. Banderas Bay is a very large, half-mooned, shaped bay. The Magic docks at one end/tip and the ferry takes you past Puerto Vallarta and Mismaloya and docks at Las Caletas on the other end/tip of the bay.

The crew comes around with a big basket of breads, muffins, pastries for you to choose and the open bar is set up downstairs with all kinds of beverages which you go get yourself. They did bring juice around. There is a bathroom/head below deck 1. They do have music, but I did not find it too loud or annoying as some reports on TripAdvisor claimed. The crew is introduced and they also introduce the activity directors and the Spa employees (none of these are Disney employees). They have swimming with a Sea Lion available and they advise to sign up for this as well as the Spa on board, as these appts. are all gone by the time you arrive at Las Caletas. The crew passes out maps that shows you the different areas for beach, activities, spa, sightseeing and dining.

Once docked, it's all ashore. They direct those that are swimming with the Sea Lion or snorkling or kayaking to head to the main activity beach. BIL went with niece and nephew to that beach. Sis and I grabbed chairs under a palapa umbrella in between (and slightly raised up) the different beaches. From where we sat we could see the activity beach - 1 beach over - from where we sat - maybe 200 yards or so. There was a swimming beach to our left and one just below us. Note: the chairs are not nice loungers like on Castaway Cay or the ship. The are the wood and canvass sling version. You can adjust how far up/back you sit, but that's it. Also, they are somewhat awkward to get up from.

There are also hammocks up above this area with a water view and several other nooks and crannies to get comfortable and find chairs. They had big tubs of ice cold bottled water and vats of lemonade for you to help yourself, in addition to a couple of bars scattered around.

There are private bathrooms in the dining areas, but there are some big private bathroom/changing rooms up the hill a bit past the parrots - follow the "banos" signs and you will see 2 round buildings. These aren't "outhouses", but like most restrooms in Mexico, they don't want you to put the paper in the toilet - yuck.

Nephew got snorkel equip and swam right out to the floating dock to swim with the Sea Lion. Niece was bummed because while an excellent swimmer, she doesn't like using snorkel equip. They both had life jackets. BIL assisted her with swimming out to the podium, but she promptly got stung by a little jellyfish and that was it for her. Back she came and was content to come to the beach closer to us and play in the surf and sand. The workers have a vinegar rinse right there and took care of her stings. She didn't complain very much at all. Nephew continued on and was in a group of about 6-8 kids. After taking pictures and collecting nephew, BIL and nephew came over and the kids played in the sand/surf while we adults sunned ourselves. I left for my Reflexology massage at 12:15 for my 12:30 appt. Note: You need to be part billygoat (sorry Cubs fans) to make the steep, winding climb to the Spa. It is uphill all the way! Take plenty of time to stop and enjoy the scenery (which is fantastic) as you go!!

Once up there (and once I could breathe again) I checked in and they had me go into the nice bathroom and shower off my feet. If you get a full massage, I'm sure you shower your whole body. My massage was for 30 minutes. You are in open air massage rooms with nice fast ceiling fans and bamboo blinds over the windows. It is so quiet and nice up here. My Reflexology massage was $25.00 minus tip. Once finished, I met the family at our chairs and it was time for lunch.

We walked partly uphill again for lunch - there are several different venues - all with the same food. We went to the left as we left the middle beach area. There is a beautiful restaurant to the right of the path with seating under a big pavillion and a beautiful restaurant to the left on that path who's seating overlooks the beaches/water below.

They had sliced fruit, pasta salads, caesar salad, mosticcioli (sp?), bread and rolls, paella, bbq'd ribs, grilled chicken and much more that I forgot. Lots of desserts also and open bar. Note: I am a Diet Coke person, but for all of you Pepsi fans that have to do without, or bring your own onto the ship, you will be delighted to know they have Pepsi items on Las Caletas. A big vat of coffee with a LARGE bottle of Kaluah is next to the desserts. All food and beverages are included in the price of your excursion on the ferry and the island. Lunch was exceptionally good.

After lunch there was more beach time and then we finally headed back to the ferry about 2:00PM. In the meantime, the ferry had just dropped off the afternoon tour group just as we finished lunch - so I know they didn't find many beach chairs until we all departed about 30 minutes later.

Lots of dancing and music and games on the return trip to the ship. There was a conga line and the crew was lots of fun. Note: The island crew stood new the dock as we were leaving with a tip jar for the food/beverage employees and the activity crew had another jar as we disembarked. Save a few dollars for each - they all really do work hard for the group.

Once on board, we had just a little time to relax and shower before dinner. We have given our room steward, Raymond (who was excellent), some crepe paper and pirate birthday decorations that morning, and he had the hallway and our stateroom decorated for nephew's birthday. It was great, and he was so surprised and pleased!

The kids and I were ready first and headed down to get photos with Captain Jack. Sis and BIL met us outside on Deck 4 - we wanted to look for any "runners" as we departed Puerto Vallarta! We didn't see any, but the storm was back and lightening struck RIGHT NEXT TO THE SHIP!! . That was scary! We all had some kind of pirate paraphanalia on - except for BIL. Sis said she had brought him a hat but he wouldn't wear it. I had some fun with this and hinted that if he was not wearing any kind of pirate attire, he might just find himself the center of attention in the dining room. He flew to his room to get his hat! Well - Sis had gotten him the little roundish hat with the 2 ties on the side - but I think it was made for a child. It was maroon, and when he put it on - it looked like a fez! Off it went when we all laughed. Sis wanted her picture with Captain Jack and while we waited, the kids and I hit the shops (this was pretty much a daily occurance - we could never pass them without one or the other kid asking for "Just 5 minutes?" with those pleading eyes ) Well, who do I see in there buying a Captain Jack wig, earring and hat? BIL. He tried to claim it was for nephew (for his birthday), but nephew was already decked out in a hat, eyepatch, earrring and t-shirt. And, yep, BIL wore his into the restaurant! I am trying to get my pics loaded this weekend, so eventually you'll see what I mean. They went real well with his khaki pants and button down shirt!! LOL

Dinner was rushed as it is on Pirate Night, but at the end they brought out a nice chocolate cream/sponge cake with nephews name and "Happy Birthday" on it. We all had a piece and they delivered the rest to our stateroom. Again, he was so happy.

It had rained durning dinner, but at 9:50 when we hit deck, it was no longer raining, in fact, you could see the moon peeking out of the clouds. The party and fireworks were just as fantastic as we remembered and Sis and BIL were really into it.

None of us had room for the buffet, and Sis was wiped out so she went to bed while BIL filmed the buffet. Nephew was off to OQ to celebrate his birthday (they had decorated the room down there) and promised to be back by 1:00. We were all excited to be able to sleep in the next day! Niece and I got a few tiny pieces of dessert and went back to the stateroom.

Trauma - niece spilled her Sprite all over the carpet between the table and the sofabed and was sore that she had to truck all the way back to the drink station for another. We put down a towel and all was well. We watched TV for a bit and she was out like a light.

I had been staying awake all week to make sure nephew came in on time and had no problems, but this night all my early mornings/late nights caught up with me and I dozed off sometime just before midnight. Next thing I know - the phone is ringing. As you can imagine, I didn't know where the phone was, what day or time it was and where I was at!! It was Sharon from Ocean Quest, and in my stupor, all I caught was something about nephew, hot water and crying. I had her repeat everything - apparently my nephew had gone up to Deck 9 to make a hot chocolate to bring back to OQ - as it was freezing in there. Several kids went also. They were horsing around, and he grabbed his paper cup of scalding hot water after 1 of them moved it - and it scorched his right hand! Someone from the Medical Staff was in OQ with him, they had put it under cold water for about 30 minutes and had a cold pack on it and wanted me to come check it out! Sharon said they wanted to call earlier but nephew was crying and wouldn't let them because he thought he was in deep trouble for leaving OQ without permission. Talk about feeling like an ogre!! He was allowed to go get something to drink as long as he went right back to OQ or to the cabin!! Apparently we needed to clarify that and note the difference between getting a drink and running the ship/halls/elevators!!

Well, I shot down there and was relieved to see him sitting at a computer with a cold pack on, and holding a big conversation with Alberto from Medical. No blistering, just an angry red patch. After thanking them profusely, and reassuring them that I'm NOT an ogre, and telling nephew that he didn't do anything wrong and why, we went back to the cabin (still by 1:00!!). Niece had not stirred one bit!. I helped him change, put him in my bed instead of the top bunk and sat down next to him to calm him down and see if he would sleep.

Well, about 10 minutes later the cold pack was no longer cold. He cried hard (and very loudly I might add - sorry to anyone near us!). I had green sunburn gel I put on his hand and thankfully had our soft-sided cooler that was full of ice. I got out some Ziplock bags and made ice packs with them. I called the nurse again, (they would have only done the same things I was doing), re-applied gel and switched out ice packs for the next hour. Niece still did not stir!

About 2:00AM he decided he was hungry and wanted chicken noodle soup and a hot dog! Room service said 40 minutes! By the time they came he was fast asleep. Niece still never stirred - I was about to put a mirror unter HER nose! I put the food back outside (OK I did have a taste!), reapplied gel and got a new icepack and slipped in next to him and went to sleep. Got up about 4AM and did the same thing. Fast forwarding ahead - niece was a bit put out the next morning to find out she missed all the commotion and nephew was just fine - it never blistered - just looked like a bit of a sunburn "Look Auntie," he said, "It doesn't even sting anymore!". Thank goodness!

I will get into our last 2 sea days later......which were much calmer and very relaxing....

 

[Dizney73]

Thanks for more... I really thought I might have to wait till tomorrow!!! You are a great story teller!

July 6th - Day 1 - Embarkation Day!
Did a little exploring and stopped in Rockin Bar D to confirm Spa appointments and added some more. Also signed up niece for a mini-mani/pedi for when we returned from port in Mazatlan, and signed up nephew for a haircut/trim just prior to Formal Night.

!

I saw in your embarkation day post that you signed up your nephew for a haircut... is there any age restrictions on kids getting a cut/trim? I have been bummin' because I thought kids couldn't be in this area. My daughter is 2 and 1/2 and has had her haircut ONLY IN DISNEYWORLD! I really wanted to get her hair cut in Disneyland but apparently they don't have a salon or barbershop like WDW... so I was hoping to get it trimmed up on while on the cruiseship. When you made the appointment did you give the age of the child?
And if I can sign up my 2 year old... how fast do salon appointments fill up?

 

[TiaMaria]

I saw in your embarkation day post that you signed up your nephew for a haircut... is there any age restrictions on kids getting a cut/trim? I have been bummin' because I thought kids couldn't be in this area. My daughter is 2 and 1/2 and has had her haircut ONLY IN DISNEYWORLD! I really wanted to get her hair cut in Disneyland but apparently they don't have a salon or barbershop like WDW... so I was hoping to get it trimmed up on while on the cruiseship. When you made the appointment did you give the age of the child?
And if I can sign up my 2 year old... how fast do salon appointments fill up?

Great questions...we did not know that he could get this done either. We went to Rockin Bar D after lunch upon embarkation. We wanted to confirm our appts and get Rainforest Room passes. I asked the CM's if they still had the Little Princess makeovers, and they said "yes, but only on port days". So we signed my niece up. At the same time, my Sis was looking at my nephews hair which had "suddenly" grown overnight - you know that way that kids hair looks find one day - and all shaggy the next? The CM's actually offered a beauty salon haircut. And they made an appt for the next late afternoon - now that was a sea day - so I don't know why they allowed it. It wasn't inexpensive - I think with tip it was about $38.00, but he looked great.

Drop by Rockin Bar D upon arrival and I'm sure they will work with you....

 

[smeecanada]

I asked the CM's if they still had the Little Princess makeovers, and they said "yes, but only on port days". So we signed my niece up. Drop by Rockin Bar D upon arrival and I'm sure they will work with you....

My daughter would love this. Could you give some more details? I haven't heard of this at all.

Thanks, enjoying reading your trip report.

 

[jd99]

Great questions...we did not know that he could get this done either. We went to Rockin Bar D after lunch upon embarkation. We wanted to confirm our appts and get Rainforest Room passes. I asked the CM's if they still had the Little Princess makeovers, and they said "yes, but only on port days". So we signed my niece up. At the same time, my Sis was looking at my nephews hair which had "suddenly" grown overnight - you know that way that kids hair looks find one day - and all shaggy the next? The CM's actually offered a beauty salon haircut. And they made an appt for the next late afternoon - now that was a sea day - so I don't know why they allowed it. It wasn't inexpensive - I think with tip it was about $38.00, but he looked great.

Drop by Rockin Bar D upon arrival and I'm sure they will work with you....

Great report!!!!! Can you tell me about the Little Princess Makeover (what do they do? how much does it cost)? My wife and two DDs may stay onboard in Mazatlan so this might be a great thing for them to try out.

 

[TiaMaria]

My daughter would love this. Could you give some more details? I haven't heard of this at all.

Thanks, enjoying reading your trip report.

Great report!!!!! Can you tell me about the Little Princess Makeover (what do they do? how much does it cost)? My wife and two DDs may stay onboard in Mazatlan so this might be a great thing for them to try out.

Keep in mind that this is not available to book online prior to arrival - you have to talk directly to the Spa staff. My niece did this last year and loved it also.

It consists of:

Manicure
Pedicure
Hairstyling
Makeup

Keep in mind that it is a child or mini mani and pedi - not much there to work with but they will do color

Hairstyling - not an "up do" but they basically will brush into their regular style and put in some pixie dust and maybe a barrette or two (if you provide them)

Makeup - again, these are children, so it was brushing on some very light powder, maybe a tint of lip color and eye base and a little shimmery powder - no dramatic makeup.

Last year my niece got "the works" but this year was only interested in having the mini mani/pedi because the color she had on prior to leaving home was peeling off because of being in the water so much. She got the mani/pedi and only had them put clear polish back on her fingers and toes! Wasn't interested in the hair or makeup at all this time.

I'm sorry, I don't have the cost because my Sis signed for it on her stateroom account as I was getting a massage already - I will ask her. If I remember correctly from last year - it was under $30.00 minus gratuity.

Again, they said it was offered on port days, but we did my niece's once we came back from Mazatlan and showered - about 4:45PM. Last year we did this once we left St. Maarten (Pirate Night) and we were already out of the port when she had her appt - so ask in the Rockin Bar D about times avail.