Do you know about Cruising the Mexican Riviera?

Question

My husband and I are taking our first ever cruise in March 07. We haven't received package from travel agent yet so we don't know what to expect. Any suggestions for us? What are fun things to do on board (we're cruising Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Sea)? What land excursions do you recommend for the over weight - fairly non-active type? Our stops include Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto vallarta. How warm will it really be in March? Do we need to bring dressy clothes for dinners etc.? What about medicine in case one of us gets sea sick? Oh...so many questions. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Answer 1

i  been on that ship.   on cabo  take  the land end tour  and  the eat at the office. you have to take the cab  but  it not   lot of money, and in maz there all sorts.  in pueta vallarta. take the  city tour that was great and there  two  formal  night.  o and  the crew  people are nice  name  john and  kristin blair the really people.    o   in puerto  vallarta   the be mine flea market buye the     ship. it a good stuff . you can bargin with them   get cheap  good stuff.

Answer 2

While each ship has an on-board gift shop with various items, I suggest you take any of your regular over-the-counter meds you normally take.  Just in case, buy a few packages of Dramamine.

Pack two weeks worth of meds.  Put half in your luggage and the other half in your carry on bag.  Make sure they are in the percription bottles.

Take sunscreen and sunburn relief meds, too!  Temps will run from 63 to 81 in March.

Take one or two of those XXL Ziploc baggies to store yucky, sandy clothes.

There are two formal dinners that are optional.  You will see everything from long evening gowns to spring sun dresses on those nights.  Formal nights are optional attendance but that is usually the night they serve the surf and turf dinner.  Other nights, sun dresses, skirts, even capris.  Just no shorts in the dining room.  However, there is a casual buffet style resturant if you don't want to get dressed up.

Be sure to take a supply of cash in US Dollars.  $5 and 10s are great for the markets and taxis.  There is a neat market in Puerto Vallarta.  Expect to pay full price in the brick and mortar shops along the dock.

Be aware of the "extra" costs.  Tips are not really optional  The cruise line will charge you account for the tips the moment you step on board.  Drinks at the bar can run $4-12 each, $35 bucks for a bingo card, $10-20 bucks a sheet for the on board photos.  

Don't book any return flights home too early.  Disembarkation can take a while.

Have a good time.

Answer 3

The three ports you metioned, we enjoyed very much. I  hated Acapulco. So dirty. You should take atleast one formal and one or two other dressy clothes. They sell medicine onboard, in the event that someone is seasick. Also, there is a doctor.

Check out www.cruisecritic.com for more advice.

I do have to say (and I am not trying to freak you out) Check your bedding as soon as you get to your stateroom. We have cruised over 10 times. Our last cruise (oct 06 out of NYC) our stateroom was infested with bed bugs. We did not find out until day two, at sea. Just be an educated traveler and it may save you alot of problems. If you want to know what to look for, here is a link:

http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Entomology/entfact...

Answer 4

First, I thought I'd get sick, but after the first dinner, you'll get used to it!

Cruises have formal nights, I'm pretty sure you don't have to dress up, but with hundreds of people around you dressed up like it's prom, you might feel out of place.  

Shore excursions:

We did the Deer Island Kayaking in Mazatlan.  Kayaking was interesting cuz not everyone, well hardly anyone knew how to kayak.  But after the kayaking we just got to sit on the beach of this island and relax!

we couldn't really do anything worthwhile in Cabo since we were there for a short time, we just looked at shops and walked around.  

Puerto Vallarta we did the ATV thing, and didn't schedule it on the boat so it was an adventure to say the least.  But there is a place there, in downtown across from a statue of a man riding a seahorse.  It's a restaurant above a shop.  They have the best TO DIE FOR shrimp you'll ever eat.

A place in Mazatlan has awesome seafood too. In their main shopping district, it's an outside restaurant, awesome food!

Other than that, I went with my boyfriend (that was my first cruise).  We got a balcony room, took lots of naps with the door open, relaxed on deck and enjoyed the time off, which was awesome.  We went on another cruise ( with family) and spent most of the time doing stuff, excursions, etc.  I have to say I had more fun just relaxing and doing nothing on the first cruise than being busy on the 2nd!

Answer 5

We went on the cruise for the Mexican Rivera  2 times .  We went on Carnival and Holland America. Carnival was terrible (food was good) but Holland was wonderful but the food was just OK.  I loved the stops and would go again if I could afford it!!!

In Cabo I went snorkeling and it was beautiful.  My family went whale watching.  The friends we made did not go on an excursions they shopped until they dropped.

In Mazatlan we went on a tour of the bird estuary and wildlife sanctuary.  

In Puerto Vallarta we went on a picnic and shopping had a blast

You be sure to have as much fun as we did!

Answer 6

Each cruiseline answers almost every question you asked on their websites under FAQS

However here goes:

1. On board - the ships have almost everything you can think of...pools and cruise director-led on deck games; spas; saunas; massages; gyms; Vegas type reviews; other live entertainment; casinos; 24x7 eating; shopping; auctions; libraries; nightclubs...you name it they have it.

2.  Land excursions - shore excursions will appear online also and each is coded with an icon that shows you the difficulty of physical endurance of each...there are always nice mixes of things to do for the less active - air cond. tour buses, shopping excursions, etc

3. It will be just like summer

4. You will need to take at least one, maybe two [depending on length of your cruise] 'formal'/cocktail type wear for those designated nights on board in the formal dining room. Other nights you can wear anything except shorts and jeans in the formal dining room.

You can wear whatever in other restaurants

5. Cruise ships have medical treatment faciilties and a doctor with aides for sea sickness...but you probably won't need it..today's liners feel like they are barely moving.

My advice...? READ YOUR DOCUMENTS, and go online to RC's webpage.

2.

Answer 7

We don't take the excursions, too expensive and you can find plenty to do out side of the innitial shopping area at the docks. Yes bring nice clothes. Yes bring sea sick medicine, hard to find on shore if you don't have it with you.

Answer 8

I believe that Acapulco is also one of your stops.  Take an excursion that includes the cliff divers.  It is amazing.

Just take some of the ship excursions that are tours of the cities.  You will be on air conditioned busses.  Things like the ATV tours and zip-line tours would not be your best bet nor would the horseback riding tours.

Yes, you should have dressy clothes for dinner.  Royal Caribbean has the Free-Style, I believe, which is a lousy way to take a cruise.  People show up for dinner in jeans, shorts, tee shirts, and looking like slobs.  Opt to look nice.

Have your doctor prescribe the Trans-Scope patch for seasickness.  Chances are you will not need it.  The patch goes in back of your ear and does cause some dry mouth and sleepiness.  Go to the drugstore and take along a package of Imodium just in case you get the "Aztec Two-Step".

You will have a very nice time but it is too bad you are going on Royal Caribbean.  You should have chosen Celebrity.  They are the best line.

Answer 9

My husband and I are going on a Mexican Riviera cruise in May and I'm so excited! This will be my third cruise!

Our cruise is going to Cabo, PV and Mazatlan too. There are a bunch of excursions that are easy for all levels of activity. Just look for the symbol on the Royal Caribbean website.  

As far as on the boat....there will be an activites list laid out on your bed at night for the following day. TONS of things to do....just pick!

March should be really beautiful! I would bet 80-85!

You will want to bring two nice outfits for the formal nights but I wouldn't get totally decked out. A majority of people are in business-casual attire but then there are some who will surprise you with ball gowns!

I would bring some medication just in case. I've never had a problem but a lot of people do and I've heard that the waters are a little more rough in the Pacific. I've only cruised in the Caribbean.

You should check out www.cruisesritic.com

They will have a ton of information.