We are Cecilia and Ricardo, Peruvians who love to travel the world. This time it was our first cruise…departing from Long Beach, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, Cabo San Lucas and Long Beach for 7 nights…it is an activity that should be done at least once in a lifetime. The experience was excellent.
The 3 cities to visit are Super Safe, they take great care of tourism, you don’t have to worry.
PREPARATIONS :
We bought the cruise tickets through the website Cruceros.com. The prices were quite affordable.
– 2 people inside cabin including medical insurance……$ 1100
– Internet service (1 device)….$71 for the 7 nights… they give you a discount.
– Tips are mandatory $106 per passenger….total $212.
– Payment includes all meals, shows, places to dance, etc., except alcoholic beverages…we spent $250 on margaritas and beers during the entire cruise.
– If you go by car you have to add the parking fee of $23 per day, totaling $161 (it seemed expensive to us).
– Total spent x 7 nights $1794 US dollars. (2 people).
Cruises require proof of Covid 3 days in advance… take the PCR test.
It is advisable to take out medical insurance… in case you need it during the trip and you do not have medical insurance, it will be very expensive.
Keep in mind that gratitude (tip) is mandatory, the truth is that it is well deserved for the attention you receive on board the cruise (it is incredible).
Don’t forget sunscreen and insect repellent.
You must arrive early and do not forget your passports.
You are allowed to bring one bottle of wine or Champagne and 12 bottles or cans of sparkling water of 12 oz per person. (bring your own corkscrew or you can ask to borrow one from your room..it is free).
Download the Carnival HUB App…there you will find all the places to eat, activities to do, shows, where to go dancing, Karaoke, etc., etc.
Remember to wear smart, casual clothing. The first gala dinner is on the second or third day of the cruise and the second elegant dinner is on the penultimate day. The dinner is delicious, the service is unbeatable and you will see a show while you are having dinner. You can bring a glass of wine or any cocktail you are drinking.
Bring a couple of stainless steel water containers so they can fill them with water and ice so you can avoid buying bottled water.
EMBARKATION :
Check-in is fast and super organized. Don’t forget your passports, vaccination card and Covid test results, preferably PCR.
Try to take your bags with you when you board. If you leave them for someone else to carry you will have to pay tips.
Boarding starts around 11:30 am and you won’t be able to go to your room until 2 pm… but you can enjoy all the cruise facilities, pool, casino, bar, buffet, etc etc… We went to the Blue Iguana Tequila Bar, which is on the 10th floor (Lido) entering to the right, the service is first class… Carola and Silvio and the other guys will give you unforgettable service… Cocktail and/or margarita $11, there is a special offer for a bucket of 6 beers for $42 (the cans are larger than normal)… and the buffet is delicious… there is food practically 24 hours a day.
The cabin we chose (interior) was comfortable and spacious, the bathroom and shower were comfortable, you will find body soap, hair shampoo, towels, etc., etc.
Boarding the cruise for the first time.
TIPS :
It is important to set the time on your watch to that of the Cruise Ship…whether you are on board or going ashore…use that time as a guide to get off and/or board.
If you want to take tours, I recommend that you do so after getting off the boat and/or in the city, it is much cheaper…we went on our own…there are beautiful places to go in Puerto Vallarta… (Las Animas beach, Las Caletas, Playa Yelapa, etc.)…be careful with the return time, always keep your watch set to the Cruise time.
Bring a cooler to carry with you, or carry it on your shoulder, because when you go down to the city you can buy your beers with ice and drink them on the beach, which will be cheaper.
If you are sensitive to the cold, bring a sweater because the air conditioning in the rooms where the shows are held is super cold.
PUERTO VALLARTA : ( cruise disembarkation at 9 am, boarding at 9 pm)
As soon as we arrive, the first ones who want to take advantage of tourists are the taxi drivers…avoid them, walk a little and you will take one down the street and/or call Uber…we took one on the street and went to the Azteca bank near the Playa de los Muertos…cost $120 Mexican pesos (about 6 dollars)
Banks give you the best exchange rate from dollars to Mexican pesos…you need to bring a passport.
After changing some dollars we went to buy some gifts and walked to the Malecon…on Los Muertos beach…there are several restaurants, we walked towards the Romantic Zone, they call it that because there is a large gay community…at the end of the Malecon, you will find several nice Resorts and Condominiums
Passing the Romantic Zone at the end you will find a Chiringuito called “El Paisa” (there are like 3) as a reference point ask for the seahorse.
At “El Paisa” you can taste grilled fish for $190 pesos, shrimp ceviche for $35 pesos, garlic fish for $190 pesos, fish or shrimp sticks for $35 pesos, oysters and many more seafood delicacies. The prices are reasonable…oh, and beer for $30 pesos…this beach bar is on the sand and facing the sea.
On the way back we had some delicious margaritas at the restaurant “Cuates y Cuetes” located on the boardwalk, the margaritas are spectacular, the food is good but more expensive.
The Uber ride back charged us $120 Mexican pesos.
At night we had dinner on the 3rd floor and went dancing at the Havana Club, Latin music, with a Cuban group.
Arriving in Puerto Vallarta.
Chiringuito “EL PAISA” Fish and shrimp sticks next to Esteban and Lidia.
Shaken Fish.
Playa los Muertos next to the Seahorse.
Deviled shrimp.
Daisies!!!!!!
MAZATLAN SINALOA : (cruise disembarkation at 9:30 am, boarding at 6 pm)
From the cruise ship you will be taken in carts to the outside of the port, as always by taxi drivers who want to take advantage of tourists by charging exorbitant prices.
Don’t take a taxi… leaving the port cross the road and on the sidewalk in front you will see a blue line… (if you don’t see it ask)… following the blue line will take you to the city, approximately 15 minutes will take you to many places of interest such as the Cathedral “Virgen de la Sagrada Concepciòn” Machado Park, Pino Suárez market (here you can buy good, pretty and cheap things… because if you wait to buy in Cabo San Lucas… it will cost you three times as much).
Around the city you can take a Guagua (bus), there are all kinds, luxurious and modest, that will take you around the city at a super reasonable price. We took a Guagua (departure time 12pm) that is next to the Cathedral on Benito Juarez Street, the cost is $200 pesos per person ($10 dollars at the current exchange rate). The tour is 1.5 hours long and takes you all along the Malecón, the golden zone, Olas Altas beach, Hotel El Mirador, the house where Pedro Infante was born, to see divers, etc. Ask for Juan Andres.
After the tour we went to lunch at the Panama restaurant, which is almost in front of/next to the Guagua, or you can go to the second floor in the Juárez Pino market, the food is delicious.
From there we walked to Olas Altas beach to cool off a bit, sunbathe and drink some beers.
On the way back we took a “pulmonia” they are very peculiar small cars, the driver always had a smile and the music turned up loud, he charged us from the beach to the cruise ship $80 Mexican pesos ($4 American dollars).
Before getting into a taxi or a pumlonia always negotiate prices with the driver, and the same applies when buying any souvenir.
At night we had dinner on the third floor and watched a show…it was about rock music and then we danced a little.
Arriving in Mazatlan.
Cathedral “Virgin of the Sacred Conception”
Mazatlán and the Beatles.
The famous Pneumonia.
Garlic fish.
San Miguel fish.
CABO SAN LUCAS : (disembark from the cruise at 6:30 am, embark at 2:30 pm)
Some boats will take you to the Port, Cabos is very pretty but expensive expensive expensive…we walked to Medano beach (15 minutes) and on the way we entered the Shopping Mall…there is a “Mexican party” store where you can find cheap things but not like in Mazatlan.
On the way back we had a Michelada for $120 pesos ($6 dollars) at the port of call, it was a local kiosk next to a pharmacy…very good. Arriving at the cruise ship we had some margaritas with their respective beers at Blue Iguana Tequila Bar on the 10th floor “El Lido” then we had dinner and dancing…
Cabo San Lucas Marina.
Marina Cabo San Lucas.
Medano Beach, Cabos.
Medano Beach in the background, Panorama Carnival cruise ship.
With our friend Min from the Philippines.
Cecy and our Peruvian friend Carola.
Returning to the Panorama cruise ship.
Ready for our last supper.
LONG BEACH :
As the song says “everything has its end…”
You must leave the room at 8:30 am.
Breakfast is served on the 10th floor Lido Marquet.
If you have your suitcases you can disembark quickly on the 4th floor… Oh, remember where you park your car, there are hundreds and the numbers are repeated.
The cruise exceeded our expectations, everything was well organized.
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