Mexico Riviera Cruise February 2017

Some Final Observations

After our visits to the three ports on the “Mexican Riviera”, we were amazed at how totally different they are! Cabo is a “party town”. The port is quite small, we had to “tender in” from the ship into the smallish marina. There are lots of bars and restaurants along the Melacon (boardwalk). Many options for short boat excursions out to see whales or the famous “Arch”. Other than that, not a lot to do.

Mazatlan is a large, industrial port city. We got a good overview with our van tour, including the Cathedral and shopping districts. I'm sure there are nice resorts and beaches away from the downtown but not within easy reach of the pier.

We liked Puerto Vallarta the best! Interesting things to see and do within a short cab ride from the pier. We thought the Church here was much more interesting than the cathedral in Mazatlan (maybe its because we caught a wedding!) The Malecon is really a fun walk!

So, of we just wanted to fly down here for week in the winter, skip the cruise, find a condo/hotel in Puerto Vallarta!

Now that we've completed our first real “cruise”, we make some observations:

• Since was not a spring break season, there were hardly any young people on board, most of the passengers were widows, far out numbering the old guys.

• The crew were mostly Indonesian or Philippino. To a person they were courteous and most helpful.
. We had no internet access, which was a real hardship! Internet was available, but VERY expensive. We did have some TV news - MSNBC, CNN....a movie channel. So we could at least keep up with Trump's antics.

• There was no shortage of food to fit anyone's taste. It was mostly very good - 4 stars, not 5.

• For some reason, people did not seem interested in the swimming pools, including us. The pools were quite small. Maybe the water was cold?

• There is entertainment everywhere at all hours. The Westerdam Singers, piano bar, BB King jazz band, violin and piano, and more.

• The old folks like to sit around and play bridge.

• Many of the old folks have cruised a lot!

• There's a casino, which is of no interest to us!

• Lunch time is pretty hectic!

• The shore excursions are good, but can be pretty expensive.

• You can spend a lot on liquor!
The cruise will cost more than you thought! (Total cost was about $3,700)

Monday, February 6, 2017 - Sea day

Weather not so nice today. Cloudy, cooler and very windy! Outside activities were not encouraging. Nevertheless, we kept busy on this final “sea day”. After breakfast in the dining room (not great, rubbery pancakes) we went to another “performance” by the magician. He “showed” us how to do some of his tricks (still a mystery). Then it was time to eat – again – so off to the Lido restaurant for delicious fish & chips. After lunch another edition of America's Test Kitchen and learned about baking and poaching salmon. Very informative! Then to the daily 3:00 “Tea” which we had missed every day. Dinner with our group in the main dining room – excellent prime rib followed by Baked Alaska. There were a few short periods in between all this where we managed to find a quiet corner to read our book.We have to pack our suitcases tonight and leave them outside our door. We will arrive in San Diego overnight and we'll “disembark” sometime after 9:00 and be taken to the airport. Our flight back to Boise leaves at 3:35. We wonder if we'll arrive with snow on the ground?

Some miscellaneous photos:

These guys are pests!

Seafood Burrito - shrimp and mushrooms, and Corona

Puerto Vallarta

Bead art

Pilot Boat

Puerto Vallarta hotels

Surf and Turf on the ship

Elevator

Westerdam Dancers

We saw other cruise ships

Those ropes are heavy!

Another Pirate Ship

Breads in the Lido Restaurant

Pueto Vallarta

Sunday, February 5, 2017 Sea day

Today was the first of our two consecutive “sea days”. Fine weather again, although quite windy. After breakfast, sitting outside in the sunshine, we went to the America's Test Kitchen Show and learned about prosciutto and pasta. Then we read our books and ate again, outside in the sunshine. (Lunch was cheeseburger and hot dog and fries from the “Dive In”). After lunch we went to a presentation by the ship's captain all about the Westerdam and his life as a sea captain.....very informative.

Dinner in the main dining room with our group. Shrimp, salads, soup, baked chicken or pasta, delicious desert choices. Then, off to the Super Bowl to catch the second half. We watched it in the Vista Lounge theater. Oddly, seemed like most of the people were rooting for Atlanta, including Sam. Turned out to be a game for the ages, as the Patriots won in overtime 34-28. Historic, too, as it was the first OT game in SB history! Unfortunately, because we were watching the ESPN international feed, we didn't get to see any of the famous commercials!

Ship is rocking a bit more tonight! More stuff on the schedule for tomorrow!

Cabin Attendants left a different towel creature every day!

America's Test Kitchen

Saturday, February 4, 2017 - Puerto Vallarta

Awoke this morning tied up to the Puerto Vallarta pier. Kudos to the captain – this is a tight space and he had to have done a 180! Once again the weather is spectacular! (We learned later from the captain's presentation, that the ship has two electric-driven props that turn 360 degrees)

After a casual breakfast of made-to-order omelettes in the Lido dining room, we made our way down to the gangplank to begin an adventure into town. (Sam's foot is better, but its still swollen and she has to wear my Crocks, but is able to hobble around). We dickered for a taxi ride ($5 each) and went the 4 miles north into the city and the “Malecon” (Boardwalk) with our ultimate destination the Church of the Lady of Guadalupe.

The Malecon is lots of fun. It is many miles long, a concrete “boardwalk” along the shoreline. The beach is all rocks, no swimming here, but some crashing surf. Interesting shops and cafes` along the street. Many examples of some large, rather whimsical bronze statues. Some great sand sculptures and the famous “stone art”. Lots of pedestrians enjoying the day – seems like a lot of “locals”, of course, it is Saturday. Lots of peddlers around, too, silver bracelets four for $20, etc. We did not succumb!

We had a very cool visit to the church. It’s very historic and we happened to arrive just in time for a wedding! The bride arrived in a restored '32 Ford. The organ played and the bells chimed! (see video)

We had a great lunch of roast beef sandwich and seafood burrito at a sidewalk cafe called Vitea Bistro. As we headed back toward where we started, we stopped at the Tierra Huichal gallery. This is famous bead art done by indigenous Mexicans. We bought a little piece depicting an iguana as a souvenir.

We took a taxi back to the ship. The kid taxi driver was awesome! Boy, he was good as he weaved in and out of traffic, tried to avoid bumps, paid only cursory attention to traffic lights. Got home in no time! (Our van drive yesterday said “they have no pedestrians here, only survivors”)

Dinner in the main dining room tonight, with the folks from our group, consisted of shrimp cocktail, apple and pear salad, surf and turf (!) and chocolate cake or cheesecake. As usual, the cooks did a superb job!

After dinner we moseyed on down to the Vista Lounge for a very good song and dance show by the Westerdam Singers. Then next door to the BB King Lounge for some jazz by the ship's jazz band. There are a lot of talented people on this boat!

It was nearly 10:00 by the time got back to our stateroom. The ship is rolling a bit tonight – this is the first time we've really noticed any movement. The next two days are “sea days” but there is a lot of stuff on the schedule to keep us occupied! And lest we not forget, the Super Bowl is tomorrow!

Friday, February 3, 2017 Mazatlan

Today we awoke to pea soup fog as we entered the harbor at Mazatlan. Fortunately, it semi-cleared just in time to reach the pier. We are overlooking a major shipping port, with containers, new cars, cargo ships, you name it. A fascinating place to sit and watch for a few minutes. Very busy place.

Sam tested her ankle. It didn't take long to determine she was not going to be very mobile today. So we spent the morning in the ship infirmary, looked after by a gang of Aussie nurses! They determined that a fracture was not indicated, so they wrapped it up and suggested ice/elevate/stay off it, etc.

So instead of walking all over Mazatlan, as we had planned, we took a city tour van which worked out to be a better choice. By the time we started out, the fog had rolled back in so we not able to see what we heard were great views from atop a hill. But eventually the fog disappeared and we enjoyed nice, warm sunshine! Our driver took us all around town, the Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, the Mercado, the Gold Zone, Malecon “boardwalk” and more. This is not a resort town, although there are some luxury hotels at the far end of the beach. The city actually reminded us of our trip to Greece! Narrow streets, lots of traffic, shabby buildings, open air markets everywhere. We were amazed at chicken, beef, shrimp, fresh-cut fruit, just “out there”. That would never stand in the USA! We did some shopping, using now-mastered negotiating skills. I bought a silver ring (pure, they say) at the jeweler shop owned by the driver's cousin (just kidding).

We departed Mazatlan about 5:00 PM. Nice pasta dinner in the Lido Restaurant. Great sunset! We are expecting to arrive in Puerto Vallarta by 8:00 AM in the morning.