Ryndam questions - Mexico

[Sky's Mom]

Going to the Mexican Rivieria Nov 27 (Cabo, PV & Mazatlan) and have a few questions.
Would you recommend snorkeling? What about shopping? Any must see & do's?
Are soft drink cards available and how much?

Any other tips and insights would be greatly appreciated

[localady]

Hi! I have been on a mexican cruise, but not on HAL. I would recommend snorkeling in Cabo San Lucas, the snorkeling was quite good there, but some of it was deep water and possibly not appropriate for the new snorkeler. I personally didn't care for Mazatlan, I found it to be the most disappointing of the ports. The water around the Ship was very dirty, it is a very industial port. Really couldn't recommend an excursion there. Puerto Vallarta has a lovely old downtown area, I remember going to PV as a child some 40 years ago. Although the hotels have boomed since then, the "town" was really quite the same, with the exception of the "Hooters" bar!:eek: Also the snorkeling in the Bay there is very good and they offer a couple of those excursions as well.

I hope you like the Ryndam, we have just returned from Alaska on it and found the crew to be great! Enjoy your trip!:cool:

[Bill S]

Sky's mom: we have sailed on the Ryndam for 2 Mexican Riviera cruises, the last on was this past April. Can't make any recommendations with respect to snorkeling, only can speak to the other "s" word: shopping!

Puerto Vallarta probably has the largest selection of stores and shops along the main drag by the beach and even across the bridge over the river that bisects the city.

I agree with localady's assessment of Mazatlan-in 2 visits there, we have not found it appealing for shopping, but one our favorite excursions was there: Randi's Happy Horses-she hangs out over on the Ports of Call section under the Mexican Riviera forum-lots of good info over there about all kinds of excursions and activities. Randi has her own web site and is an independent excursion operator, meaning you cannot book her through any cruise line, but she is very attuned to cruise ship schedules.

We found decent shopping in Cabo San Lucas, as well----at least my DW did!! Cabo is easy to get around-you can walk to to the shopping district from the ship-an easy walk; not so in the other 2 ports. We are not beach/water folks so, I'm sorry cannot assist with snorkeling etc.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Soda cards - HAL sells them - have never bought one as we do not drink sodas - so don't know how much they cost.

Cabo is a tendering port. Once you get off the tender it is a nice walk to the shops. A lot of people take the glass bottom boat out to Land's End. A lot of nice shops here. Good place to have a drink - Giggling Marlin.

Puerto Vallarta - need to take a taxi to the shops - lots of shops here.

Mazatlan - UGH! - hate that port - nothing really good here at all.

[cactuslady]

I do not recommend snorkeling as part of the kayak excursion in Cabo San Lucas. They take you out to the arches, and Lover's Beach, which is very beautiful. The snorkeling area, however, is much too rough, has nothing to see, and is disgustingly dirty -- who needs dead fish floating by their mask? :p The kayaking is fun, but be forewarned that it is really more strenuous than they advertise. There are currents and waves to contend with.

I enjoyed the Old Town walking tour of Mazatlan. Very interesting, with close-up views of the statues on the coast, cliff divers, newly restored old buildings and shady squares, finishing with a visit to the cathedral. And a nice cerveza (beer) break, along with a yummy visit to an authentic Mexican bakery. Heard from a lot of pax who went elsewhere, including the Golden Zone, and did not enjoy their day at all.

My DH went on the all-day jeep tour to the jungles and mountains in Puerto Vallarta and had a good time. There is a little hole-in-the-wall cigar store (just a walk-in humidor, really) right across from the beach promenade that had a nice selection of Cuban cigars, if that is of interest.

[Tinknock50]

When in Mazatlan, take the colonial villages tour to Concordia and another town whose name escapes me at the moment. Very very interesting if you like history and very old churches.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Mazatlan

Forgot about that tour - we did it years ago - an all day tour through the Sierra Madre, ConCordia and Copala.

Great tour.

[Cracker Ken]

Here's a link to my photo albums. I have one there for the Ryndam Mexican Riviera Cruise. I haven't finished putting titles and captions on all of them yet, but the photos are there.

http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/crackerken1/my_photos

We too enjoyed the tour through the Sierra Madre to Concordia and Copala. The Mexican furniture shop was interesting. We were there over the Christmas holidays, and it was nice to see all of their Mexican style decorations (not to mention Christmas on a HAL ship). When you see the photos of the manger scenes in the town squares, note that you won't see the Baby Jesus. He won't show up in the manger scene until Christmas.

Hope this helps.

Ken

[garydm]

Very much agree with Cactus Lady about Mazatlan. We did the same tour and then have gone back on our own a couple times since. If yo do not want to do the old town tour, get a taxi (after you fight through the crowd at the dock), negotiate a price, and have them take you to the old opera house. You can visit it and walk around the surrounding area which from appearance is much like New Orleans. If you are lucky enough to hit the little bakery when the goods are coming right out of the oven, I guarantee you will overeat. It is hard to find as there is no sign, but it is on a corner to the southwest of the opera house several blocks. There is a small square near the opera house and you can kick back at one of the cafes with an outside table, have a cerveza, and watch the world go by.

Another option is to go to a local hotel for the day and use their beach. Los Sebalos is very welcoming if you buy a few drinks and some food.

Gary

[Sage]

Ken, thank you for the wonderful pictures. We are cruising Mexico in March of next year. We can hardly wait now. :D