spleenstomper

we always skip the soda card. either we buy cokes in port or they get something at dinner or we will just buy one individually. Saves a lot of money.

I know, bummer. We couldn't do a suite for the conquest. I am looking forward to trying 2 in the balcony and 3 in the interior. We are midship but I just found out an aft wrap is available. More expensive than the midship balcony (as expected).... Just thinking aloud. I didn't check if there were any interiors near the aft wrap that are available.

Yeah 2 side by sides for interiors would likely be the cheapest. I believe it was about 5,000 for our triumph 7 day 5 in a suite.

I personally like 5 in a suite-- with all those boys, the bathroom won't be a problem (though adult time will).

This time we are doing a balcony and a triple across the hall (inside cabin)...

I think the cheapest cruises are generally speaking the one you book farthest out.

How does that work in Canada? Do you pay a set amount and is it from your paycheck or is it a percentage of income, etc?

edited...

That's hilarious, but I did wonder if it would sound like a fart if you had your phone near your butt? :confused::o

Oh, I honestly didn't mean for this to be a discussion about "scams" and I'm sorry that when I wrote "kind of a scam" that that invited people to challenge it. If I could edit, I would edit that part out. You know? :( I LOVED Uxmal and would LOVE to go back. I didn't go to Chitchen Itza because I had heard the crowds were so large that it interfered with the experience, and that is why we chose Uxmal.

I don't blame the tourist offices for promoting CI as a "new world wonder".... if it works for them, terrific! I was just trying to point out that the concept of "the new world wonders" was based on internet and telephone voting. I don't think that takes away from the beauty and "wonder" of the structures or the experience.

To clarify, I didn't say Uxmal was a "new seven wonders of the world". I said we went to Uxmal.

The reason you can't climb on Chitchen Itza any more is because a tourist fell to her death a few years ago. From Wikipedia: "Over the past several years, INAH, which manages the site, has been closing monuments to public access. While visitors can walk around them, they can no longer climb them or go inside their chambers. The most recent was El Castillo, which was closed after a San Diego, Calif., woman fell to her death in 2006.[33]"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Seven_Wonders_of_the_World

Snipped for length

New Seven Wonders of the World is a project that attempts to revive the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World concept with a list of modern wonders. A popularity poll was organized by the private New7Wonders Foundation, with winners announced on July 7, 2007 in Lisbon, Portugal.[1]

The Swiss-based New7Wonders Foundation claims more than 100 million votes were cast through the Internet or by telephone. Nothing prevented multiple votes, so the poll is considered "decidedly unscientific".[2] According to John Zogby, founder and current President/CEO of the Washington-based polling organization Zogby International, New7Wonders Foundation drove “the largest poll on record”.[1]

The program drew a wide range of official reaction. Some countries touted their finalist and tried to get more votes cast for it, while others downplayed or criticized the contest.[2][1] After supporting the New7Wonders Foundation at the beginning of the campaign, with providing advice on nominee selection, The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has distanced itself from the undertaking in 2007.[3][4]

UNESCO

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in a press release on June 20, 2007, reaffirmed that it has no link with the "private initiative", which it says would reflect "only the opinions of those with access to the Internet". The press release concluded:

"There is no comparison between Mr. Weber’s mediatised campaign and the scientific and educational work resulting from the inscription of sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The list of the 7 New Wonders of the World will be the result of a private undertaking, reflecting only the opinions of those with access to the Internet and not the entire world. This initiative cannot, in any significant and sustainable manner, contribute to the preservation of sites elected by this public.[4]

So maybe "kinda like a scam" was a little strong in language, but I personally believe the idea of internet voting for "the new seven wonders of the world" is disingenuous at best.

That "wonders of the world" thing is kind of a scam since it was created as part of a tourist campaign. It's not a "wonder of the world"... it's a "New Wonder of the world" that the Mexican Govt. (or someone... too lazy to search google for the info) created.

Still, we went to Uxmal and it was lovely-- we were able to get plenty of dynamite pictures. The kids were able to climb up the ruins as well.

Is Progresso a dump? Well, it's not picturesque like Hawaii (the big island) is where you get off the ship and there are many photo opportunities and snorkling right there. It is, as people have noted, an "authentic" Mexican experience.

The beach wasn't "that" bad... I think the water can be murky depending on the fronts/tides. The water was pretty clear the day we were there.

I think in the end it is one of those stops where you might stay in the area and have some drinks and relax on the beach, but most people do a tour or something and go farther away from the pier.

I have to admit that I'm not thrilled by the Progreso port, but I willingly booked this cruise and I plan to make the best of it.

Which ruins did you go to and what did you not like about them?

I don't mean to be negative, but there is nothing luxurious-looking about the decor in that suite. Honestly, it looks cheap and institutional to me.

^^^^ what Drew said.

That decor looks cheap and nasty! (But I'll gladly take it anyway!!!) It looks like it needs to go into dry dock for an update.

ETA: lol... I just realized this thread is a year old....