lax19

30 minutes ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

 

I need details please.

 

Her dress for the Newlywed game had a great fringe skirt that she liked to twist back and forth. The top was well one sudden move from having a different type of show. She kept having to pull it up. (If you have to keep pulling your top up or your bottom down -maybe it’s not the right dress.) 
her dress for the perfect couple show was a bit better.

4 minutes ago, JIMESOPUS said:

We spent most of the time at Bar Central and found the service better there. Did someone play a flute in Upgrade? Most of the time it was the Guitar or Piano Guy. Both of them could play but both of them shouldn't sing.

The ACD looked like a manakin during the Gem morning show, she just stood there and said almost nothing. The dress she wore during the Newlywed show was a joke, right?

Correct with the weather along with Bermuda, except for that Thunderstorm during the sunset cruise on a catamaran. 

Impressed with the efficiency of the Port and ship during Embarkation and Disembarkation. As you said,  just follow the instructions, that Canadian form was a nightmare for Guest Services and some passengers.

I had to laugh at the CBP inspection line, hardly anybody lined up early on the first cruise but on the second there were folks lined up before the ship even docked.

That was a common theme for the second cruise, line up early, 

 

Upgrade was the five piece Rick and roll band -no flutist. Piano guy was ok. Hard to sing along with as he would improvise too much. 

I really enjoyed the band Upgrade. Spent most nights closing down Spinnaker with them. The pulled off an amazing cover of Purple Rain and Led Zepplin’s Rock and Roll. I thought Teo and Geo from the cruise staff were a lot of fun and very engaging. We cruised with Hafsa ( the ACD) about a year and a half ago through the Panama Canal. 
With the exception of Sydney the weather was perfect, Embarkation, Disembarkation and even CBP inspection in Portland was quick. Just needed to follow instructions.

A very fun cruise!

If we arrive at 1:00AM is the Silver Line still a good (safe) choice, or is Uber recommended?

13 minutes ago, mhlcanada said:

How long is the walk? We only have 1 pc of luggage and a backpack each to carry.

Maybe 200 meters. The cruise terminal is right next to the Queen Mary.

1st time in Mazatlan we booked the “Barrio Bites” tour through Flavor Teller. The tour included food carts, a restaurant, the shrimp market, a craft brewery and a one man tortilla shop.

2nd time we climbed to the lighthouse. Then took an Uber to Plaza Machado and explored from there. Saw the cathedral, found the tortilla shop and bought fresh corn tortillas (tortillaria Zaragoza) Ate tamales at a hole in the wall tamale shop (Maztamales), stopped at the Panama Bakery, walked the Malecon for a mile and took a Pulomina back to the port. 
 

Next time we’ll find the Beatles statues and then go to Stone Island.

Mazatlan has become my favorite Mexican Rivera port. Very friendly people going about their normal day.

We should stayed at the Fairmont Waterfront which is across the street from Canada Place cruise terminal. It was not cheap, but part of my cruise budget is to splurge on a hotel. They provided baggage service from your room to the cruise ship much like the Pan Pacific. 
 

My wife and I visited Acapulco in January of 2023 as part of our Panama Canal cruise on the Bliss.
 

We walked around the fort that was across the street from the dock. Then walked along the Main Street and found a nice beach with several locals and families.

The beach was about a mile from the cruise port (playa hornos). Rented a table with a couple of chairs and an umbrella and chilled for several hours amongst a bunch of local families enjoying their day. Bought tacos from one vendor, a mango on a stick from another and a hat from a third.

Stopped by a flea market on the way back. Saw several of the crew out and about. 

There were no pushy vendors except for one who want to sell my wife a silver necklace. It was a nice change from the vendors in Columbia and Guatemala.

Yes, there was a military presence and police on each corner. Honestly, it made me feel more secure.

My impression was it is much like Mazatlan: Just residents going about their normal day. I was glad we got off the ship and had a relaxing day.

IPhone to iPhone text messaging works without having to get the messaging package ( at least it did on my last NCL Cruise).

Place phone in airplane mode and connect to ships Wi-Fi ( but do not log in).

Works like regular texting with alerts. We were also able to sent text messages to family back home.

if you have iPhones, try this before spending money on the NCL messaging app.

  We ate at La Jarocha and had great fish tacos. Looking at their menu, they also have Pulpo. They are located in Cabo in the parking lot behind Booths B17 and B18 along the marina.

Very reasonable, two orders of three fish tacos and two cokes for 200 pesos.

Flavor Teller Barrio Bites tour was awesome!

https://www.flavorteller.com/

We did a free (tip Ok at the end) walking tour and throughly enjoyed it. 

I agree with the recommendation to fly into FLL. Look for hotels along 17th street near the port (Hyatt place, Embassy Suites,Holiday Inn express). All with shuttles from the airport. Plenty of restaurants plus a grocery store and a Toal Wine store for last minute items within walking distance.

On 1/11/2024 at 12:50 PM, decrepit old man said:

Is Uber readily available here?

Yes Uber is available 

1 hour ago, Panhandle Couple said:

 

 

The lighthouse is not too far from the port.  It is on a rocky point, some 600 ft up from sea level.  The site is a city park, and there were many locals also hiking on the Saturday afternoon.   Our guide was good, reasonable English, and provided lots of facts, and point out things like iguanas along the way. 

My favorite sign from the hike to the lighthouse:

In Mazatlan If you are into local food book the Barrio Bites tour through flavor teller.

https://www.flavorteller.com/

my wife and I had a great time on this tour

5 hours ago, princeton123211 said:

If its anything like the Yotel in NYC the room is miniscule-- literally a coffin with a duvet. Location wise its not my favorite-- you are still a decent walk to most tourist things but not terrible. If you're ok with a 15-20 min walk to most things then it's fine. 

Thank you. The room description shows it at 240 sq ft, which is bigger than the my cabin for the upcoming cruise! My only plan is to go to a game at Fenway and will probably Uber. Other than that we like to walk and wonder.

Any thoughts on the Yotel on Seaport Blvd? Looking at two nights at the end of August 2024. 

NCL stocks Coke products, but you CANNOT bring your own soft drinks on if you prefer Pepsi.

Carnival stocks Pepsi products but you CAN bring your own soft drinks if you prefer Coke products.

Last January in Acapulco we walked down the beach from the port about 1/2 mile. I think it was Playa Hornos. Nice family beach with plenty of locals. No pushy vendors, $5 for covered table and chairs. Plenty of cheap tasty taco and mango vendors. Just a chill day. Felt very safe.

We Uber’ed there in January for 135 pesos.

There was also a milk dispenser in the buffet and observation lounge on the Bliss

On 3/23/2023 at 3:35 PM, YVRteacher said:

Week 2 Day 5

Mazatlan

 

We have been spoiled with sunshine!  I had been hoping to find someone to walk into Mazatlan with and my trivia partner also wanted to find someone with whom to go ashore since her travel companions felt Mazatlan was too dangerous.  We met at 10:00am in the atrium and the process of getting off the Bliss and taking the little trolley to the port building was swift and easy.  We dodged the taxi drivers and walked the blue line …

I’m glad you enjoyed Mazatlan. We’ve been there twice in the last six months and it has become my favorite Mexican Rivera destination. The Central District is great to wonder. We’ve found beautiful artwork, relaxing plazas, friendly locals, great tamales and fresh corn tortillas.

54 minutes ago, luckybecky said:

Tuesday March 7 Acapulco

 

Sunrise

 

 

There were a band and dancers on the pier

 

 

 

I was nervous about this port from the day NCL added it to our itinerary. It is not considered safe and is even on the US State Department Do Not Travel list. (My concerns were confirmed when the day before our excursion, it was reported that four Americans had been kidnapped at gunpoint in a Mexican border city; two were reported dead the next day.)

 

Glad you had an enjoyable time snorkeling. When we were in Acapulco during our cruise on the Bliss, I had similar reservations about Acapulco. However we found Acapulco to be very enjoyable. We walked around the fort across the street from the pier, then headed down the road that parallel the beach about 3/4 mile. We found a decent beach spot with an umbrella, table and chairs for about $7 and plenty of locals and families . Very few vendors, but amazing tacos and mangos. It turned out to be a very relaxing day. Walked back to the ship and stopped by a flea market. There was a police and military presence throughout the area. 
 

Everybody needs to judge for themselves and are responsible for their own safety. 

1 hour ago, drumming cruisers said:

Great review, a couple of questions. 

Is there pickleball game and if so, do you know the hours you can play?

Is the band Siglo aboard?

The Bliss does not have a sports court, so no pickle ball, volleyball or basketball.