Manzanillo-Ixtapa-Acapulco

[cpayne]

We spent a week in Acapulco last year. Enjoyed the area, LOVED the resort (Las Brisas!!), but would not return. The police are extremely corrupt there. We were pulled over at least once every day in our rental car in an attempt to bribe us for money or they would threaten to impound our car. Very stressful as it would often take 20-30 minutes to talk our way out of the situation and we had never done anything wrong. IF you visit Acapulco I highly recommend you do NOT rent a car and rely on taxis!

[kiraryker]

I'm thinking Cozumel & Costa Maya should still be safe??? We have never been to mexico so I have no idea but we will be in those ports in January

[CruiseFan314]

Greeeaaat! Thanks captain buzz kill. Now I'll spend my honeymoon barricaded in my cruise ship suite. Ignorance really is bliss.

[Upandadam]

I really believe the change in the itinerary is one of economic reasons, and not due to violence in Mexico. Most of the violence is in border towns and not involving tourists from the north.

 

At least that's what I hope the case is since we'll be there shortly.:o

[amc80]

 

As for the violence, I think that people really over react. Many cruises leave out of LA, there are many murders, violence, crime, gangs, etc. in LA. Should the cruise ships not start and end here? Are they putting their guests in harms way?

 

Jen in SoCal

 

The difference is that if something happens to you in the US, there is recourse you and your family can take with authorities. An actual investigation will be done and police will actually try to find the criminal. Good luck doing that in Mexico with the corruption in the police departments.

[Wyattcruiser]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/lt_drug_war_mexico

[Liffey]

I've been eyeing this excursion in Acapulo...Birds, Turtles & City Overview - Description: This ecological adventure is a unique opportunity to explore a nature preserve and witness the release of baby turtles into the sea. It takes you 1½-hour ways away to Tres Palos Lagoon. Anyone ever been??

 

Yes, but you aren't going to like my answer. Sorry to pile on with the buzz kill! :p

 

The turtle part was really fun; it made the entire excursion worthwhile, but then I'm a big sucker for anything to do with "critters."

 

The city overview was... meh, but I think a lot of that was because our bus had a terrible PA system. (It wasn't a patch on the disgusting toilet with the broken door that kept flapping open to hit people or just gross them out with the view, though.) The guide did try to talk a lot, seemingly sometimes for the sake of it (unlike guides we've had in the past who were fonts of info), but no one in the back half of the bus could understand him because of the PA. We did stop for a photo op looking over the bay that was nice.

 

The big issue was with the lagoon tour. We stood in the sun for half an hour because they didn't have enough boats. (And we were all uncomfortably crammed in to the boat they eventually managed to get.) Then we just slowly rode around this unimpressive sort of lake, stopping occasionally to look at a heron or try to see something in a tree. (There were no binoculars on board.) I do think the other boats went more deeply into the mangroves since we seemed to be alone on this lake on what was a shortened tour, and perhaps they saw really neat things there. This ended up being the longest part of the tour, which was really unfortunate. I saw nothing there that I haven't seen on any other trip to any other lake. Less, in fact.

 

No, wait, the longest part was probably the three hours it took the get back to the ship. We had a lot of traffic (pre-Easter vacationers from elsewhere in Mexico) and it was a misery. We ended up detouring through a lot of areas that I would rather not have seen, much less spent several minutes at a time sitting still and looking at without some kind of (non-corrupt) police escort. It's bad when you don't even feel safe when surrounded by a big tour bus. (And no, I'm not usually a wowser about such things.)

 

All of that said, we did reluctantly complain - just as a "FYI" - to Shore Excursions the next day. SE was very interested, so perhaps this (the lagoon screwups - traffic can't be helped) won't happen to anyone in the future.

 

And, like I said, the sea turtles were really fun. So, despite the above, I do recommend this excursion... but only if you're really into sea turtles. My trip report and photos are here: http://www.shari.com/2010/05/carnival-spirit-acapulco.html

[CruisinChris412]

We really enjoyed Acapulco. We had a very full and busy day. We hired a private guide who took us to several of the usual spots in the city and then out of town for a boat tour through the mangroves. It was a great day. I did not find the people any more pushy than other tourist spots in Mexico.

 

As for the violence, I think that people really over react. Many cruises leave out of LA, there are many murders, violence, crime, gangs, etc. in LA. Should the cruise ships not start and end here? Are they putting their guests in harms way?

 

Jen in SoCal

 

Well there's a rare positive story about Acapulco! lol

 

I just want to go because my mom went there in the 70s and always talked about being one of the better vacations she took. Obviously, the 70s are over and Acapulco is not the same.

[ldarcy]

We are leaving next week on the Spirit - we had planned to do the kayaking excursion at Coyuca Lagoon then go see the cliff divers at night - both Carnival excursions. Now, reading all of this, I'm getting paranoid and wondering if we shouldn't just skip one or both. Is it safe to assume we are safe if we stay with the group and don't go off the beaten track?

 

We have travelled to a few scary places over the last few years and I have to admit that the experiences were interesting (after the fact, of course)... but this trip was supposed to be all about relaxing!!

 

Any advice??

[CRUZBUDS]

We just got back from the Spirit today. We had a great time.

 

We've been to Acapulco around 10 times and only get off to use the internet in the terminal. I wouldn't be overly concerned about a Carnival tour there and everyone we ever met that used Rosie, loved it. The cliff divers are cool to see once.

 

Zihuatanejo is awesome and is one of our favorite ports anywhere!

 

The previous picture of the port in Manzanillo is out of date. We were surprised to find ourselves docked at a new facility right in the downtown area. The old dock was defiantly very industrial.

 

We are really unhappy about having to share the Spirit with L.A. - San Diego is such a beautiful port to sail from.

[calbred01]

We're going on this trip too!! What other excursions are you looking at? I'm thinking snorkeling in Manzanillo and Island getaway in Ixtapa.

 

I've been eyeing this excursion in Acapulo...Birds, Turtles & City Overview - Description: This ecological adventure is a unique opportunity to explore a nature preserve and witness the release of baby turtles into the sea. It takes you 1½-hour ways away to Tres Palos Lagoon. Anyone ever been??

 

I like to try something in every port and I just love to snorkel.

 

Can't wait for the 12th to get here!! It's our honeymoon trip!!! :D

We did that excursion last year and had a blast! The birds part was intresting & fun and the high light was the baby turtle release, so cute! So worth it and something that you probably will not do again

[CruiseFan314]

Yes, but you aren't going to like my answer. Sorry to pile on with the buzz kill! :p

 

The turtle part was really fun; it made the entire excursion worthwhile, but then I'm a big sucker for anything to do with "critters."

 

And, like I said, the sea turtles were really fun. So, despite the above, I do recommend this excursion... but only if you're really into sea turtles. My trip report and photos are here: http://www.shari.com/2010/05/carnival-spirit-acapulco.html

 

This is great! Thank you!! You're trip report and pictures were just what I needed. I'm still undecided about this one. I love critters too!! It's either this or Rudy van tours with some others on our boat. :)

[Willie T]

I've been to Acapulo 3 times. Never a problem. The first time our little tour van broke down in a bad part of town. Not scary. Got it fixed and went on our way. The other 2 times we took a taxi to a beach, palupa area that was mostly locals. Loved it!

Mexico is very dangerous right now, I agree, but so are a lot of our bigger cities. I also go with the odds. Of the millions of tourists visiting, how many are harmed? What are the odds you will be the one? I'am going to miss Acapulco.