A Quick-Trip for us, Bill & Mary Ann - Hawaii/Mexico for 21 days on the Zaandam

[pepsigirl64]

:( Mazatlan has been taken off all of the Mexican Riviera cruises. We are going on Dec 22 on the Zaandam. We found out in August that we also will be spending the night in PV. I would rather bob around in the ocean for the night then stay in port. Oh Well, I am there for the ship life...it will be fine.

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

:( Mazatlan has been taken off all of the Mexican Riviera cruises. We are going on Dec 22 on the Zaandam. We found out in August that we also will be spending the night in PV. I would rather bob around in the ocean for the night then stay in port. Oh Well, I am there for the ship life...it will be fine.

 

Yes, most (if not all) cruise lines are no longer stopping in Mazatlan due to the violence in the area. It has been this way for a year or so and probably will continue until Mexico can control what is going on in the country. Mazatlan may appear on future itineraries but it seems as the sailing date gets closer, it is cancelled.

[WCB]

Report # 19 Puerto Vallarta, Mexico November 14, 2012 Wednesday Day Two

 

We were not in too big of a hurry to get off the ship this morning, since we planned on walking left at the main road instead of right, like we always do. No, today we had a small breakfast, then headed towards Walmart, the Mercardosupermart, and the Gallerias Vallarta Shopping Mall right across the street from the harbor.

 

It was going to be busy in town, because another ship sailed into the harbor early this morning. We noticed that our room got dark suddenly when we were still in bed. Looking out the window, the Disney Wonder blocked the light while it was pulling alongside the pier. Compared to us, she is big.........20 lifeboats, so we figured probably over 2500 passengers. Our window faced the back of the ship, so we couldn't help but laugh when we saw two famous Disney ducks.....Donald and Huey, Dewey and or Louie hanging off of the back railing. Donald Duck was hanging by ropes with a paintbrush in hand, and two paint buckets dangling under him. Leaning out of a pretend porthole, was one of his mischievious nephews with a pair of huge scissors ready to cut the ropes. Very comical.......everyone on our ship loved it.

 

Going back to the room to grab our bag and money, we found that new side drapes had been added. These satin-ribboned sheers now match the over drapes on the window. They're a huge improvement from the old ones. All that is left to be replaced or re-covered are the chair and the couch/bed. On this ship the couch is fabric-covered. On the Amsterdam, they are gold leather, easier to keep clean we think.

 

For a change, we really did not need anything, but did take a quick walk through Walmart. We were surprised to find out they were opened 24 hours every day. That was good for the crew, because we spotted many of them trekking over there with rolled suitcases. This is a good opportunity for them to stock up on personal items and snack foods, which they love. The prices seemed comparable to what we pay in the states, so we guess that inflation has already hit down here in Mexico. There were some young couples packing cases of beer and wine back to the ship. Before we went off the ship, we noticed there was a table for alcohol collection. We do know that wine is OK to bring onboard, but not sure about the beer.

 

The Gallerias Vallarta Mall was really nice. Several years ago, we noticed it being built on one of our visits here. There were three levels of shops, cafes, theaters, and a department store. And it was decorated for Christmas already. Of course it would be, since we have seen holiday decorations up since almost the end of the summer at home. The best part of this mall was the air-conditioning. We can see where it would be a great hang-out for the kids and teens to gather on weekends. Actually, we did see some private schoolgirls (in uniform), playing on one of those computerized dance machines near the multiplex theater. Maybe a little hookey today?

 

In hind site, we should have left an hour later. It was too early for lunch and wouldn't you know it, a Chilis was there. They have the best quesidilla explosion chicken salad where we go at home, and it was also on this menu. Would have liked to compare them. Maybe next time. We simply window-shopped since the stores were all the same as the ones at our malls. It was just nice to enjoy the cool air for a while.

 

The overcast had cleared up by noon, and the sun was peeking out. Spending some time at the aft pool sounded like a good idea to us. And since sailaway was at 3pm, we called it a day onshore and went back to the ship. The pool area had begun to fill up, so we were lucky to get two lounges near the back railing. A breeze had picked up, making it quite comfortable. For the first time in the last two and a half weeks, we actually went into the water. On the Hawaii cruise, the pool was entirely too cold. We heard that people complained when this trip started, and they got them to fill the pool with warmer water. It worked, maybe a bit too good.

 

The ship left after 3pm, but not until several announcements were made for missing people. This has happened in every port, leading us to think that the room key cards may not register every time you board. As far as we know, no one has missed the ship.

 

There was another cocktail party in the Crows Nest hosted by the Captain and his officers. We had just gone to the bar and ordered our drinks, when a couple approached us. They said they knew who we were from sailing on the Amsterdam's world cruise in 2008. Apparently, they had been sitting at the table we joined. We had no idea that we had displaced them. Guess our friends had made those arrangements prior to us getting to the ship in Istanbul. As it turned out, we all had belonged to the same travel agency back in the early 2000's, and even sailed on the same Asia/Pacific voyage in 2002. Funny we never met until today. Small world it is.

 

Dinner was good tonight....braised short ribs and meat lasagne, followed by flourless chocolate cake with ice cream, and a chocolate chip ice cream sundae. It's going to be difficult giving up dessert when we get home. Conversation at dinner was easy and comfortable since we seem to be on the same page as our Arizona friends on most all subjects. The girls were dining in the Le Cirque venue in the Pinnacle, and the San Diego couple did not show up. The meal service does go much faster for four instead of eight. Since it was such a busy two days, we all were happy to call it a night.

 

The Zaandam will be in Cabo San Lucas tomorrow around 8am. Too bad the last tenderboat will be at 2pm. The one good thing is that the clocks went back one hour tonight....most appreciated by everyone, especially the crew. It was a good night for the Filipino crew to put on their show at 11pm.

 

We have a few answers for some questions. Being that we are on a back-to-back voyage, our shipboard account will be carried over until the end of the whole trip. We always make sure when we board that the office folks know to hold all charges until the end.

The Captain made no promise to pick up the scenic cruising to Bahia Magdalena on the way back. Again, it will more than likely be dark as we sail on by it.

Charlie on Guitar is the entertainer in the Piano Bar. He is really talented and has drawn a much larger crowd than the previous gal.

We are getting very close to being in the Presidents Club, God-willing.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[JamesEM]

Thanks for the info, and have a great day in Cabo.

[KirkNC]

Yum, short ribs are one of our favorites.

[WCB]

Report # 20 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico November 15, 2012 Thursday

 

The Zaandam sailed into the bay of Cabo San Lucas early this morning around 8am. The sun was out full bore, promising all to be a very warm day for sure. Normally, we visit here in May, during Spring Break. It has never been quite this hot. Our only plans for the short stay here are to take a long walk and find a good place for lunch.

 

Our very first stop to Cabo was back in the early 80's. Boy, have things changed big time. Back then, the tenderboat dropped us off at a boat ramp, where a few vendors were selling wood carvings, silver jewelry, and ceramics on wooden tables. The town was a series of huts with more locals selling blankets and straw items. There may have been some leather products, like gun scabbards and ladies purses. We recall walking up to a hotel that sat on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean with the most beautiful stretch of beach down below. You could not swim there because of the dangerous rip currents. You still can't.

 

Who ever would have guessed the changes that would make this place what we see today? The population must have gone from 200 people to a vibrant 50,000 residents. Multi-storied hotels and condos are everywhere you look, with more being built. Restaurants and cantinas line the marina, surrounded with many shops. You cannot walk the harbor without being approached by dozens of fellows trying to sell you boat trips for sight-seeing, fish watching, and fishing of course. Silver jewelry is prolific here, but the real stuff is in the shops. Many sidewalk vendors sell bracelets and necklaces that look great, but are not the real deal.

 

Today they had a lot of possible customers, because the Disney Wonder pulled into the bay right after us. Funny thing.......we were walking the promenade deck after breakfast, and heard what we thought was a loud trumpet. We soon discovered it was the horn of the Wonder playing the first notes of When You Wish Upon A Star. How great is that?

 

We made our way to Medano Beach, took our shoes off, and walked in the sand and surf for an hour. It was pure heaven. Not as crowded as in the springtime, we were able to walk about halfway before we ran into the major hotel areas. That was where most of the vendors were hanging out and there are just so many times you can say, no thanks. Since the ship was pulling the anchor at 3pm, we had to get a move on.

 

The Puerto Paraiso Shopping Mall was nearby and that is always a good place to cool off for a bit. They have nice restrooms as well. Very close to there was the Hard Rock Cafe, and the best place to dine for us today. Expecting it to be crowded by now, we were pleasantly surprised to find it was not. We had hit it just right, and really enjoyed the chicken salads and ice cold sodas once again. Hope we don't regret the salad thing, but we have eaten here before and had no problems.

 

One final treat we enjoyed were scoops of Dreyers ice cream at a little stand near the tenderboat landing. Several boats were waiting to board the last of the guests, and we were among them. It took a little longer to get back on the ship because the waves were getting higher, and people were having trouble getting off the small boats.

 

There was a wine and cheese party advertised at the sailaway on the aft deck. Now you would think that sounded complimentary, but no, it was not. Yes, the cheese was free, but not the wine. Consuela and the HAL Cats were playing there, and for the first time on this cruise, the folks got kind of wild and crazy. That is dancing and singing with the band's encouragment. It was fun to watch.

 

A mysterious thing happened while on this portion of our cruise. Long story short, our travel agency was supposed to be hosting a seven day Zumba cruise with two agents that we have met on previous trips, although it has been several years since we have seen them. Anyway, we never did get any indication that they were here after the ship left San Diego last Saturday. We figured that perhaps the group was not here. That is until last night, when we met two folks that remembered us from 4 years ago,and they said they were part of the group. So today, while at the sailaway, the two agents came over to us and solved the mystery for us. They did not know we were here, because we had sailed on the Hawaiian 14 day cruise, before they boarded, and they did not know that. A new computer system in their offices did not cross us over with the back to back cruises. They graciously offered us cocktails and the chance to join the Zumba group. Even though we declined, we did appreciate the thought. Our conversation continued until the sailaway party was over by 4pm. It was nice to catch up on all the cruise news and sharing stories about fellow passengers we all know.

 

Dinner was formal, the last one of this trip. For the first time, all eight of us were present at the table. But so were all the other guests at the surrounding tables. This stressed our waiters for one of the few times this trip. As hard as they tried, they missed some orders and our service was slow. You would think that the waiters in the Lido, who are done by 8pm, would be sent to help in the dining room. If they are sent here, it is not on deck five at the fixed seating. Once our meal was complete, the marching music began. The chefs and their assistants paraded through the dining room, gathering a loud applause from everyone, including the 2 year old who showed up with his young parents tonight. We have not seen him at dinner since he decorated the floor with tiny chunks of rolls. He did an equally good job tonight with the pasta! So cute..........

 

Our waiter also announced that our surveys would be arriving soon, and he would appreciate good grades, if we felt he and his assistant did a good job. Usually begging for high grades is the responsibility of the cruise director, and we are positive that we will hear the same speech tomorrow at the disembarkation talk. It was suggested to us by the Staff Captain that Europeans do not easily give high marks, while the Americans (US and Canadian) do. Go figure? Guess we are easier to please most of the time.

 

The special dessert extravaganza was held at 10:30pm in the Lido pool area. We visited briefly to find that there were many people there taking photos and waiting to dive into the sweet treats.

 

Back to our room, we found two embossed handbags from our travel agency, gifts that were given last Saturday to all in the group. Better late than never , we say. Of course these bags have a duel purpose, because they are very durable, and advertise the agency for free.

 

Even though it was not listed in tomorrow's newsletter, the clocks went back one hour this evening. Now we are back to Pacific time as we head north towards San Diego, where we dock on Saturday morning. Gosh, this trip went by quickly.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[WCB]

Report # 21 Day at Sea November 16, 2012 Friday

 

Our last day at sea was rather uneventful.....especially the weather. As we expected, it turned cold and windy and rather cloudy later in the day. Since our only job would be packing, this was the perfect day for it.

 

It appeared that lots of folks ordered room service breakfast this morning. The waiters push their carts full of trays from inside the lower dining room, so if you are not careful, there could be a collision when exiting the elevator. For a change, we never did order room service because we really enjoyed the service in the Rotterdam dining room. We plan on going there for breakfast tomorrow, disembarking day, as they will be open from 7 to 8:30am. The Lido will also be opened from 6 to 9:30am.

 

Even though we only brought three pieces of luggage, it took all morning to finish the job of packing. It's all the small stuff that needs double-bagging that takes time. We have started using space bags to pack most everything, including toiletries. Keeps your things from moving all around when being handled or man-handled sometimes.

 

It was also a good time to watch TV movies that we have missed for the last three weeks. We have been to so many "time to say goodbye" talks that we have them memorized. That was held in the showlounge, but without the offer of champagne this time. Must only happen with the longer cruises.

 

The busiest places on the ship were the front desk with folks asking for copies of their shipboard account, the shops, and the Lido. Seemed people were busy buying last minute sale items and busy eating all day. Gotta get their money's worth you know.

 

The dinner menu was international from the four corners of the world. This was new to us, but there were several good choices to choose from. We ordered the lamb shanks and the portion size was huge. They were twice the size of the sample plate in the Lido tonight. We had to save some room for baked Alaska, which was mostly meringue with a tablespoon of ice cream. We all agreed that was fine, since we were all going back to reality tomorrow, and that does not include dessert.

 

All six of us thanked our waiters and called it a night. The Zaandam should be pulling into the harbor in San Diego by 7am. Our call off time is about 9:15am if all goes according to schedule. So with that, we will sign off for now as we end another fun adventure.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[dobiemom]

Thank you for taking us along with you. I really enjoyed your reports. :)

[solocanadian]

Bill & Mary Ann: Thanks for spending the time and dollars to take us along. Enjoyed your postings. Hope you had an uneventful trip home.:)

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

Three weeks sure went by quickly. Thanks for your reports. Looking forward to your World Cruise reports. We'll keep the Amsterdam warmed up for you Dec 5-22nd.

[PathfinderEss]

Thanks for your live report, really enjoyed traveling along with you.

[andeesue]

Your detailed reports were so appreciated! Welcome back to reality!

[JamesEM]

Thanks for sharing, have a safe trip home, and when is your next cruise?

[SeaRay48]

I always look forward to your reports, thank you very much.

[ncgolferette]

Thank you for your daily reports. I will look forward to reading your reports on your world cruise starting shortly. They always seem to make the winter months pass more quickly.

[Flyingfish]

Thanks so much once again. As you stated; the trip may have been short, but nevertheless for me "sweet."

[Esri]

Thanks for the reports on your cruise. I'll be watching for your World Cruise 2013 post!