Family Excursions in PV & Cabo

[JanetCPA]

We are first time cruisers (and first time visiting Mexico). We will be in Puerto Vallarta, Cabo & Mazatlan the last week in May - me, my husband and my 10 and 11 year old step-daughters.

We have booked with Randi's in Mazatlan as the girls love horseback riding. However, we are not sure what to do in PV or Cabo. I have thought about the canopy tour in PV(independent, not thru the ship), but am not sure if it will be too scary for the kids (although they love scary rides at Disneyland!). We have also thought about snorkeling in Cabo. The girls have never done this (my husband and I have in Hawaii) - but we aren't sure if the water will be too cold, whether there are any fish to see or if jellyfish are a problem (the kids are terrified of jellyfish as their grandma was badly stung in Texas). Also, we have our own snorkeling equipment, so we aren't sure whether we should get a water taxi and do something on our own or book it thru the ship.

Any suggestions on the possible activities I listed - or any others people could suggest- would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks!

Janet

[Palomino]

Janet--
I am in the process of planning our excursions for our November cruise with the same ports. I have kids ages 5 - 13 and this will be their 4th cruise. We have never been to Cabo, but we have been to Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta on land based trips.

We also have booked with Randi for Mazatlan. After our trip with her we'll probably walk around the old town area where the ship is docked.

In Cabo I think I am going to book the Pirate Ship adventure with the ship. It takes place on a tall ship built in 1885. It sound like something the kids will really enjoy, and it does allow them an opportunity to get in the water. You can get more info at this website,
[url="http://www.pirateshipcabo.com/introduction.html"]http://www.pirateshipcabo.com/introduction.html[/url]
but because of the short port time, we'll book with Princess. Here is a link to a post where a couple people tell of their experiences.
[url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=909097554&m=6123063277"]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=909097554&m=6123063277[/url]

In Puerto Vallarta, I think we'll just do a beach/pool day at a hotel. We'll either walk to the Krystal which allows cruise ship visitors to use their facilities, or we'll take the ship "beach break" which goes to Paradise Village. Reports are that the beach at Paradise Village is nicer, but there are many good reviews about the Krystal. Going to the Krystal might be more flexible....we're still undecided.

Don't expect snorkeling in Mexican Riviera to be anything like Hawaii. We have been snorkeling in the Caribbean, and that is wonderful, but if we do a little snorkeling off of the Sunderland in Cabo, I'll consider that a bonus.

I (and riends of mine who cruise with kids) have found that kids really enjoy a beach day in a port.

Happy cruising!

[JanetCPA]

We're debating whether to make Cabo our beach day or Puerto Vallarta. I figured that snorkeling in Mexico wouldn't compare to Hawaii or the Caribbean - however the kids have never snorkeled before and they really want to. I figured that Cabo would be our best opportunity for that.

And, I've heard that jellyfish are an issue in Puerto Vallarta - I don't know if they are seasonal or if it is a problem all year long. The kids are really scared of jellyfish, and I haven't read/heard anything about jellyfish in Cabo - so, my inclination is to make Cabo our "beach" day.

[Palomino]

If you find a good place in Cabo for your beach day, let me know.

From what I have read on these boards, jellyfish are really hard to predict. I hope there aren't any in Cabo where the pirate ship stops for snorkeling. I was stung by a bunch of little ones snorkeling in Cozumel, and while they weren't terribly painful stings I can imagine what a bad one would feel like.

[boom op]

We are going on the Pride 6th June, and are planing to take our sons on the canopy tour in PV and Randi's horses in Mazatlan have not decided on what we are going to do in Cabo yet.

Pride 6th June

[jim4yoli]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> We have also thought about snorkeling in Cabo. The girls have never done this (my husband and I have in Hawaii) - but we aren't sure if the water will be too cold, whether there are any fish to see or if jellyfish are a problem (the kids are terrified of jellyfish as their grandma was badly stung in Texas).<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

We are just back from Mexico with 9 and 12 year olds. My kids loved the snorkeling, but the water was [B]very[/B] cold. There were no jelly fish.

Yolanda

Carnival Pride to the Mexican Riviera
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[Palomino]

In which port did you snorkel? Was it on a particular excursion?

[jim4yoli]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Palomino:
In which port did you snorkel? Was it on a particular excursion?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Sorry, it was the Santa Maria Sail & Snorkel excursion off the the Pride in Cabo.

Yolanda

Carnival Pride to the Mexican Riviera
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=FFA000&cdt=2004;05;09;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]

[url='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008'][img]http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/15_4_109.gif[/img][/url]

[Palomino]

Thanks Yolanda!

[JanetCPA]

For the Puerto Vallarta Canopy tour (not thru the ship - the other one that I've read good things about), they take kids age 8 and up. Has anyone taken young kids on this? Our kids are 10 and 11 and my husband isn't sure if they would really enjoy it.

Janet