Bimmer09 Christmas Cruise to Mexico on the Diamond

[Bimmer09]

22 minutes ago, Jasperdo said:

I'm enjoying your Puerto Vallarta photos. We always visit Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and stroll the Malecon when we're in Puerto Vallarta. Your lunch place looks similar to one we had lunch at last time we were in town. Was this place south of the Rio Cuale?

We crossed over a river to get to it but have no idea of the name.

Norris

[Bimmer09]

On this cruise-Princess says its my 13th? I didn't rush around trying to see all that I had seen before or once cared to see.

Champagne waterfall party in the Grand Plaza. Skipped it.

Captain's cocktail party-only ever went once, never went back

Elites munchies in Skywalkers 5 to 7 pm each day. Nope.

Egg drop-you kidding me?

There were 100 things to do everyday-or not do. 

Everyone does their own cruise and hopefully has a good time and comes back "new"

I was here to relax and I did that. I met some good folks to talk and have a laugh with and I really like being in Mexico and being on a beautiful ship and the Diamond was that.

It was fantastic value for money especially given the upgrade to a mini suite and not even half of what we have committed to spend on Celebrity this June (12 days though)

Just thinking aloud...

 

[mchell810]

4 hours ago, Bimmer09 said:

The first order of business at lunch was to order a thirst-quenching beverage and this was mine

 

The second order of business was to visit the restroom where I found this funky sink

 Then head back to our table

Our table with a view

Where Carol was studying the menu

 Guacamole made table side 

 

Our entrees arrive- my coconut shrimp, each one about the size of a chihuahua 

 

We each got a side of rice and veg

 

and Carol's amazing "tequila shrimp"!

 

 

Next up- CruisCritic poster makes shocking admission of career-threatening ineptitude

 

I'm so glad I had lunch before catching up .... Your lunch in PV looks tasty! 😋

[Bimmer09]

A disappointment came early in the cruise on my first sea morning. In bygone days the smoking section up at Tradewinds would feature a coffee and tea table around 7 a.m. A great benefit to the 20% of the U.S population who still smoke. On this cruise of 1700 adults that would mean a possible 340 puffers. That coffee/tea table has now gone and we  (I) miss it. It was a nice courtesy.

Here is the Azamara version, set up at 6.30 a.m each morning...

 

 

[Bimmer09]

Carnival Panorama in PV

 

 

One of the many interactive Medallion maps on the Diamond

 

 

We leave at sunset

 

 

 

The sun lights up the city

 

 

 

 

[Bimmer09]

 

 

 

 

[Bimmer09]

VIDEO

 

 

[billco]

4 hours ago, Bimmer09 said:

A disappointment came early in the cruise on my first sea morning. In bygone days the smoking section up at Tradewinds would feature a coffee and tea table around 7 a.m. A great benefit to the 20% of the U.S population who still smoke. On this cruise of 1700 adults that would mean a possible 340 puffers. That coffee/tea table has now gone and we  (I) miss it. It was a nice courtesy.

CDC has a bit of a lower estimate.

https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/resources/data/cigarette-smoking-in-united-states.html

Percentage of persons aged ≥18 years who reported cigarette use “every day” or “some days” at time of survey and reported smoking at least 100 cigarettes during their lifetime.

The cigarette smoking rates of adults within the United States, organized by sex.
 By Sex    
Percentage
Male    14.1%
Female    11.0%

The cigarette smoking rates of adults within the United States, organized by age.
By Age Group (yrs)    Percentage
18–24    
7.4%
25–44    14.1%
45–64    14.9%
≥65      9.0%

[Bimmer09]

PATTERS

 

[Jasperdo]

6 hours ago, Bimmer09 said:

We crossed over a river to get to it but have no idea of the name.

Norris

That would be the Rio Cuale. It divides old Puerto Vallarta in half. I went and looked at my trip photos. We had lunch at Canto del Mar, which according to Google maps is about a block from The Blue Shrimp. We had a limited menu, since we were on a Princess shore excursion, but we still enjoyed it and loved the beach front vibe.

Edited January 4, 2023 by Jasperdo

[Bimmer09]

Dinner and a Show

 

 

My rustic beef and vegetable soup with a mini empanada floater was a tasty bowl

 

No longer a simple Caesar salad -now Kale and Caesar salad with chickpeas . For Carol.

 

My Szechuan shrimp with fried rice hit the spot. Good dish!

 

Carol proclaimed her roast pork dish her best MDR dish to date! Perfect pork cooking. Nice tasty glaze and some artichokes-a favorite veggie for Carol

 

 

My coconut chocolate mousse morsel

 

Pineapple sorbet for Carol rounded out a very satisfying dinner

[Bimmer09]

Agnes Gedrasik is a Canadian cruise ship singer who had sung as part of the cast of Bravo. Tonight she was headlining in the Princess theater

 

 

 

She indulged herself in some well known (Hello Young Lovers...) and some obscure jazz ditties from the 1950s and 60s. The 7 piece band who were reading along didn't sound relaxed and comfortable and by gum neither did I so I baled after 3 songs. Carol found me with the Medallion App later, aft on the Promenade deck. Bed by 11 p.m. Another sea day tomorrow as we sail to Loreto.

[Bimmer09]

We had 4 sea days on this cruise and I was up bright and early and having my coffee by 6a.m when the Calypso bar opened. Up to Tradewinds port to chat with Tom from Pittsburgh over that first cigarette. At the Calypso bar I asked if anyone was from Thailand and when the main served said yes I asked her if she knew 2 crew members we had met on our first Diamond trip to Alaska in 2012.

Their names were Siwa and Sadudee from Thailand. Her face lit up. We had never forgotten them.

She had been on that Diamond sailing too. Small world.

Here's a clip from 2012...

 

 

[Bimmer09]

I'm on sunrise watch, as usual but they are not always splendid

 

 

 

 

Tradewinds

 

 

No chair hogs on this sailing

 

 

Beautiful art

 

 

[Bimmer09]

Almost 9 a.m and breakfast stops at 9.30 this morning. Time to head to the International once more.

 

My Cornflakes

 

For Carol a fruit plate but the melon is still not ripe. She follows with Eggs Florentine

 

I stick with the pancakes and ham

 

A good meal that will give me the energy needed to lounge around all day- or until lunch

[Bimmer09]

I forgot to mention that we had a Thai waiter (Cha) at breakfast and he too knew Siwa and Sadudee. Siwa is now managing a restaurant in San Francisco. Sadudee is a dining room manager on Discovery Princess in Australia. He took a pic of us to send to Sadudee.

 

After breakfast we went to the Princess Theater to watch the traditional Culinary Show where the head chef and Maitre d' amuse and educate the crowd with some cooking and banter.

It's a Princess Tradition-but then so was the International Crew Talent show which used to showcase the talents of those behind the scenes, some of them amazing singers....long gone and missed by us.

The CD introduces the Executive Chef and Jean-Paul the Maitre 'd.

 

 

They will teach us how to cook pasta and make pesto among other things

 

 

There will be banter as they are from different parts of Italy

They introduce the head pastry chef who leads a team of 16 bread and dessert makers onboard

 

 

And bring on some of the galley chefs to take a bow

 

 

 

[Bimmer09]

The Diamond has spent years in Japan, servicing the market there, covering Asia and Australia. Consequently she has a lot of Japanese signage on board, next to the English. She also has a sushi restaurant which I never saw a diner in but will, I'm sure, be busy when she returns to Japan.

KAI SUSHI on deck 7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The menu is mainly things that hide at the bottom of harbors or attach themselves to the ship's hull

[Bimmer09]

After Kai Sushi I strolled along deck 7 on my way up to Tradewinds. I passed the Photo Desk

 

 

The guys at Crooners

 

 

 

This ship sparkles

 

 

 I meet two friends relaxing by the Wheelhouse Bar

 

 

 

 

[Bimmer09]

Photo issues via CC above...

Meantime its a sea day and we are off to lunch at the International Dining Room 

My beef carpaccio was superb-stunning and the most flavorful appetizer of the week!

 

Carol's Gravlax was a hit

 

This tasty dish was called Milwaukee's Finest and was a lovely piece of fried Lake Perch with a potato pancake.

 

Carol's excellent Spanakopita . Princess knocked it out of the park with this sea day lunch!

The food at times was hit or miss as was the service. Lunch seemed to be the sweet spot for both.

[cruzin4us]

I know I'll be in Kai Sushi next week....LOL.   Please tell me they are open and not just looking like they are.   Fingers crossed!

 

[Bimmer09]

38 minutes ago, cruzin4us said:

I know I'll be in Kai Sushi next week....LOL.   Please tell me they are open and not just looking like they are.   Fingers crossed!

 

They are open each day and listed in the Patter.

Enjoy!

Norris

[4hunters]

On 12/30/2022 at 11:11 AM, Bimmer09 said:

 

Ah yes, looks like you had a room at The Omni.  One of my fave hotels, especially that one.  So much to do/see/eat within a very short walking distance.  You even got a nice view of Point Loma.  🙂

[Bimmer09]

Some of the Christmas fashions on the ship

Jeremy and Stacey

 

 

 

Erin

 

 

Jim and Laura on Christmas morning. Laura started the cruise Roll Call on CC

 

 

 

 

Justin and wife

 

 

Jeremy

 

 

 

 

Man from the frozen tundra of Saskatchewan

 

 

Most of the Eastern half of America was under snow and ice and brutal temperatures. That included Chicago . I would check the weather there each morning and see numbers like 6F feels like Minus 32F. It was always a lot warmer on the ship and in port! 

[Bimmer09]

Wednesday night by now. Tonight the clocks go back an  hour having gone forward an hour on Saturday and then again Sunday as we veered East towards PV. Tomorrow we will dock in Loreto. 

We had to go back to Sabatini's as Friday night had been so stellar. I had spoken to the manager there and requested the same table by the window and asked for the same waitress whose name I had forgotten. "She's from Ukraine" said I. "All of them are" said she.  I pointed her out in the distance as she was setting up around 5 p.m.

It's $25 a head for some really good Italian food and superior service. Apparently the prices are going up but whatever it will be is still a steal. We happily have paid $55 for the superb Murano on Celebrity.

I had told my friend Tom from Pittsburgh about it and he and his wife were celebrating an anniversary at the next table when we arrived. They were blown away by their meal and the service.

 

 

I see just inside the door Jean-Paul the Maitre'd. The Captain and his wife and  daughters are dining here also.

 

The superb waiter Elina 

 

 Now the vittles...

We both started with the lamb skewers that had rocked my world on Saturday

 

 Carol also enjoyed a celery salad (no pic) and a mushroom risotto 

 

I  had the beef cheeks ragu over paperdelle for how could I not?

 

Carol's chicken scallopini

 

I was filling up so passed on the decadent desserts . Carol had the mind-blowing panna cotta

 

Yikes!!!

 

I, being temporarily transported to Italy  decided to have a favorite combination-Sambuca Romana and espresso.

 

Elina came to ask how my espresso was. I said "you know how to make a good espresso-but these beans don't" She laughed. Princess- I'm begging you-buy some good coffee beans! 

[san diego sue]

The four ladies in Sabatinis are incredible. We ate there one evening but also were lucky to be able to do the breakfasts every day (Suite benefit). They were the best wait staff.  (we were on the 20 day cruise before yours).Food was pretty incredible as well.