Starálfur Posted August 16, 2006 #1 Share Posted August 16, 2006 I am sailing on the Norwegian Star on January 1st. We are having a hard time choosing excursions! This is what we have down so far: Acapulco - Acapulco by Horseback Ixtapa - No decision yet - Help! Puerto Vallarta - Vallarta Adventures Canopy Tour Cabo - Whale Watching Coastal Cruise What do you guys think about our choices so far? We have also heard about the night diving light show in Acapulco - should we reserve that as well? We have no idea what to do in Ixtapa - we were considering the Los Gatas Beach Break... we heard negative things about Isla Ixtapa. Also, we were wondering what else there is to do in ports on our own besides excursions. Any tips would be appreciated. Finally, are any of these better to book outside the cruise, such as the Canopy Tour? What do we do about getting there and will we have to worry about making the ship? Thanks for any help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurkyloo Posted August 16, 2006 #2 Share Posted August 16, 2006 We did this Canopy tour in PV - http://www.canopytours-vallarta.com/ It was much less expensive to book online, and we had a blast! You can see our pictures by clicking the link below and choosing the PV album. In Cabo we just booked a glass bottom boat ($10 pp on the pier) and it took us around the rock formations - then we walked into town to shop and have Margaritas at Cabo Wabo. Great day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gottago2mexico Posted August 16, 2006 #3 Share Posted August 16, 2006 What about swimming with dolphins in Ixtapa? In Cabo, you may want to rethink the whale watching trip, only because the boat they use on the "Coastal Cruise" is enormous. You may have a more exciting experience by using a zodiac company like Ocean Riders or Cabo Expeditions, or even a catamaran like La Princesa. It will get you closer to the whales. Also, keep in mind that in Cabo, the whales get so plentiful that you are likely to see some on any of the day cruises or snorkeling trips to Santa Maria or Chileno. Taking a whale watching trip may not be necessary, unless you go with an ecotour company or on a zodiac - something more fully whale-oriented rather than just a boat cruise. In PV, the Los Veranos and Rio Cuale Canopy tours are bigger, higher, faster, and longer than the Vallarta Adventures one, and both can be booked off the ship at a considerably lower price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mandelynn1 Posted August 16, 2006 #4 Share Posted August 16, 2006 In Acapulco the cliff divers were great. Don't make reservations or book an excursion- they will rip you off. Grab a cab for $5-10, and spend I think $3 per person to watch the divers. You are literally right next to the restaurant many excursions go for $50+. It's only 5-10 min from port and will cost you next to nothing if you go on your own. Every cab driver knows where it is at and each time they are jumping. Acapulco also provides tour guides for free for tourists. They are dressed in white right when you get off the ship. No one told me about this nice secret- we found out for ourselves. He refused to take any money and spent hours with us and got us very cheap cabs since he knew what the prices should be and not what they charge tourists. Definitely try to find these guys- they are well worth it! They also have identification to prove they work for the city. Hope this helps a bit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Family Man Posted August 17, 2006 #5 Share Posted August 17, 2006 I agree with the previous posts. Take a serious look at Los Veranos Canopy Tour!!! Then, depending on your time, explore around the Malecon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Family Man Posted August 17, 2006 #6 Share Posted August 17, 2006 In Acapulco the cliff divers were great. Don't make reservations or book an excursion- they will rip you off. Grab a cab for $5-10, and spend I think $3 per person to watch the divers. You are literally right next to the restaurant many excursions go for $50+. It's only 5-10 min from port and will cost you next to nothing if you go on your own. Every cab driver knows where it is at and each time they are jumping. Acapulco also provides tour guides for free for tourists. They are dressed in white right when you get off the ship. No one told me about this nice secret- we found out for ourselves. He refused to take any money and spent hours with us and got us very cheap cabs since he knew what the prices should be and not what they charge tourists. Definitely try to find these guys- they are well worth it! They also have identification to prove they work for the city. Hope this helps a bit! Thanks for the suggestion on Acapulco. We'll be there in November and I'll take your advice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtaylor Posted August 17, 2006 #7 Share Posted August 17, 2006 I'll assume that your ship actually calls on Zihuatanejo, and she is our favorite city on this side of Mexico. I would recommend that you forego the excursions, and just spend a lazy day there. Walk along the waterfront, and enjoy the photo opportunities of the fishermen and vendors selling their products on the beach. Wander as many as several streets back off the waterfront into the business district; come across a corner market or restaurant for a beer and/or an inexpensive local lunch. We've enjoyed some fabulous shrimp tacos there. Find the open-air marketplace and spend some time, haggling over prices or not, then back to the waterfront for a time, resting and observing, over a few beers or margaritas and some chips and salsa. Eat if you didn't earlier, or even if you did. This will be the port that you remember long after everything else. gary p.s. We found inexpensive Internet cafes ($1.50/hour US) here if that matters to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtaylor Posted August 17, 2006 #8 Share Posted August 17, 2006 Sorry, duplicate post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruise_More_Often Posted August 17, 2006 #9 Share Posted August 17, 2006 Gary, I like your ideas. We did the same things in Zihuatanejo when we were there years ago, and that is exactly what I'm looking for this time, too. Your post made me remember the people, the beauty of the town and the harbor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urban trekker Posted August 19, 2006 #10 Share Posted August 19, 2006 Gary and Adele - sounds like a good agenda to me - the last time in Mexico thats what I did in Mananzillo and it was my best port of call on that cruise. How safe and clean are the food eateries in this part of Mexico. Cheers Dennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtaylor Posted August 20, 2006 #11 Share Posted August 20, 2006 How safe and clean are the food eateries in this part of Mexico. We have eaten at local bars and restaurants up and down the Pacific Coast from Zihua to Ensenada (loved the little shacks at the old fishing port for fish tacos) for years and have never had a problem. Use all of your senses. If you feel that there might possibly be any problem, the next choice is usually only steps away. I'm specifically leaving out Acapulco because we just didn't care much for the city and didn't feel comfortable with anything more than a beer. gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urban trekker Posted August 20, 2006 #12 Share Posted August 20, 2006 Acapulco is so much unfavorably talked away by so many people including me yet the cruise ship lines continue to sail there and like on this cruise include an overnight stay - is it a case of getting away from the inner town and all the child beggars and trinket sellers to see the real town. Other than taking the evening Bay tours how safe it is to be on the streets in the tourist zone at night. Have a good Sunday everyone - sunny and warm in Vancouver today - time for some exercise on the mountain bike. Cheers Dennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtaylor Posted August 20, 2006 #13 Share Posted August 20, 2006 the cruise ship lines continue to sail there and like on this cruise include an overnight stay I'm not aware of any ships that actually overnight there. If you look at a summary itinerary, it will probably say Arrive Monday, Depart Tuesday, or such, but if you check the times, the ship usually sails shortly after midnight. gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urban trekker Posted August 21, 2006 #14 Share Posted August 21, 2006 Gary for the correction - it's a 13.5 hr stay leaving just after midnight - anyone know what time it gets dark at that time of year. Cheers Dennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtaylor Posted August 21, 2006 #15 Share Posted August 21, 2006 Check the historical record at the Wunderground. February 13, 2006 Event Rise Set Actual Time7:05 AM CST 6:40 PM CST Civil Twilight6:43 AM CST 7:02 PM CST Nautical Twilight6:18 AM CST 7:28 PM CST Astronomical Twilight5:52 AM CST 7:53 PM CST Moon 7:17 PM CST (2/13) 7:30 AM CST (2/13) gary I know, format didn't transfer too well. See the link. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mandelynn1 Posted August 24, 2006 #16 Share Posted August 24, 2006 In ixtapa we spent a lazy day at the beach. GO to Carlos & Charlies (every cab knows where it is). It's like $10 each way. Just on the beach from the restaurant is a massage booth. They charge $20 per hour, but you can bargain them down to $20 for both of you. I work at a day spa, and these massages were worth well over the $10 we paid each! We ate at the restaurant, walked along the beach (you can rent toys or just relax) and walked down the street to the flea market. Carlos & charlie's is just down the street to the dolphin center so you are not out in the middle of no where by no means. It made for a great day- plus we saved hundreds of dollars by having a beach massage vs a ship massage :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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