2009 Mexican Riviera "sisters" Cruise

2009 Carnival Splendor Mexican Riviera "sisters" cruise: Puerto Vallarta; Mazatlan; and Cabo

Dec. 6-13, 2009 became our first 3 "sisters" vacation. It was the first time Carolyn and I got Jane (our sister-in-law) to come along with us. I'm very glad she was able to make it. Carolyn and I had done this same itinerary last year on Holland America so we knew a bit of what to expect---at least from the itinerary. At first I was a little disappointed to be doing the same itinerary, but it turned out to be alright. We were able to do some different things and since I was more familiar with the area, I didn't mind not doing organized tours.

Pre-cruise I met up with Jane at LAX and spent the night in a LaQuinta Suites Inn for $60 for the night. My flight from STL ended up being a little more exciting as Texas was hit by a 6 inch snow storm the night before. Some day I'll learn not to schedule myself through Texas in the winter (was stuck there during a couple ice storms in the past, as well as a couple snow storms)! But I ended up being able to catch a flight to Denver (where they're equiped for winter weather) and then on to LAX, getting there only about 40 minutes late.

Sunday morning we met up with Carolyn at the embarkation station. We were there early, so were able to register quickly and sit around outside for a couple hours visiting before boarding the ship. Jane and I did walk over to the Queen Mary (now a hotel there) and enjoyed wandering around in it. They were having a buffet breakfast there and there were lots of x-mas decorations, even carollers. Looked like it would be a neat place to spend the night. I found out after we got back that the firm Angie works for is doing some renovating to it.

Embarkation went quickly and easily. Fortunately we didn't go on the cruise the 2 weeks before this one or the one after it as there were problems. 2 weeks before, the ship had run into another ship in Puerto Vallarta, then later in the week the captain had a heart attack and they had to turn around and head back to Cabo making them several hours late getting back into Long Beach. The cruise after ours ended up staying over night in Puerto Vallarta after the ship ran into a dock and had to have repairs done before it could leave. Fortunately nothing unusual happened during our cruise.



Dec. 6-8, 2009  Embarkation and around the Splendor ship

Dec. 9, 2009  Puerto Vallarta

Dec. 10,2009  Mazatlan

Dec. 11, 2009 Cabo

After another day of sailing, we were back in Long Beach. There I parted ways with Carolyn and Jane. They flew home together out of Long Beach and I caught my shuttle back to LAX. There I was able to catch an earlier flight and get home a couple hours sooner. Thus ended our first "sisters'" trip with myself, my sister, and my sister-in-law.  I hope they had as great a time as I did!

2009-12-10  Mazatlan


Next morning we woke up in Mazatlan. Jane and I headed to breakfast, giving Carolyn a little more time to sleep. When we went back for her, she cancelled out on us. We had planned to go to Stone Island and spend the day on the beach with a pina colada or margharita or 2, but our plans ended up changing. Jane and I disembarked and planned to try and find the Gold Zone and get our free charms from Diamonds International, then come back and go to Stone Island. Instead, we were confronted with a city tour guide that offered us a tour for $20@ which we decided to take . It turned to be a really good tour. Much better then the bus load tour that Carolyn and I went on last year for twice as much.

It took us to many of the same places as the tour we took last year, but Jane wasn't with us last year so it was all new to her. At this lookout there were beautiful vistas of the ocean. We were able to get away from the vendors by hiking down this trail.

Being in an 8 person van for this tour, we were able to go places the bus couldn't, such as this area for a overlook of our ship.

We did the cliff diving thing again---we didn't dive, just watched.

We also went to a section of town the busses couldn't go to that they say is their "European" section because of the design.

Carolyn and I had gone to this church on our last tour, but this time it was nearer to Christmas and it and the surrounding area was decorated for Christmas. I loved this huge tree made out of bottles of colored water.

We were told about a huge flea market on the other side of the church so we were able to check it out quickly, too.

Since all was going well with the tour, the driver asked if we'd like to extend our tour and go to lunch. The 8 of us agreed and were taken to this restaurant in the Gold Zone. We were given a free drink (did get my pina colada and it was very good!). Jane and I also shared 2 appetisers.

Back at the ship the sun was beginning to set so I went up to the lido deck and caught a sunset before joining Jane and Carolyn in the diningroom.

Aside from the mahi mahi which I got 3 times, this was my other favorite meal---flank steak. The grouper fish dinner was good, too. On one night I had prime rib but it was cooked much more then I'd prefer.

Here are our waiters (Hector Lito and ?) entertaining us as we ate dessert. Is Carnival the only line that does this now?

Another great day!  I like going  to repeat ports and winging it.

2008-Oct. 25-31  Oosterdam 7 nt Mexican cruise with Carolyn: Puerto Vallarta; Mazatlan; Cabo

 Carolyn survived her 3 first ever cruise a couple years ago, so it was time to take a longer one.  So we booked a 7 night one out of San Diego.  I flew there from St. Louis, and she joined me from Portland, Or.  We spent the night in a hotel near the port and were on the way to another great sisters' cruise.

Oct. 25-embarkation and ship: 

 

Cabin HH 4061: obstructed ocean view 

 

Oct. 26---sea day 

 

Oct. 27---Cabo 

 

Oct. 28--- Mazatlan:  

Oct.-29-08  Puerto Vallarta: 

Oct.-30-08 sea day--- 

Oct.-31-08 sea day 

We thoroughly enjoyed the cruise---but then I've thoroughly enjoyed 6 cruises now! My sister enjoyed it so much that she booked us on another one with the same itinerary for Dec. 2009. That time we'll be on the Carnival Splendor ship.

10-28-08 Mazatlan:

Today we woke up in Mazatlan.  We had never been here before either.  So we found a couple excursions to go on.  First one was a city tour.
First stop was at an overlook.  of course there were a bunch of venders there, but some of them did have some pretty neat stuff (none of which we bought)

 view from the overlook

 back on the road admiring the colorful housing.

 cool lightpost

Here we elected to take the Mazatlán Highlights and Papantla Flyers/Deluxe City Tour tour offered by Holland America. I believe it was something like $39@.

Included in the stops was the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conceptio. This building was finished in 1899 and is being restored to its original beauty. A unique detail is that at the time of the construction, there was a Jewish family living in Mazatlan who donated money towards the construction. People were so happy that they decided to set the Star of David in the top windows of this cathedral. One of the only Catholic churches with the jewish symbol.

 loved the shadows

 and the old doors.

 Mazatlán Cathedral is the main religious building in the city of Mazatlan.  It is built in Baroque-Revival style of Sinaloa, Mexico, and home of the Catholic Diocese of Mazatlan. It is located in the historical center.

 The works of the temple began in the year of 1856, by order of the then bishop Pedro Loza and Pardavé. Later, the parish priest Miguel Lacarra takes over the works and it is for this that they are concluded in the year of 1899.

 Carolyn heading into the church

 very ornate

 Another neat doorway

 Minimalist?

We also saw Cliff divers. These daredevils do something similar as in Acapulco, but it is lower and more shallow. The rock formation that they climb up is about 45 feet high and dive into water that is only 5 to 6 ft deep. They also have "associates" walking amongst the onlookers asking for donations for the diver. I wonder if the divers really do get the money?

 Great views

 continuing along the road.

 some odd site along the way

 another church?

 and resorts

Another stop is to see the Dance of Papantla's flyers (middle lower picture). It is a ritualistic dance in Veracruz, Mexico performed by the Totonac Indians and Olmeca Indians. Five men, each representing the five elements of the indigenous world climb atop a pole, one of them stays on the pole playing a flute and dancing while the remaining four descend the pole with a rope tied by one of their feet. The rope unwraps itself 13 times for each of the four flyers, symbolizing the 52 weeks of the year.

 It was very much a "show".

 but it was colorful

 and they did some odd things.

 Don't think I'd want to do this!

 Back in the bus and passing more colorful buildings.  I do like all the colorful buildings.

 And a little Americanization. 

 Don't know what this is, just liked the designs.

 a view of the historic town from above.

 back to the marina

 back on the ship.  They were getting ready for Halloween.  Cool Jack-o-lantern.

 We both enjoyed the vegetable carving demonstration.

 enjoy seeing the decorative fruit around the lido restaurant, too.

I enjoyed Mazatlan a lot more then I expected.  Maybe it's because noone tried to cheat us!  But since this cruise, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta have been taken off the cruise itineraries from time to time due to violence towards visitors.  Guess it happens everywhere.  Just too bad it happens where they can use the vacationers money.