| Title: | CRUISE TRAVEL |
| Moderator: | XANADU::FAMULARO |
| Created: | Thu Aug 04 1988 |
| Last Modified: | Thu Dec 12 1996 |
| Last Successful Update: | Tue Dec 31 1996 |
| Number of topics: | 562 |
| Total number of notes: | 2834 |
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Carnival Cruise Synopsis: Tropical - No Go - to Mexico
Well what you all have been waiting for. My itinerary and comments on
my cruise to Mexico. Let me put it this way I won't be going on a
crusie again.
We started off by flying in to LA for 2 days before our departure, on
the pre-cruise package, this was a great deal only they did not include
a shuttle bus from the hotel back to the Airport so we could catch our
cruise. The package included 2 days/nights at the Sheraton Unviersal,
and a pass to Unviersal Studios. We also went to Rodeo Drive and
Bevelry hills and vistied some of the beaches.
Fianlly Sunday morning comes around to baord the crusie ship. the
weather was awful going down it was cloudy from LA all the way to about 1/2
way in to Puerto Valarta, then it was hot for about 3 days. This is
typical from what I understand on this cruise and time frame. Our
cabins were great, we booked the lowest one and got upgraded one cabin.
We were located on the Riveria deck right next to the restaturant. We
had a humongous port hole and a very spacey room. I heard other people
complaining the whole trip how tiny there room was. If you defintiely
get claustrophobia etc. I would definitely pay the extra money for a
bigger room. This story about (don't worry you are not in your room
all the time) is not true. If you go on a cruise and party like we did
you undoubdeltly will need some time to take a nap besides your normal
sleeping hours.
We finally ported into Puerto Vallarta from being on the ship 2 days, I
do not recommend at least in this cruise lines staying on the ship more
than one day, we were boared silly, try to pick a cruise that has a lot
of ports at least 4, there were alot of older people on the ship and the
activities catered to them. From what I udnerstand Carnival is catering
to the older crowd now days. (ie money)
Puerto Vallarta was nice so was Mazlaton with (Senior Frogs) being the
hit with the crew since they are on the ship 8 months out of the year
with no break. Senior Frogs is a must no matter what age you are.
Cabo San Lucas was unbelievabley beautiful although we only had 2 hours
there, from what I understand we could have stayed longer but the
curise ship (ie different rumors) wanted us to get back early so that
we could spend more money gambling than being at Port.
The gamblin casinos were open most of the time it was a well deserved
break form doing nothing. The activities this specifice cruise line
offered form this specific ports of call were Bingo, (how many times
can you play Bingo without getting boared, go on the cruise you will
find out) horseracing, a couple of contests and that was about it.
Ther were not alot of tours when you ported in these prots like there
are in the Bahamas, no one seemed toknow why!
The food was o.k. Nothing extravagent I have heard the food is suppose
to be better out of the Miami area. To me if you spend $1000.00 for a
cruise the food sould be at least something you would see and eat in
New Yorks Park Avenue section. Plus the fact alot of people were very
upset that they had to tipp at the end of the trip. I found out that
the reason that we do tip is that the bus boys and the watiers and
roomstewards only make GET READY FOR THIS $45.00 a month and that it is
up to the passengers to pull there wait tipping. This is disqusting we
finally met a girl that is engaged to one of the higher up crew members
and she said that Carnival NETS 60,000 a week minus the salaries and
upkeep of the ship and food buying. To me and alot of other
disappointed passagners tipping was not a good subject. $1000.00 is
enough let alone addtional tipping that could range from $40-$80 at the
end of the cruise if you have money left. Alot of people spent there
money in the casinos and at ports so they could not afford to tip at the
end which was very embarrassing.
The boat going down and coming back was so bad at rocking that the
doctor had so many people in his office he had to close early. By the
way you must PAY to see the doctor, it is NOT included with your trip.
All in all the cruise was ok, it was moderate and very informal.
I guess I am the type that likes to go to one place and eat when I want
and do things when I want. If you like to cruise then by all means go
for it, at least this way I know a cruise is not for me next time!
Julie-lynn
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 117.1 | OHHH NOOO! | USADEC::OTENTI | Thu Apr 27 1989 10:34 | 17 | |
geeeesh!! ruin my day!! i booked the exact same trip you just
came from for my honeymoon this september...i really hope i have
a better time of it!! this is our first cruise and surely don't
need to bum out a honeymoon on a bad cruise!! guess i better not
tell her about your experiences!! that boring on ship though??
i'm not a gambler at ALL and i was hoping to get some good sun and
some nightlife onboard without worrying about boredom...we were
going to book a cruise to the carribean but after a former co-worker
got his honeymoon/cruise ruin last year by that big hurricane i
decided to play it safe...i heard after i booked that we'll be going
during the rainy season ...and of course the agent doesn't tell
us these things!!..oh well..hope all fairs well for us!!
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| 117.2 | An alternative | ATSE::FLAHERTY | Evolving, not revolving | Thu Apr 27 1989 15:42 | 12 |
A suggestion to .1 (Otenti), is there a chance you could change
your reservations from Carnival to Admiral Cruise Lines (they
have a ship that does the same Mexican ports called the Stardancer).
I've been on a Carnivale ship and on the Stardancer...no comparison.
Unfortunately, Carnivale are not the 'fun ships' they are tooted
to be. Don't let it discourage you from cruising however, and
if you can't change your bookings, don't worry their is still
nothing like a cruise and you'll have a wonderful time. Besides
you'll be on your honeymoon, how could you get bored! ;^)
Ro
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| 117.3 | I went there.. | DPDMAI::SIMOND | Hugs Welcome Anytime! | Mon May 01 1989 19:19 | 67 |
I just got back from taking the Pacific Princess along the same route.
Our itinerary was as follows:
April 15, we left LA at 6:00 PM for 2 days at sea.
On the second day, we passed but did not stop at Cabo San Lucas.
It was beautiful. I liked the 2 days at sea. We saw several small
pods of whales. As mentioned in .0, there was not a lot to do. There
was bingo (I didn't try this until later in the cruise) and some other
similar activities and a daily movie. I enjoy the first two quiet
days just to unwind. We passed Cedros Island on the 16 and our pass
by Cabo San Lucas was the 17th. I enjoyed lying by the pool, reading
a good book and later hitting a lounge. One of the days, I even used
the lifecycle (there is a gym) which afforded a nice view off the port
side of the ship.
April 18, we stopped in Mazatlan. I took the Sierra Madre tour which
was an all-day affair where you left town and went up into the Sierra
Madre. Along the way, the tour stopped at a field where bricks were
being made, a furniture factory (outdoor shed with open sides) and
the small town of Concordia where we saw some pottery makers and walked
the streets of the town. This was much different than what you find
along the port areas. The town was poor but very clean. The tour
continued up to the town of Capala [sp?] in the Sierra Madre. This
was a silver and gold mining town that became a ghost town and then
was reconstructed. We had lunch there (American proprieter - no danger
in eating the food) and got to walk through a very old church and
someone's house. The house was very interesting. The woman was in
the kitchen cooking pig's feet and the house looked lived-in. I
enjoyed seeing how a typical person lives.
April 19, we went into Puerta Vallarta. This was the day to parasail.
The ship did not offer parasailing but a walk along the beach did.
Prior to parasailing, I went on a bay tour. I would have liked more
history and description from the crew but it was a nice ride along the
coast. We saw a couple of dolphins.
April 20, we landed at Zihuatanejo. I think I stayed aboard that day
and enjoyed a non-crowded pool. It was nice to do nothing again.
April 21, we arrived at Acapulco. We had the entire day there and we
disembarked the next day.
A few of us went shopping ashore and were disappointed in what we saw.
The next day, the bus ride to the airport through the mountains was
beautiful.
Some notes:
This was my second cruise with the first being to the Carribean. I
think some things were better on one cruise and some on the other.
I was travelling with 6 friends and we are not real fond of arranged
tours. In the Carribean, I think that works out well as you can get
out of the port areas quickly. Port areas are never pretty. In
Mexico, I think you almost have to take a tour or rent a car. Since
Mexico is a country, a big port area means you could walk quite a while
and see nothing nice. I think this is what happened in Acapulco.
There are beautiful parts but we did not see them as we did not get
out of the immediate port area. If you want to Scuba Dive and/or
snorkel, Mexico will be disappointing - the Carribean is wonderful for
this.
I won't go on forever here, but I really think a cruise is what you
make of it. In general, my group found Mexico to be a disappointment
after the Carribean. I'm not sure I agree. I'd like to see more of
Mexico.
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| 117.4 | a little more | DPDMAI::SIMOND | Hugs Welcome Anytime! | Mon May 01 1989 19:28 | 20 |
A few things I forgot in the last reply:
The shows were pretty good but unfortunately the same as the shows a
year ago in the Carribean.
Food was excellent.
Between the seven of us, we had 3 different cabin attendants. Ours
seemed to do his job but we never saw him. One other couple thought
there's was pretty good and the others thought theirs was wonderful.
Our first night, the crew seemed less than attentative. I don't think
that there is any excuse for this but this was explained by the fact
the ship had come into LA late and the crew had had a hectic and quick
turnaround.
---
I enjoyed the trip.
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| 117.5 | Moved by Moderator | CAMLOT::FAMULARO | Joe, ZKO3-2T43, DTN381-2565 | Wed May 10 1989 09:55 | 38 |
<<< BCSE::PUB_2:[NOTES$LIBRARY]CRUISING.NOTE;1 >>>
-< CRUISING >-
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Note 121.0 GO FOR IT No replies
KOBAL::BELON 31 lines 28-APR-1989 09:30
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To: Oteni
If you really want to see what the cruise line looks like and get an
idea, next Wednesday night at 8:00 chanel 4 or 5 I believe, the
show is "Growing Pains" and on the show the grand parents take them on
Carnival Tropicale, we missed the filming of the show by about 1 week.
It was really interesting the one kid on the show as he gets on the
boat looks at the itinerarys you get ever day and says" " Gee there has
to be something more to do besides play bingo"? My sentiments
exactly...
The quality of the night life was adequate, the shows were ok they
didn't have thay many differnet ones, they had a magic act and a jazz
band but that is it. The Disco was not busy as it should have been
every night etc...
I would take the suggestion of # 2 reply, if you can change from
Carnival Tropical to any other ones from the Carnival in Miami port DO SO.
The weather by the way in Mexico will be too hot, it is not the rainy
season. Check in the vaxwrk::mexico conference, they talk about the
weather.
Really I am sure if you cancle your trip the most you can loose is
$50-100 dollars read the back of the Carnival book. I would definitely
book another one if you can, you can do it it has been done before.
Let me know what you decide
Julie-lynn
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| 117.6 | not gonna chance it | USADEC::OTENTI | Sat May 20 1989 09:00 | 9 | |
well i've been convinced....i cancelled my cruise and decided to
take a two week honeymoon in hawaii instead..
can't go wrong there...costing just a little more and i'm getting
4 more days out of it!
maybe i'll cruise some other time..
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