Mexican Rivera Ports - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

jsme · 08-25-2007, 09:52 PM

We are booked on a Mexican Rivera cruise. My DH's choice for our 40th birthday next year.

I am looking forward to it and all. I kind of always have wanted to do the Love Boat sailing. Does anyone have a favorite port on the Mexican Rivera? What do you do while at that port?

none-ya · 08-27-2007, 06:41 PM

I don't have a favorite port yet.......I'm going to Mexican Rivera in October and will be more than happy to post a review and let you know how I liked it!! I'm thinking I'm going to like PV the best....I don't know why......just a hunch

CruiseArizona · 08-28-2007, 08:10 PM

Hi Selena,

I've done the Mexican Riviera cruise three times.... once in 1981, and then 2003 and 2006. Every time I did them I did a little something different.

In Cabo San Lucas we simply rode the tender to the pier and then contracted with a water Taxis company to take us to the "Lover's Beach". This was really a great "on our own" excursion...the water Taxis had a glass bottom, so we got to see some fish, and the driver gave us a little tour of the famous rock formations. When we got to the beach we has to litterally jump from the taxi into the surf, and their were two guys working for tips who helped us in an out of the boat. On the little beach there were a few guys selling beer and water, renting snorkle masks, but not the endless stream of relentless vendors we found at other ports. We really loved this day at the beach. We ever got to do some shopping in the market near the peir. Then hopped back on the tender and headed back to the ship.
(In 2003 I didn't even get off the ship, but just enjoyed the views from the ship's deck)

In Mazatlan we did the Shopping/Beach ship's tour. Part of the tour is a Folkloric show put on for the cruise passenger audiences featuring the Papantla Flyers. We really loved the show, but we got dropped off in the shopping area around 9:30 and we only needed about 1/2 hour to find the things we were looking for in the area, so we spent a lot of time waiting around. Then the tour took us to the beach at the La Playa Hotel... very nice beach and beautiful hotel, but relentless vendors trying to sell parasailing rides and trinkets. (In 2004, again I stayed onboard, and my Husband enjoyed a day with the ships gold pro at a very nice course.)

Puerto Vallarta... We have done two different but completely enjoyable things here... we went on the Pirate cruise in 2003, and then to a resort to enjoy the beach in 2006... both great. If you want to souvenir shop, there is a market right near the terminal.

Acapulco....Silly us we stayed on the ship in 2003, and in 2006.. we did a little bit of everything... we walked right across the street from the pier to the Ft. San Diego Museum... great bit of history of Acapulco and Mexico. Then I contracted a taxis to take us to the cliff divers and then to a little hotel to snorkle. Very enjoyable.

Will your cruise include Manzanillo or Zihuatenajo? both great stops... in Manzanillo I recomenned buying voucher and spending the day at Las Hadas where 10 was filmed, and for Zihua... you can go to the market and shop forever and then take a water taxis to of of the two clean beaches intown... the one near the pier is kind of murkey from run off.

I have pictures up on my own cruise blog of all the ports and descriptions of what we did. There are more extravagent excursions also avaiable through the cruise lines, but I really liked doing the more simple things, and some of them on my own.

Cruise Talk Central

cruisin' chick · 08-29-2007, 04:11 PM

We've been on MR cruises twice in 1994 and 2003. Same three ports (PV, Matzalan and Cabo). We didn't do any excursions in any of them. The first time in PV, we caught a taxi into town and walked over to the notorious hotel where Liz and Dick had their tryst while working on "Night of the Iguana." (we watched that movie before our cruise)

Both times I got sick after PV -- whatever trash they were burning on those days caused my allergies to act up. Was so sick during the second cruise, that I didn't get off the ship in Cabo.

We hired a taxi driver to give us a tour of Maztalan. I think my hubby got the most of it as he was trying out his Spanish on the driver, as well as any store clerk.

marnaz · 09-08-2007, 12:34 PM

I'll let you knowwhat we think when we get back form our cruise. Our cruise leaves in 35 days!

Here is what we plan on doing:
P.V. Discover Scuba -why? well let me tell you. My DH has been scuba diving but I have not and have always wanted to try it. It will be HOT so a water activity sounds better then walking around the town or burning my feet on the sand. The underwater national park at Las Caletas was originally made famous by Jacques Cousteau in the 1970's, the Marietas Islands Marine Reserve has now become one of the most popular areas in Western Mexico for scuba diving and beginner's diving. The cove is surrounded by rugged mountain slopes and home to coral reefs, manta rays, king and Cortez angelfish, moray eels and the occasional sea lion.
Mazatlan Sierra Madre Tour -why? The air-conditioned motorcoach and drive into the foothills of the rugged Sierra Madre. Getting to see 2 towns founded in the mid 1500's, including 2 churches constucted in the 16th century. DH is a history nut so he will enjoy this excursion more then I will, the bene for me is the stop along the golden zone for shopping!

Cabo Historic Pirate Ship & Snorkel Tour. Why? Climb aboard one of the last five remaining tall ships from the 1800s left in the world the Sunderland, Cruise past the famous Los Arcos, Land's End, and Lover's Beach. After your sail, anchor in a marine sanctuary for a chance to swim and snorkel. It will be hot so the water is a big plus to me.
Since this is only our second cruise we feel more convident using the ships excursions rather then going out on our own. I understand it is cheaper to book things yourself and I am sure with more confidence through experience we will get there but for now we will play it safe and use the ships tours.
I'll let you know how it goes when we get back.

becca23 · 09-08-2007, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marnaz

I'll let you knowwhat we think when we get back form our cruise. Our cruise leaves in 35 days!

Here is what we plan on doing:
P.V. Discover Scuba -why? well let me tell you. My DH has been scuba diving but I have not and have always wanted to try it. It will be HOT so a water activity sounds better then walking around the town or burning my feet on the sand. The underwater national park at Las Caletas was originally made famous by Jacques Cousteau in the 1970's, the Marietas Islands Marine Reserve has now become one of the most popular areas in Western Mexico for scuba diving and beginner's diving. The cove is surrounded by rugged mountain slopes and home to coral reefs, manta rays, king and Cortez angelfish, moray eels and the occasional sea lion.
Mazatlan Sierra Madre Tour -why? The air-conditioned motorcoach and drive into the foothills of the rugged Sierra Madre. Getting to see 2 towns founded in the mid 1500's, including 2 churches constucted in the 16th century. DH is a history nut so he will enjoy this excursion more then I will, the bene for me is the stop along the golden zone for shopping!

Cabo Historic Pirate Ship & Snorkel Tour. Why? Climb aboard one of the last five remaining tall ships from the 1800s left in the world the Sunderland, Cruise past the famous Los Arcos, Land's End, and Lover's Beach. After your sail, anchor in a marine sanctuary for a chance to swim and snorkel. It will be hot so the water is a big plus to me.
Since this is only our second cruise we feel more convident using the ships excursions rather then going out on our own. I understand it is cheaper to book things yourself and I am sure with more confidence through experience we will get there but for now we will play it safe and use the ships tours.
I'll let you know how it goes when we get back.

You picked some good tours and you will have fun. I did the Cabo tall ship tour. With tendering and using the ship tour you will be the first ones off the ship. The tall ship ''Sunderland'' and crew are so much fun. Bring camera. Free drinks are fun too..

musicalcruiser · 09-09-2007, 12:38 PM

We did PV, Maz and Cabo on the Pride in 2006.

We did independent excursions in PV and Maz and did our own thing in Cab0.

PV - Los De Vernos (zipline) Canopy Tour was great. Hubby and oldest son did that one with friends who were sailing with us. We got a discount for booking it online. We did not have to give them any Credit Card information...just paid for it with cash when we got there. (although you can charge it for a surcharge of 5% , if I remember correctly) It is American owned (sorry I forget his name) but they run a great operation. There are 14 stands and no climbing at the end like the Carnival zipline tour. Hubby said the walking at the beginning was not bad at all. Going on memory here (and I am sure prices have changed) it ran about $75.00 a person....and it cost $3 per person for a taxi to get to the office where they pick you up and take you the rest of the way. I do remember that it was a lot cheaper than the Carnival excursion.

Mazatlan - Randi's Horses. Back then, it was $45.00 per person. Again you book online and don't pay until the ride is over. Cash only. Randi handles all the transportation from and back to the ship. You ride in the back of a truck for the first leg...then on a ferry over to Stone Island and then in a wagon to the riding site. You actually get to ride the horses on the beach for at least one hour...sometimes longer. And it is not nose to tail trail riding. You can canter or gallop....just don't lather the horses. After the ride, you can eat lunch at Victors for an extra charge. Randi buys the first beer or soda. You don't have to eat if you don't want to. That is where you pay her. Then she brings everyone back to the ship.

Cabo - We took a water taxi ($2) each to Mangos and spent the day on the beach.