Mexican Riviera Nov.8th-17th

Hi Folks.


I'm sitting on the plane somewhere between Los Angeles and Toronto. Dave (my 'significant other', from Cromwell,Connecticut) and I have closed the book on another great cruise. This one had us sailing the mature but still lovely Vision of the Seas , part of Royal Caribbean's fleet of Vision class ships, to the Mexican Riviera. Ports of call: Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallerta.

This was my third sailing on the Vision, and I have always held the opinion that the smaller the ship, the friendlier the crew, and the better the service. I was not disappointed. Everyone on the staff was cheerful and outgoing, and the service , both in-cabin and around the ship, was outstanding. Special kudos to Randi and Rumen, our waitstaff, Lilja, our cabin steward, and Milton , the friendliest bartender in the Schooner Bar. If you ever run into Milton in your travels, order an M.D. (his signature drink)......you will not be disappointed.. Ask me in private sometime and I'll tell you what the M.D. stands for ;).

We started our vacation with a whirlwind day at Disneyland with our Colorado cruise friends, Joe, Donna and their lovely daughter Jenn. Dave and I ended the day watching the fireworks from Main Street U.S.A., as all perfect days at Disney should end. The next morning we boarded the Vision in as smooth an embarkation as one could wish for. Some Honey Stung Chicken and a Pina Colada later , we were settled in our balcony cabin and ready to have a great week. We shared a bottle of champagne on our friend's aft balcony at sailaway, and the adventure was underway.

After a relaxing day at sea, our first port of call was Cabo San Lucas, where the ladies and gentlemen split up for the day. While Dave and Joe did the 'Big Boy's Toys" excursion ( dune buggies on the beach), Jenn and I took the less-motorized option of horseback riding on a beautiful beach. The horses were well-cared for and gentle, and the ride was amazing. I had not been on a horse since I was a child, and it was a great experience. The boys came back dusty, dirty and smiling.

The next day we landed at the industrial port of Mazatlan, which at first glance seems a rather disappointing place for a port stop. Having been here before, I knew that the secret to enjoying Mazatlan is to get away from the port area and into the beautiful Sierra Madre mountains. We took an excursion into the small city of Corcordia (known for handmade pottery and furniture) and it's magnificent San Sabastian Cathedral, and then on to the small mining town of Copala and it's lovely San Jose Church. We took the opportunity to stop at the studio of an amazing artist who works in wood and animal hides, and brought home samples of his masks and wood carvings. An authentic Mexican lunch, a few beers at the port later, and it was off to PuertoVallerta.

The zipline adventure......what can I say that would do it justice....AWESOME, INCREDIBLE, AMAZING....the boys at La Vista Canopy Adventures gave us a day to remember forever. Zipping down 15 lines over magnificent canyons, valleys and mountainsides, at speeds up to 45 miles per hour, was truly the best day I have spent on any cruise. Watching the video on Joe's balcony later, we could not believe where we had been and what we had done. Maximum thrills and a great way to end our visit in the Mexican Riviera.

Our cruise ended with 2 sea days to fill with hot sun, hot tubs, cool drinks and great friends. It's always sad to say good-bye, but when you have good cruise buddies, you can always be sure that you will meet again .

An awesome cruise, and a wonderful vacation. Bye for now.