pulledporky

Assuming the same type of room, NCL hands down, just for the Mazatlan stop.

It's been three years since we were last there, but there were very few opportunities to hire a guide or grab an excursion once on shore. As mentioned, there are so few cruise ships stopping they're not geared up for it.

You can use google map/earth and see the layout of the pier/malecon area.

There is no transportation required other than your feet. I got my OBC for rhythm of the night and it leaves from the same spot.

Unless there is some other pirate boat.

50% is a lot. Almost sounds like a timeshare promo.

If carnival still denies it just cancel and book the other vendor.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

Sure. Easiest way:

Walk off the boat and make a left. Walk to the Pemex gas station on the corner, you can't miss it. There will be a line of YELLOW taxis ready for you. Tell them Hotel Rosita, that is the beginning of the Malecon. Should cost no more than $8 one way total for up to 4 people. Always agree on price before you get in. When you get to the hotel start walking South (ocean on your right). Lots of shops etc. when you get to the bridge turn left, you'll follow the river inland, many kiosk vendors. Look up in the trees and around the tree trunks. Go to google maps type in "hotel rosita puerto Vallarta" zoom in and you can see the route described. Also view the marina area and you'll see the Pemex station on the corner.

I think I've seen you on our roll call. Scroll up a few pages on it and there is a link to a video traveling up the river. I'm going to put this same directions over there in case anyone else can use them.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

It's normally the second night. There is a "semi-elegant" on the last night.

It's not really a check in. It's providing information ahead of time to "quicken" the actual check in dockside. Log on to Carnival and follow the links. You can go do it right now. They want your passport#, credit card#, emergency contact, etc.

Rythm of the Night in Puerto Vallarta.

Carnival is $99. Vallarta Adventures (the tour operator) had a %15 off internet price.

I was curious how this one would pan out, Carnival gets all the bookings from Vallarta Adventures when in town. Carnival might argue "they have a lower price but you can't book it thru them". Sent form in had a response the next day. Close to $17 OBC - not a lot but it will pay for a martini tasting.

SIL in room by herself and didn't have the inside lock locked?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

I cannot say for sure that this is true, just that I have read it on the boards.

 

If you do decide to take the Carnival tour, you should probably put in for the new price guarantee.

Bob

Greetings Bob

If you read it on these boards, it's gotta be true.

The price guarantee is simple. Vallarta Adventures had a 15% off "special internet price" month or so ago. Sent in form and had a response back the following day. Made Rythm o' the Night less than $85pp for late March trip.

. Some people may think it's silly to pay an upcharge for someone to show me which $1 tacos to eat, but it's also a history lesson about the city and a chance to learn about the food as well. :D

Not silly at all, think of it as an investment. Next time you come you will be much more comfortable walking around the old town area and have some familiar places to grab a bite.

I've heard (never bothered to verify) that to go into the Panama Canal (not to go all the way through, just go through 1 or 2 locks & turn around & go back out) it is $300 per pax.

Calico we are headed to the Canal, on Princess, in October and the taxes and fees for the whole cruise are 350 pp. That's with 3 or 4 other stops.

We paid $310 pp last March included 4 port stops.

The boat paid approximately $330K to go through, paid in advance. With 2000 passengers thats $165pp.

Cheapest fee charged was 28 cents to swim thru.

Carnival has recently started a low cost guarantee program. If you find an excursion at a lower cost that will give you the difference plus 10% back as an OBC. I booked Rythem of the Nights in PV thru Carnival, found Vallarta Adventures has a 15% off for online bookings. Sent in proof and got the OBC. Easy as that.

Captain Tony's opens early and has box lunches for taking out on the boat. Right on the marina. THey also will cook your fish when you get back.

We used Prime Time last March. Found a coupon on-line, paid about $12pp.

But the thought of a cruise ship visitor spending their day at some local resort and not experiencing what PV is about...is almost heart breaking.

I don't get it either. PV has so much to offer.

To each their own, I guess.

Hey Rose!

The malecon there is pretty quiet. The opposite direction a couple of blocks is the shopping area. Check google street view and see if la Paz has been recorded.

If you can sit on the right side of the bus going into town. Chance you might see a whale shark. We didn't but the guide said they saw one a few days earlier.

At the bus terminal in town there were a couple of gals selling water sodas beers and some snacks. Grab a soda for your driver and guide. Back at dockside they had set up a bunch of trinket stands. Also had a stand with really good tacos.

PP

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

I picked up on the foodie part. I don't cruise for the beaches.

Hands down, April 5th, Miracle out of Long Beach. Two days in Puerto Vallarta - a foodies paradise. And then a day in Cabo - how many tacos can YOU eat?.

Airfare about $218pp RT SLC to Long Beach.

It sounds like you have a bit of an adventurer in you - don't deprive yourself. PV is a great town so go see some of it.

Most of the Malecon road was taken out several years ago, it's a large boardwalk now.

Yellow taxi is only $6-8 from the port.

The bus is fine also. Look for one that says CENTRO in the window. Hop on and tell the driver you want to go to the flea market. You can find all the survivors :) you ever wanted here. Walk down the river to the Malecon (maybe 100 yds, look for iguanas in the trees). Make a right and it's about 3/4 mile or so of shops/eateries/etc on the right, and the beach on your left. Make a left across the bridge and the Sea Monkey about 100 yds down (I think it's south of the river...). Sea Monkey serves on the beach so you have full use of their facilities and the kids get all the beach they want. Go to go ogle earth and zoom in on the malecon (google maps still shows the road there).

Look on you tube for rio cuale. There's a great 5 minute video shot from a bicyclist helmet cam traveling the river walkway. Give you an idea wha lies ahead.

Cruise ship travel to Mexico does not requires a passport. You will need a certified birth certificate and a Govt issued photo ID (drivers license).

First 6 or 7 cruises we made without a passport. Wife never had to prove a name change.

According to google maps it's directly across from the marina. That said, I'd end the wine tour downtown ("shopping district") and make a dash for Tacos Lindos. Get a plate full of tacos, do your shopping, then it's an easy 5-10 minute walk back to the marina area.

Many great places to eat in Ensenada, beats the lido buffet hands down.

What is at these ports that would draw tourists? I've been to La Paz and unless you want to hang at the beach all day there's not a lot happening. I get the "place to retire" thing, but a day-tripper needs some type of entertainment, a tourist destination, which is why Cabo and PV work.

I don't see the So Cal pax driving 8 or so hours, into Mexico, to a desert town departure port unless it was dirt cheap (like free), and there goes the profit. Too many other things to do.

Look at La Paz. Just because you build a terminal doesn't mean aynone will come.

Time will tell.

Agree with the others, deck 4 VS are the best cabins in the fleet. Not only do you have a full overhang, but the railing is nearly verticle which provides use of the entire deck (decks above have a sloped railing). There is a laundry room across the hall from 4228 if you need it, and two doors down is a door that will lead down to deck three outside. The MDR is down one flight of stairs, and the aft elevator drops you off between the Serenity and the buffet. 4237 is the mirror image of 4228, but for some reason 4228 has always been our first choice.

In PV you can take a yellow cab down to the Malecon for about $8 and spend much of the day checking out the shops, restaraunts, and the beach.

Get off the ship and walk out to the PEMEX station on the corner - yellow cabs are lined up (the cabs inside the terminal are $6/pp, outside is $8 for the whole cab). Tell the driver to take you to Hotel Rosita, that is where the Malecon starts. As always, get price before you get in cab. Walk down the Malecon to the river, then you can walk up the river about a hundred yards or so and there is a huge flea market on the north side. Look up in the trees in the river you could see many iguanas.

Go to you tube and enter Puerto Vallarta malecon. Give you a good idea of what to expect. Type in puerto vallarta rio cuale and look for the 5:09 video. Great "street view" of the river walk. kids will love suspension bridge.

The Hotel Posada de Roger?

Budget hotel that gets great reviews by many on the \PV trip advisor forum, we like ocean front condos or hotels so have never stayed there but it looks pretty and very clean \\\\\\\\\;0

That's it.

We've had about 8 "day trips" to PV and really considering spending more time. I'm thinking this place is a little "too-budget" to spend a week, but we really liked that part of town (South of the river).

Thanks!!

Came out on the Miracle last March. Stopped in Columbia, thru the canal, stopped in Costa Rica, Guatamala, and Cabo. Talked to my health care provider and they recommend hepatitis shots, but nothing required. They also gave me a letter exempting me from yellow fever treatments. I have Kaiser and they have a foreign travel department in San Diego, they look at your itinerary and determine the requirements based on countries visited.

Here's a tip, when going thru the locks, everyone will crowd the front of the boat. The back of the boat has the same view - only backwards, and you may have it to yourself.

The transit took all day, the sun was rising as we entered the first lock, and it was setting as we entered the Pacific.