pulledporky

I submitted mine like two days ago and haven't heard anything back yet. Hmm:confused:

Same here. So I called my PVP yesterday and he re-booked it for me. Taxes had increased a few dollars but I'm OK with that. I have a second 4K cabin booked for daughter and husband, looked at re-booking it also but the price of the 4k cabins have gone up $200, wow.

Don't want to get on a bus, would rather just hire a taxi (possible even for the day, if thats an option?)

 

Is Malecon where I want to be headed in that case?

If you don't want the bus, grab a YELLOW taxi at the PEMEX gas station on the corner (walk out the marina gate, make a left, about a block away). Cost you about $8 to the flea market (it is a big two story structure as you mentioned). From there work your way back to the Malecon; either follow the river path or go south a few blocks and then to the beach. Lots of great shops in that area.

When you get to the Malecon, start heading north until you get to Hotel Rosita then grab a cab back to the ship, or turn around and make your way back to where you started and see all the things you missed the first time.

The link MSN provided is a great map of the area. There is a link on the left side of the map page: "Vallarta Street Food", you might check that out. You can also go to google maps street view and "walk" around the area.

At the base of the public pier is a place called cuales y cuales (sp?) A great place to get a bucket of beers for 99 pesos (about $8) and people watch. Never eaten there but there's always a bunch of folks there.

In long beach the starboard side is against the dock. The QM will be in front of you and you can watch the loading of the ship.

In Cabo the bow faces the marina so the port side will have a nice view of the arches, starboard faces the beaches.

In PV the port side is against the dock, the starboard faces out to the marina.

If you go to Mazatlan the starboard is against the dock with a view of the town and the Pacifico brewery. Port side faces stone island.

This is the normal orientation but it can change.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

We had it on the Miracle last March. For us it was OK at best. They were all pre-made in the plastic jugs. Nothing special but for $17 you should try it for yourself. You also get a little trinket charm with the order.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

There's always a carved meat of some kind, a soup (and Carnival does make good soup), one item from the MDR that night, a pasta, seafood, seen a lot of broccoli, baked potatoes and breads.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Have to buy Internet minutes to use it?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

They have the "new" thin crust pizza on the Miracle. It only comes as a whole pizza, serves 1 but split with someone else with a nice side salad (order pizza then walk over to salad bar. When your finished making a salad and find a place to sit your pizza is ready.). Not a huge variety of toppings but enough to satisfy. We like to take one back to the cabin and eat pizza, watch a movie, and eat a bowl full of peanut butter cookies and choc chip cookies. That's just good stuff right there. And they have fried garlic in a shaker bottle at the pizza counter - apply with gusto!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

We always bring some sweets with us (think Halloween size candy). We like to share it with our Cabin Steward.

I like to take these onshore and share with the locals. The pesky vendor on the beach?----give him a pack of skittles or starburst and it quiets them right down! Shopkeepers, tourist police, taxi driver, they all brighten up when you give them a bag or two. No chocolates, they melt in the back pack.

Just something I like to do. :)

Back to the OP, wife always takes a Costco jug of mixed nuts.

FYI They wont bring a cake to the steakhouse.

That may be ship specific. I had a valentine cake delivered to the steakhouse on the Spirit.

Cabo:

After you get off the tender, walk past Sr Frogs and you will see a white bldg., looks like a port authority type of place, has free Wi-Fi (and bathrooms). There is a security guard at a small kiosk and he will give you the password.

Several internet cafe's in the marina area.

PV:

As soon as you walk out the gate directly in front of you is an eatery. Free Wi-Fi w/purchase. You will also see a round building that I believe has an internet café.

Mazatlan:

I would assume the bar area in the marina has Wi-Fi w/purchase. Really looking forward to going back next Feb.

You really shouldn't have a problem finding what you need. Bandwidth is usually sub-par tho, so don't get in a hurry.

Our first VS was on the Pride many moons ago out of Long Beach (4237). We've had the VS several times on the Miracle (4228 - our preference, no reason). Best I can recall the Pride was identical to the Miracle. Can't speak to deck five but I'm pretty sure all the Spirit class ships are the same.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes, no problem getting un-opened beers and bringing back to cabin for future use

Been trying to justify the package for upcoming cruise. There is no way we could drink 15 a day for 7 days. But the countless threads on this have pointed out you need to have about 5'ish drinks per day to break even. That I can do. So being the tight wad that I am, what about those other 10 in my "allotment"? So I get 10 unopened cans of Fosters per day, that's 70 oil cans for the week, for two of us, that's 140 cans to take home. Not a bad souvenir. Wonder if guest services would help me get it to my car, would definitely need a handtruck, maybe 2. Hmmmmm.......

When they first announced this promotion, people were able to get the carnival price match. However, Carnival has now had time to reach out to all their vendors and change contract language to you cant get an exact match and longer. This is now just PR stunt and not really a benefit any longer

Pretty close to a bingo right there.

When they first started this program I was able to get a price match on the Rythm of the Nights in Puerto Vallarta (around $10pp). A few weeks later they were denying people the same match because of the transportation clause. Funny thing tho, transportaion to ROTN is your own two feet. It's about a 150 yard walk from the cruise ship to the boat used for ROTN, you don't even leave the terminal! Go figure.

Sometimes you do sometimes you don't.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Saw a $50 drop today, submitted form and within 45 minutes had a confirming e-mail with lower rate. 45 MINUTES!!

Not much but take what is offered.

Just need a drivers license to drive or walk across at Tijuana.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The towels by the pools are tan aren't they? The one in your room is blue. Your steward will exchange that one if needed.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

4228 or 4237. Three room suite with largest balcony.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Tacos Gus is right around the corner from Gordo's. Excellent tortas and piña drink. Then head over to Captain Tonys for a bucket of beers and people watch. Best advice: go to tripadvisor and read the reviews to narrow in on what you're looking for.

All the noise is from the prop wash, sounds like a waterfall, it's wonderful! There is vibration but it never bothers me. If you can get either 4228 or 4237 do it. Had both quite a few times. We prefer 4228, just because, for no good reason.

Not all aft balconies on Spirit class ships are the same. If you look at a photo of the back of the ship you'll see it is slanted from decks 5 thru 8. That slant can cost you 2 or 3 feet of your balcony. The overhang is also minimized due to the slant. But thank goodness for deck 4!

They have a "Late Risers" breakfast buffet open until noon (I believe). It's usually forward on the starboard side. Several times I've swung by, got a fried egg and several strips of bacon, then over to the burger grill to adorn an excellent burger.

The sea day brunch goes until 1(?) and you can get breakfast until closing.

My only complaints about the Miracle are:

1. It's a rust bucket. Needs a fresh coat of paint badly, next March I believe
   
2. Really really really needs some of the 2.0 dining options, really.
   
3. Have to wait until February to get back on her. But she IS going back to Mazatlan
   

OP, the best steakhouse throws a bad one out every now and then. Give it another try before you write it off.

(I've heard the banging up on deck 4 aft many times, not sure how far from the waterline you have to go to minimize it)

Deck 4 has the most coverage (100%'ish) and the railing is nearly verticle giving you full use. If you can swing it, get a VS (4228 or 4237).

... I wrote to the executive at Carnival yesterday that got Cigar City on board and said it would be nice to amend the policy to allow bombers of craft beer in place of wine.

Can you share his e-mail? I'd like to send the same message.

Had an aft or VS on Spirit class ships probably 10 times. I can tell you that YES, they do open, BUT.... We requested to have it opened once and were told that due to fire resons they won't open them (huh??). Only time I have ever seen one opened is for the cleaning crew when they make their weekly "hose down the balcony". Nope, wait, I also saw them open the divider when the crew came through putting a new coat of varnish on the rail.

Others may have had different experiences.