Come Sail a Way with us LIVE as the Westerdam meets the Sail a Way Gang

[summer slope]

I forgot about Mexican vanilla. My dh used to bring it home when he traveled there for business. $1 for a very large bottle. Back in the 80's.

[kazu]

I forgot about Mexican vanilla. My dh used to bring it home when he traveled there for business. $1 for a very large bottle. Back in the 80's.

 

 

got quite large bottles (not the biggest size - too hard to pack) for 75 pesos. so just over $5 - prices have gone up !

[SilvertoGold]

Wow. There has also been stories of nut cases crawling from balcony to balcony. If they are stupid enough to do something like that, who knows what they would do. Sounds like the usual stellar bunch at the front desk.

 

Sounds, to me, like the typical way the HAL Front Desk, sometimes, tries to fob the pax off. I've had it happen to me a few times.

Glad to hear, Sapper1, that you had the right come-back! You do have to go well prepared!

[kazu]

oops, I forgot to take the pic before we started

 

DH is having the catch of the day and I shrimp tacos.

 

Warning - food porn :)

 

 

 

catch of the day is cubeno - similar to mahi mahi

[rafinmd]

The pics are not small for me. I think they are a bit towards the large size but I like that.

Great pics BTW. :)

 

We can do another lesson Vict0riann. I think it's because you didn't space them. After each picture, try hitting enter. I think it makes a difference unless you have them resized?

 

 

<SNIP>

 

I think it depends on the browser. My pictures were BIG, but they were side by side and everything on the page was so wide it made it difficult to follow all the text on the page. Adding a space between photos should make them line up vertically with some browsers and make then bigger with other browsers.

 

Mexican vanilla is the best. When my brother's SO heard I'd be on the Ryndam in Mexico I promptly got a request to bring some back.

 

Roy

Edited April 24, 2015 by rafinmd

[SilvertoGold]

Kazu

 

Great photos! I LOVE food porn!!

 

The photos fill my old computer screen so they are the perfect size for me.

 

Kazu, you are a genius! Having the thread open to everyone on the rollcall is brilliant. Such a great read! You have done so much work, with your helpers, to turn out a first rate cruise for your group.

 

Can I sail with you one day, eh?!

[cruz chic]

oops, I forgot to take the pic before we started

 

DH is having the catch of the day and I shrimp tacos.

 

Warning - food porn :)

 

 

 

catch of the day is cubeno - similar to mahi mahi

 

Looks great. Can you tell me where is located? I assume downtown but if you can give some further directions I woukd appreciate it. I'd love to try it. How are the prices?

[kazu]

do you know where the old town is and then the market? turning out left heading back to the Malecon, it's on the right hand side just after you get out. 2 for 1 beer is 30 pesos. I think the shrimp taco was 105 pesos and the calamari (which I forgot to take a pic of and was delish) was 125 pesos.

 

don't know how much DH's was but we don't have the bill yet. It's a nice spot. Not many tourists and a marimba playing

 

I'll let you know the final bill.

[kazu]

Kazu

 

 

 

Great photos! I LOVE food porn!!

 

 

 

The photos fill my old computer screen so they are the perfect size for me.

 

 

 

Kazu, you are a genius! Having the thread open to everyone on the rollcall is brilliant. Such a great read! You have done so much work, with your helpers, to turn out a first rate cruise for your group.

 

 

 

Can I sail with you one day, eh?!

 

 

You are very kind :) thank you. Would be delighted to sail with you.

 

I always invite roll call members to join in on the live thread but usually there are only a few posts. This roll call is a great one and I am so glad they are joining in.

 

I haven't got the new sailing in my signature yet, but the spread sheet is - LOL. Westerdam - April 2/16. why not join us? Some of the Sail a Way gang are coming along and another just told us they were signing up.

 

The roll call is already busy :)

[kazu]

Cruz Chic - this is the spot across the street from the restaurant

 

 

The bill was 435 pesos which is about $30 US - not too bad for shrimp, calamari and fish, nachos and tortillas and beers. IMO :)

[kazu]

time to go exploring

[cruz chic]

Cruz Chic - this is the spot across the street from the restaurant

 

 

The bill was 435 pesos which is about $30 US - not too bad for shrimp, calamari and fish, nachos and tortillas and beers. IMO :)

 

That sounds like a great deal to me. Not sure where old town is but I'm sure I could ask. You've given me some great info. I'm going to copy the link to this thread to notes in my iPad. Thx so much.

[dobiemom]

time to go exploring

You have mail. ;)

[summer slope]

 

I haven't got the new sailing in my signature yet, but the spread sheet is - LOL. Westerdam - April 2/16. why not join us? Some of the Sail a Way gang are coming along and another just told us they were signing up.

 

The roll call is already busy :)

We are getting off the Westerdam on April 2/16. I would love to meet you at the port...we are staying in San Diego for a few days. You are a wonderful poster and have made this current cruise so enjoyable for me as it's the one I'm taking on March 12/16.

 

[1of4]

Sitting on the side of the Lido pool supervising DS. DH and DD have gone to get her "free" tanzanite earrings.

 

Last I checked still no key for the verandah door. I went to the front desk this morning and confirmed that the key was on their list. I also asked for tiles and was told we would be invited to the Mariner's luncheon on Sunday as we are not disembarking until May 1st in Vancouver. I said my DH is leaving in San Diego and we won't go anyway as the children do not like the set menu. So she gave me 3 tiles and said the 4th would be delivered to our cabin when they restocked. When I got back to the cabin I realized we had 2 new tiles and 1 old version tile. I wonder what the fourth tile will look like!

 

Thanks Rich for returning the Club Hal and The Loft daily programs. DD was very happy.

[Vict0riann]

We enjoyed Puerto Vallarta, but came back to the ship for lunch. Now it is siesta time for DH, so he went off line and I have my turn.

 

I don't remember if anyone has mentioned it, but I am very happy we are having the "old form" of menus for dinner in the MDR. Like this:

 

 

How is the size on that? Still too big? Tapatalk doesn't seem to give me the option to re-size, so maybe I have to do it in iPhoto.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[1of4]

I forgot about Mexican vanilla. My dh used to bring it home when he traveled there for business. $1 for a very large bottle. Back in the 80's.

 

Funny you should mention it. I had forgotten too but just bought 2 bottles, one for me and one for our neighbours who are watching our house. I love buying spices as gifts when traveling. I can also confirm prices have increased but nothing close to what they are at home.

 

DD and DS got a tshirt each and some trinkets for friends.

 

A nice relaxing day. We fly home a week today. Back to work on the Tuesday. Okay, now that is an unhappy thought!

[zelker]

For everyone shopping for Mexican Vanilla, make SURE it does not contain coumarin, which, according to the FDA, is toxic and banned in the US. I think most (all?) of the better brands now puts a sticker on their bottles saying it's coumarin-free. Also, for the purest vanilla, you want the kind without corn syrup.

 

Back when you could easily hall liquor to the US in a carry-on bag on the plane, we'd always bring back a bottle of good tequila and a bottle of Kahlua. Too much of a hassle these days, though. :(

[summer slope]

Yes, Kahlua.....have about 6 large bottles of that from DH's travel days. Won't need to bring that home.

[Susie51]

For everyone shopping for Mexican Vanilla, make SURE it does not contain coumarin, which, according to the FDA, is toxic and banned in the US. I think most (all?) of the better brands now puts a sticker on their bottles saying it's coumarin-free. Also, for the purest vanilla, you want the kind without corn syrup.

 

Back when you could easily hall liquor to the US in a carry-on bag on the plane, we'd always bring back a bottle of good tequila and a bottle of Kahlua. Too much of a hassle these days, though. :(

 

I agree it was much simpler in the good old days when the breakable bottles containing liquids could go in the carry on.

[PathfinderEss]

Love the food porn. I forgot to tell you that there is an awesome Italian restaurant in down town Puerto Vallarta called 'La Dolce Vita'. I know it sounds funny to have a great Italian restaurant in Mexico but it is truly excellent. We eat there whenever we're in PV.

 

VictOriann your picture size is great on my computer, fills the screen perfectly. Thanks for the dinner menu.:)

 

Kazu let us know if your DH wears his new t-shirt on board the ship before the cruise ends.:D:D

 

Noordam going thru the locks today, just to keep you up to date.

 

Edited April 24, 2015 by PathfinderEss

[kazu]

That sounds like a great deal to me. Not sure where old town is but I'm sure I could ask. You've given me some great info. I'm going to copy the link to this thread to notes in my iPad. Thx so much.

 

 

just past the Church of Guadaloupe, just ask but if you keep going up and then right - you should hit it. The old town has some really nice things.

[sapper1]

I promised I would follow up on the Canadian Customs situation.

My travel agent phoned Seattle and the person she spoke to had no idea why the ship staff would be requesting the forms so early and be telling people to just make an estimate of what their spending would be and then sign a post dated form.

 

This morning just before we left the ship I had a call from the guest relations manager who had been speaking with Seattle as a result of my agent's intervention.

 

She apologised for her staff giving me incorrect instructions and agreed that it was a big no no to do what they were suggesting. She then thanked me for bringing it to their attention and said they would be addressing the issue.

 

I promised faithfully that as soon as the ship departed San Diego and I was done shopping, I would hand in my correct, complete form. She was happy with that.

[kazu]

I promised I would follow up on the Canadian Customs situation.

 

My travel agent phoned Seattle and the person she spoke to had no idea why the ship staff would be requesting the forms so early and be telling people to just make an estimate of what their spending would be and then sign a post dated form.

 

 

 

This morning just before we left the ship I had a call from the guest relations manager who had been speaking with Seattle as a result of my agent's intervention.

 

 

 

She apologised for her staff giving me incorrect instructions and agreed that it was a big no no to do what they were suggesting. She then thanked me for bringing it to their attention and said they would be addressing the issue.

 

 

 

I promised faithfully that as soon as the ship departed San Diego and I was done shopping, I would hand in my correct, complete form. She was happy with that.

 

 

thanks sapper. If there is no info in my cabin, I am going to request my form back and a blank one that I can complete. I was very uncomfortable with this and should have stood my ground more firmly

 

You were so SMART to do this :)

[Vict0riann]

Thanks for that, Sapper1 - your good deed for the day on behalf of all of us Canadians. We will do the same! I wonder if there will be an amended letter from the Front Office. I have seen a few customs declarations being handed in. I wonder, too, if they will be sent new forms. Seems like someone was trying something on!

 

PS see you at Happy Hour?

Edited April 24, 2015 by Vict0riann