Just Off Mercury - Feb 3 - 13

[mktmzm]

Anne..

 

I will be on the Mercury on 3/18 for the 10 day Mexican Riviera Cruise. It will be our 3rd time on Mercury and our first time in the Mexcian Riviera. We are 2 couples in our 40's and are really looking forward to it.

 

I have heard comments that we will need a lot of insect repellent. What are your thoughts on that topic?

 

Also.. Do you have any insight on what to do in Ixtapa?

 

Thanks..

 

Marcy

[fun2travel]

Anne

I am interested in taking my mother to Las Gatas beach in Zihua. I see there is a water taxi ride to get there. Can you tell me if the water taxi picks up and drops off at a pier, or does it drop you in a foot of water like at Cabo? I know she could not do that, so I am wondering if this drop point at Las Gatas beach would be okay for someone with limited mobility due to knee surgery.

 

Thanks so much!

[Host Anne]

Maud ~ I'm out of town on business and the word file is too big with photos to email from here so I'll save it tomorrow as a pdf and send it when I return home.

 

Fun ~ as rspro mentioned, the ship does change time to match the time in port. The situation in Zihau is that you take the ship tender into the port; you then take a small water taxi (you step in off a dock) to get to Las Gatas. You step off the taxi at Las Gatas onto a stone staircase (three steps I believe). You do not enter the water taxi from the water or get dropped off in the water. I'd urge a bit of extra caution for someone with knee problems getting on and off of any type of moving vessel -- water taxi, tender, etc. As a matter of fact, I urge caution for everyone. With care, I think your mom would be OK getting to Las Gatas if you are along to assist.

 

mktmzm ~ the only place we really could have used bug repellent was at the "jungle" restaurant in Puerto Vallarta. We didn't even know we were getting bit until later that night when we went to bed. I bet I had (still have) 15 bites all over my legs. Kind of like chigger bites. I think a small bottle of spray to keep in your bag would do. We didn't have any bugs in another other port.

[knuyens]

Sorry the review got so long. If you'd like a copy of the review with photos in a pdf (might be easier to read) let me know and I'd be happy to email it to you! For those sailing on Mercury in the near future, please tell Dru, Rebecca, Delia and Uma we send our best ... AND have a fantastic cruise!

Hi Anne: Loved your review and would like a copy in pdf if possible. My sister is a cruise specialist and I will forward to her for her clients leaving shortly as we are. Thanks in advance. Ken

[carol&jeff]

Hi Anne, Thanks for the great review. We leave on Friday! Know you're on a business trip, but could you answer one question: did the ship dock at the ports on time? Now that you have confirmed that the ship switches to port time in all the ports, I think I will change our excursion in PV (non-ship) to be an hour earlier so not to have to wait around. Just want to make sure the ship was pretty much docking on schedule. Thanks!

[Yoopergirl]

What an excellent review, Anne! You have given us great ideas about things to do off and on the ship, as well as reassured us about the condition of Mercury. Thanks for making the effort to inform all of us future Mercury cruisers. We leave for the same cruise on March 17.

 

I certainly am now looking forward to the cruise, even more than before.:o

 

Kay and Ted in snowy northern Michigan

[Host Anne]

Carol and Jeff ~ we arrived on time or early in every port on our cruise. That said, there are times that something comes up that can affect an arrival time but I think for the most part you can count on Mercury being on time for arrival. I've also found (not on this cruise but others) that if you book a private guide, they will generally wait for you and monitor the ships arrival. Have a great time!

 

Kay and Ted ~ I promise that I didn't make any of my report up ;) I think you'll really enjoy Mercury and find her in great shape. Please be sure to tell my friends (Uma the Event Coordinator and Rebecca, the asst CD) that we miss them! Have a wonderful time.

[mtjlr]

Anne:

 

Enjoyed your review of the Mercury and Celebrity. Having just gotten off the Golden Princess about one month ago, I agree with your comparisons of Celebrity and Princess. I think we also give Celebrity the edge, but have enjoyed our 2 cruises on Princess. Both lines do some things we like better than the other. Haven't done the Mexican Riviera yet, but my brother David is doing it next month on Sapphire Princess. I told him about your review to get ideas for ports of call.

 

Hope to sail with you and Andy again one day.

 

Mary

[Host Anne]

Hey Mary ~ so good to see your name pop up here! I love hearing from you. Glad to hear you enjoyed Golden. We sailed her in the Med several years back -- what a fabulous cruise! Tell David I said hello and to enjoy Sapphire and the Mex Riv. If he has questions, tell him to drop me a note.

 

We are planning a 2007 November transatlantic for my 50th! You should all join us. Let me know if you are interested! We'd love to sail with all of you again.

 

;)

[dutrie]

Hi Anne,

 

It has been a long time since the Sun. I enjoyed your review. My wife and I are doing a 7 day Mexican Riveria on the Sapphire Princess at the end of March. We just couldn't get away for any longer, so we couldn't consider the Mercury.

 

I agree with your evaluations. Despite cruising with Princess this again this year, I prefer Celebrity.

 

Celebrity just seems to do things better. I really miss the Celebrity buffet when on other lines.

 

I will miss playing trivia with you!

 

David

[Host Anne]

Hi David ~ we'd go back with you if we could....but I'll have been on three ships in 2006 by the end of March so no more cruising for me this year :( . We do have to plan to cruise again. As soon as I have the info for our transatlantic, I'll send it out so there's plenty of time to plan and save. We had a great time with trivia on Mercury! We'll do it again someday. Thanks for checking in!

[MAN86]

Your review was fabulous - leaving the end of April and get more excited every day.:D

[idssms]

A professionally written review!!

 

Anne must be a writer in her real life profession. I could never come close to what she does with her prose..

 

WOW - Impressive

 

 

Don in Florida

[hogwildcruzers]

Anne, what a great review, everything we hoped this ship would be sounds as though it will be and more, we can't wait for our May cruise to Alaska on the Mercury, thanks again for a great review.

[Yoopergirl]

Hi Anne, I got on Mazatlan Frank's website, and he says his price is $200 per vanload. Do we (my husband and I) need to find others to go with? Can one make reservations for just two?

 

Kay (and Ted)

[usha]

What a great, indepth review! Almost makes me feel as though I was there. Thanks!:)

[Host Anne]

Hi All ~ thanks so much for your kind comments. I do like to write (and do it occasionally in my "real" life :) ). To all those sailing soon....we'd love to go back with you -- Mexico - Alaska....I don't care as long as I'd be sailing!

 

Kay ~ Mazatlan Frank charged us a flat $50 per person (so it didn't matter how many we had). Tony Sanchez in Puerto Vallarta charged us a $200 flat fee for the van (which was really inexpensive when we had 12 people). If you go to your roll call here on Cruise Critic, chances are you can find others to share a private tour with you.

 

Happy planning to all!

[Holly2]

Thanks for your review. I've booked both Frank and Tony's tours for the Dec. 1 Mercury cruise and said that I would try to get others -- but so far no one else on the roll call.

It sounds like they should both be in demand so I'm not worried. Tony said we could "wait and see" but that he would hold the two seats for us.

They both have been extremely nice and responsive.

[Host Anne]

Holly ~ you'll be in GREAT hands with both Tony and Frank. And it's WAY early so I'm positive you'll find others on your roll call to join you. Good job booking them so far in advance. They are both tough to get! ENJOY.

[rubrrick]

Anne..........great review. We got on just after you got off. The fog that you ran into on your last day at sea, we had on our first sea day, and Captian Salessiotis told us that it was very unusual to have that type of weather.

You are so totally correct to say that the ship is in excellent repair. Actually, they were laying carpet in the Palm Springs Cafe during our cruise, as well as working on repairs in the casino.

Our CC party was attented by about 30 of us, and Dru and Beatrice joined us. Beatrice is the head of the hotel onboard. She is a wonderful lady, but sadly (for us) she might be leaving soon, as she recently (on your cruise Anne) became engaged.

I will tell more tomorrow, as tonight I'm tired.

 

Rick

[AlaskanBorn]

Board as early as 11:20. I think we were told that the ship would be ready to board by 2:00pm and that we had to be onboard by 4:OO. Is early boarding just for those who have sailed with Celebrity before? We plan to do the express pass (if they ever get my gender straightened out so I can really register. Right now on my sight they have be listed as a male. Doesn't go with the Mrs title so I can complete my information form).

Your review was full of such great info. Do you know anything about coupon books. Are they just for past cruisers. Have you seen one? Are they of much value?

Thanks for all your info.

 

AlaskanBorn

[Host Anne]

Rick ~ glad you enjoyed Mercury. It was such a good cruise. How funny about Beatrice .... I wonder if that's why she couldn't make our dinner at the Captain's table. It would be sad to see her leave but maybe Marie Noel will get promoted! Looking forward to hearing more about your cruise. Makes me feels like we're back on board!

 

AlaskanBorn ~ yes, you can definitely board earlier than what is published. We were actually a little later than we normally are because we were finishing up some work. There were quite a few people on before we boarded, too. I'm guessing boarding began around 11:00 AM. It is probably always this way providing the ship arrives in port on schedule the morning of your cruise. Also, it doesn't matter whether or not you've cruised with Celebrity before. Once you have your express pass printed out, go to one of the Express Pass desks. Honestly, while we were checking in, there were no long lines at any of the counters. So board early and enjoy the ship for the entire day!

[Buckeye Geo]

We are planning a 2007 November transatlantic for my 50th! You should all join us. Let me know if you are interested! We'd love to sail with all of you again.

 

Hi Anne: In reference to your plans for a Nov,2007 tranatlantic. Have you received any advance notice as to want is going to be available? Joyce and I will be celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary and would like to look into that type of cruise as a strong possibility. Please keep us informed. Thanks

[Host Anne]

George ~ how are things in Columbus? We moved south from Cincinnati last month. Celebrity hasn't announced their transatlantic sailings for the Fall of 2007 as of yet. Typically, they will be somewhat similar to what they are this year. Our favorite at the moment is the 16-night Millennium from Barcelona to Ft. Lauderdale. We love the days in Italy on this itinerary. Here's a link to the itinerary for this year. http://www.celebritycruises.com/search/vacationItinerary.do;jsessionid=0000bNdBpvjckLzUzwDsLsyWTAo:1028etni0?packageCode=ML16T002&backPageName=Itinerary+Search+Results&sailDate=1061124

 

I am starting a list of folks who are interested and will be sure to send you the information as soon as it becomes available. My 50th and your 50th. We can have one heck of a celebration!!!!! ;)

[Buckeye Geo]

Anne: Thanks for the info. Looks like a good itineary. I was hoping to have the info so I could book onboard our Mexica Riv cruise to the credit. Oh well things happen.

Columbus is doing well. We have been here for 25 years. We are originally from Brooklyn, NY. Talk about culture shock. We have grown to like the mid-west. We will keep a lookout for Celebity to post their late 2007 schedule.