Just off Carnival Pride....

[gojanie]

We're just off the Pride from Thanksgiving week.... had a great time...Let me know if you have any questions...

 

Best things I did:

 

wrote a letter to carnival about a past experience prior to the trip and got a free bottle of wine at dinner.

logged into the ocean players club prior to leaving (even though not spending much gambling), got chocolate dipped strawberries in my room, and a $15 voucher toward pictures.

 

fun to get the freebees!

 

Puerto Vallarta: My 2 daughters and I got massages at the marina $35 for 75 minutes, and I swear they are so good. Just doesn't have the fancy reception/rooms that a spa would have. We did this over summer vacation too. After, We went to our favorite beach by Palapas restaurant got drinks and some food. Chips, guacamole that kind of stuff. There are plenty or restaurants and such in the Romantic Zone to lay out on the beach and get food and drink service. went back to boat cleaned up and went to Sr. frog for dinner. Had fun, did congo line, had funny hats made for us etc. Kids like it there.

 

Oh, beware of cab drivers in PV...they are trying to rip you off...cab rides almost anywhere in PV are $8-$10...seems like from the ship terminal, everyone wants to charge you $12, or $3 or $4 a person. When we went back from dinner, the cab driver told us the faire was $20. My husband got out the car and said, "no way-- here's $12" and we just left. I don't know what was up with them all. When we stayed at Westin over summer, we never had a problem with the faires.

 

Best bargain in port: While in Mazatlan we went to stone island...it is the more rustic part of the area, you take a water taxi out there and then there are tons a restaurants that are thatched roof type...they have lounge chairs etc out for you and you can sit there all day. We ate at Letys....mariachi singers seranaded us for their $2 fee, we bought trinkets from people selling stuff to us...oh I loved the napkin holders made out of coconut shells at Letys and he sold them to me for $3. Anyway, ATV's were on the beach and you could rent them for 1/2 hour for $10, and banana boat rides were $5. We went horseback riding for 1/2 hour along the beach with our own guide (there were 4 of us) at the end he told us $20...can you believe it...I think is U.S. thats what one person pays to pet a horse in a petting zoo. Anyway, tip well, these people all work hard and aren't trying to rip you off like so many others.

 

In Cabo we rented ATVS...it was wild. Drove from up above down rugged trail to beach and then played around in dunes and such. It is cold and windy on the other side of Cabo. We were about 1/2 hour from the port. After that we went to Cabo Wabos which we shouldn't have...we should have eaten by the marina...nicer, better food and probably a lot cheaper. But oh well, we're tourists. We booked on line before we left from Cabo Tours. I think about $48 an ATV for about 3-4 hours, plus they pick you up, etc.

 

ship was good...felt it was clean. Our room was good. cabin steward, victor was really good. I have a feeling all the cabin stewards are named victor...seems whenever I was on cruise critic, everyone says their cabin steward was named victor.

 

We pretty much ate in the dining room. Had the late sitting. no problem with our teen kids. it's 8:15 seating, but is perfect for the port days, and formal days etc...otherwise 5:45 is to0 early and you have to rush back from the ports. Food was o.k. We weren't that impressed. We were on Pride before and thought food had been better. On our Princess cruise food was really great.

 

Kids activiities were so so. they messed up on the 12-14 schedule and it just didn't seem like they ever got their act together with that group, which is quite the opposite of what I had read from others. My 13 year old just started doing the adult activiites with me, like volleyball and stuff. Older kids in 15-17 year old group didn't seem like they had a problem meeting friends and hanging out at all. They hung out in the disco every nite, and then ventured off.

 

Lido deck activities kind of lame...same old thing.

 

Kareoke show on the last night was entertaining, the guests are surprisingly talented. We saw one of the dancing shows which was bad...magician was bad...Jerome the comedian was great. Especially his midnight show.

 

 

 

 

 

Actually did well in Casinos...ever day I won except the last day...oh well... it was fun...surprised that even the slots were paying out..

 

O.k. thats about it .....let me know if you have any questions.

[Stacey779]

Thanks for your review -- we'll be doing this same cruise soon.

 

About the cab drivers in PV, if you get away from the pier do they charge less? We're doing the Los Veranos zip line so we'll have to take a cab ride to their office. I'm trying to figure out the best way to get there and not get ripped off. :)

[Sara5353]

Welcome back. I heard the ship is in dry dock now...did you hear anything on board on what is getting done? I heard a mini golf and new teen center...maybe new carpeting and curtains?? We are sailing next month.

[dcruisers]

We were on the same cruise -there were 12 of us. We enjoyed the trip too.

We had an awedoms guide in PV-just lucked out. He took 6 of us on an wonderful tour of PV and we ate at a restaurant that we never would have found if it wasn't for him. He asked $20 per person and after 5 wonderful hours, we gave him more. He was just special.

 

We did Stone Mt too and enjoyed the day.

Cab0-just walked around the marina. It is beautiful and we had such great weather!

Can't wait to do another cruise. After 12 cruises, I still think it is the best value in vacations and loads of fun!

[Aqua Bliss]

Janie would you be able to provide some links to the sites where you booked your tours? Based on your great prices it sounds like you didn't book via Carnival.

 

My wife and I will be on this cruise on the 16th and we'd love to do the ATV tour you mentioned, and $48 each is too good to pass up.

 

Thanks!

[Jsme]

How was the weather in port? Was it real cold your first and last day going down and home?

 

I have the Pride booked in a group booking. I am so looking forward to this cruise.

[mek]

Thanks - DH and I are on the 2/24 sailing. We really like the Spirit class ships.

[GOINGSOUTH]

Thanks for the great info and review!!!

[gojanie]

Right, for us it was cold the first day out, and then the second day, everyone was in bikinis and on the pool deck....night and day... then after leaving cabo it was cold again.

[gojanie]

http://www.cabosanlucastours.net/Los-Cabos-ATV-Tour.htm

 

 

This is where we booked our ATV tour from. 1/2 hr drive each way to the location.... It's very strange, because all the sudden you are away from the beach and in a desert-- lots of big cactus, etc..... then get back to beach again.

 

We booked a different tour, that ended up being sold out, then they were easy to work with, emailed me...refunded the difference, etc....experience with booking company was really good.

 

It's WINDY and COLD up top...I had to buy daughters long sleeve T-shirts that were $20 but kinda cute...so you may want to make sure that you bring appropriate clothing. Down at beach, its cooler, but sun was shining-- I was fine in my tanktop and shorts. They'll give you waters down at the beach.

 

They'll stop at one point for beers and water.

[gojanie]

Thanks for your review -- we'll be doing this same cruise soon.

 

About the cab drivers in PV, if you get away from the pier do they charge less? We're doing the Los Veranos zip line so we'll have to take a cab ride to their office. I'm trying to figure out the best way to get there and not get ripped off. :)

 

 

I think as long as you negotiate the price right away, then you'll be o.k. I'd say $10 to the Los Veranos zip line. That is in the romantic zone. We did that over the summer, and it is so FUN!

 

There are vans immediately off the ship, but you have to share rides in them. They taxis can't go into the port drive, so you just walk about 3 blocks, and then you'll see cabs on the main strip.

[gojanie]

Welcome back. I heard the ship is in dry dock now...did you hear anything on board on what is getting done? I heard a mini golf and new teen center...maybe new carpeting and curtains?? We are sailing next month.

 

Not sure what they are doing. I would think the teen center, since they don't have one. Although they used the Beauties Disco as the teen center meeting place, and it seemed to work out fine. Ship is in pretty good condition.

[Jsme]

Do you remember what time debarkment started on the Pride? I am trying to see how often they hold the ship for customs to search.