we are thinking about it for next year, just wanted to know if it's as nice as it sounds???

Many years ago went to Mexican Riveria!  Carnival Tropical (showing my age a little)...  it was February 1989.   We had a grand time!  My parents, my sister and I (yep four adults!) shared a room.  It was "cozy" in that inside cabin....  but none the less a great time was had by all!  I remember (oh so vaguely) a shopping trip where they served a shot of tequilla at every stop....  who needed Senior Frog after that trip???  I ended up in the talent show on the ship that evening!

But seriously, the scenery is georgeous.  And the people were great!  I was disappointed at the poverty.  Made me feel a bit guilty when I saw a sign reading "do not give money to our children--keep them in school". 

Everything was truly beautiful!

 clan of 6, thanks for the reply, sounds like you had a wonderful time, you sound like me, i love to get involved to, so did you win the talent show?? sounds great, that is alful about the poverty, but i think its on most islands, its here to.   kim

We took the Mexican Riveara Puerta Vallarta cruise Dec 07.  There were 10 of us and we had a blast!  Very beautiful.  Take the Mazaltan van tours and have Oscar be your guide!  We are now booked for the Acapulco Mexican Riveara for Jan 09.  January can't get here fast enough!  I enjoyed going in the winter months, the weather is Awesome.   I totally recommend.  Happy cruising!  Kim :-)

 well now its decided,  we are going on that cruise next!! sounds so great, any other info would be great,    thanks   kim

We did the dolphin swim with the kids in Puerta Vallarta, that was amazing.  My two older kids went parasailing in Cabo.  Had to visit Cabo Wabo of course.  I recommend a tour guide in Puerta Vallarta.  We took a taxi and walked around on our own and I think we missed out on alot.  My Husband did the two tank dives in Puerta Vallarta and Cabo.  He said the water was clearer in Cabo.  He said diving was great!  If you decide to take the Acapulco cruise, we are going Jan 7th 09.  Kim :-)

Kimmers,  thanks so much for the info!! I really want to visit the Cabo Wabo, how was that?     Kim

Cabo Wabo was pretty cool.   Of course Sammy Hagar wasn't there.(bummer)  The stage area is really neat.  Its not far to walk to either.  They also have a store.  Kim :-)

We did our first MR Dec of 06 just DH and I. We came home Christmas Eve in time to share Christmas with our DD and 2 GK's. That cruise was all we could talk about. We were on the Pride. Lo and behold DH got a nice bonus so since we were not expecting it we decided to take he rest of the family on the Spirit to the lower MR. When my Aunt heard we were going she decided that she and her DH would go so that made 7 of us. Then we decided to take along a friend for our GS so now we are up to 8. It was a full table for dinners. Both cruises were fantabulous!!!! That was in Mar of 07. NOW we are going on the Pride again on 5/11/08. This trip we will be a group of 12. My wonderful in-laws and the next door neighbors will be cruising with us. Only 8 more days and the excitement is building. We are so ready for this. Hot rock massage, here I come!! Of the 2 ships, the Pride is our favorite. My only hangup is that we have to leave our 3, four legged boys at home. Thankfully we have a great animal loving neighbor who will take care of them for us. If I can be of any help let me know. I will be back quite often to check this board. I stay on top of Cruise Critic also.

We have done the Mexican Riviera on every one of our cruises! We really enjoy the Pride (and hope they keep her in Long Beach!!!). Hopefully, you will get to be on the Pride before they move her.

All the ports are great. Our biggest disappointment was when they started closing the main dining room for lunch when in port.

First stop is PVR and it is a lot of fun - they give you more than a full day there. Try not to miss dinner in the main dining room in PVR as they have the strolling Mariachi's board the ship and play during dinner. This is a great town to walk in if it is not too hot. We usually walk from the beginning of downtown to the end, past the Rio Cuale (and along the river) and back. We take a taxi from the pier to downtown and back as well. Taxis are all over and cheap. Great shops. Lots of fun art galleries. There are really great restaurants if you want to have lunch in town, but we usually have lunch on the Lido deck. There are some great tours also. There are also wonderful restaurants for dinner, but we always have dinner in the Normandie so we can enjoy the Mariachis. For tours, years ago we went on one that went south of PV to a place over the ocean, but I don't see it offered any more - the Mismaloya City Tour may be similar. The coast is beautiful - jungle on one side of the road, ocean on the other! Our friends really enjoyed and recommended the Tequila tour which we have yet to take.

Second stop is Mazatlan and it is my least favorite place. However, there are some good tours here also. If you have never been, take the tour that goes to the church downtown, also to the cliff divers, a shopping center with entertainment (about 1 hour of dancing and the Papantia Flyers) - it's a great overview of the area and culture. I think it is the Mexican Show, Sightseeing & Shopping tour. We do not feel safe in this town on our own. We usually get off the ship and walk around the port which is enclosed by very high security walls. There are stores and vendor stalls within this fortress.

Last port is Cabo San Lucas. We have never taken a tour there and rarely have a meal there. We usually get off the ship first thing and walk from the pier, all the way through town to the Puerto Paraiso Mall, then back again along the marina boardwalk. At the mall, on the marina side, we usually stop at Senor Sweets and get a gelato. That's about all we can handle cause we eat sooo much for breakfast. Easy to get taxi's here also. http://www.loscabosguide.com/restaurants/senorsweets.htm

The tours I mentioned are not specific to any activities. Of course if you have other interests you wish to pursue, go with your instincts.

If you need the names of restaurants in PVR, you can e-mail me - there's a bunch!

can you take a taxi from the ship  (in any port) to a resort and hang out and use there facilities (not scheduled thru the pride0

342fitter:

can you take a taxi from the ship  (in any port) to a resort and hang out and use there facilities (not scheduled thru the pride0

I do not know about this, but you could call various facilities to see what they allow. If you are buying their drinks and eating their food, they probably don't care - check first tho.

The Sheraton Bouganvilas and Fiesta Americana are beautiful hotels between the ship and downtown PVR - we have been to both. There are many others along the way and also south of town. The Camino Real has its own private beach south of PVR.

DW and I sailed on Carnivals Pride back in Aug. of 07 for our 8th wedding aniversary, We had the TIME of OUR LIVES.We swam with dolphins and went on theTequila Factories and Old Town Tour in Puerto Vallarta, The Sierra Madre Tour in Mazatlan,and in Cabo we did the Baja Jeep Safair and Parasailed.Plus we walked around each town. We enjoyed ourselfs so much that we are going back this Nov. with our son, our daughter and my mom(since she babysat 4 us last cruise)and plan on doing some of the same tours(Dolphin swim,Parasailing and so on)I know you wil have the time of your lives too

                                 HAPPY CRUISING

Anyone gone on this excursion?