We like this cruise because we haven't been to the Mexican Riviera before and there's a nice mix of sea days and port days.  Plus, as long as we're down there, I wanted to go all the way down to Acapulco and only the longer cruises do that.  Our cruising history began in 2000 with an Eastern Caribbean Cruise on the Disney Magic.  This was prompted by a great sale on inaugural 7 day cruises for Disney Vacation Club members. This was followed in 2002 with a Western Caribbean cruise, also on the Disney Magic.  Finally, last July, we sailed to Alaska on Holland America's Oosterdam.    One of the reasons we chose Celebrity is because they had good prices, have a reputation for good food and good service and the dates of the cruise straddled the kids' winter break nicely.  If HAL had had good dates for their longer Mexican Riviera cruises, we would have considered them, too, but they didn't and the boys would have missed too much school.  As I already mentioned we didn't sail on the Oosterdam again, or RCI or Princess because we wanted a longer cruise.

Before the cruise we changed rooms about 3 times - we originally booked an ordinary verandah, then booked a family room aft, then I finally decided that since there are four of us for a 10-night cruise a SkySuite would fit the bill nicely and was still only $5200 for the four of us vs $3400 for the family cabin.  Quite a bit more but I've always had a verandah and wanted one on this cruise, too.

We also decided that since we are on the West Coast (Seattle area) we could easily fly to San Diego the morning of the cruise and get there in plenty of time.  In the event, we decided not to do this, because I didn't want to start my vacation by getting up at 3am and I like the peace of mind of being there the night before, in case there are flight disruptions for whatever reason - I don't need the stress.  So we reserved a bayview room in the Holiday Inn San Diego on the Bay, right across the street from the cruise terminal.  That would be convenient to go to the ship and when we woke up in the morning the ship would be right there in our window.

We also registered with Celebrity CruiseCritic Connections and made ourselves known on the Celebrity boards at CruiseCritic.com to get to know some of our fellow cruisers.

I also called my brothers Bobby and Mike, who live in San Diego and invited them to meet us at the hotel for breakfast the morning of the cruise. They were both delighted to accept our invitation.

Day 1 of 12 - Thursday, 17 February 2005

I took the day off so I could get ready, have time to work out, finish packing, etc.  It's so hard to decide what to bring - I end up bringing too much because I want to have a choice.   Still, it's better to be safe than sorry.  I pulled out an extra bag just for my shoes - walking shoes, running shoes, nice sandals, rubber sandals for the beach, dressy shoes for dinner.  Checked the weather - rain for San Diego, but hot & sunny in all the Mexican ports we're visiting.  Checked the San Diego cruise terminal webcam (click here )  - nothing in port today.  Checked the Celebrity@Sea webcam for the Mercury  (http://www.kroooz-cams.com/) - smooth sailing at sea.  Checked the CruiseCritic Celebrity connection message board for our sailing (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=44711) - La Coneja del Tiempo has posted the weather and asked if we should alternate plans for our welcome aboard party - the sail away might get rained on.  Since we're supposed to meet at the Sky Bar I proposed we revert to the original suggestion and meet in the Navigator's Lounge.   I get one last ab workout in and run on the treadmill before I clean up for the cruise.  About 3pm I get the bright idea to do a web-checkin with Alaska, thank goodness.  The checkin fails and I am told to call Alaska - I'm put on hold forever and when I get through  - panic time! - they can't find the reservation - Did Expedia screw up?  The agent can't find our flight by number or time.  I give her the return flight and she finds us that way - the flight is leaving earlier and has a new number.  Whew!  I thought I was going to have to make alternate arrangements to get to San Diego - nightmare visions of missing the cruise flashed through my mind.   Armed with this new information I was able to complete web checkin and I called West Coast Shuttle Express airport shuttle to ask them to come earlier at 5:30, since the flight was now at 8:30.   Brought the luggage downstairs, made last minute checks and settled in to watch an episode of Star Trek Voyager while we were waiting for the shuttle.  Elizabeth called out around 5:15, when we were only 2/3 of the way through the episode “Survival Instinct”, to announce that the shuttle had arrived.  He was waiting patiently in the driveway since he was early. I suppose we could have finished the episode but, eager to start our cruise adventure, we shut it off and went out to load up the van.  Traffic was heavy as you might expect in Seattle around rush hour, but we had plenty of time and I didn't have to do the driving J.  We got to the airport just after 6 and the Alaska counters were mobbed.  Fortunately, we had done web checkin and only had to check the bags.   I expected that given the crowd out front there would be humongous lines for security but there was not.  We breezed through security and headed to terminal D, looking for something for dinner.  We passed the long lines at the bakery and Burger King on the way and found a nameless snack bar at the end of the terminal where Elizabeth and I got garden salads and the boys had croissant sandwiches.  They were all out of Cobb and Greek salads.  No place to eat the food so we sat in the boarding/waiting area and roughed it without tables.

One advantage of our flight being moved up is that if it's on time we're sure to be able to take advantage of the free airport shuttle that the Holiday Inn on the Bay (right across the street from the San Diego Cruise Terminal) offers.  It only runs until midnight so I was concerned if there was any delay getting the luggage we might have to spring for a taxi - quel désastre!.  The agent at the Holiday Inn suggested that as soon as we got in, we should call the hotel on my cell phone and ask them if they could hold the shuttle for us.  Now that should not be necessary.  I'm just typing this up while we wait at SeaTac for the plane.

The plane took off just a few minutes late and the flight was uneventful.  We arrived in San Diego about 10 minutes late.  The baggage claim is not far from the gate in terminal 1 and naturally we had to wait awhile.  Then up across the pedestrian bridge to the ground transportation area.  There are about 3 long islands there.  I called the hotel to see if the shuttle was on the way and he said it was and confirmed the island I should wait at.  The temperatures were mild (compared to Seattle) and we were surrounded by palm trees and the lush San Diego landscaping - we were on vacation!  The shuttle arrived at 11:45pm and took us the short drive to the hotel, which you can see from the airport and vice versa.  Checkin was swift.  I asked the clerk if we could take the hotel shuttle back to the airport after the cruise and she replied in the affirmative.  We walked outside and to the south tower, up to the 8^th floor to our room.  We threw open the curtains to verify our view and the cruise terminal was laid out before us.

Friday, February 18, 2005

We didn't sleep too well last night -  we're not used to sleeping in a double bed, we have a king at home so I kept on waking up, afraid of crowding Elizabeth, poking or kicking her.  I woke up around 4 - the cruise terminal was all lit up.   Elizabeth woke up suddenly at 5:45 and went to the window and the Mercury was just pulling into port.  We watched it approach the terminal forwards and sideways.  After we got up, I was surprised that we were not looking down on it even though we were on the 8^th floor - we're about the same level as the bridge it seems.

As planned, we're going to meet my brothers Mike and Bobby and their wives at Elephant & Castle for breakfast at 9am.  They both live in San Diego - Escondido and El Cajon,

We got ready and went downstairs around 8:45 to film the hotel and Mercury.  Around 9 the others showed up and we went into the restaurant.  Elizabeth & I had the low carb omelet.  Everyone else got the buffet.  Everything was our treat - nice surprise for them! We had a lot of nice conversation and catching up and sat around the table afterwards talking for a while. After everyone had to leave (after all - they were not on vacation)  we went over to the maritime Museum and saw (without boarding) the HMS Surprise, the ship that was used in the Master & Commander.  We took the opportunity to point out to everyone where our SkySuite was on the ship.

Being anxious to board, avoid the crowds and get started we drifted back to the hotel, packed up the rest of our stuff, put the cruise line tags on the luggage and prepared to cross the street to check-in around 11:30.  We manage to make it across Harbor Drive without getting flattened, as there is a crosswalk but no lights. We show our cruise docs and passports to security to get into the terminal, and find a porter right away and give him the bags and a tip.  This was unlike our experience at pier 30 in Seattle where the porters didn't seem much interested in helping us.  Here there is lots of help around to check documents and direct you.  No one is allowed to film or take pictures inside the terminal so we were asked to put our camera and video camcorder away.  Kevin & Elizabeth bought sunglasses at the gift shop in the terminal, then we got into the suite line to check in.  It was a very efficient process and when the Captain's Club counter was empty they took us from the suite line.   We asked about buying the soda package and were told we could do that on the ship.  We allowed them to take the welcome aboard photo and went on to the ship.  We were greeted with a flute of welcome-aboard champagne. The ship is much prettier than I expected from the photos I've seen, the décor more muted and tasteful.  

We took the stairs up to Deck 11 to eat lunch in the Palm Springs Café.  I had only eatene a light breakfast knowing that I could eat all I wanted to not much later.   The buffet selection was less than on the Oosterdam last summer but tasted better - there was more seasoning, the meats were cooked more like I like them. One thing I liked on the Oosterdam, though, was the better selection of prepared cold salads.  It was easy to find someplace to sit and plenty of servers around to carry your tray and find a table.  I had tomato slices, a bell pepper salad, some ling cod, spiced turkey and roast beef.   I got some red grapes and strawberries.  I also picked up a roll and found they had real French butter (le vrai beurre de Normandie!).  For dessert I picked up some sugar free jello and a very nice strawberry tartlet - the crust was fresh and nice (not like the soggy ones as Disney World in the Patisserie in the French Pavilion at EPCOT).   

While the others were finishing up their lunch,  I went to the Palm Springs Bar to get soda cards and their computer wasn't working.   The bartender tried to get me to sign a card without a total on it.  I told him to put numbers on it before I would sign.  He figured it up and told me that it was $5/day + 15% gratuity + 4% tax.  For four people he said that added up to $491!  I said “I don't think so”.  I told him it should be about $245.  He came back with $270.  I said again, No, so he called his manager who told him it should be $245.50.  Pretty close!  I'll check the charges at Guest Relations later to verify that they're correct.

After that we toured the ship from top to bottom and bow to stern.  I would have to say that I find that the Mercury is a prettier ship than Oosterdam.  The Rialto Galleries shopping area is very pretty and interesting, well laid out and fun to explore - a very upscale shopping experience.  It doesn't seem like so much of an afterthought as on Oosterdam.  The Celebrity Theater is not as spectacular or state of the art as on Oosterdam but it's a lot more comfortable.  We tried out the seats and liked them better than the Vista Theater.  There is a well-stocked library (although without the great big globe we loved on Oosterdam), a computer lab, a huge casino (won't be spending much time or money there except that that's our muster drill location).  The kids' facility is more interesting with more things to do than on the Oosterdam as well, although our boys are too big to go there.  The gym is well furnished, though not as nice as on Oosterdam and we will spend a lot of time there.  There is a good selection of various kinds of aerobic machines and a bunch of weight machines. Great view.  Jeffrey was disappointed to find he's too young to use it - you have to be 16.  As suite passengers we may have unlimited use of the T-pool and steam rooms. 

Our Sky Suite is nice, not as big or as nice the S Suite on O but well laid out with a huge verandah, lots of storage and a butler.  Rusty (Rastislav) from Slovakia introduced himself and has been very helpful, relaying messages to Robby, our stateroom attendant to get more pillows, more hangars, a power bar so we can plug in the laptop and our Ipods, etc. into the sole electrical outlet in the room (the point goes to Oosterdam for that one, having more outlets). 

The sun is here off and on today - it rained really hard and long last night.  Sometimes there is a stiff cold wind.  There are lots of channels on TV, including one of our favorites, The Travel Channel, although it turns out that the programming is very repetitive.  Outside the Conference Center/Theater we ran into an older gentleman and his wife who stayed on board from the 11-night cruise that just came in and sailed for a month on Infinity from Hawaii to Florida before that.  He has a lot of stock in Celebrity and has sailed 35 times.  We'll run into him again several times on the cruise.  It turns out that he has high expectations and seems to be expecting his relationship with Celebrity and the crew to be more than a business one; he is expecting a personal relationship.  One of the performers that we became acquainted with told us that he became quite possessive of their attention.

A beautiful welcome aboard gift from our TA, including cookies, candies, crackers and a Celebrity tote bag, is waiting for us in our suite.  A bottle of champagne is chilling in a bucket on the desk.

We went to the Meet n Greet Cruise Critic party at the Sky Bar.  We can hardly hear each other over Top Secret, the party band.  Andy had nice name tags made up for everyone.  Met Sue (la Coneja del Tiempo) who also is a DVC member at Old Key West since 1993 and has met Sue Holland, an avid DVC'er and Holland America cruiser.   We also met Marisa and Jim, from near our home and Barry and Amy, who will go horseback riding with us in Mazatlan.  Andy's wife, Sheila, was there.  We'll meet again at the Cruise Critic party tomorrow.  We had a great time visiting with all of these very nice people.    Finally, though, I was freezing my butt off and we had to go in.

I went to the Guest relations desk to pick up an additional map for Elizabeth then hung around the state room until it was time to go to the show.   The Celebrity orchestra, more like a band, dancers & singers, a cappella group Vinyl 4 that was pretty good, and a ventriloquist that we liked was pretty funny.   Headed over to dinner, had a nice set of table companions - Terry & Iris from Edmonton, AB with their 15-year old daughter Crystal on their first cruise.   I had a feuilleté of mushrooms, tomato bisque, pear & honey soup, spinach salad, veal piccata (huge portion), part of a crème brulée and a taste of mango sherbet.  All very good. After I went alone to Pavilions to listen to the band a while, then to the atrium to listen to a lovely string quartet, then up to the Navigator's Club to listen to the music.  Chatted with Todd, the sports director a while.  He said the jogging lap is 12 to a mile, but that's a nautical mile!  I told him I was sure he was pulling my leg - no one runs a nautical mile.  Later I would verify that that was indeed the case.

Saturday, February 19, 2005

We slept well last night but the beds aren't as nice as the ones on the Oosterdam.  I woke up around 7:30 got ready and shaved while others still sleeping.  I inspected the track outside, on the same deck as our suite - so very convenient.  It was full of people moving at various speeds - morning won't be a practical time for running, I'm thinking.  It had rained during the night - everything was all wet.  I went exploring up on deck 13 over the top of 12 and back to the sports deck then down through the buffet.  It's already warmer than yesterday but windy.  I came back to the suite and roused everyone for breakfast - went down and ate in the buffet - there was a nice spread - the pastries, croissants, pains au chocolat, brioches were excellent quality, fresh, tender, flaky.  Of course there were muffins, danishes and other pastries and breads, too.  The scrambled eggs were moist, the way I like them.  There were kippers and salmon, hard boiled eggs, cold meats and cheeses, fresh and canned fruits, melons, yogurt, cereals.  At the omelet station, one on either side of the buffet, you could have omelets made to order or ask him to make eggs fried any way.  The omelet guy does this four hours a day, every day for 8 months of his contract and does it completely without thinking.  He flips the omelets over in the pan while holding the pan almost behind his back.  Sometimes he's lost in thought and isn't smiling.  One morning a woman said to him “Why aren't you smiling?”  He replied, “I'm sorry - I was thinking.” She responded “Well, think on your own time!”  How rude!

After breakfast it was somewhat sunny so Kevin & I went out to sun ourselves on the starboard Sky Deck, angling the chairs to face into the sun, laid out towels and read for 3 hours - 90 minutes on a side.  The wind made it a little too cool but we persevered for the sake of beauty!  Some people were inconsiderate on the track as Elizabeth was trying to walk fast, people stopped in the track talking or going against the flow or their having loungers half into the track. I got a soda water to sip while sunning, keeping me hydrated.  The sun was in and out of the clouds and sometimes it was a little cool and breezy.  But I endured for the sake of getting a little color.  Logo t-Shirts and polo shirts were on sale next to the pool - I bought a white one for me with a Celebrity logo on the pocket, Kevin got gray.  After we went back to the room, Jeffrey showed up (he went to lunch at 12 whereas it was now 1:15) and wanted one so went down and he bought a white one for him and I saw 2 others I liked for myself.  Having lost 50lbs in the last three years I need smaller t-shirts (M) so I picked up a blue one with sailboats and a yellow one with Dolphins.  Lunch was an Asian buffet - it was just ok - tasteless Thai beef salad, a pretty good Peking duck, teriyaki chicken, Mongolian beef, a little fruit tartlet, etc.   I asked a passing server to get me a Diet Coke from the bar.

Elizabeth and I then shopped a bit at the Rialto Galleries - I tried some cologne, and visited with the guy at the custom clothing desk.  He tried to talk me into buying a custom-made suit that they would measure me for on the cruise and have made in Hong Kong.  We stopped at the Jewelry/crystal shop and chatted for a while in French with a crew member there who was from Québec and said we were the only Francophones on the cruise - his second in his first contract.  He signed up solely for the opportunity to go to Alaska later this year.  Later while running on the track on the Sky Deck I overheard some Québecois talking and told them about him and that they should go see him.  We stopped in the next day and he said that they had indeed come by to introduce themselves.

The cruise critic party was disappointing - hardly anyone showed up out of the 50-55 Andy said had been invited.  There was orange juice, coffee & pastries provided by Celebrity. Dru Pavlov, the Cruise Director made some introductions and then left. We stayed and visited a little.  Then I went looking for Jeffrey as I had told him I would play basketball with him. Found him and Kevin playing ping pong in the sports courts.  No basketball court was free so Kevin & I decided to go running.  We all did our abs to a videotaped workout in the suite first then stretched before running.  The track is 10.42 laps to the standard mile (12 to the nautical mile) - figured it out using the calculator on the laptop.  We walked briskly for 5 laps, then ran up to 31 laps, then walked slowly for 5 to cool down.  It was very pleasant up there and the breeze was cooling.  There were fewer people and I loudly announced my presence when running up behind people who were blocking the track.  It was wonderful running surrounded by the sea, the sky, the sun & the wind. Then Elizabeth, Kevin & I went to the gym to use the weight machines. The gym is adequately furnished, but there are no biceps or triceps machines - you have to use the dumbbells for that.  The nod goes to the superior Oosterdam gym on this occasion, for furnishing, layout and space.  While there I noticed the sun moving rapidly counter clockwise through the forward facing windows - the ship was turning clockwise and ended up going back north.   At first I was wondering if the captain was just going to do a lazy circle to avoid getting to Cabo San Lucas too early.  One wag in the gym suggested it was to get a better view of the sunset - as if!   Dru, the cruise director finally came on the speakers to tell us that there was a medical emergency and a helicopter was being sent from San Diego - the ship would continue to shorten the journey for the helicopter then turn south again.  A crew member assured us that we would still make Cabo tomorrow at the scheduled time as the ship would increase speed during the night.  Elizabeth and I had a little drink at the pool bar while we watched the sunset and sent Kevin to take his shower.  Then the rest of us showered in turn.  Tonight is formal night followed by the first production show at 11pm.

After dressing Elizabeth and I went to the Cova Café to listen to the pianist before heading to the Manhattan restaurant for dinner.  While we were at the Cova Café the captain announced that the ship would meet the coast guard helicopter at midnight and then turn around and that we would skip Cabo and have another sea day.  We were disappointed, but of course, there would be refunds for excursions.  I'll ask at the desk if there is refund for port fees.  In any case, if we had to miss any port on this cruise, Cabo would be the one I was least interested in.

For dinner, I ordered escargot, endive salad with tarragon dressing, onion soup, duckling a l'orange, tarte tatin and pear soufflé.  Halfway through the meal our servers Ivana and Elena distributed cinnamon and rose sorbets to refresh the palate.  Our tablemate, Iris, regaled us with the tale of how the serial killer Ted Bundy knocked on her door one night and tried to kill her, mistaking her for her roommate and how she barely escaped with her life.  Quite chilling.

While overall we liked the food better on Celebrity, I must give the nod here to HAL for the great breads at dinner, better than X.  On Oosterdam, the variety of breads changed every night and there unusual breads that we very much enjoyed.  Also I tip my hat to HAL for the wrap-around promenade deck and teak furniture.  On the Celebrity ships, the promenade deck is split across two decks and does not continue around the front of the ship.   However, I give the nod to X for a livelier crowd and activities, probably due to a somewhat younger skew on the demographic.  That is not to say that there were wet t-shirt contests or anything like that, but the atmosphere was not quite as sedate.

After dinner (no Yum Yum guy L ) we saw our first Production Show “And the Winner Is” with the Celebrity singers and dancers and orchestra.  Maybe I'm not as fussy as some, but I thought the show was well paced, the dancing was vigorous and intricate, the dancers danced together in synchronicity - as opposed to dancers just doing something similar at the same time.  We thoroughly enjoyed the show.  Got to bed around 12:30pm.

Sunday, February 20, 2005

I slept well last night (a little heartburn from having a coke too late at the show).  I woke up around 8 (we lost an hour last night due to time change) and at 8:30 left the others sleeping and went to have my own breakfast.  At 9:30 I went out on the Sky Deck to sun - too cold and windy starboard - I went port and it was less windy there so I was able to settle in.  Read and relaxed and drank.  At 10:30 I went to the I Love Lucy trivia contest, the contest was cut short because Jeff, the assissant cruise director had to be at bingo at 10:45.  I got 6 out of 8 questions - missed how many Emmy's the show won: 5, and which scene in Episode 19: The Ballet was improvised?  Getting her foot stuck in the barre.  After that I went back outside and sunned some more - the boys came by once or twice, the party band Top Secret started playing at 12.  Also at 12 came the announcement that arrival tomorrow in Mazatlan would be delayed until 12 and departure at 7pm.  I had the idea to ask Rusty to have the concierge contact Randi (of Happy Horses fame) and let her know of our delayed arrival and find out if we could ride horses at 1pm, if possible. He was happy to find out.  Just in case that falls through, the concierge will arrange a driving tour of the city in an 8-passenger air conditioned van for $50/hour for a nice 4 hour tour.  I found Barry & Amy by the pool and let them know what was going on.

Elizabeth and I went to lunch at 2pm - there was an excellent spicy beef with peanut sauce.  Back at the pool they were conducting a TV Tunes trivia contest.  At 2pm while we were at the pool they played a fanfare then a parade of waiters came out bearing orange sorbet - home made, subtle flavors, followed by cold towels.  Nice touch.  They would do this at least every sea day during the cruise. I stayed out until 3:30pm when I think I started to burn.  I relaxed in the suite for a while and will go running at 4:30.

Every afternoon our butler Rusty would bring by some snacks around tea time - a prepared plate of little sandwiches and he would roll around a cart laden with pastries and tea and coffee for tea time. At tea time today there was millefeuille, the best French pastry ever, known in the vulgar tongue as Napoleon.  While in the suite I noticed in the mirror that I got a little color today - I hope it doesn't turn into a burn.  Outside, the sun is so bright you can't tell if you got burned because your skin looks white in the brightness. 

Jeffrey is bored - there are not enough kids on board, only 30 teens and 50 smaller children, and his CD player doesn't work well.  Kevin has hooked up with Crystal from dinner, who is his same age, and went to Salsa dance class. After class they walked right by us without stopping while we were sunning on the Sky Deck.  Turns out they didn't even see us.

Ran at 4:30 but kept my shirt on so as not to burn more.  The track not crowded, and it was not hot, though it was breezy, which made it pleasant to run. Elizabeth did her speed walking, too.  I did 37 laps.  Then I went and played ping pong with Jeffrey for a while then afterwards Elizabeth & I went to the Thelassotherapy pool.  Iris and Crystal were there to show us the ropes.  A few others were there, as well.  The t-pool is free for suite guests.  Salt water with jets & bubbles are in different places to massage different parts of the body.  We enjoyed it but this is the only time we used it.  Iris & Crystal bought a package and used it every day.  We came back to the suite afterwards to shower before dinner.

The evening show was before dinner tonight, like every non-formal night - The opening act featured Jean Claude and Gaby - they do a spectacular Cirque du Soleil-type show.  We introduced ourselves to them after the show - he's French from the Var and she's from Holland.  They have a darling and gracious 10-month old baby girl named Manon who is the Mercury baby and even has a Celebrity name tag. They have been doing this for 7 years, and they'd like to perform for the real Cirque in Las Vegas when their baby's older.  After Jean Claude and Gaby a Chinese artist performed on the hammer dulcimer.  The music was very pretty and he was quite talented.  After the show Elizabeth & I went to Cova Café to listen to the string quartet, and then headed to the room to see if Rusty had left a message on our excursions tomorrow.  Concierge had heard back from Randi, who just thanked them for letting her know.  They e-mailed back to ask if the excursion was still on and what time.  We'll know in the morning.  Went to the Manhattan restaurant, and found Amy and Barry at our table waiting to find out about Randi.  I gave them the good news.  For dinner I had the hot tomato, mozzarella appetizer, boston lettuce with gorgonzola salad, mushroom bisque, sirloin of beef finished up by a cheese plate.  Kevin went to Totally Useless Trivia where he had a blast, and Jeffrey played late night basketball.  Elizabeth & I went to the Navigator's Lounge to listen to the DJ before retiring for the night.  All in all, I enjoyed our second unexpected day at sea.  Even though we missed our port, I remembered the CruiseCritic mantra - “The worst day at sea is better than the best day on land!”

Monday, February 21, 2005

I got up at 7:06 - everyone else was still sleeping.  I shaved then decided to go out and see what the weather was doing.  Donned my Birkies, swimsuit and new t-shirt and stepped outside.  It was warmish and humid - the breeze was nicely cooling.  Terry, Iris & Crystal jogged by and said hi.  I decided to go ahead and walk since the track is not too crowded. I was thinking I would take advantage of the cool morning, I'm going to have to do my running now.  So I started walking. I decided to stay in my sandals - a big mistake since now the top of my right foot got rubbed a little raw.  But I walked/speedwalked 2 miles in 35 minutes.  I came back to the room - Kevin's bed was folded so I figured he was at the buffet.  I went down to look for him, found him at a table for two and asked him to wait while I got my food - 3 eggs sunnyside up from the omelet station, pineapple, 2 sausage patties and a croissant.  When Kevin was done, he left and Jeffrey arrived and joined me.  I came back to the room and Elizabeth was still abed but got up.  I drew the curtains and both boys went to the track to go jogging.  We were still waiting to find out what we were going to do today.

Rusty found me sunning myself on the Sky Deck - everything was go - we should get off the boat as soon as we can and Randi would be there waiting for us - there are a number of us on the ship.  We stayed out sunning ourselves until 11:15 then went in to prepare for lunch.  As we went to lunch the ship was approaching Mazatlan and there was a brown smudge all along the horizon - air pollution.  As we got closer, we could smell it - such a change from the clean sea air.  By lunch time the ship was practically docked.  We saw Ivana and Elena at lunch and I gave them each $5.  Ivana last night found brownies for the boys after they indicated that's what they really wanted for dessert, with vanilla ice cream.  There was great ham at lunch, plus orange beef, pork roast, etc.  There was a very nice salade niçoise yesterday. 

We packed the 4 beach towels from the cabin in the Celebrity bag (but we didn't need them as we really didn't have beach time) then headed down to deck 3 and disembarked.  There were trams constantly circulating between the ship and the pier entrance.  After several filled up we rushed one and took it to the pier entrance.  Tony from Randi's was waiting there with a pink sign and escorted us to a bar where Randi was waiting under the umbrellas.  She was the only tour guide who knew the ship was getting in at noon because the concierge had e-mailed her.  She's very friendly, makes you feel like family, really down to earth and a lot of fun.  After we were all gathered she escorted us to some covered pickup trucks with seats in the back where we drove to a little dock and took a covered open air launch to Isla de la Piedra (stone island, now a peninsula).  There we took a big covered wagon pulled by a tractor to the area near the beach where the horses were waiting.  Maria was there and she and Tony and one other helped find horses according to our stature and the speed we wanted to ride at.  Kevin was on Pinto, Elizabeth on Pony, Jeffrey on Champion and me on Zorro (who Tony kept calling caballo loco).  We went off through the coconut trees then down to the beach.  We must have been on the horse for 1 ½ hours, up the beach and then back again.  Zorro wanted always to be in front - if another horse got in front of him or ran by him, he would trot or gallop until he caught up.  I finally figured out that if I straightened my legs and stood up in the saddle it would be easier on my backside.  It was a lot of fun, although I did rein him in from time to time so he wouldn't get out of control.  The sky was slightly overcast and the breeze was cool - a perfect afternoon for horseback riding.  I took pictures of everyone on their horse and Tony took a picture (with my camera) of all four of us.  Elizabeth was not having a good time because her stirrups were not well adjusted and she got her toe jammed uncomfortably in it.  I asked Maria for help and after she fixed the problem everything went better.  We headed back down the beach to Victor's where we dismounted and then sat under the palm frond roof at a long table.  There was a drink and chips & salsa included and we could order from the menu steak, shrimp, quesadillas.  Randi presided at the head of the table.   Many vendors came hawking their wares - clothing, jewelry, etc. and Elizabeth bought some Taxco silver jewelry (supposedly).  Randi seemed to approve of the vendors we were buying from as she knew them.  After lunch we paid Randi and then did the reverse course back to the ship.  At the Mercado at the pier, which Randi has compared prices to the Golden zone and says that they are the same, we bought post cards, sun glasses for Kevin who lost his on the beach, and a fake Louis Vuitton handbag for $40.  Then we boarded the ship and showered to clean the dust off.  Now to the sail away party.

After the party went to the show “Swing Train” lively and fast paced, with varied extravagant costumes, good singing & dancing.  Vinyl 5 was performing after in Cova Café, but we just walked through and went to dinner.  I had spinach in puff pastry with emmentaler sauce, cream of broccoli soup, salad, seafood croustade, and a Paris Brest for dessert.  Vinyl 4 was singing again in Cova Café then we listened to big band music in Rendez Vous Square, then up to deck 11 for a Tex-Mex party with line dancing

Lose 1 hour tonight.

Tuesday, February 22, 2005

Day at Sea

I woke up at what I thought was 7:06 - I forgot the VCR is 1 hour slow and it's the only way I can tell time when the drapes are closed and my contacts are out - squinting across the room at the VCR.  The drapes do an excellent job of blocking out the light.  I woke the boys because they asked me to get them up when I went running in the morning so they could go running, too.  After stretching I went out to run - walk ½ mile, run 3 miles, walk ½ mile.  The temperature was pleasant, the sun was out - toward the end I glanced at the clock above the pool - 9am already?  I can't have been running that long - after all I'm not the guy I call Mr Marathon who runs two hours out here every other day.  Oh that's right - time change. I went in to get ready for breakfast, then laid out by the pool to read and work on my burn - mostly cloudy today after early sun, but a warm 77 degrees and when the sun came out from time to time it felt really hot.   I kept ordering soda waters and diet cokes to stay hydrated.  A neighboring sunworshipper told me about a woman who was complaining that the whole “f&*&^ cruise” was ruined because of missing Cabo and that there was nothing good about it, never sail Celebrity again, etc.   Pathetic.  Some things are more important than whether some detail on a luxury cruise goes wrong - has she heard there are 200,000 dead and millions homeless in South Asia?  So what if a cushion on your sofa is a little frayed -  Jeesh - get a life! 

At 1pm I gave up and went down to deck 5 to the shore excursion desk to ask some details about tomorrow's shotover jet shore excursion in Acapulco.  But the sign said there's no one there until 4, so I went back up to the Palm Springs Café on deck 11 to have lunch (took the stairs as usual to work off the calories!) - Today it was the Italian buffet - great pork roast, garlic beef, Italian vegetables, chicken cacciatore.  We like this food better than on HAL, which was too bland.  

After lunch I went to a lecture on game shows.  It was very interesting and entertaining, the speaker who I met on cruisecritic online won 3 times at Wheel of Fortune and talked about his experiences and how to get on game shows - sort of a behind the scenes look. He's a very nice fellow, animated, friendly, writes songs and greeting card poems - not just short little blurbs but real poems.  Then I went to play ping pong with Jeffrey, then went to the Battle of the Sexes Trivia contest where I was able to help the men's team because I knew some answers that no one else did (first Disney live action feature w/out animation - Treasure Island; first state to declare Prohibition in 1885 - Kansas; which amusement park has Club 33 - Disneyland, etc).  By then it was around 5pm so I came back to the stateroom to change for a workout at the gym - but I will wait for Elizabeth who is playing ping pong with Jeffrey.

I worked out on the circuit machines in the gym.  Jean Claude, the acrobat from the show the other night, was there with Manon, his daughter.  He's very nice, friendly and approachable.  There was another French guy there, Joseph, with his American wife, Pat, from Renton, WA, near where we live.  He told us to check out the chambre de commerce française when we get home because they have great activities for French folks and Francophiles.  We fit on both accounts.   I had a good workout - did all the machines, which is nice for a change since I just have a Soloflex and dumbbells at home. After showering we got dressed for formal night.  I decided not to rent a tuxedo on this cruise - I do that about every other time - but brought some silks shirts and ties, dark slacks and a navy blazer.  I never felt out of place.  Elizabeth brought some black slacks and a dressy top.  Before dinner we went to the Navigator's Lounge to listen to Abba music before dinner.   I had a delicious filet mignon - but skipped dessert tonight.  As usual the show on formal night is after dinner at 11pm so I skipped it because tomorrow we have an early day.  It was a baritone vocalist Jeff Harnar, who we would hear on the last night of the cruise.

Wednesday, February 23, 2005

Acapulco

We got up around 7, and this morning I woke everyone up.  We had an early breakfast at the buffet again, then we were off the ship at 8:15 to meet the tour.  Acapulco is very pretty, tropical, with soft warm air.  Someone was complaining about how dirty it was, but I've been to Tijuana plenty of times and Acapulco was nothing like that.  Elizabeth's impression was that it reminded her, from far away, of Southern France, where she hails from.  We got into 2 vans to take us through the city, down the sea front boulevard Miguel Aleman, which was nicely landscaped, by the big hotels.  There were lots of American stores and fast food restaurants - we hardly felt like we'd left the US.  Carlos is our driver and narrates the tour.  We saw the famous Las Brisas hotel in all it's pink glory, and Carlos pointed out the movie stars homes, and Sly Stallone's huge mansion. We drove up over the corniche with spectacular views over the bay of Acapulco and the bay of Marques.  We could see the lagoon below where we will ride the boat, and finally pull off the main road into a side road where there is a thatched roof paillotte next to the river with two speed boats.  

We don life jackets and sign our life away on a waiver before boarding the red boats from New Zealand.  Noel is our pilot.  He takes us speeding up away into the swamp, careening through the mangroves, we saw a baby crocodile, didn't go up the Papagayo river but just in the lagoon.  Every once in awhile he'd stop and talk about the mangroves or where Tarzan was filmed, etc.  Sometimes he would stop suddenly, spinning around and creating a big wave.  We got pretty wet but not so wet we needed a towel.  The air was not too hot and was cool in our faces when the boat was going fast.  At the departure and at the end a photographer on shore was taking our pictures and they made up a little CD that we could buy after with pictures of us in the boat, etc. plus pictures of the mangroves and the animals that lived there.  It was only 150 pesos - a real good deal I thought.  This shore excursion was the best one of the whole cruise, everyone agreed.  Terry, Iris and Crystal, our tablemates from dinner, were on the excursion with us.

We boarded the air-conditioned van back through the city with more narration.  We got back the pier right at 11.  Kevin & I walked along the waterfront boulevard a bit taking pictures of the beach, the fishing boats, people selling the fresh catch, etc. Unfortunately, the exhaust smells take away some of the pleasure of this stroll.  We turned around and walked back to the ship and got on board to have lunch at the buffet.  There was a real tasty spicy Caribbean chicken stew, Caribbean ratatouille, millefeuille pastry, tarte au citron.  We'll take a bus tour of city this afternoon.  When we were outside on the pier there were lots of pushy taxi drivers and tour guides approaching us to get us to buy their tours.  They told us to a man that we had made a big mistake to buy the ship's tours, etc. etc. Even the comedian on board would later make a joke about how Acapulco had the most aggressive vendors.

We went downstairs again around 1:00, dropping by Guest Relations to drop off the tip form.  I'll give the standard tip, $14/day/person, charged to my account.  That includes the tip for the butler, since we're in a suite.  We brought $150 in ones to give as supplemental tips, some of which I've already given.   There were 9 of us for Historic & Picturesque Acapulco, a nice intimate group led by Juan in an A/C van.  First we went to Fuerte San Diego and he guided us through the museum - very nice & modern display in Spanish & English.  We had time to walk around the ramparts a little.  There was a very bright sun, especially blinding off the white walls of the fort. The fort is right across the street from the Cruise Terminal.  The sun was so bright it bothered my contact lens and I didn't know what to do because I didn't want to rinse it in tap water and risk getting an infection.  Finally I took it out and poured my bottled water over it and put it back in my eye.

It's hot today, but pleasant and not too humid.  As a matter of fact, unlike on our two Caribbean cruises, the video camera didn't fog up once on this cruise.  After the fort we drove to Hotel Los Flamingos in the old part of town, high on a cliff over looking the Pacific, passing by some more movie stars former homes on the way.  On the way we also saw a poster for somebody Walton to be elected deputy of something or other.  The hotel was bought in the ‘30s by Johnny Weissmuller and John Wayne and was frequented by many stars.  When the hotel was built it was all by itself on top of the cliffs but now is completely surrounded on three sides by the city.  We had a free drink in the restaurant overlooking the sea, choice of cerveza or soda.  The setting was spectacular and there was a nice cool breeze.  Then we drove back downtown to Bonita Plaza shopping near the cruise terminal and the main Plaza.  Free drinks were offered, including margaritas, cerveza and sodas.  There were lots of beautiful crafts and jewelry from all over Mexico. The guy tried to sell me a $5000 opal ring. If I had that kind of money to burn, I'd rather spend it on another cruise!  We did buy postcards, though.  Then we drove again along the ocean front Ave Miguel Aleman, the same drive as this morning, through the Golden Zone, then the Diamond Zone, past hotels, stars homes, etc. to Hotel Las Brisas, up through the private neighborhood to the Capilla de la Pais, where there is a giant cross high above the city - more spectacular views.  It was started by grieving parents whose 2 sons were killed in aircraft crash in the late ‘60s; the mother died 2 years later, the father 2 years after that, and the whole thing was finished by the daughter.  Just recently her own son was killed in a car accident.  You can't visit this place on your own - only on an excursion.  After we heard the story and walked around taking pictures  Juan drove us back to the cruise terminal. A very nice, intimate tour. 

We looked around the mall at the pier a little bit.  Elizabeth was intrigued by a lovely dress in one of the shops but it didn't come in small enough sizes for her.  After we boarded the ship I changed into my swimsuit and laid out by the pool up on the Sky Deck - the sun was setting, there was a cool breeze, very pleasant.  Elizabeth decided to run and not go to the Folklorico show.  I showered around 6:30 then we went without her to Folklorico show - the boys came, too.  There was a Mariachi band, Aztec dances, dances & costumes from different regions and all the entertainers were from Acapulco. The mariachi band played later in the Manhattan restaurant. After the show I listened to Steve Garey play the piano in the Cova Café.  He just played one tune merging into another the whole time he was there.  I went out onto the promenade deck, thinking I'd walk around front but found the promenade doesn't circle around the front.   That bites.  I liked the promenade deck better on Oosterdam and even on Disney Magic. 

Dinner time and casual night  I ordered Galantine of Duckling, Duck Comsomme, salad, Rack of Lamb provençal (tender, spicy, juicy, really fabulous), charlotte beaujeaulaise, and a sacher torte I shared with Elizabeth.  After working on the trip report I planned on visiting the Tropical Sailaway party and ‘melons on parade'.  The Mariachi band played first then had to disembark, followed by the party band Top Secret.  Kevin joined the dance instructions and giant limbo line with Crystal.  The serving staff came out to a fanfare bearing watermelons carved into fanciful masks, birds and animals. Large tables were set up with tropical fruits, carved watermelons, cookies of all sorts and some hot dishes.    As it was late, we didn't partake. The ship's departure was delayed a little while they took some poor fellow off in a stretcher.  We went to bed around 11:45.

Thursday, February 24, 2005

I got up around 6:30, and woke the rest up after; we were already at anchor in Zihuatanejo bay.  We got a bag ready with the towels and sunscreen, then went up and had breakfast. Kevin had no time for breakfast.  I told Kevin to meet us at Rendez Vous Square by the appointed time or we would have to leave without him.   I had a ham & cheese, mushroom & onion omelet, cantaloupe and watermelon.  We went back to the room and Kevin already gone, taking the towels with him and had left for Rendez Vous Square.  We went down to meet him and hung around to sign in and then go to tender.  It was a lot of “hurry up and wait.” We boarded the tender from a little dock that folded right down from the side of the ship.  The tender swung around the ship and took the short trip to the short pier of the town.  We muscled our way past the inevitable photographer who was, as usual, creating a horrible bottleneck at the exit from the pier. Zihautanejo is a pretty little town but we didn't stay there long as we boarded our bus to Ixtapa, a lovely resort, prettier than Acapulco.  It reminds me a lot of Walt Disney World in Florida, the way it's landscaped. 

We went all the way through the resort, past the hotels and restaurants, to a pier where we got in a little boat to go to Isla Ixtapa.  The dock was protected by a stone jetty swarming with pelicans.  At Isla Ixtapa there was a nice sandy beach there, lined with thatched roof bars & restaurants.   We went almost all the way to the end to the Ixtapa restaurant, where there were chaises longues reserved for us, and behind that tables under umbrellas. I sunned and read with Elizabeth, while the boys played in the water.  We had each received two free drink coupons, good for sodas or cerveza, and at 11:30 we had lunch on the tables under an awning.  Jeffrey, Elizabeth and I had grilled marinated tuna, which was absolutely delicious and Kevin had steak.  One woman in our group had chicken and regretted it later as she got sick that night, probably from salmonella poisoning.  There was a guacamole appetizer.  This was a great excursion - we would like to have stayed there longer, but the ship sails at 2pm. At 12 we made the reverse trip, and had just enough time in Zihautanejo to buy postcards.  I wish I had taken camera on this outing because it was so picturesque.  At the pier we were greeted with cold towels to refresh ourselves while we waited for the tender.  On the way back to the boat one poor woman looked like she was going to be violently ill, even though the heat wasn't too bad and there wasn't much motion on the ocean.  Maybe she had one too many margaritas in the town.

Back on the ship I watched pool games, such as a game where they laid a large beam across the pool and two people would try to knock each other off with a bouquet of balloons.  I took a short nap in the room, then found a lounger on the pool deck in the shade and read. Elizabeth joined me later.  Kevin came back from the gym - they'd asked him to leave because the hotel director had decided to enforce an 18 year old age limit.  The gym attendant the first day had told us that 16-year olds could be there but the hotel director changed his mind.  I told Rusty and he said he'd talk to his boss who'd talk to the hotel director.  About 5 we went to gym and worked out, saw Jean Claude & Gaby there, chatted awhile, exchanged e-mail addresses and JC promised to arrange to get together when they come to Seattle for the Alaska cruises.  He doesn't like those, though and will not do them for long - too cold and too expensive to do anything on shore.  He appears to like to tan and can't do that because it's too cold.  He likes the gyms better on the M class ships. He told us that he thinks Mercury needs to go into drydock but that Celebrity doesn't want to spend the $22 million dollars it would cost, plus lost revenue.  Also, he felt, as an athlete, that the equipment wasn't up to snuff.  Our needs are simpler, of course, so it was fine with us. While we were working out, Rusty us and told us that we had received the Hotel Director's permission provided we signed a release form, which we Rusty produced and we signed.   Rusty was a great butler.

After that, Elizabeth walked and I ran on deck - hardly anyone was there, and we watched the beautiful sunset. Kevin went to the show, but we missed it - it was Pearl Kaufman, sort of a Hollywood pianist and apparently she was quite good.  We would have the pleasure of hearing her perform on the last evening of the cruise.  After we showered and dressed we went to talk to Alexia at the Future Cruise Desk and a put hold on the March 26, 2006 Hawaii Cruise on Summit out of LA, a round-trip14 nighter.  There was not much difference, just $200 each, between an ocean view and a verandah, so we sprung for the verandah. We definitely could get used to this.  The next cruise will be just for the two of, though, and my niece has offered to stay with the boys if we want to get away for awhile.

We ran into the gentleman from the start of the cruise that had been on 35 Celebrity cruises.  He told us the Hawaii cruise was fabulous.  We stopped by the Photo studio and looked over our photos and discarded those we didn't want - we'll decide on the rest later - then went to dinner.  Iris was there tonight, still looking a little green around the gills.  The kids had been to see the Hollywood Pianist - they said we missed a great show.  Celebrity Idol was also on and apparently a couple of the candidates were quite good.   I had cream of chicken soup, followed by stuffed pork loin.  I finished up, as I had every night of the cruise, with a mint herbal tea.  I love the service when they bring around the personal pot of hot water and the tea cup - everything all ready to go. Then we went to see then Black & White Duo in Rendez Vous square, then went to 50's music trivia in Pavilions, where we failed miserably.

Friday, February 25 2005

Puerto Vallarta today.  I woke everyone up early for the 9:15 jungle tour. We boarded a bus that drove all the way through PV to Mismaloya. It was a very pretty drive.  Here as in Acapulco and other places we loved the tropical foliage, the bougainvilleas everywhere, and all the other bright flowers.  We stopped at a scenic overlook, ostensibly for a potty break but really so that we could shop at the tiendas, so that the tour guide could get his kickback. Upon reaching Mismaloya we turned off onto a narrow paved, then dirt road up to Eden.  We passed through a dirt poor village, winding into the jungle, several times very close to the edge of a cliff, with sometimes spectacular views over the river valley.  We arrived after a while at Eden Resort where the Predator movie was filmed.  It was a very pretty place with a restaurant built around some waterfalls and a pool.  During the ride there the guide explained the things we could do there - he would take us on a hike through the jungle, we could order lunch, we could swim although he thought the water was too cold, or for an extra fee he could arrange for us to do a canopy tour. After we got off the bus we went on the jungle ‘hike', really just a walk up a stony slope a couple of hundred yards to look at the view - the jungle hike was too short.  The guide reminded us again that for extra fee we could do canopy tour - $66.  I thought it would be too expensive for four of us but was tempted because the boys had wanted to do this excursion but through the ship there was an age limit of 18.  Kevin asked if he paid half could we go - I checked with guide, there was still plenty of time, he would arrange it.  So he took us to the area where they were set up and he spoke to Carmen and we paid fee for Kevin and me.  There was already a small group there and we sat around a little while, then got outfitted and I thought we would go.  But no, we sat around a while longer while another large group came, they got outfitted, etc.  Then the whole group departed.  We had only done four slides (out of 10) when the guide got radioed that we had to go back as the bus was leaving.   No refund, partial or otherwise.  I was pissed since Jesus, the guide, had assured us that we had the time and had proposed this himself.  He wouldn't even let us ask for a refund.  Apparently, one whale of a woman had done all the complaining about the potential delay and one ‘helpful' man had suggested to Elizabeth that the others had taken a vote and would leave without us.   We drove back down the narrow dirt road in the bus, letting other busses pass on this scary dirt track, etc. 

The driver dropped us off on the Cuale island and we explored the pretty island with its shops, bars and restaurants. We ordered Diet Cokes in a restaurant next to the river - a lovely setting.  After that we backtracked to the Shrimp Factory - it was very good, reasonably priced, good service.  Elizabeth and I ordered the garlic shrimp.  The kids got a mixed platter and fried ice cream for dessert.  After that late lunch we walked along the pretty ocean front, and bought t-shirts at Del Sol.  We went into another shop where they had some nice shirts but nothing that we really liked in our size. We tried to get a taxi that was out front but he wouldn't bargain - we had been told that we should expect to pay $4-6 from there to the cruise terminal.  We hailed another taxi and that driver would bargain, $6 back to port.  We had looked all over for post cards but only found some pretty battered looking ones on Cuale Island.  We thought that perhaps we might have better luck at the shops at the port, but there the post cards were $1 each - no bargaining, so we passed on those (we bought cards later for 5 for $2 on the ship). 

At this point there was some spotty rain, but it was not too hot, so I jogged on deck.  They were giving out free drinks, and the sail away band Top Secret was playing.  They seem to know everything - they've got a huge repertoire.  They're pretty good, but the lead singer is a little flat sometimes.  They know all the songs, and took some requests from me shouted over the rail as I was jogging (Mambo Number 5, La Vida Loca).  After we showered and got dressed we wnt to the show - it featured a great comedian, who had a lot of funny topical humor about ship & ports.  Of course it was standard cruise jokes but it was still  funny.  He had to adjust his routine to account for the changes in our itinerary.  Some of the jokes made more sense when we watched his show replayed from tape on the stateroom TV because they were on the original ports.  That was followed by an encore performance by Jean-Claude & Gaby - they did a great show but it was tricky since the ship was moving).  We talked to them afterwards and bought their DVD, (we bought a tape from the comic).  We stopped by the Rialto shops, bought post cards, and some candy for our neighbors.  For dinner I ordered scallops.  After dinner we listened to the string quartet in the Cova Café, went back to the theater to take a picture of Jean-Claude & Gaby, we are always happy to see French people.  We also watched the not so newlywed game - no surprises there.  Tonight we set the clocks back one hour.

Saturday, February 26, 2005

I awoke this morning at 7, and went to the Navigator's Club to read for an hour or so.  I walked there along deck 12, where it was cool and somewhat windy.   After I went back to the cabin where Elizabeth was still sleeping I told the kids I'd be in the Manhattan restaurant to try their breakfast if they wanted to join me when they were ready.  I went downstairs and was seated near the rail on the second floor with the folks who happened to be at the next table at dinner.  I told the waiter my two sons might be joining me.  Elena, our assistant server from dinner, was passing out pastries.  I saw no point in ordering stuff I could get at the buffer so I ordered eggs benedict and a banana pancake. down.  After a few minutes Kevin and Jeffrey came down and joined us.

After breakfast I stopped by the pool to reserve (for just 15 minutes unattended!) a couple of lounges, seeing as it was too cool on windy on the Sky Deck.  I sunned by the pool for 2 to 3 hours, but it was still windy and cool, especially when the sun went behind the clouds, which was rather frequently.  Elizabeth wanted to go to the Acupuncture Nutrition lecture at 12:15, so went down to the Conference Center where the specialist bashed the Atkins diet.  Why do all these so called experts bash I diet they clearly know nothing about?  The all criticize it as if the first two week, the induction diet, is how you eat for the rest of your lives.  After that we checked out the buffet offerings on our way to the Manhattan restaurant to see what was on the menu there, and decided to go back to the buffet.  Today it was a Mexican buffet - fish a la verecruzana, steak, etc.  It was very good, not just tamales and frijoles.   

After lunch we sunned on the verandah for a while because it was less windy there with the partition. At two I could hear the fanfare for the sorbet parade around the pool, but by the time I got off my lazy butt to go see about it, the sorbet was all gone - oh the misery! I'm really starting to get into the relaxing thing on this cruise.

 I  had planned to go to Jason Blume's talk on songwriting because he was so entertaining during his talk on game shows, but skipped it because we would have to leave early to go to the Swing Dance class that Elizabeth and I decided to go to.  There was a couple that we saw every evening cutting a very elaborate rug at all the dance venues.  Elizabeth remarked that she wished we could take lessons so that we could have more fun dancing.  I reminded her that I had pointed out every time they offered dance classes on the cruise: the cha cha (that Kevin and Crystal had gone to), line dancing, tropical dancing, and waltz.  So she agreed we'd go to swing and on our next cruise we'd go to all of them. It was fun at swing class but we need lots more practice to do anything more than the basic step with a little grace.  Kevin was there, too, apparently hoping Crystal would make it - we didn't know she was sick).  Dance instruction was given by a couple of the Celebrity dancers and took place in the Navigator's Club. I stayed on for Battle of the Sexes, and finally to play the ship's version of password. The rules for Password were a little different than the regular game - multiple words were allowed, such as “apple pie” and proper names were allowed as clues.  Also, each team was given a different word.

After the game it was time to work out so I went to the suite to change then ran on deck - the wind made it challenging at times, especially running towards the front of the ship.  Then I went and got Kevin and we went to the gym and worked out.

We had visited Alexia at the Future Cruise desk on Thursday afternoon and tentatively booked an Hawaiian cruise for just the two of us next March and today it was do or die so we called Alexia to tell her to go ahead and book it - if it turns out later we can't afford it we can always cancel, but this locks in the price and gets us onboard credit of $200. We also watched the debarkation talk on TV and also a ‘replay' of the comedian's routine (the broadcast version is his standard act - not from this cruise).

Tonight was also the last formal night - there was lobster, of course, and the baked Alaska parade.  Ivana asked us if we'd be wanting a second lobster - of course we would! Even Jeffrey ate lobster and surprised us on this cruise by all the new things he tried and liked!  Crystal had gotten sick and did not come to dinner - we think it was Norwalk.  She had spent the whole day resting in her stateroom. When Iris was sick she didn't want the cabin steward to come in and be bothered to clean but he insisted it would only take a minute and tidied up around her.  They ran into a nurse in the stairs who also made suggestions about what Crystal could eat or drink that would help her to feel better. 

After dinner we also watched the last of the three production shows - Touch of Broadway - it was very good.  It was the last performance for this cast - there was lots of energy but no emotion like there had been with the Oosterdam Singers & Dancers on our cruise last summer.  I ran into two of the performers later at the San Diego airport and they told me that there had been so many problems with this cast, what with performers quitting and apparently some friction, that they were all glad it was over.  One of them said he was not going to do this again.  Even though Crystal was still feeling a little sick she came to the show - Kevin wanted to go sit with her but I suggested that if Crystal were sick it would better if he didn't. 

When the show was over Kevin and I went to the Grand Buffet in the Manhattan Restaurant to film and take pictures.  It was beautiful, spectacular and tempting but too late for either of us to actually eat anything.  Of course we had only finished dinner a couple of hours before and if I eat that late I'll be up all night with heartburn.  Still we're glad we went to see the result of all the hard work it takes to arrange all that food so artistically.  There were at least a dozen large ice carvings and bread structures in all kinds of forms were all around.  The pates, vegetables and fruits were all intricately arranged in fanciful designs.  Bravo to the chefs and others who put this on.

Sunday, February 27, 2005

I awoke before 7 today.  There was a time change again last night and we were now on Pacific time.  Like yesterday I went to read in the Navigator's Lounge for awhile, then went to wake everyone - the boys were already awake and had had breakfast.  Jeffrey was making plans to hang out with his new friends he finally hooked up with yesterday.  I laid a couple of towels on chairs by the pool (for just a short time), had a quick breakfast then went out to lay by the pool. It seemed a little warmer and not quite as windy today but I had the impression that it was because the ship was traveling a little slower. The captain's noon announcement confirmed we were traveling at just 16 knots.   Kevin and Elizabeth soon joined me - Kevin just to tan and Elizabeth to read.  We passed Oosterdam heading south at 9 am and an RCI ship later on.  I read by the pool until about 1pm then had lunch.  Like yesterday we checked the menu downstairs then headed to  the buffet.  So we never did eat lunch in the dining room or get room service.  I guess we just don't know how to take advantage of these things.  Actually, we were most likely to order room service for breakfast but sleeping four in a Sky Suite is problematic.  They have to bring in a rollaway bed, unless the two sleeping in the sofa bed are small.  Our kids could have done it when they were younger but it was out of the question now.  So we have to have the whole place cleaned up already to have any room to eat breakfast in the suite.  Of course, it was too cool and windy to eat out on the verandah for four while the ship was moving.  The table outside would have been a little small for that anyway.

Battle of the sexes was early at 2pm today (it had been at 4:30 the other days).  It was a close battle but in the end the men prevailed.  We also attended a Life at Sea talk at 3:30 where Dru, the Cruise Directory and Jeff, the assistant CD talked about life at sea for the themselves, the entertainment staff and others who worked for them and how they had gotten in the business.  Elizabeth and I went to high tea at 4:30 in the Manhattan Restaurant, then went to the Shore Excursion desk at 5pm to give them my complaint about the Puerto Vallarta excursion.  They will forward the issue to Miami but Monica called later and said that that is all they could do - no refund could be forthcoming.  I didn't really expect one anyway but I had put in the complaint that I wanted a 60% refund on it because I missed 6 of the 10 slides on the cable.  I figured the worst they could do was to say ‘no'.  Another passenger who was on the excursion had already filed a complaint on our behalf, even though he himself was unaffected.  That was really nice!

I ran 4 miles on deck through the beautiful sunset.  The farewell show at was at 7 with Pearl Kaufman (the pianist), Jeff Harnar (the baritone), Jean Claude & Gaby, the cruise highlights video and the Vinyl 4 a cappella group.  Jeff did his “Impossible Dream/Somewhere” medley.  I congratulated him afterwards on his beautiful voice and told him that I was hoping to hear him do the climax of Impossible Dream and then I sang for him “This is my quest, to follow that star”.  He said I should sing Karaoke because I had the pipes for it!  We visited with Jean Claude and Gaby and Joseph from Renton was there, too.  On our way to dinner we stopped by the Photo Gallery and ordered the cruise highlights video - Kevin & Crystal were in it dancing the limbo.  Our last dinner at 8:30 - rack of lamb.  We packed after but since we have rollaway suitcases we don't put them out in the hall but choose to take them off the ship ourselves.  It's more convenient and quicker to get off.   Not wishing to draw the curtain on this wonderful cruise we stopped by Cova Café to listen to Steve Garey and because the waitress there seemed to know us and kept asking if we'd back later.  Unfortunately, Steve was sick that night so we headed to Pavilions where Top Secret was playing.  We danced a little.  Next cruise we'll definitely have to take all the dance lessons.  Finally we reluctantly went back to our suite to go to bed.

Monday, February 28, 2005

I awoke around 6:30 - I was so used to the ship's motion that I was convinced the bed was rocking but I looked outside and could see the San Diego airport - the ship was in port.  We got up, finished packing, went to our last breakfast at 7:30, and visited awhile with Joseph, Jean Claude and Gaby on the aft deck.  Joseph told us about a great, but reasonably priced French restaurant in Renton that we'll have to go to with them.  Jean-Claude promised to see us when Mercury comes to Seattle but I don't think he realizes she won't be sailing from here until close to the end of May and I think their contract is up by then.  Taking our leave we walked around deck and took some photos. 

We left the cabin around 9pm, took our luggage off at deck 6, breezed through immigration, crossed the street to Holiday Inn, told them that we had stayed there the night before the cruise and that the desk clerk had told us we could take the shuttle back.  The fellow that runs the airport shuttle told us that normally they don't do that but they'd let us this time if we took care of the driver.  We got to airport in not time and checked in.  We found out our flight would be delayed a couple of hours but amazingly, I was still so high on the cruise afterglow that I didn't care.  Besides, Joe and Pat were there to visit with while waiting, so we hung out together until it was time to board the plane for our otherwise uneventful flight back home.

Summary

This was our best cruise yet.  The Mexican ports were all different from one another; the weather was good, a little cool into and out of San Diego, as expected, but not too hot or humid in Mexico.  The kids got a little board since there were so few other teens on board but they finally managed to hook up with some others by the end of the cruise.  We really enjoyed the company of Terry, Iris and Crystal our dining companions.  It was also fun to meet and run into our fellow CruiseCritics throughout the cruise.  We were not disappointed in any of the meals and the service was consistently good throughout.  Having the extra three days as compared to a 7-day cruise made this cruise especially relaxing.  This is definitely an itinerary I want to do again, although I'd look at the 11-day cruise because we'd get more time at Ixtapa and beach time at Manzanillo.  Plus, since we missed Cabo San Lucas due to the medical evacuation, that would be a new port for us as well.