banditoo

On 5/2/2019 at 8:08 PM, buchhalm said:

This is PLENTY of time. From the overseas passenger terminal you can easily walk to Circular Quay train station in less than 10 minutes. Just follow the waterfront towards the ferries.

Bear in mind that from around 7 am to 09.30 the trains will be very, very full (or taxis will be stuck in rush-hour).

Personally, I would do a slow check-out, grab a coffee or breakfast at "City Extra" restaurant at Circular Quay station and take the train to the airport (International Airport station) around 09.30/10.00. 

This gets you to the airport in around 30 minutes.

Jumping on this thread to inquire whether those who have done this morning train to the airport would know if making a 11:15 or 12:30 international flight would be possible from OST. I am thinking the 11:15 flight may be a no go but would like input from those who might have experience. Thanks!

thanks so much for posting all of these. really helps newbies research and have an idea of what to expect. :)

Happy to help!

I posted link to the Funtimes and Camp Ocean from our March 2018 Splendor cruise on some previous threads, but here it is again.

https://sharemytraveladventures.shutterfly.com/mexicanrivieracruise2018/205

Just a quick question, on Princess Cay, can the beach chairs be moved closer to the water, say near the waters edge?

When we were there, there were plenty of loungers right at the water edge on the sandy beach to the right of tender dock when looking at the island from the water. You could drag them wherever you wanted.

That sounds awesome! What company did you use to hire glass bottom boat? We will have young kids with us when we go in July. Would that be a good excursion for them too?

Heather, as noted in my earlier reply, we did have 4 young Children ages 2.5-7 with us. They enjoyed the boat trip to the arches. The boat ride itself, the fish through the viewing window, the sea lions on the rocks, and the pelicans. There are lots of vendors right at the tender dock. I don't recall what we specifically negotiated to pay for our group of 10 for the arches tour and return pick up to Medano but I know it was under $10 pp as that was the average I had been told it cost prior to the trip so wasn't going to pay more than that. The boats have life jackets including for children and you are all required to wear them.

We are driving to Long Beach and traffic is very light so we are likely to arrive 1 1/2-2 hrs before our allotted boarding time. Any chance we can get on early or should we plan to kill time somewhere? TIA

 

 

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The Carnival cruise terminal at Long Beach will have an 'arrived early" line which you can get into if you arrive early. That doesn't mean you will board at that time though.

We did exactly that a couple weeks back and had a 2.5 year old with us as well as other young children. The boats have life jackets including children's life jackets that are required to be worn. For getting out of the boat at Medano, it pull's up to the beach and if one adult gets out first, you can hand the younger children out. There will also be men on the beach to give a hand for a tip if needed.

That sounds awesome! What company did you use to hire glass bottom boat? We will have young kids (4 and 8) with us. Would that be a good excursion for them too?

We just negotiated with one of the vendors at the tender pier. We had 10 in our family group including children ages 2, 5, 5, and 7. The boat name was Bonita I.

Fun Times for Sea Day- Cabo-Mazatlan-PV-2 Sea days

https://sharemytraveladventures.shutterfly.com/mexicanrivieracruise2018/205

Greetings!

 

We're planning for an upcoming 7 night cruise on the Splendor this April (Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta). I've seen Fun Times recently posted for the alternate itinerary (one night in PV and 2 nights in Cabo)--thank you for those--, but I'd love to see some Fun Times for our slightly different itinerary so we can see how the MDR meals and other events are adjusted accordingly, etc. This will help us in pre-booking steakhouse reservations, etc.

 

If anyone could please post this info., it would be greatly appreciated! Also, if we've missed a post to such a thread, could you please reference it? Much thanks! :D:D

Just finished our Splendor cruise and here are the Funtimes for Sea day-Cabo-Maz-PV-Sea day-Sea day

https://sharemytraveladventures.shutterfly.com/mexicanrivieracruise2018/205

Fun Times for the 7 night Sea day, Cabo, Maz, PV, Sea day- Sea Day here https://sharemytraveladventures.shutterfly.com/mexicanrivieracruise2018/205

This link to my sharesite should show you the Funtimes and Debarkation info for Sea Day-Cabo-Mazatlan-PV-Sea day -Sea day

https://sharemytraveladventures.shutterfly.com/mexicanrivieracruise2018/205

When we debarked Splendor a couple days ago, there was a lot of traffic congestion in the port area and long beach waterfront by the Aquarium etc. It took our private transfer 1/2 hour extra to get through traffic to pick us up. Give yourself the extra time.

We just returned from our Splendor cruise. Long Beach Terminal is very nice and well organized. Cruise before us was delayed in returning and debarking so they emailed us to arrive an hour later for checkin. Since we arrived at LAX in the morning and had private transfer booked, we went straight to port anyway. Arrived about 1015 and Platinum/Diamond and FTTF lines were just being set up though terminal not opened yet. Terminal opened at 1120 and we went in right away (front of FTTF line) at same time as Diamond/Platinum. Boarding did not start until an hour later as they were still getting other passengers off and preparing ship. Once boarding started at 1120, it was only minutes before FTTF were in after Diamond/Platinum and then all the general boarding started. Disembarking was also well organized and easy. Many people did carry off luggage which started just before 0830. Lines moved quickly through border control.

Another photo of the Beach close to the ship.............https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DZx6jNVVoAAil6k.jpg:large

And the surf that stole my good Maui Jim sunglasses! Watch for rogue waves!

Thank you both so very much! I was trying to move our flight from 2:10 to 11:40, so based on your posts I think that would be cutting it too tight. I myself am not a big drinker, but like the specialty cocktails, just before dinner. It is good to know about the Morocco Bar for Martini tastings-that's my style, little sips! ;) We sail in May and I appreciate you both helping me stay on track while getting excited!!

I agree that a 1140 flight would cut it too tight. Your ship may get into Long Beach late like the cruise preceding ours did and LAX can be very slow with security etc. Depending on how much time you have to spare, you could visit the Queen Mary or take the free Passport Bus to the shops or spend a few hours at the Aquarium like we did. The aquarium is great.

Sorry to Hi-Jack your thread WassUp Bro...

 

Riff at Sea and/or Banditoo if you could tell me a few things...

 

1. Do you know about what time embarkation started and what time were they boarding the ship? We have FTTF if that helps

2. Were your sea days pleasant or a bit cooler temps?

3. Was Cruise Elegant nights held on Sunday and Thursday as reported?

4. Since there is no Alchemy Bar, where did you find the best spot hang out with tasty drink options?

5. Disembarkation, what time did they start? The itinerary says 9 am, wondering if it is realistic.

 

THANKS SO MUCH!

As riffatsea notes, our embarkation was delayed as the arriving cruise and debarkation was delayed. We arrived at port about 1015 from LAX, were in the front of the FTTF line. They started letting us into the terminal at 1120 and then we boarded the ship right on the heels of the platinum/diamond at 1220, went straight to our rooms to drop off our luggage (we did not check any luggage).

Other than the last sea day returning to Long Beach, the weather was suntanning (burning) weather and the retractable roof over the pool was open. The final sea day was windy and every time they opened the roof, people wrapped up in towels so the roof was quickly closed again.

Our group was not big drinkers except for some beer or cocktails poolside or with dinner.

Debarkation started about 0815. As FTTF doing luggage self carry, we were off the ship shortly after 0830. Had to be out of staterooms by 0830 and then went straight off the ship.

We just returned from our Splendor cruise. Had a great day at Lety's on Stone Island. Loungers, umbrellas, great food and drinks while the little ones enjoyed the vast flat beach and water. Important to note that it is easy to get to Stone Island by the water taxis located a short walk to the left from the port. However, there are other water taxi locations that are not as close to the port and arrive at a different location on Stone Island. We made this error as we took a pulmonia old town tour first and asked the driver to drop us at the Stone Island water taxi after. I didn't specify that I wanted the water taxi by the port so unbeknownst to us, we were dropped at a different one which cost $3 pp return instead of $2 pp return (paid by the rest of our group who went straight to the one by the port) and took us to a different dock at the other end of Stone Island. When we all tried to catch the return water taxi from the location going to the port, those of us who had come on the other water taxi were informed that our tickets were not good for that location. It would have been a long walk or ride to the other dock and then we would have had to take another taxi ride back to the port. The lady took pity on us and only charged a small fee to let us on that water taxi which would take us back to the port.

We just returned from our Splendor cruise. Hired a glass bottom boat water taxi to take us out to view the arch and land's end, sea lions etc. and then they dropped us directly on Medano beach and also picked us up for return to the port at an agreed upon time. Spent the time at the Sand Bar restaurant right on Medano. Great lunch with chairs under umbrellas for the afternoon while we enjoyed the sand and surf with Splendor in the background.

We also just got off Splendor (seaday, Cabo, Maz, PV, 2 sea days). The Funtimes are a really awkward size to try and scan; too big for my scanner and don't photograph well. What questions do you have?

The beach by the port at Puerto Vallarta is about a 10 minute walk going right along the port from pier 3 (north) which is where Carnival seems to be docking now since the private yacht is tied up at pier 1 (south). You walk from pier 3 right along the port past pier 2 (NCL was docked there) toward pier 1 and then cut across the Mercado (market) and walk toward the beach along the wall of the Crown Paradise Hotel. The beach is public but there are no amenities or restaurants as the hotels all front along the beach.

Thanks for the great review. How was the weather on ship when leaving and returning to Long Beach?

We are on Splendor now. Just arrived PV. Weather from day of embarkation in Long Beach, all the way along has been pool and suntanning weather. Kids were in pool before we left port of Long Beach. Has been great beach weather in the ports of Cabo and Mazatlan.

Tonight on the Splendor, our group of 10 walked up for Anytime just before 6pm. Seated right away all together at a large table. No wait line at all. Dining room staff told us it will likely be busier tomorrow for elegant night.

Flat Iron tonight on Splendor was tasty, moist and tender. Had mine medium well and was perfect with just a very small hint of pink.

We boarded today. They were late arriving and disembarking. We had FTTF and arrived at port about 1020. waited in front of FTTF checkin line and they let us in at 1120. Waited another hour in terminal in the designated FTTF boarding area beside the Captains' Lounge. On ship at 1220 and went straight to our room with luggage then off to the buffet. Beautiful warm sunny day and now underway!.