JandBR_PHX

We're thinking of taking a taxi from the port to Chileno Bay for snorkeling, but not sure how to get back.  Anybody ever done that?

Ooops, I neglected to mention this is Puerto Vallarta.

Wife and I are taking our first cruise to Mexican Riviera on RCI Navigator of the Seas in mid-May.  We like bicycling, but we're nearly 60 y.o., and aren't mountain bike shredders by any stretch of the imagination.  Has anybody done RCI's "Biking the Mexican Countryside" excursion?  We'd just like to get an idea of the distance, terrain, climbs, etc.  Thanks!

A word of caution while booking the cave tubing excursions. Make sure that you book with a company that has head rests and that will tie you together with your party with ropes!

 

We went on this tour back in 2012 with cavetubing.bz and they had us hold onto each other by holding onto other people's feet! They put people's feet underneath our arms and you had to hold onto them (even people that were strangers to us after we hiked a mile to get to the tubing area and had super dirty feet uck!). It got uncomfortable VERY quickly!! We saw other groups that had head rests and were tied together with ropes and wished that we had gone with that company (don't know who they were). We were so uncomfortable during our tour that we didn't really get to enjoy it that much. And then towards the end of the tour my arms were so sore from holding onto my husband's feet the whole time, that I tried to adjusted them and I lost him! Without being attached to the group he started floating away from us all and a guide from a different company went after him and pulled him back! It was honestly a terrible experience for us, BUT I think that if you go with the right company it might be very enjoyable. Just make sure that you look for pictures of the tours before you book.

We went with cavetubing.bz on May 4, and I can confirm: the tubes have headrests, they are tied together with rope (not holding somebody else's feet), you don't have to carry your tube for the 1 mile hike (but you must carry it for the last 0.37 miles if they take you to the "extra" cave, and it was fun! Make sure you wear shoes that are in good shape; it's 0.25 mi walk back to the bus.

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I don't care about west coast sailing to Mexico but if the Maritime Service Act went away there could be some interesting sailings with USA itineraries.

 

Personally I would much rather see RCCL return to New Orleans. Much rather!

Agree! We've done a couple of Pacific coastal cruises and loved being able to drive to the port.

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A bowl of muesli with extra pumpkin seeds, a couple of sausage links and lots of coffee.

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Seaview Cafe is one of our favorite casual dining venues on Radiance class... seems better on Serenade than Jewel. Serenade was our first, and will always hold special memories.

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Belize Zoo got 4.5 on TripAdvisor. We're thinking about doing that in May, instead of the cave tubing.

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The walk is as long as you need it to be. They will take their time if there are people with mobility issues. It's a fairly slow walk because you stop frequently and they tell you about things along the way (like the trees there they use to make the ink for money, tasting various plants that are a source of water...and even eating termites). There's just a lot of great information as you walk and for someone who might have mobility problems or can't walk fast, this can be nice...

Thank you, Mitsugirly. I really should've asked, "what is the distance of the walk?" :) I think I read elsewhere it's about a mile, true?

Thank you for the tips!

For the most part, you are in the shade, even when walking to the caves along the path (because of all the trees). If you wear sunscreen, you should be fine for those few areas that the sun shines through. :)

We're thinking about cave tubing, but we're concerned about my mom being able to participate. She's 78 years old, and in OK shape. Does anybody know:

How long is the walk?

Is the path very rough?

Are tubers required to propel themselves?

TIA!

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We would LOVE an L.A. departure. Pacific coastal, with overnight in SF would be our first choice - we'd do that a couple of times a year. Mexican Riviera would be #2.

No - 50

...and the browser (Internet Explorer...yes I know but I still like this one) I had been using to view it is no longer accepted by their website.

Yeah, I like IE too. I have been using it with XP on my home machine, until a couple of weeks ago. I was forced to download Firefox to continue accessing some of my favorites - including RCI.

I'm using IE11 in Win7 to post this. RCI website operates OK with this browser on my work laptop.

We love St. Lucia - been there 3 times. The first time we took a RCI excursion that went to a botanical garden (with a waterfall), and a cacao plantation.

The second time, I was sick and stuck in my cabin. DW did the port on her own, and found a great driver/guide; Mr. Shakes.

Last time, we just asked one of the other cabbies for him when we got to port. He took us to a nice, uncrowded beach and returned 4 hours later.

Never been to St. Kitts, but we really love this itinerary... I guess we're port people.

I agree with the prior comments about Antigua. BEAUTIFUL beaches.

We didnt't get to take a tour the day we were there, but we did get to enjoy the samples. Ask for a Cruzan Cheescake. Deelishus!

 

Here's a direct link to the visitor's center at the factory. As you can see it is NOT downtown. It's a few miles away. Not hard to find.

 

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=17.703997,-64.824888&ll=17.704104,-64.824899&spn=0.003076,0.005981&num=1&t=h&z=18

Thank you, RZ3. Google Earth shows it on the corner of Hill and Queen streets in downtown Frederiksted, but that ain't a distillery. Thanks for the accurate info!

According to Google Maps, it's 8.7 km (~5.4 mi) - definitely a cab ride!

"We will make you visiting our Distillery, and tasting our beautiful rums with a lot of pleasure !

Generally, visits are free, but if you want, you can have an appointment in english, to make you discover our making process, but you have to know that in november, any distillery is producing, harvest season during from january to july. We are at the end currently.

Unfortunately, we have not own transport from cruise port to our, but by taxi or city bus, it is possible.

Address of Distillery La Favorite : 5.5 km route du Lamentin - 97232 Le Lamentin (near from the Hospital CHU Zobda Quitman)"

=====================================

So, no transportation, but they can do a tour (of the non-operating factory?) in English... will continue to look for other things to do

Thanks, Blue_Water... we will probably be going to Sapphire, since we want to do some snorkeling, too. We were just happy with the Pain Killers there ;)

OK, Sapphire looks great but I need one more comparison, please. The beach bar at Megans serves a GREAT Pain Killer, what about Sapphire? DS wants to return to Megans to repeat the great time we had there last time, with a few Pain Killers.

Are all the facilities open on Sunday?

Also I saw a mention of Bud Light at the dive center, but do they have beer? :D

I just sent a note to La Favorite rhum distillers (in La Lamentin) with a request for information - transportation from the pier and if they conduct tours in English. Will advise.

I have the same problem. I will cruise here on Jewel in November. I am having a hard time deciding what to do. I don't speak French and I get the feeling that can be a problem. I like the idea of renting a car here but I am nervous since I haven't been here before.

We haven't been here either, and our French is not so good, but you're welcome to walk up to the spice market with us and watch us stammer/stutter :).

We're probably going to book an RCI tour too, just not sure what sis and her DH will want to do.

As far as I'm concerned that's a big :D:D:D, not a :(... I FAR prefer the Radiance Class ships in their pre-drydock form...

I'd be happy if they never made the changes!!!

I guess the only thing I'd be happy about changing on the Radiance-class ships is the TV. Put a flat screen in to give me a little more room to put all my & DW's JUNK! It'd also be nice to be able to plug in and review the day's photos/video on the TV.

No, she has the older stuff as she is slated for a dry dock/refurb some time next year, although I thought I read it may be delayed. We were on last week and the phone was ancient and we had a fat (not flatscreen) TV in the room. This didn't detract from our experience at all. The ship is stunning.

Ashland reports that she isn't due till 2016 :(:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=37987473&postcount=50

Thank you for reporting, Mr. FunInTheSun. I look forward to living vicariously through your experiences :-D.

Fish and Chips from the Seaview cafe on RCI Serenade of the Seas. Cheap fish sticks that were overcooked. Yuck!

Artwork on LOS:

WTH is that?!?! Angel Goat packin' heat?