LIVE from the Sapphire Princess --Mexican Riviera Oct. 10-17

[bostongal]

We just got off of the Sapphire on Saturday after a b2b. We had a great time, thought Billy London was fun and enjoyed the thermal sanctuary. I hope you have a great time!

 

Steponboard - Yes you can get a table for 8 with a set dining time in Anytime dining. Go see the Maitre D' when you get onboard and request a table and time with him. The service in Anytime is hit or miss but you should be able to get someone good by working with the Maitre D' - who we found to be very very helpful to us on our cruise.

 

Meg

[westcruzer]

Ah reading the "Live from" threads just get me wound up for our upcoming cruise in December on the CB to the caribbean!! Thanks for the updates!!

[Colo Cruiser]

We are booked on the Sapphire and depart one week later (Oct. 17-24). Two questions I have (for you or anyone else who has cruised the Mexican Riviera) - would a taxi or shuttle be the cheapest to take from LAX to the cruise terminal AND what recommendation would you have on the amount of cash to take (and type, pesos ?). Oh, and if you have any recommendations of port excursions, it would be good to hear - this will be me and my wifes 2nd cruise, the last one was a year ago in the Alaskan Inside Passage, and we are taking this one to celebrate 25th anniversary.

 

Supershuttle $17 pp and there is a promo code available to knock $3 off that. Book online.

Outside baggage claim they are right there.

[gertz]

I'm not happy with a 5:45 dinner seating. We're sailing in Dec, and because we're 8 people I thought early seating would be easier then trying to coordinate for the anytime dining. Can we reserve a table in the anytime for 8 people for 6pm every night and thus eliminate the dining room? I hope the service is as good as a regular seating.

 

You might want to think about this for a difference of only 15 min. 1st seating is the preferred seating and if you cancel you probably won't get it back if you change your mind. I'm sure it is wait listed now. It more than likely will be 6 before everyone gets there anyway.

[Rhobri]

You might want to think about this for a difference of only 15 min. 1st seating is the preferred seating and if you cancel you probably won't get it back if you change your mind. I'm sure it is wait listed now. It more than likely will be 6 before everyone gets there anyway.

 

Just talked with Princess who insists early traditional dining is at 6PM. She said the anytime dining starts as early as 5:45, not traditional. Who to believe now?

[stellalimelight]

The princess website shows traditional at 6pm and anytime 530p.

[billet]

The August Sapphire patter shows Traditional Dining first sitting starting at 5:45 in Vivaldi and the International Dining Room and then second sitting at 8pm in the IDR only.

[junglejane]

This is my 6th Princess cruise and this is the first time I've seen Early Traditional at 5:45 pm. I'd prefer 6:15, but the powers that be have made it 5:45 at least on this particular cruise. Who knows, next week it may be different.

 

This morning we joined up with a nice retired couple from southern California and won the morning trivia tournament. We can hardly wait to return at 4:30 pm and defend our title.:)

 

My friend Susan and I tried out the Thermal Grotto. I had free access as a suite passenger, but she had to buy a pass. DH dropped in too, but lasted about 60 seconds before deciding it wasn't his thing. We girls enjoyed it though and plan to return.

 

The Captain made an announcement that he was altering course to avoid Tropical Storm Patricia, but that we should arrive in Puerto Vallarta tomorrow on schedule. Around noon we were eating lunch out by the Neptune Pool, and watched the ship sail past Cabo. It's a bit overcast and humid. Susan, our friend from work, is on her first cruise and is bothered a little by the motion of the ship. So far the rest of us are fine, though.

 

Our 8 year old reports that the Captain will be visiting the Fun Zone at 3 pm. I'll be interested to hear what happens.

 

That's all for now! --Junglejane

 

PS -- Hello to Alli Cruiser!:D

[erinpdx]

Hi JungleJane! So happy to hear you and your family are having fun on the Sapphire. We will be going on this cruise in November with our kids (ages 7 and 9). I am curious what feedback your daughter has about the kids program. Is she enjoying it?

[travelexpress]

I booked the super shuttle today from LAX to the dock and it was $36 with a discount code that I got on cruise critic.

[steponboard]

This is my 6th Princess cruise and this is the first time I've seen Early Traditional at 5:45 pm. I'd prefer 6:15, but the powers that be have made it 5:45 at least on this particular cruise. Who knows, next week it may be different.

 

 

 

:D

I agree. 6:15 would be perfect. Thanks for your ongoing review. Will you miss a port because of the storm?

[VibeGuy]

Jane:

 

There's a game show held called "Majority Rules"; it's usually Alex who hosts. One of the questions is "Name the most popular movie of all time?". I would be absolutely tickled pink to have someone slip in the answer "Deep Throat". One of my goals for the next few weeks is to get that answer in as often as possible. . .my advice would be to have someone *not* playing run it up, in addition to your team's answer. You don't have to attribute it to a team number, but if you wanted to make someone's day, I'd be forever grateful. ;0)

 

If I've missed the playing of Majority Rules, no big deal.

 

E

[deevmo]

Jane:

 

There's a game show held called "Majority Rules"; it's usually Alex who hosts. One of the questions is "Name the most popular movie of all time?". I would be absolutely tickled pink to have someone slip in the answer "Deep Throat". One of my goals for the next few weeks is to get that answer in as often as possible. . .my advice would be to have someone *not* playing run it up, in addition to your team's answer. You don't have to attribute it to a team number, but if you wanted to make someone's day, I'd be forever grateful. ;0)

 

If I've missed the playing of Majority Rules, no big deal.

 

E

 

I like playing that game on cruises! Well ok I like most of the games.

[VibeGuy]

@Deevmo - yeah, it's really fun, and the prizes aren't so valuable that I want to win. I'd rather get people to laugh than be right. Note: Dolly Parton is an excellent answer for "Name an animated character".

 

E

[DesertDaisy]

Hi Jungle Jane,

We got off when you got on, we had a great cruise. Question? We were very late getting off last Saturday, 10-10-09. We were scheduled to disembark at 8:40, but our color was not called until just before 10:00. We were not the last to leave. Did your cruise board on time? Phyllis

[Christapie]

Can you tell me what time late seating is??

 

Christapie

[mikjr]

The Captain made an announcement that he was altering course to avoid Tropical Storm Patricia, but that we should arrive in Puerto Vallarta tomorrow on schedule.

 

It's a bit overcast and humid. Susan, our friend from work, is on her first cruise and is bothered a little by the motion of the ship. So far the rest of us are fine, though.

 

Jane... I'm a bit curious to know just how bad the motion is? We're on the same cruise next week... and I've got two "NEWBIES" with me. They have never sailed before. So, I'm wondering if I should tell them to start taking ginger tabs or bromine a few days before.

 

Thanks...

[UnVrYaN]

Jane... I'm a bit curious to know just how bad the motion is? We're on the same cruise next week... and I've got two "NEWBIES" with me. They have never sailed before. So, I'm wondering if I should tell them to start taking ginger tabs or bromine a few days before.

 

Thanks...

 

I'm not trying to butt in here, but if I was you I would have any newbies taking either ginger or something. Being sick would be an awful way to start your first cruise. JMO.

[Cruisin' Chick]

There's a storm coming down the west coast this week (we got a little sprinkling this afternoon, but the main rain is supposed to start tomorrow). I think the front will be turning and going to the east, but if it comes lower, and sticks around longer than expected, it may churn up the seas a little bit.

[tequilasunrise]

I'm not trying to butt in here, but if I was you I would have any newbies taking either ginger or something. Being sick would be an awful way to start your first cruise. JMO.

 

Have to agree, and they won't have their sea legs, perhaps. Meclizine (Bonine) works best if you start it two days before anyway. El Pacifico is not always the peaceful one, despite the name. After several cruises here, I conclude that the Mexican Riviera is a real crap shoot as to how rough it will be---could be smooth as glass, could rock and roll all night!

[bostongal]

Mikjr - I have done that exact cruise 12 times (just got off a b2b on the Sapphire last Saturday). We have always had a fair amount of rocking & rolling on that cruise regardless of the time of year especially when cruising back to LA from Cabo - I call that cruising uphill :)

 

I am incredibly sensitive to seasickness even after 22 cruises and always take Bonine before the trip and also keep taking it while in port (this is really important to prevent being sick). I would recommend that your newbies start early and take it continually throughout the cruise.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

 

Meg

[merela]

When I was on Sapphire 3 years ago, there was a specialty food bar setup in front of the Horizon Court Entrance (if you are coming from the midship elevators) between noon to 2pm. They weren't listed on the patters and we came upon it accidentally.

 

Sushi bar

Mexican bar

Octoberfest bar Thu

Chocolate bar!!!!!! (lots of chocolate-covered strawberries, bananas, and grapes!) Fri

 

Does Sapphire still do this on their current Mexican Riviera itinerary?

 

TIA.

[waltd]

We just came off the Saphirre last week and had the same table in the Santa Fe anytime dining room. I would recommend picking another dining room if this is the one the matre'd gives you. Even though we had the same table for 2 and same time and same servers the service was not good. We also heard this from others in this dining room. We switched to the Savoy and were a lot happier.

 

Joe

[junglejane]

Hello everyone from Puerto Vallarta. Let me start with last night and the issue of seasickness. This is my 9th cruise overall and the first time I ever took Bonine. We have a cruising newbie with us, our friend Susan. She came prepared with a prescription patch which she has been using since the first day. The funny thing is that she complained about the motion for the first two days (Sat. & Sun.), when the seas were really quite placid. By the time yesterday rolled around and we started to feel the effects of Tropical Storm Patricia, her medicine seemed to have really kicked in and she wasn't bothered at all! However the rest of us were definitely feeling the effects of the motion.

 

Last night during dinner the Captain made an announcement that we were about 80 miles away from the center of the storm. However, the ship continued to rock quite a bit. We looked around our area of the dining room and noticed lots of empty seats. When our 12 year old's dinner arrived, she took one look at it and excused herself to go upstairs. Mary Ann, our waiter, was so sweet. She told us that green apples are supposedly good for seasickness and she wrapped up some sliced green apples for us to take back to the room. They really did seem to help DD.

 

After the Captain's annoucement, they also announced that the repeat performance of the production show was being cancelled due to "inclement weather." They moved Steve Moris into the Princess Theatre and said they would be showing Star Trek XI in the Explorer's Lounge.

 

When we returned to our rooms after dinner, everyone was staggering down the hallways like drunken sailors. Our 12 year old revived enough to go with DH to see Steve Moris. They reported that the theatre was only about 2/3 full, which was either because of seasickness or overexposure to Steve Moris, or both. The rocking motion continued pretty much throughout the night.

 

Today is hot (90 degrees) and humid. We walked to the Krystal Resort, which we also visited last year. We had a great time letting the kids play at the beach and hang out by the interconnected pools. We had a very good lunch at the open air restaurant overlooking Banderas Bay. The only downside was the humidity. When you're on the beach, you do have to keep saying no to the vendors, but we figure that goes with the beach experience. But I figure it's hard to beat the Krystal for convenience. And everything seemed clean, including the restrooms, which is very important to me!

 

Tonight's show is Joel Ward, a Magician. The Explorer's Lounge is showing Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace. Club Fusion has something called Ballroom Dance Date followed by Liars Club Game Show and then Crazy Karaoke.

 

There's also supposed to be a Salsa Sailaway Fiesta at 4:30 on Lido deck, with more music and deck parties during the evening.

 

About the Fun Zone: Our 8 year old doesn't seem as interested in the Fun Zone as on past cruises. Not sure why this is. They have the usual activities: dodge ball in the sports court, dance revolution party, craft projects, science projects (build a loop de loop rollercoaster), free arcade night, play station frenzy, etc. The Fun Zone area on this ship is quite large and nicely done.

 

I'll check on the time for Late Seating and post it later. Sorry VibeGuy but we never made it to that game and couldn't carry out your instructions.;)

 

That's it for now. Gotta get ready for the Sailaway party.

[dianef]

Will be on the Sapphire in a couple of weeks and wondering if you had to buy a day pass to get into Krystal or did they just let you in.We have gone in before and told the guards we were from the cruise ship and they let us in,no charge.We bought some snacks,but not compelled to do so.

 

I hope the rocking stops and you have a great rest of the cruise.