Carnival Splendor Spring Break Review & Report with PICS! (3/25-4/1)

[cdamion]

After the glass bottom boat tour (really no purpose for the glass bottom, so any water taxi will do) we wandered around to shop, got a little lost, then ended up grabbing some food next door to Ocean Riders’ office.

 

At almost 1:30 we headed to Ocean Riders and were brought out to their boat – a rigid-hull inflatable that seats about 13 passengers:

 

 

After we boarded and received our lifevests, we headed out past the arch for more photo ops, then took off down the coast in search of whales. This boat was fast. Period. We flew down the coast (in some instances quite literally) at well over 40 knots.

 

After a little while we came upon a mother humpback whale and her baby:

 

 

 

[cdamion]

(this pic is taken by a photographer on the boat)

 

Check out this video on you tube to see the baby and mother swimming under the surface of the water. It gives you an idea of how it looked, but doesn’t do it justice. The mother was at least twice as long as our boat. Her tail alone was as big as the boat:

 

 

This tour was just simply incredible. One of the best shore excursions I have ever done. I would HIGHLY recommend Ocean Riders in Cabo if you are there during the whale watching season. These boats were much less crowded than the other companies and much cheaper. The experience is one the kids and I will always remember – always!

[cdamion]

After the tour we wandered around a little while more and headed back to the ship. My older son disappeared to meet his friends while the 12yo laid down to rest. I headed back up to the spa for some relaxation time.

 

When the sun started setting, I headed up to the 11th deck to take some pics:

 

 

 

 

[cdamion]

More dusk pics:

 

 

[cdamion]

After the sunset, we headed to the comedy club in the aft lounge for the family friendly comedian followed by dinner where the 13yo met us. Tonight’s main course for me was Penne Mariscos which was a complete miss for me. It is a pasta dish with shrimp, calamari, scallops and mussels topped with grilled salmon. The pasta mix was fair, but the salmon was incredibly dry and tasted like it had been reheated a couple of times. Not a good meal. Luckily this was the only miss in the MDR for the entire cruise.

 

After dinner the 13yo headed back off to meet his friends and the 12yo was tired and went back to the cabin to watch yet more movies and sleep. This would be the night that he started making towel animals. After I came back from the casino EVERY towel in the cabin was turned into some kind of towel animal, including a very large snake he made out of the bath towels.

 

We all went to sleep fairly early because we were tired from the fun day.

 

Here is one more pic of the boat taken by the photographer. I had to buy the pics after I saw this. That is my 12yo front and center.

 

 

Here is a pic from the tour I just thought was interesting, but didn't know where to stick it:

 

[cdamion]

Today we slept in a little bit, but wanted to get off of the ship to go play it by ear in Cabo. Once we got the tender in I found one of the guys I spoke to the day before and arranged for parasailing for the three of us for $30 each. I believe the ship tour for the same thing was around $85 per person. We waited for a couple of minutes for a water taxi to take us out to the boat for parasailing. Both of the kids were quite nervous.

 

We got nice views of the Spirit and Splendor as we headed out to an open area to parasail.

 

The Spirit:

 

 

The Splendor:

 

 

Day3.111 by cdamion, on Flickr

 

The parasail:

 

[cdamion]

As it turns out, it was actually quite peaceful and nice. We were up in the air for several minutes. There was just one other family on board from the Spirit, so it wasn’t too crowded at all and everybody was happy with the time they spent in the air.

 

 

 

 

[cdamion]

Bird’s eye view of Splendor:

 

 

 

After the parasail, the water taxi picked us up from the boat and dropped us off at Medano Beach were we had some food at one of the restaurants. It was crazy with spring breakers so we didn’t last too long. I got the boys out of there before the booty shaking contest and the wet t-shirt contest. I do have to say, we did eat the best fish tacos I have ever tasted in my life.

 

[cdamion]

After lunch, we shopped a little bit and caught the tender back to the ship. The 13yo disappeared with his friends, and the 12yo and I relaxed in the cabin to watch the afternoon sailaway.

 

 

 

My 12yo hanging out on the balcony:

 

 

[cdamion]

The port side of Splendor with Cabo in the background:

 

 

[cdamion]

Today was the best sunset of the entire cruise:

 

 

 

 

[cdamion]

After the sunset we watched the second production show, Fiesta Latina, which I enjoyed. For the second show in a row, there was an issue with the singers’ microphones. They would just cut out and we couldn’t hear. This time the singers would glare up at the sound booth when it happened.

 

After the show was dinner. Tonight was smoked duck, peach cream soup, assorted seafood, newburg style, bitter and blanc, and tiramisu. All was excellent.

 

Following dinner there was a rock & roll deck party with the show band and the singers and dancers from the showroom up on Lido. It was a pretty unique experience. After the mini show, the passengers danced with the dancers which was kind of neat. I haven’t seen that on other ships before.

 

Back in the atrium lobby, the Latin band had lots of people dancing:

 

 

After a little bit of time in the casino I called it a night pretty early because we had to be among the first off the ship in Puerto Vallarta to meet our independent excursion.

 

TO BE CONTINUED (later today or tomorrow)…

[spacepotatoes]

Your pictures, and family, are beautiful! Thanks for the review :)

[susie8862]

Outstanding

[silvercrikhix]

Enjoying your review! Looking forward to more. :D

One question-

Is that a giant monster overlooking the thelassotherapy pool, while one is trying to relax?

That thing is creepy as can be! :eek:

[aggiecruiser05]

Great pictures and review!

[DDMiller]

Thank you for your wonderful review. 51 more days and we will be there!

[newdestination]

Very nice review and photos!

[RenoNanaOz]

Great review, we loved the Splendor last year and can't wait to again.

[MissyMac13]

We will be on Splendor in December and I very much appreciate your review and photos. Both of your boys are very handsome and look like they are enjoying themselves!

[4hunters]

I'm really enjoying your review! Thanks for taking the time to put it together and post. We really love the Splendor and are eagerly awaiting our second voyage on her.

[hannahsmomtoo]

I could hug you for writing this review. My 13 yr old DD and I are sailing the Splendor ( first cruise ever ) on 09/23 * my bday - AND intend to parasail in Cabo.

I love your pics...

and hearing about your boys, as she is that age

 

Thank you SO much !

 

:D

[Nanaimobound]

That was wonderful! We are literally counting down now.

We fell in love with Splendor last spring and wanted to be able to sail on her again before she leaves L.A. :(

 

I totally agree about the crowd flow on this ship. Even though I wasn't really fond of that general design on Conquest (sometimes you felt like you were in a cave), Splendor is very similar, but because the ship is much bigger, I didn't feel closed in at all. We also really like the two hot tubs located on the upper lido outside deck. They were large enough for our whole family, and very accessible in the evenings after dinner.

We love this ship and we love Mexico, so we will be sad to see Splendor leave.

 

I was wondering if you happen to know who the rock band was and the salsa band?

 

Thanks for a great review, I am so excited its less than three weeks now!

[cdamion]

Enjoying your review! Looking forward to more. :D

One question-

Is that a giant monster overlooking the thelassotherapy pool, while one is trying to relax?

That thing is creepy as can be! :eek:

 

It is an Asian lion-looking thing. There are 3 or 4 of them lurking above the pool and they are pretty large.

[cdamion]

That was wonderful! We are literally counting down now.

We fell in love with Splendor last spring and wanted to be able to sail on her again before she leaves L.A. :(

 

I totally agree about the crowd flow on this ship. Even though I wasn't really fond of that general design on Conquest (sometimes you felt like you were in a cave), Splendor is very similar, but because the ship is much bigger, I didn't feel closed in at all. We also really like the two hot tubs located on the upper lido outside deck. They were large enough for our whole family, and very accessible in the evenings after dinner.

We love this ship and we love Mexico, so we will be sad to see Splendor leave.

 

I was wondering if you happen to know who the rock band was and the salsa band?

 

Thanks for a great review, I am so excited its less than three weeks now!

 

Previously I was avoiding the Dream class, but now that I have been on Splendor, I may dry them - particularly Breeze.

 

Here was the music line up:

 

Piano Bar: Marty

Caribbean Music: Versatile (a duo that only played during the day)

Variety Music: Take Two (another duo - they were ok)

Latin Music: Shot Trio (they were very good, but this was their last cruise on Splendor)

Party Music (rock band): Music Manila - (3 or 4 guys - they were good)

Acoustic Guitar: Tommy Green Jr. (excellent and very popular)