Port info from my recent Coral cruise

[twocats]

Friday May 6, 2005

Huatulco - New port very nice, weather probably the warmest here (low 90’s) and most humid. After we boarding the ship we decided to book the Catamaran Boat trip. So we had not read much, lines were long and we didn’t have time to ask many questions of the tour-booking agent. So... we were a bit disappointed, somehow we thought it was a small catamaran and it would be a more personal tour. Wrong, the boat held probably 200 people; we managed to get some seats on the bottom level in the shade, and some shade above but not completely covered. Nice ride although a bit choppy, (don’t get seasick) We were served free margaritas, some soda choices, and fruit; fresh pineapple and watermelon. Also free bottled water. Toward the end of the tour we stopped in pretty deep water for our swim. One had to jump or climb down a back ladder, swim around (couldn’t touch bottom) and then climb back onboard. No place to change, no towels, therefore VERY few people (maybe 10 or so) swam. After 10 minutes we were off back to the pier. Many people very disappointed in the advertised “swimming time”. Go early to the bathroom, later in trip, terribly hot and messy. Two toilets available for women. Yuk. Not too much available for shopping.

Saturday May 7, 2005

 

Acapulco - Here we had prebooked a tour with Shotover Jet Boat. We arranged for them to pick us up at the pier (AC van) and take us to the boat pier for an 11 am ride, then transport to see the Cliff divers at 1 pm, and back to the ship. Actually we had them drop us off at CaboWabo for lunch in town. We shopped a bit on the way back, finally got too tired and hot, flagged down a bicycle taxi for a couple of dollars and they took us back to the pier. Plenty of shopping right there. This company has a web page and we emailed back and forth with Annie Wilcox, a very nice young woman from England, in Mexico for 5 years. On the ride out to the Jet boat, we stopped for a scenic look at the bays. Boat ride through the lagoon was really wild and fast. Lots of fun. Better price than with Princess.

 

Monday May 9, 2005

Cabo San Lucas - Here again we prebooked our tour online (discount) with the same company that Princess uses for ATV rides. We had a ball. Longer ride and much cheaper and private transportation; 2 hours with just 4 of us each on our own ATV and no! I had never driven one before. Our guide was a very pleasant young man. A very quick lesson and off we went. We were separate from the Princess tour although we saw them finishing at one of the stops. They were gone by the time we got back, since our ride was longer. Alex from the Shotover Jet Boat company met us with a sign at the pier (tender port) and accompanied us in an AC taxi to the starting point. Nice ride with commentary along the coast about 30 min. We were given, helmets, a new scarf (were we to keep it as a souvenir) to tie around our faces for dust protection, (although I let it drop below my chin after a bit) and goggles. We wore long pants and tennis shoes for protection from dirt and sun. Short sleeves were fine, although use lots of sunscreen. Ride was so fun, remember we are ages 62 to 73. What a great time we had. We came back to the pier, did some shopping and headed back. Lots of other choices in Cabot for things to do, many offerings at the pier, glass bottom boats with tours out to the Arch and so on, just not sure of any of them.

There was a huge building (sort of a wherehouse) that was filled with vendors. Great shopping and people we ready to bargin a bit.