Another California Adventure! – Baja Mexico & Mexican Riviera aboard the Miracle & Panorama (with pics) – October 2021.

[Jamman54]

2 minutes ago, TravelGirlinDallas said:

Great review! I really enjoyed following along; the pictures are fantastic. I'm sad that it's over now, but looking forward to the next one!

Thanks! The next one is only about 5 months away and will be here before we know it! 😁

[ski_mom]

Thanks for the great review - we are considering taking the Mexican Rivera cruise this summer with our youngest son, so it was great to see all of your pictures and hear your thoughts about everything.  I would love to extend our trip for a few days as well.  Looked like a great ending to everything.

 

I was wondering how you choose your upcoming cruises.  My husband and I are getting closer to retirement and hope to cruise a lot more often when that time comes.  When you've seen it all, just wondered if you choose based on ship, ports, price, etc?  Right now, we have to pretty much choose based on dates alone as we are limited to when we can take off.  I will say now that we are basically empty nesters (our youngest is a sophomore in college), we are taking more off season cruises than we were able to in the past.  We took the Horizon at the end of October and have the Freedom booked for the end of February, but we are still limited to certain weeks of the month that we can plan.

 

Thanks again for the great review!

 

 

[Jamman54]

19 hours ago, Webecruzen said:

Thank you for a great review.  We enjoyed our time with you and Patti as always. We look forward to seeing you in April.  Wishing you a Blessed Holiday Season.  Make sure you and Patti don’t work too hard.  
 

Pat

Always a pleasure to cruise with you guys,  and are looking forward to the Legend. See you in April for sure! 😁

[Jamman54]

6 hours ago, ski_mom said:

Thanks for the great review - we are considering taking the Mexican Rivera cruise this summer with our youngest son, so it was great to see all of your pictures and hear your thoughts about everything.  I would love to extend our trip for a few days as well.  Looked like a great ending to everything.

 

I was wondering how you choose your upcoming cruises.  My husband and I are getting closer to retirement and hope to cruise a lot more often when that time comes.  When you've seen it all, just wondered if you choose based on ship, ports, price, etc?  Right now, we have to pretty much choose based on dates alone as we are limited to when we can take off.  I will say now that we are basically empty nesters (our youngest is a sophomore in college), we are taking more off season cruises than we were able to in the past.  We took the Horizon at the end of October and have the Freedom booked for the end of February, but we are still limited to certain weeks of the month that we can plan.

 

Thanks again for the great review!

 

 

 

Thanks for reading and glad that you enjoyed our review!  Being retired opens up a whole new world when it comes to cruising. No more booking during peak times which saves money, therefore allowing you to cruise more!  We book in the April/May and September/October time frames. We are also looking to cruise for 14 days or more, so we tend to book Journeys cruises, back to backs, or side to sides to accomplish this. I think for us, at this point, we are looking to sail on every ship in Carnivals fleet, and there are not that many we haven't sailed on. We also book about two years out for a couple of reasons. We want to be able to book the exact cabin that we want, and we want to be able to book it for both legs of a B2B. Also, it seems to us that booking at the price the cruise opens at is usually the lowest price it will be. At this point we are booked into the Spring of 2024. We're hoping to book a European or Med cruise coupled with a transatlantic cruise in the Fall of 2024. Of course, if we receive a deal we can't refuse, we'll shoehorn in a cruise in between.  

[princess76021]

1 hour ago, Jamman54 said:

 

Thanks for reading and glad that you enjoyed our review!  Being retired opens up a whole new world when it comes to cruising. No more booking during peak times which saves money, therefore allowing you to cruise more!  We book in the April/May and September/October time frames. We are also looking to cruise for 14 days or more, so we tend to book Journeys cruises, back to backs, or side to sides to accomplish this. I think for us, at this point, we are looking to sail on every ship in Carnivals fleet, and there are not that many we haven't sailed on. We also book about two years out for a couple of reasons. We want to be able to book the exact cabin that we want, and we want to be able to book it for both legs of a B2B. Also, it seems to us that booking at the price the cruise opens at is usually the lowest price it will be. At this point we are booked into the Spring of 2024. We're hoping to book a European or Med cruise coupled with a transatlantic cruise in the Fall of 2024. Of course, if we receive a deal we can't refuse, we'll shoehorn in a cruise in between.  

thanks for doing this,  i had a wonderful time 😁. 

now when is our next cruise?

hugs and love

nicki

[ski_mom]

2 hours ago, Jamman54 said:

 

Thanks for reading and glad that you enjoyed our review!  Being retired opens up a whole new world when it comes to cruising. No more booking during peak times which saves money, therefore allowing you to cruise more!  We book in the April/May and September/October time frames. We are also looking to cruise for 14 days or more, so we tend to book Journeys cruises, back to backs, or side to sides to accomplish this. I think for us, at this point, we are looking to sail on every ship in Carnivals fleet, and there are not that many we haven't sailed on. We also book about two years out for a couple of reasons. We want to be able to book the exact cabin that we want, and we want to be able to book it for both legs of a B2B. Also, it seems to us that booking at the price the cruise opens at is usually the lowest price it will be. At this point we are booked into the Spring of 2024. We're hoping to book a European or Med cruise coupled with a transatlantic cruise in the Fall of 2024. Of course, if we receive a deal we can't refuse, we'll shoehorn in a cruise in between.  

 

That makes a lot of sense!  Thanks!

 

[ktmush2]

On 11/10/2021 at 7:58 PM, Jamman54 said:

Patti met up with me at the Red Frog Rum Bar where she treated herself to a Mocha Chocolate Getaway…..

 

 

 

I’m having fun with my buddy Orlando…..

 

 

We then went back to the cabin to relax for a while before dinner. We were treated to a gorgeous sunset…..

 

 

 

 

Afterwards, we went up to Horatio’s for tonight’s dinner…..

 

 

These were our plates…..

 

 

 

After we ate we took a stroll around the ship. Take Two was playing at the Atrium Bar…..

 

 

We stopped at Alchemy for a drink…..

 

 

 

Letz was playing the guitar there…..

 

 

 

Patti made her way back to the cabin to read, and I went to the Comedy Club to watch Joe Marlotti whom I enjoyed, before calling it a night. Here is tonight’s towel creature…..

 

 

Coming up next: Covid testing and our day in Ensenada.

Your room Steward must be a Star Wars fan.

[peteandpris]

Bravo to you and Patti, great review I really enjoyed all of the pictures. Thank you.

 

[Jamman54]

2 hours ago, peteandpris said:

Bravo to you and Patti, great review I really enjoyed all of the pictures. Thank you.

 

Thanks again for reading! Glad that you enjoyed it! 😎

[Jamman54]

On 12/6/2021 at 8:21 PM, princess76021 said:

thanks for doing this,  i had a wonderful time 😁. 

now when is our next cruise?

hugs and love

nicki

Funny you should ask Nicki. My PVP just called with an offer we couldn't refuse, so we'll be on the Carnival Legend on January 30th. 😁

[princess76021]

36 minutes ago, Jamman54 said:

Funny you should ask Nicki. My PVP just called with an offer we couldn't refuse, so we'll be on the Carnival Legend on January 30th. 😁

yay!!!!!!!!!!

can't wait!!!

[AK2CA]

2 hours ago, princess76021 said:

Funny you should ask Nicki. My PVP just called with an offer we couldn't refuse, so we'll be on the Carnival Legend on January 30th.

@Jamman54 - Can't stay away from cruising either.  Booked Miracle again for the 26th of this month just two days after I get off Panorama.  Glad you and Patti are sailing again soon.  Have a great time.

[Jamman54]

2 hours ago, AK2CA said:

@Jamman54 - Can't stay away from cruising either.  Booked Miracle again for the 26th of this month just two days after I get off Panorama.  Glad you and Patti are sailing again soon.  Have a great time.

That's great Terri. Sometimes cruising is cheaper than staying home! 😁

[sp2]

On 12/8/2021 at 9:08 PM, Jamman54 said:

Funny you should ask Nicki. My PVP just called with an offer we couldn't refuse, so we'll be on the Carnival Legend on January 30th. 😁

Just checking out Cruise Critic after being off for a while and found this!! Another review for us coming up!! Where to this time Jeff?

[Jamman54]

1 hour ago, sp2 said:

Just checking out Cruise Critic after being off for a while and found this!! Another review for us coming up!! Where to this time Jeff?

Well, unfortunately we had to cancel our January 30th cruise on the Legend for numerous reasons. Right now our next cruises will be a B2B on the Mardi Gras in April. Really looking forward to that! 😎

[princess76021]

6 hours ago, Jamman54 said:

Well, unfortunately we had to cancel our January 30th cruise on the Legend for numerous reasons. Right now our next cruises will be a B2B on the Mardi Gras in April. Really looking forward to that! 😎

A little disappointed but understandable. Hopefully I'll be on at the end of March!

Hugs

[Buffettfan 225]

On 11/5/2021 at 12:33 PM, cruisin from vegas said:

Sooo enjoying this!!!  Long Beach is the City of my birth…. And most of my family.  Although I spent most of my childhood out in Orange County (land of the mouse!) I moved back to the LB for collage and graduated from CSULB…. Lived in this area for most of my early 20s…. Especially sweet as I was a tour guide on the Queen Mary for most of my college years!  (the Queen is not doing so well right now😢). After graduating…. I didn’t know what to do ..  so I was hired as a Casino dealer on Carnivals brand new first build ship..  The Tropicale!!  Really old home week for me!  The dome was built while I was  there and housed Howard Hughes “Spruce Goose” for a short time (my Dad was a 40 year engineer for Hughes Aircraft and wrote a book about Hughes).  Small small world.  Most importantly I will be boarding the Panorama in 84 days…. Complete walk down memory lane !  Although Las Vegas has been home for the past 30 years…. Can’t wait to go back to my old stomping grounds in January!!  

 

[Buffettfan 225]

Just booked Radiance today. Already reading reviews and yours is like we were there virtually. May drive in early and check out the local Long Beach area you photographed so well and getting excited already. Doing same itinerary of Catalina,Ensenada we did in 2018, but figured a short cruise great way to break in again with covid. Hope we sail.

 Cruisin in Vegas- small world, moved to Henderson 3yrs ago! 

[sportscruiser]

@Jamman54- I will be staying in LB on Sunday(fingers crossed) at the LB Hilton. In this review you mentioned taking a hotel shuttle to the Pike Outlets. Their website doesn't mention a complimentary shuttle and states that there is no airport shuttle. Was it mentioned on their site when you booked? I was planning on walking to the Pike Outlets/Shoreline Village since our flight is scheduled to get in early(I'm aware it could be canceled) and since we'd have a few hours before check-in, thought we could go there and watch the 49er playoff game. A shuttle would be even better! Do you have any additional information regarding that shuttle? Thanks!

[Jamman54]

1 hour ago, sportscruiser said:

@Jamman54- I will be staying in LB on Sunday(fingers crossed) at the LB Hilton. In this review you mentioned taking a hotel shuttle to the Pike Outlets. Their website doesn't mention a complimentary shuttle and states that there is no airport shuttle. Was it mentioned on their site when you booked? I was planning on walking to the Pike Outlets/Shoreline Village since our flight is scheduled to get in early(I'm aware it could be canceled) and since we'd have a few hours before check-in, thought we could go there and watch the 49er playoff game. A shuttle would be even better! Do you have any additional information regarding that shuttle? Thanks!

Hi there. I don't think the shuttle was mentioned on the website but it's definitely there. We used it a lot both times we stayed there (2 years apart), both to tour the local area, and to and from the port. It's free for the price of a tip.😎

[sportscruiser]

That's great news @Jamman54!! I'll definitely pay the price of a tip to save my aching feet. Was there some type of convenience store close by to get soda, etc.? The few I looked up seemed far away.

[Jamman54]

1 hour ago, sportscruiser said:

That's great news @Jamman54!! I'll definitely pay the price of a tip to save my aching feet. Was there some type of convenience store close by to get soda, etc.? The few I looked up seemed far away.

I'm sure there is,  though I  couldn't tell you exactly where. If we wanted snacks we just went to the small snack shop in the lobby next to the front desk. A little pricey though. That would be a good question for Alex the shuttle driver. I'm  sure he could take you to a place where you could get cheaper snacks and soda. 😎

[Krisco]

@Jamman54 asking a pro from the Mexican Riviera trip with the new reversed itinerary.  I looked at the funtimes pictures in your review but didn't see anything.  Trying to reschedule non-carnival excursions and trying to figure out ship time and local time zones.  A FB group said ship time moves from PST one hour forward on the first sea day.  So changes to MST and then goes back to PST after leaving Cabo on Thursday.   Trying to schedule local tours on local time as compared to when ship arrives.  Thanks. Love your reviews so figured would go to an expert.  

[Jamman54]

11 minutes ago, Krisco said:

@Jamman54 asking a pro from the Mexican Riviera trip with the new reversed itinerary.  I looked at the funtimes pictures in your review but didn't see anything.  Trying to reschedule non-carnival excursions and trying to figure out ship time and local time zones.  A FB group said ship time moves from PST one hour forward on the first sea day.  So changes to MST and then goes back to PST after leaving Cabo on Thursday.   Trying to schedule local tours on local time as compared to when ship arrives.  Thanks. Love your reviews so figured would go to an expert.  

The FB group was correct about the time changes on the ship. This ensures that ship time and local times are the same at all three ports.😎

[Krisco]

26 minutes ago, Jamman54 said:

The FB group was correct about the time changes on the ship. This ensures that ship time and local times are the same at all three ports.😎

So you moved forward another hour for PV as they are on CST?