World Cruise 2023 - Occasionally Live from the Island Princess

[We_like_to_cruise]

3 minutes ago, windsor26 said:

They may not credit you until the very end of the cruise   We were blue for 76 days although it was 5 segments  It depends if you booked it as one cruise

Thank you.

[We_like_to_cruise]

On 1/10/2023 at 11:46 PM, LouChamp said:

Aloha.  Thank you for taking the time to post.  As a previous poster wrote, this is a first I have seen for princess and much appreciated. We love cruising and have been blessed to have seen the world with various cruise lines and via air/land.  We divide our time between NY and Honolulu with cruising for us set to resume hopefully this summer.  Enough of us…keep posting and love the pictures! Smooth sailing. 

We will be in Honolulu the end of January.  Already have tickets booked for Pearl Harbor and have a rental car reserved !

[We_like_to_cruise]

On 1/11/2023 at 10:06 AM, phabric said:

I will be following along.  I will be on the Island in Nov. for 14 day Mediterranean and Israel 

 

You will love it I am sure.

[We_like_to_cruise]

5 hours ago, Denali2003 said:

Thank you for your updates.  We will be boarding the Island when you return.  We are doing the 15 day Panama Canal - coast to coast - May 11th - 26th.  This will be our first time on the Island and first time doing the Panama Canal.

 

The Panama Canal is a fascinating experience.  We really enjoyed it.  Check out the book / DVD recommendation at the end of my Panama Canal day posting.  👍  We got the PBS DVD from our local library.

[gomertz]

Hi, we are on Coral WC in May from down under( New Zealand) 

Cole the new CD is from here, we did 56 days with him around South America in Jan 2020, he is fun.

Already the posts let us relive memories from the start of our cruise back in 2020.

Enjoy, I look forward to following. 

[polmcs]

57 minutes ago, We_like_to_cruise said:

 

Hm good question.  I will find out.  I do know we already have enough credits to become Elite mid-way.

Thank you for replying. If you look at your cruise history, you should see past and upcoming cruises (not sure what it does with actual cruises under way) that should show the number of cruise credits earned on past cruises, or the number to be earned on future cruises.

 

In my history, I see a 14 day Caribbean cruise that I took in 2016 that earned me two credits (I was not in a full suite) as that particular itinerary could be booked as two 7 day cruises. 
 

I was not elite back then, but I would assume that I would have had 2 mini bar set ups. One at the start of each 7 day segment.

[shamrockace]

We will be joining your wc in California. Loving you posts. 

[tml1230]

absolutely great  to be following your journey!  ...thanks again for responding responding to my inquiry!  safe journey!

[We_like_to_cruise]

Dinner at Sabatini's last night

 

Food was excellent to pretty good (grilled lamb skewers were disappointing).  Service was also generally very good although it was obvious our poor waiter was overwhelmed.  We never felt rushed at all while eating, but he seemed to dash from table to table.  No time for chit chat!

 

Here are some samplings of our dishes -

 

The Godfather cocktail | a Marlon Brando favorite
Johnnie Walker Red Scotch, Amaretto di Saronno

 

Grilled lamb skewers

Burrata Cheese and Tomato

Porcini Mushroom Risotto

Mediterranean Seafood Parcel
    as presented
    opened for enjoying
    
Desserts
    Hazelnut Rocher
    Chef Specialty

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[We_like_to_cruise]

Sabbatini's Menu

 

This was supposed to be included in the above posting, but didn't make the trip through cyperspace.

 

Let's try again.

 

sabatinis-trattoria-main-menu.pdf

[We_like_to_cruise]

Puntarenas, Costa Rica

 

On previous trips to Costa Rica we had visited the Sloth Sanctuary, a canopy rain forest tour, coffee and banana plantations and DW even went zip lining.  (Not for me, thank you.)  Today we would explore the local environs. 

 

Just outside the pier were many booths filled with handicrafts, souvenirs and knick knacks.  We browsed and then walked along the beach to the edge of town.  Honestly the beach was not very inviting. There were numerous small beach restaurants (called sodas).   Returning back on Central Ave. there were a few more commercial shops and restaurants.  This port does not seem very developed for tourism but we enjoyed the pleasant temperatures.

 

We ran into one of the ship staff heading back with two large grocery bags and he gave us directions to the local supermarket (Megasuper).  Ship staff always knows where to get internet and the non-touristy stuff.  Although not considered “Mega” by US standards, the air conditioned market had a wide assortment of foods.  We purchased Costa Rican coffee; prices ranged from $4 to $8 per pound.  This was much less expensive (and probably fresher) than what was sold at the outdoor shops near the ship.

 

As we sailed away, a local band played and we were entertained by three large figures (sorry still do not have an exact explanation of them.  I took French in HS and not Spanish!)

 

In retrospect we should have booked an excursion at this port.  There is just not enough to see right in the port area.  (Although, at dinner we heard griping about the 3 ½ hour bus trip each way to view the volcano.  Another passenger felt the nearly two hour bus trip to see the sloths followed by another two hour bus trip for a canopy tour in “a drenching downpour” was not too much fun!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 15, 2023 by We_like_to_cruise
spacing

[We_like_to_cruise]

Huatulco, Mexico

 

A newer fun port on the Mexican Riviera, it is pronounced “wah-TOOL-coh”. 

 

After leaving the ship there were a couple of little tuk-tuk type vehicles that, for a tip, would take you to the end of the long pier to the beginning of town.

 

We walked off the ship, down that long pier, and headed north.  About a mile away was the Santa Cruz Bay overlook with expansive views of the lovely harbor.  We walked uphill on the sidewalk passing hotels and condominiums on one side and dense foliage on the other.  Further along was another overlook to one of the other nine bays in the area.  Along the way we met and chatted with a few local residents – all Canadian!

 

Then we walked into La Crucecita, a small Oaxacan town with many shops and restaurants.  Just past the plaza was the church.  The interior was filled with beautifully painted and brilliantly colored religious scenes.  On the ceiling is a painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe – at 65 feet long, the largest in Mexico.  (On my picture below you can see at the very bottom some people exiting the church.  That should give you some sense of scale.  It is the 5th pic in this series).  Very nice.

 

We did some shopping and walked back to the ship via the brand new “Tourist Corridor”.  Still under construction it was a very wide cement path directly from the town back to port.  It will be interesting to see what this will look like in a few years. 

 

Back at the port, we discover numerous booths set up for the Saturday flea market.  Food, produce, fresh flowers, handicrafts, etc. Lucky timing for us.  We walk through and browse and make our way back to the beach.  There are hundreds of tables and chairs with restaurants right on the beach.  All under palapas or umbrellas, nice and shady, although the temps are warm.  But the beers are cold!

 

After lunch we return back to the ship to change into swim suits.  The beach is adjacent to the ship only a short distance away.  Although the water temperature is pleasant, it is somewhat murky.  But you cannot beat the location. 

 

Back in the room, a quick shower, room delivery of tequila and margaritas and we sit on the balcony and watch the sail away from this engaging port.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 15, 2023 by We_like_to_cruise
spacing

[Denali2003]

16 hours ago, We_like_to_cruise said:

16 hours ago, We_like_to_cruise said:

 

We ran into one of the ship staff heading back with two large grocery bags and he gave us directions to the local supermarket (Megasuper).  Ship staff always knows where to get internet and the non-touristy stuff.  Although not considered “Mega” by US standards, the air conditioned market had a wide assortment of foods.  We purchased Costa Rican coffee; prices ranged from $4 to $8 per pound.  This was much less expensive (and probably fresher) than what was sold at the outdoor shops near the ship.

 How far is the grocery store from the ship?  We only have 2 hours of free time after our excursion before we need to be back on board.

 

Back at the port, we discover numerous booths set up for the Saturday flea market.  Food, produce, fresh flowers, handicrafts, etc. Lucky timing for us.  We walk through and browse and make our way back to the beach.  There are hundreds of tables and chairs with restaurants right on the beach.  All under palapas or umbrellas, nice and shady, although the temps are warm.  But the beers are cold!

 

We will be there on a Tuesday, do you know if the Flea Market is set up during the week?

 

 

 

 

[DavidsNana]

@We_like_to_cruiseBefore this thread gets too long, I just want to thank you so much for your reports and pictures of everything.  A World Cruise has always been my fantasy but alas it is not in the cards anymore.  So I am going to do this vicariously through you guys!  Have a wonderful cruise and time seeing the world that you haven't already seen.

[TheGuys16]

Thank you for sharing!  We are thinking of a world cruise when we retire (sadly, about 9 years to go) and I am living vicariously through your travels.  Enjoy!

[123Explore]

Thank you for sharing! I will be following for sure. 

[chamima]

Can't wait to hear more about the ship.

We are booked for the first half of the 2024 World Cruise and I've heard some negative things about the Island and I'm hoping you'll prove it all to be wrong.

Enjoy!

[We_like_to_cruise]

On 1/16/2023 at 7:08 AM, Denali2003 said:

 How far is the grocery store from the ship?  We only have 2 hours of free time after our excursion before we need to be back on board.

 

Back at the port, we discover numerous booths set up for the Saturday flea market.  Food, produce, fresh flowers, handicrafts, etc. Lucky timing for us.  We walk through and browse and make our way back to the beach.  There are hundreds of tables and chairs with restaurants right on the beach.  All under palapas or umbrellas, nice and shady, although the temps are warm.  But the beers are cold!

 

We will be there on a Tuesday, do you know if the Flea Market is set up during the week?

 

 

 

 

 

To answer your second question first, we were told it is only on Saturdays.

 

The distance from the cruise port (Muelle de Curceros) to the supermarket is less than a kilometer, so about a 12 minute walk according to Google Maps.  That roughly corresponds to our recollection.  From the cruise pier, walk almost straight to Av 1 (just after Av Central) and make a left.  When we were there a tourist info representative was heading out maps and giving directions.  There was no formal info booth that we saw.  You could also ask anyone on the street.  Good luck !

 

istance from the

 

 

[We_like_to_cruise]

6 hours ago, chamima said:

Can't wait to hear more about the ship.

We are booked for the first half of the 2024 World Cruise and I've heard some negative things about the Island and I'm hoping you'll prove it all to be wrong.

Enjoy!

 

Any minor issues we have run into have been resolved quickly and professionally.  I think the staff really cares about the guest experience!

[We_like_to_cruise]

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Part One

 

Beginning in the 1960s, “Vallarta” transitioned from a small fishing village to one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mexico.   One factor was director John Huston’s 1964 movie “The Night of the Iguana” based on the Tennessee Williams play.  The movie starred Richard Burton, Ava Gardner, Deborah Kerr and Sue Lyons.  Infighting  between the cast and director and the scandalous extramarital affair between Burton and Elizabeth Taylor (both married to others) in this exotic location was duly reported by all of the celebrity magazines.  In fact Burton bought Liz a home here, and they vacationed in Puerto Vallarta for many years.

 

Today Puerto Vallarta is a bustling tourist city filled with activities, restaurants and shopping.  Much of it is centered  around the large pedestrian boardwalk called the Malecon which hugs Banderas Bay.  So,  let’s not dwell on the past and we will talk about our day in PV.  A day that was too short as far as we were concerned !

 

Pre-cruise research indicated taking a city bus from the pier area to the Malecon was described as “a cultural experience.”  Sounds good to us.  After an early disembarkation, we walked through the terminal and were met by law enforcement with dogs who sniffed at our backpacks.  (Hmm, did they think we were smuggling drugs INTO Mexico?). 

 

After passing muster we crossed the street and were greeted by a large Sam’s Club warehouse store and an adjacent Wal-Mart.  As per our research, we waited only a few minutes with all of the other commuters on the side street for the next bus marked “CENTRO” (downtown).  Fare was 10 Mexican pesos, so $1.00 US (for both of us) covered the cost for the three mile trip.  You place the bill in a slotted wooden box in front of the bus and are given a receipt / ticket.  As it was rush hour, although the bus was not extremely crowded, there were no seats available so we stood for the 15 minute ride.  Yes, it was an experience – the bus driver drove very quickly, slamming to an abrupt stop at the designated bus stops.  We drove from smooth pavement to paving stones to finally cobblestones and on the latter the bus bouncing around could knock out your fillings!  What fun, haha.  Although most of the passengers as well as the driver spoke little or no English they all knew where we tourists should get off and indicated that to us.  Gracias!  We got off near the Hotel Rosita.

 

Then we headed toward the water and spent almost the entire day walking the Malecon and Centro.  We lucked out with another lovely day, mixed sun and clouds in the 70s.  Dozens of large bronze statues lined the walkway, some doing double duty as seating so you could rest and gaze out at the crashing waves.  We passed live performances, dozens and dozens of shops and restaurants, resorts and hotels as we headed south to Los Arcos, an open air amphitheater and then even further to Los Muertos Pier.  Along the way we found numerous side streets and wandered the city. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 18, 2023 by We_like_to_cruise
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[We_like_to_cruise]

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Part Two

 

Next, the  Lazaro Cardenes Park in the Romantic Zone, a park with awesome functional urban art benches decorated with colorful mosaics.   

 

After a pleasant outdoor lunch we headed away from the water to the iconic  Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  This church features a spectacular crown that can be seen for miles. 

 

Then, we start to walk uphill the many steps to visit the former home of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.  Suddenly we are surrounded by ninos y ninas!  The local school has just let out and an abundance of cute kids in school uniforms are everywhere !  We carefully sidestep them on our way to Casa Kimberly, now a boutique hotel and restaurant.  Elizabeth Taylor sold the home in 1990 a few years after the death of Richard Burton.

 

We walked back down the other side of the Malecon and at its terminus caught the bus back to the pier.  The return bus had a large SAM’S sign written on the windshield. 

 

After getting off at Sam’s (of course) we went inside to use el bano.  Not in need of a gallon of mayonnaise or a 30 pack of facial tissues, we headed next-door to the Wal-Mart Supercenter. 

 

It was crowded with locals and tourists and we bumped into fellow cruisers at the souvenir aisles!  We also picked up a collapsible laundry container and a few other sundries.  Back on the ship, some tequila for our sail-away and adios Puerto Vallarta.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 18, 2023 by We_like_to_cruise
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[spookyfudge]

Thanks for your report.  We had orginally booked and paid for the WC over a year ago but got cold feet for such a long cruise with the dreeded "C" virus out there.  Even though we got medijet to get us home from anywear in the world if sick, we just felt to uncofortable to do 111-days! Have fun and good sailing

[tml1230]

ONE OF THE BEST REPORTS EVER!

please keep sharing your thoughts!

[seachelt]

Great report, interesting pictures. Thanks!

We will be on the Island Princess in September, so we are following your posts.

Enjoy every minute.

seachelt

[Dan Tanna]

On 1/11/2023 at 12:40 AM, polmcs said:

How many cruise credits will you get on the 111 day world cruise? Just curious.

You get 5