Mexican Riviera\Vision of Seas

[ReyRey]

Looking for people who have been either to the Riviera, on the Vision, or both. Booked this cruise for part of honeymoon in 2008 and am having doubts if we'll like it or not. Just want to hear what others thought about the destination and ship. Pictures, reviews, thoughts are welcome. THanks

[Desert Cruizers]

Rey our 1st Cruise was to the Mexican Riviera, on the Princess lines. We had a wonderful cruise. My favorite stops were Puerto Viarta, Cabo. Acapulco is a busy city. You didn't say what your itenerary is but normally it is Cabo, Puerta Viarta, Acapulco, Mazatlan, Zhuantenajo. Nothing to see on the latter, just little souvenior booths on the beach and some stores around back. Mazatlan we took a little village tour which we really enjoyed, getting back into the communities where the people lived.

Email me if you like. GLea472968@aol.com Gay

[dirtgirl]

It was my first cruise and I loved it! It does not have all the bells and whistles of the Voyager/Freedom/Radiance classes, but she is pretty. I am off on her again in November. Check out the Mexican Riviera board for info on excursions. I love the 3 ports - lots to do. Try Randi's Happy Horses or Mazatlan Frank in Mazatlan.

 

It is usually rocky and cool the last day of the cruise, so don't plan to lay in the sun all day that day.;)

[ReyRey]

Oops sorry the itinerary is Cabo, Puerto Viarta, and Matzatlan thanks for posting

[ReyRey]

 

It is usually rocky and cool the last day of the cruise, so don't plan to lay in the sun all day that day.;)

 

Is it cool year around on the way back?

[Bruin Steve]

Hi, ReyRey,

 

I've taken that route a few times...and have it booked again in March of 2008...

 

Haven't yet been on the Vision, but we did the Mexican Riviera a few years back on her sister ship, the Grandeur of the Seas.

 

First, as to the ship, you cannot compare the Vision to some of the newer ships (like the Liberty of the Seas we were recently on)...There is, like all RCCL ships, a rock climbing wall...as well as all of the typical cruise ship amenities--pools, jacuzzis, casino, showroom, bars and lounges, etc. But there is no Ice Rink, Surfing Pool or some of the other mega-ship amenities...Of course, if you are over the age of 20, a lot of that doesn't really matter all that much...The ship is a little smaller (of course, when it was built, it was considered large) and more intimate...They are very nice ships and have just about everything a cruise passenger needs...

 

Be a little wary as to cabin size--the standard inside and ocean view cabins are a little small...(135 to 153 square feet)...There are about a dozen inside cabins on deck 8 that measure 174 square feet...After that, look for a balcony to get a roomy cabin...At least if space matters to you...

 

A lot of Caribbean cruise aficianados tend to talk down the Mexican Riviera...the biggest knock is that the water temperature in the Pacific is colder than the Caribbean--and it is, the current in the Pacific comes from the north...But, down in the Mexican Riviera, especially in the summer months, it is really pretty nice...Second knock is that the beaches "aren't as nice"...Answer: You have to know where to go--the nicer beaches are mostly not near where the ships dock or near the center of town...Lovers Beach in Cabo is beautiful...and there are beaches outside of the main areas of PV and MAzatlan that are quite nice...Snorkeling is not as good in Mexico asit is in the Caribbean...

 

But, not everyone goes to cruise ports to hit the beach...If you are more interested in culture, history, sightseeing, etc., then, in my book, the Mexican Riviera actually exceeds a lot of the Caribbean ports...

 

Mazatlan is a large, industrial port...but there are excursions up into the Sierra Madre mountains to the small colonial villages of Concordia and Copola that are really fascinating...and there is lots to do as far as sports and activities in and around Mazatlan as well...

 

Puerto Vallarta is a beautiful city...an old fishing village with stone streets, great shops and restaurants...and set before a lush jungle backdrop...Lots to see and do here...My favorite city in Mexico...

 

Cabo is striking--a modern city with beautiful pastel-colored buildings set before a stark, mountain/desert landscape...Wonderful rock formations, great place for all sorts of water-related activities...

 

As to the weather, no, it is not "cool" or "rocky" all year long...In fact, the weather is very nice most of the year...But, like the Caribbean, there is a pattern to it...

 

First, you have to realize that you pass through several different climate zones...

 

When you get to Los Angeles, you are in a "Mediterranean" climate...only 11 inches of rain a year TOTAL and 99% of that comes between October and April (although we just had our first big rainstorm this season a couple of days ago)...Only about 2 weeks of rain in a typical year, 350 days of sunshine...It can get fairly hot in July/August...but very little humidity...Best Weather is May/June...Warm, dry, beautiful...rarely gets very cold, never snows...The poster who said it gets cool the last day was probably here in "Winter", as it were...But, often, we'll even have temperatures in the 80s in December and January...

 

When you make it down to Cabo, you are in the desert...very rarely rains, usually warm, hotter in June/July/August...You are not quite in the tropics, so typhoons (Pacific hurricanes) rarely strike here--but, occasionally, they do make it this far north, so, see PV info...

 

In Puerto Vallarta, you have passed into a subtropical climate...It can get fairly humid, is usually fairly warm to hot...Typhoon (Hurricane) Season runs from about mid-July to September...Typhoons are not nearly as destructive as the Caribbean Hurricanes, but you don't want to be sitting at the beach at Mismaloya when one hits...In the rainy season, you can often get beautiful (but hot and muggy) weather most of the day, then an absolute downpour late afternoon...I've been there, so I'm not completely advising against it, but, if you can go in March-Early July, I' go then...If later, be prepared...

 

Hope this helps...

 

By the way, I love the itnerary...

[Desert Cruizers]

Rey out of Cabo back, it gets really windy and cold. It is a two day trip back and you lucky if the 1st day out of Cabo or Mazatlan , you wish to be pool side. We are used to seeing Wind advisory signs up when we get up in the AM.

[jallison8378]

The Mexican Riviera was the first cruise I ever went on, back in 1998. I sailed to Hawaii on the Vision in 2000. In 3 weeks, I'll be back on the Vision heading back to the Mexican Riviera! I can't wait!

 

In '98 we walked around Cabo, took a tour of authentic mountain villages in Mazatlan (I'd highly recommend this), and layed on the beach in PV. This time my fiance and I are walking around Cabo (I'm old enough to enjoy the Cabo Wabo Cantina this time!) and going to Lover's Beach; riding horses in Mazatlan though Randi's Happy Horses; and taking the "Town and Tequila" excursion in PV.

 

My first cruise to the Mexican Riviera was during December, and the weather was fantastic. I remember it being around 80-85 the whole time and I never needed a cover-up. I'm afraid it might be a little cooler this time, in October, and thanks to these boards I know to pack a few warm things just in case.

 

As for the Vision, I LOVED her when I sailed on her back in 2000. Of course, I've yet to experience one of the "mega ships" so I don't feel like I will be missing out on any of the fluff the newer ships boast. There are some threads around where people have posted photos of the Vision and it still looks beautiful. I am SO EXCITED for this cruise!!

[ReyRey]

Hi, ReyRey,

 

I've taken that route a few times...and have it booked again in March of 2008...

 

Haven't yet been on the Vision, but we did the Mexican Riviera a few years back on her sister ship, the Grandeur of the Seas.

 

First, as to the ship, you cannot compare the Vision to some of the newer ships (like the Liberty of the Seas we were recently on)...There is, like all RCCL ships, a rock climbing wall...as well as all of the typical cruise ship amenities--pools, jacuzzis, casino, showroom, bars and lounges, etc. But there is no Ice Rink, Surfing Pool or some of the other mega-ship amenities...Of course, if you are over the age of 20, a lot of that doesn't really matter all that much...The ship is a little smaller (of course, when it was built, it was considered large) and more intimate...They are very nice ships and have just about everything a cruise passenger needs...

 

Be a little wary as to cabin size--the standard inside and ocean view cabins are a little small...(135 to 153 square feet)...There are about a dozen inside cabins on deck 8 that measure 174 square feet...After that, look for a balcony to get a roomy cabin...At least if space matters to you...

 

A lot of Caribbean cruise aficianados tend to talk down the Mexican Riviera...the biggest knock is that the water temperature in the Pacific is colder than the Caribbean--and it is, the current in the Pacific comes from the north...But, down in the Mexican Riviera, especially in the summer months, it is really pretty nice...Second knock is that the beaches "aren't as nice"...Answer: You have to know where to go--the nicer beaches are mostly not near where the ships dock or near the center of town...Lovers Beach in Cabo is beautiful...and there are beaches outside of the main areas of PV and MAzatlan that are quite nice...Snorkeling is not as good in Mexico asit is in the Caribbean...

 

But, not everyone goes to cruise ports to hit the beach...If you are more interested in culture, history, sightseeing, etc., then, in my book, the Mexican Riviera actually exceeds a lot of the Caribbean ports...

 

Mazatlan is a large, industrial port...but there are excursions up into the Sierra Madre mountains to the small colonial villages of Concordia and Copola that are really fascinating...and there is lots to do as far as sports and activities in and around Mazatlan as well...

 

Puerto Vallarta is a beautiful city...an old fishing village with stone streets, great shops and restaurants...and set before a lush jungle backdrop...Lots to see and do here...My favorite city in Mexico...

 

Cabo is striking--a modern city with beautiful pastel-colored buildings set before a stark, mountain/desert landscape...Wonderful rock formations, great place for all sorts of water-related activities...

 

As to the weather, no, it is not "cool" or "rocky" all year long...In fact, the weather is very nice most of the year...But, like the Caribbean, there is a pattern to it...

 

First, you have to realize that you pass through several different climate zones...

 

When you get to Los Angeles, you are in a "Mediterranean" climate...only 11 inches of rain a year TOTAL and 99% of that comes between October and April (although we just had our first big rainstorm this season a couple of days ago)...Only about 2 weeks of rain in a typical year, 350 days of sunshine...It can get fairly hot in July/August...but very little humidity...Best Weather is May/June...Warm, dry, beautiful...rarely gets very cold, never snows...The poster who said it gets cool the last day was probably here in "Winter", as it were...But, often, we'll even have temperatures in the 80s in December and January...

 

When you make it down to Cabo, you are in the desert...very rarely rains, usually warm, hotter in June/July/August...You are not quite in the tropics, so typhoons (Pacific hurricanes) rarely strike here--but, occasionally, they do make it this far north, so, see PV info...

 

In Puerto Vallarta, you have passed into a subtropical climate...It can get fairly humid, is usually fairly warm to hot...Typhoon (Hurricane) Season runs from about mid-July to September...Typhoons are not nearly as destructive as the Caribbean Hurricanes, but you don't want to be sitting at the beach at Mismaloya when one hits...In the rainy season, you can often get beautiful (but hot and muggy) weather most of the day, then an absolute downpour late afternoon...I've been there, so I'm not completely advising against it, but, if you can go in March-Early July, I' go then...If later, be prepared...

 

Hope this helps...

 

By the way, I love the itnerary...

 

 

THanks good info. I guess my main concern really is we won't find much to do in the ports of call. We've been to the caribbean twice now and love the beaches and how the water looks, and love to rent the waverunners or do some snorkeling. I like some of the scenic history stuff too, but the lady doesnt really care for it. I've read the beaches(water) doesnt look like the caribbean islands do, but from the pictures i've seen they still look really nice.

 

And the other concern with the ship is that because its small we wont like it, but its hard to say because we haven't really been on anything that small. We've done Freedom and Explorer, and just love how everything looked so new and really nice. We do have a balcony so it sounds like that is not really a problem as far as rooms go. We enjoy hanging out around the ship and sitting in the hot tubs. We'll probably spend alot of time relaxing, this will be the second week of our honeymoon, the first we're spending in Hawaii. Thats why I thought this cruise would be a great opportunity because we'll already be on that side of the country.