|
||
|
||
|
Server Time: 8/30/2008 9:23:30 AM PACIFIC |
 non-poker trip report (long), Angel, 16. Dec 2003 13:09 | ||
| View ( Message | Thread ) | Return to Thread List | |
| My SO Tai and I just returned from a 10-day cruise to the Mexican riveria aboard the ms Statendam. I promised a trip report for any interested and so here goes: Dec 5th After looking at all the options for getting to the port 35 miles away the cheapest alternative was, believe it or not, a limo ($40) - so at 11am we hoped on in and began our adventure. There was absolutely no line when we arrived at the ship for processing and within 15 minutes we were crossing the gangway. We couldn't go directly to our rooms as they were not yet prepared for us but headed up to the lido deck where we started our exploration. A pool, a couple of hot tubs, wine cart, bar, sauna, exercise room, beauty shop, massage - and that was just on the one deck which had a retractable roof over the pool area in case we encountered bad weather. We got the ok to head to our rooms and did so to find our luggage had safely made it. I have to say that after all the stories I had heard about the closets they that pass for rooms on board ships - I was pleasantly surprised. Shower, tub, 4 closets, 6 drawers a couch, coffee table, end table desk and bed with night stands made for a comfy retreat when we needed one. Our room was on A deck which was as low as you go as far as passenger cabins go and exactly midship - which means that we got the smoothest ride on the ship and unbeknownst to us at the time it made a great viewing area when we were visited by dolphins. We got our seating assignment for dinner and we had a window seat all the way aft on a private table. Very, very nice. Between unpacking, a bit of exploring, watching the ship leave dock, dinner and the after dinner show our day was rounded out nicely. Dec 6th Our first full day and it was spent at sea. There was a jogging track on the sky deck (all the way up) but all the walkers went to the lower promenade and I started my day out joining them this morning as I did most. Most of the day was spent exploring our new surroundings and finding out what there was to do and making appointments for various classes and spa services - as well as eating - lots of eating. :) Dec 7th I was walking on the lower promenade at dawn when Los Arcos first came into view - how perfect! We probably took a half dozen rolls of film before we dropped anchor. Cabo doesn't have a dock for us so we have to tender in. We went on a sightseeing tour via a catamaran which brought us closer to Los Arcos and up the coast. We saw dolphins and sea lions as well - very cool. :) When we returned we went para-sailing - so much fun! That seemed like a very few words for such a fun day but dinner and the show is about a 4 hour ordeal by itself so the day fills itself quite naturally. Dec. 8th We land in Mazatlan in the morning - we both suspect that we missed some better parts of town but had fun nevertheless. We took a catamaran trip to deer island where we kayaked around the island amidst the storks and herons and dolphins. We then took a water taxi across to the mainland where we found what had to be the best resteraunt in town. An open air place on the beach that served us more food than we would have thought possible. We ordered a 'lunch for two' special for $20 and they moved us to a different table. It all became clear 15 minutes later when the food arrived - it wouldn't have fit on the table we started at! Dec 9th A day at sea - spent some time relaxing today. Went swimming, went to a lecture on bridge (have always wanted to learn), took in a movie in the theatre, eating, exercise and the evening show. Dec 10th Landed in Acapulco. Woo-hoo! Our favorite day. Started the day in a dolphin tank. Yep - got to swim around with them for about an hour. A definate highlight of the trip - and got a video of the excursion as well. Then spent the rest of the morning in a water park taking in the big slides. We returned to the ship to change and have a quick, safe lunch and then went and rented some jet ski's and spent the rest of the afternoon seeing how fast we could go. ;) Found a great spot for dinner and then went and checked out the Hyatt as a possible future stop. I definately feel that we are not done with Acapulco. Dec. 11th Zihautenaho was our next stop and while we were only there for 6 hours we spent less time than that there. We had to tender in again so 6 hours was even less time than it seemed. We spent a couple hours ashore and didn't much care for it. We hear that Ixtapa was nicer down the road but between the heat, the prices and a general feeling of not being welcome we decided to return to the ship and take a nap instead. We enjoyed the nap immensely - no regrets :) I played my first hand of bridge later in the day after another lecture, did some more shopping and generally relaxed prior to another fantastic dinner. I stopped short of saying fantastic dinner and show - while the shows were good and certainly some were better than others (the illusionist was wonderful), they were not what I had hoped for. Worth going to but less than inspirational. This may be the price of being on a ship with a capacity of 1200 paying customers rather than one with 3000+. Dec 12th Puerta Vallarta - a very pleasant stop. A little oddly located - we docked across the street from Walmart. We got off the beaten track here a bit and ventured into town and away from tourist area's. It was certainly the cleanest port we found. We did some shopping, had lunch and walked the beach all the way back to the ship dodging surf all the way. That evening we went on a 'pirate boat' called the Magilante. We had signed up (and paid for it) at the beginning of our cruise and we were trying to get out of it. It was too late to get our money back so we were trying to sell our tickets - no such luck. We were enjoying dinner so much on the ship we didn't want to miss it. :) Anywho - these folks on board this pirate ship were terrible singers - mediocre dancers - the acting was awful but they had to be amongst the best entertainers I've ever had the pleasure of seeing. I am SO glad we went. Their act was definately more than the sum of it's parts. Perhaps it was there mission - I've learned that they built the ship and began the act to help support a failing home for 12 homeless children a few years back - the home has now grown to 124 children and is very successful with expanded services. Dec 13th We slept in late today and had a pretty lazy day all around. Played some cards, laid out by the pool and read, shopping onboard and caught a movie. One noteworthy and interesting highlight - Tai had shown interest in a much too expensive bracelet in the jewelry store. Knowing it was too expensive she barely mentioned it but it was clear. While we were in the movie I excused myself to the restroom and went and bought it and stuck it in my pocket for later. In my rush to get back to the theatre so she wouldn't send out a search party for me I didn't have time to take the tags off it so after the movie I took her to the slots and gave her a $20 while I went to get change for a $100 which was really a ploy so I could have the cashier cut the tag off the bracelet. Just as I arrived back to the machine she hit the jackpot and bracelet was paid for times three. Don't worry - it wasn't really a windfall - I surprised her with the matching necklass the next day. :) Dec. 14th Again mostly a lazy day at sea. Relaxing and doing last minute shopping. Reading and playing cards a bit. Last day was also busy with disembarkation talks and information as well as packing and figuring out where to fit all the new things we had bought. We didn't want to see San Diego any earlier than we had to so we opted to visit the treadmills inside rather than take the chance of seeing it while walking the decks. It was a wonderful trip and can't wait for our next one. | ||
| Return to Thread List | ||
| Re: non-poker trip report (long), FeliciaLee, 16. Dec 2003 13:22 | ||
| View ( Message | Thread ) | Return to Thread List | |
| Great report, Angel! So glad you had a good time. Glenn and I went on a Holland America cruise last year (our first cruise). Someone said the average age was like 75!! We were certainly the youngest people there, save the staff. All of the elderly people kept asking me where the bathroom was, or if I could bring them more coffee. I got a kick out of that! We had a great time, too, and saw some of the same ports you saw. Felicia :) | ||
| Return to Thread List | ||
| POKER FORUM HOME | POKER FORUM | LINK TO US | ARCHIVE | ONLINE POKER | Copyright 2002, United Poker Forum |
|
Getting Started |
UPF Tournaments |
Poker News, Views, Rules |
Poker Strategy & Psychology |
Money and Bankroll Poker Bonuses & Promotions | World Series of Poker (WSOP) | Play Online Poker | Poker Odds & Statistics | Tournament Poker | Poker Books, Videos & Learning Tools Looking for a Poker Game | Poker Bad Beats | Not Quite Poker | Quizzes and Polls | Forum Suggestions & Bugs |
|
|
|
|
Interesting Links: Online Poker | Free Poker Games | United Poker Network |
|