Princess Mexico Cruise - Cabo San Lucas

The first port on our ten day San Francisco - Mexico cruise is Cabo San Lucas. Dare I say this is the most beautiful? A photo opportunity to the tenth power! From the tender ride to the last Margarita, a beautiful visit!

Cabo Tender Star Princess Mexico

The View Star Princess Mexico

Cabo San Lucas Princess Cruise Mexico

Pelicans Cabo San Lucas 

Marina Cabo San Lucas Mexico

Palm Trees Marina Cabo San Lucas

Boats Cabo San Lucas Mexico  

Margarita Solomon's Landing Cabo

Cheap Therapy Solomon's Landing Cabo

Parasailing Cabo San Lucas from The Star Princess

Jet Ski From The Star Princess Cabo 

Star Princess Cabo San Lucas Mexico

Sea Days! Things to Do Star Princess Mexico Cruise

It is a ten day cruise and you are only in port four days. Don't you get bored? No way! Things to do...

Have Buffet Breakfast Horizon Court Star Princess

Enjoy the journey Star Princess

Cloud Watch Star Princess

Stop and Smell the Roses Star Princess

Play Chess Star Princess

Watch a Movie and Swim Star Princess Lido Deck

Enjoy a Cocktail Star Princess

Shrimp and Lobster Star Princess Portofino Dining Room 

Love Dessert! Star Princess

Crusie Photos Available

Cruise to Mexico photos available. Contact Greg at Lifesapicnic@gmail.com.

Mexico Cruise Photos by Greg MacIntosh Life's a Picnic Media

Carnival Splendor- The Food- The Fun!

It was departure time and we were excited! Carnival asked us to arrive between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. to begin our embarkation process. This process involves going through customs, providing passports, cruise documents; being issued a card that is used as a room key, credit card and boarding pass. There are so many variables involved that I have found it impossible to predict how long embarkation will last. On this trip it took an hour and fifteen minutes from the cab stand to being on-board. I would recommend that you pack light unless you want to practice being a Sherpa. Porters meet you at the entrance and will take your bags and deliver them to your cabin door.  Hold on to a backpack/carry-on with your valuables and medications.  Avril and I each carry a twenty one inch carry-on from eBags and a backpack with cameras and computer gear. The use of Space Bags has allowed use these small bags for up to eleven days. We met a young couple, with a small child, that had carried huge luggage on public transportation to arrive at the ship, skipped the bag check and had to haul everything by themselves - not my idea of a fun time. Once on the ship we hit the room, dropped our backpacks and headed for the food! There is a huge selection of food, we chose to keep it simple and grab a tasty, cooked to order cheeseburger.

Carnival Splendor Cheeseburger on Lido Deck

After lunch we explored the ship and attended the mandatory evacuation drill. It seems like an imposition to interrupt the fun but it could come in handy if, God forbid, something happened. They show you were to go in the event of an emergency (muster stations) and how to use the life jackets. It is best to be prepared. Guess what? It was time to get ready to eat again! We choose the early dining time (6 p.m.) because it is similar to our regular schedule.The Splendor has a sushi bar open each night before dinner with little offerings of sushi most nights and tapas on others. I had a vodka martini and Avril had a Cosmo to go along with our sushi. A band played as we enjoyed our cocktails. In the past we had been seated at tables for six to ten and always enjoyed meeting new people at the table. On this trip we were seated with only one other couple at a table of four. We felt quite comfortable. I had flat-iron steak and Avril had the sweet and sour shrimp shrimp.A Clifford Bay Sauvignon Blanc went well with both

Dinner Carnival Splendor Gold Pearl Dining Room

For dessert we split a cheese plate and finished with coffee.

Cheese Plate Carnival Splendor Gold Pearl Dining Room

Towel Animal Walrus Carnival Splendor

We attended the welcome aboard show with a live band, dancers and comedians. It is hard to believe that it all (except for alcohol) is included in the price!  Back at the room our walrus towel animal greets us.

Cabo San Lucas

The last Mexican port on our cruise is Cabo San Lucas. In my perception, it is the most beautiful of all our stops. Long strands of white beaches, brilliant blue water and sculpted rock formations signal your arrival.

Carnival Elation Cabo San Lucas

The cruise ships anchor out because the harbor is shallow. Small boats shuttle you to the port where you are greeted by a gauntlet of town's people vying for your tourist dollar. There are glass bottom boat rides, sport fishing and resorts to be visited. We choose to hang out in the port area and do what we laugh at tourists for back home: have our pictures taken with the locals!

We buy some souvenirs, hang out in a port side restaurant and play my favorite sport, people watching. On our last visit to Cabo, we purchased a hand painted ceramic tile depicting our ship, the Carnival Pride. We locate the vendor this time and he makes us a new tile of the Norwegian Sun to add to our collection. The view, the sunshine, and the margaritas make this wonderful day. Two more days to motor back to reality.

Tile artist Cabo San Lucas
Glass bottom boat marina Cabo San Lucas

Peurto Vallarta Mexico

At this point in our cruise we have been lulled into a constant state of happiness. The staff on the Norwegian Sun are stealth in their endeavor to make us happy. When we go out to breakfast they quickly clean our cabin and stock us with towels and such. While we are at dinner they remake the room and leave us towel animals. This is a pampered lifestyle I could get used to. The price in right if you shop wisely. This 12 day 11 night cruise cost us about $1200 for two, inclusive of room and board. There are extra charges for tips, alcohol, tours and any other activities. We threw caution to the wind, a bit' and spent extra for incidentals. I felt like it was a bargain for such luxury.

Norwegian Sun party animal!

We arrived in Puerto Vallarta early to perfect weather. I was not feeling like the intrepid traveler so we decided to take a tour of the town. I negotiated $30 for an hour tour that took us through town in a new Nissan Van. At first it was a little unnerving as other cabs and vans pulled alongside us and had excited conversations with our driver. He explained he was the captain of the cab company's soccer team and the other drivers wanted to know about that day's game. The narrow cobblestone streets were teaming with cars and buses belching fumes but the city was beautiful nevertheless.

Puerto Vallarta old town photo by April

Just across from the ship there was a shopping area that included Walmart and next door was Galleria Vallarta, an upscale mall with Liverpool department store as an anchor.

Galleria Vallarta (left)
Wal -Mart Puerto Vallarta (right)

We hit the mall after our tour and found an impressive offering on par with Nordstroms or Macys. The food court was just like the U.S. versions. Subway and McDonald's offered their wares in Spanish. The stunning view overlooking the port was certainly not ordinary.

Norwegian Sun Puerto Vallarta

It was time to head back to the ship and enjoy the rest of the journey.

Mazatlan Mexico

The whirlwind tour moves to Mazatlan. One unique thing about taking a cruise is going to your hotel room and unpacking once. Each night your hotel moves you to the next town, all the while providing splendid amenities.

On this stop we partake in a ship endorsed tour called Shrimp Fest. From the port we are shuttled in air conditioned vans to a private home on cross hill overlooking the city. Not much to look at from the front but once inside it is quite spectacular. Besides the great view there is a pool, hot tub and small gift shop. We are offered margaritas, beer and soft drinks. After a brief introduction we wander about the grounds and enjoy. The mother of the owner gives April and I a tour of her adjoining residence where we admire the stone and tile work. It seems prices here are about a quarter of what we paid for our stone at home. The yard is lush but we are told that a recent storm had taken a toll on the trees.


It was time for a feast. Shrimp three ways, deep fried, boiled and garlic saute. Included was rice, beans, fresh tortillas, guacamole and some spicy salsas. More beer and margaritas were quaffed as we relaxed and kept an eye on the boats in the harbor.

Norwegian Sun shrimpfest excursion
Carnival Splendor Mazatlan Mexico

Back to the boat and onward.

Peurto De Pichilingue/ La Paz

Next day it's another port and accompanying city to explore. It's a rough job, but someone has to do it!
Peurto de Pichilingue is more of a tourist oriented port. It houses an attractive building with a marketplace and landscaping of Saguaro Cactus. A little farther down is the Baja Ferry that transports people, cars and cargo across the bay.

Puerto De Pichilingue Mexico



The ride into town is scenic as the desert grows to the sea. The Sagauro Cactus are everywhere and so are luxury resort residences and hotels. The bus dropped us in the Malecon area of town. The main street is next to the bay with restaurants, bars, shops and sights to see. It seems to be home to many artists and we purchased handmade earrings for our daughters. Statues and murals decorate a nearby courtyard.


We are here a few days before Dia De Los Muertos celebration. It is a remembrance of the departed and there are decorations in some of the stores

One thing I learned in Mexico is to be careful while walking. This was discussed somewhere in the shipboard tutorial that I mostly ignored. There is a more relaxed attitude towards building codes. The sidewalk will randomly drop a couple inches without notice. In the U.S. a construction zone will be lined with orange cones and signage. Here so is not the case. Someone was kind enough to place a plastic garbage can in an electrical box with no cover and a twelve inch drop. Watch your step! I did not follow my own advice as I stepped into the returning bus and flung myself in the open door unceremoniously. An elderly couple on board watched and lifted their beers to me. "Too much cerveza," they said. I replied, "Not enough!" and they pointed out a store nearby where I could purchase some for a dollar. Another observation I made was how tourists flock to the familiar. With all the unique restaurants and shops, a lot of our fellow passengers hung out at Applebee's and Thrifty ice cream.

With not enough time to fully explore this beautiful town, we head back to the ship. Tomorrow we will be in Mazatlan. Loving this vacation.