Cruising in STYLE!
Venus and I boarded the Royal Caribbean Cruise Liner "Legend of the Seas" the day following our wedding. We were both tired following the big party the night before, but the trip to the Mexican Riviera was well worth it! The ship departed from San Diego and stopped at three ports: Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta. This was our first cruise, but it won't be our last! |
|
Legend of the Seas
Believe it or not, this is actually one of the "smaller" ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet. Trust me when I tell you, it's HUGE. There are eleven decks, including pictures of the top deck and dining room. The picture of us was taken during the first formal night on the cruise.
The most interesting thing about the cruise is the staff. None are American. They hail from all parts of the globe, including the Captain. He was from Sweden and had a very thick accent. Everytime he would announce "Cabo San Lucas" over the ship's loudspeaker system, he sounded like "Count Dracula."
|
El Arco!
This is the most famous spot in all of Cabo San Lucas, our first "stop" on our seven day honeymoon cruise. It's called "El Arco," or "The Arch." This is the very tip of Baja California, and the rock formations are incredible and the water is crystal clear.Cabo San Lucas is a fairly new city, and it's almost all a tourist trap. There is no "old city" to visit. Marlin fishermen have known about this place for decades, but it didn't grow into an actual city until 1970. Cabo is fairly remote by land and most of everything the city needs is brought in by ship. That means everything, including the food, is very expensive. |
|
|
|
The Cabo Tower
This shot was taken from a tower of a shopping mall still under construction in Cabo San Lucas. I've never seen a mall like this in the U.S., and it puts anything we have here to shame. The rock formations behind me are where "El Arco" and other formations are located. There's also a small harbor just below the tower. Venus and I were walking back to the harbor, when we decided to spend twenty bucks for a two hour boat excursion. It was the highlight of our one day trip to Cabo San Lucas. If you get the chance to visit this city, go to the beaches and rock formations. Avoid the city. |
The Cabo Sunset
This incredible sunset shot was taken from the top outdoor deck on the Legend of the Seas. Don't be fooled by the sweatshirt Venus is wearing. As we pulled out of Cabo, and headed south to Mazatlan, the weather grew increasingly warmer and more humid. At 10 PM the temperature hit about 90 degrees, with humidity at about 80%
That was just the beginning! |
|
|
|
The Windjammer Cafe
Located on Deck 9, this cafe offers incredible ocean views as you can tell. Venus and I avoided the more formal dining room during breakfast, preferring the cafe instead. The ship's staff encourages drinking at all hours, including early in the morning. Both Venus and I followed the advice, with pleasure! A bartender stopped by with these virgin strawberry-pineapple daiquiris. He promptly spiced them up with a half bottle of coconut rum. Delicious! |
The Cathedral at Mazatlan
Mazatlan was by far the most enjoyable city to visit of the three stops on our cruise. This is an old city, and was a thriving commercial port long before it was discovered and ruined by the commercial tourism industry. The old Spanish Cathedral is located outside of the "tourist" or Golden Zone. If you want to see the real Mazatlan, head for the Cathedral. You can see the church from the docks, and Venus and I walked down a series of narrow blocks until we reached the core of the city. This is a special place. |
|
|
|
Budweiser Not Spoken Here!
The official beer of Mazatlan is Pacifico Clara since the brewery is located just down the street. Most of the bars in Mazatlan are mere shacks. Bottles of beer are kept cold with daily deliveries of ice. Bottles are placed in an ordinary tin bucket, covered with ice. They are also served with some of the best limes I have ever tasted in my life. The freshly cut limes are dipped in margarita salt, which go great with a cold beer on a hot, humid day! |
The Beauty of Mazatlan
Most cities in Mexico are not "structured" like those you find in California or the rest of the U.S. This picture is a case in point. Venus and I literally stumbled upon this shopping area located smack dab in the middle of a very narrow street with private homes on either side. If you go anywhere in Mazatlan, especially the old city, watch your step! Sidewalks in the U.S. are nice, level and even for the most part. That is not the story in other parts of the world, including Mazatlan. |
|
|
|
Puerto Vallarta!
This photo was taken on the ship overlooking the harbor at Puerto Vallarta. We arrived three days after a hurricane smashed ashore, destroying much of the fabled Boardwalk. However, the city was cleaning up quickly and many of the businesses undergone repairs and reopened by the time we arrived. |
The Malacon
This is the "Malacon" or "Boardwalk" at Puerto Vallarta, and you can see the damage behind Venus. Giant chunks of the concrete Boardwalk had been either washed out to sea or had been washed inland. Shops lining the Boarwalk were mostly gutted, although a few had reopened. A taxi driver told us the streets were literally running with gold following the storm. The water had smashed into a number of jewelry stores on the Boardwalk, washing gold, diamonds and other precious gems into the streets. |
|
|
|
More Damage
This is the Main Strip near the beach at Puerto Vallarta, and you can see the hurricane damage in the background. Notice the storefront behind Venus with the hanging shards of glass. The storefront to the left suffered major damage as well, when a brick wall collapsed. The streets here are lined with paving stones, but you couldn't see them. Although the sidewalks were clean, the streets were covered with about an inch or two of sand from the beach. |
Back on the Ship-Fun in the Sun!
Venus and I spent a lot of time on this deck, and for good reason. The bar was located just below us, and we enjoyed every second we had together. The weather was beautiful for the most part, too warm for me, but perfect for my new bride. However, on the trip back from Puerto Vallarta to San Diego, the weather grew windy and the seas were choppy. I loved the pitch and roll of the ship on the way back. It was like a neverending rollercoaster ride! |
|
|
|
The Viking Lounge
Located at the very top of the ship, the Viking Lounge was the place to be for the younger crowd and the young-at-heart. Venus enjoys this photo because the drink matches her dress, which I believe she paid seven bucks for at Ross. I love my bargain-shopping wife. She looks for the same thing in a husband. |
Formal Night in the Romeo and Juliet Dining Room
This Dining Room is located on Decks five and six, and is very impressive. The service is impeccable. The food is out of this world. This was the first time I had ever encountered this type of service, and it left me uncomfortable at first. There's something not quite right about a waiter who scrapes away crumbs from your table in between appetizers and dinner. However, I grew to enjoy it! |
|
