Thursday, January 21, 2010
Royal Caribbean, "Mariner of the Seas" Cruise
Jan 10 – 17 ... With Doug driving we headed for San Pedro Cruise Terminal on Sunday morning. We dropped off our luggage & walked around Ports of Call Village. We boarded the Royal Caribbean “Mariner of the Seas” about noon. We started out our cruise at the “buffet line” which was just the beginning of our seven day eating experience.
After getting checked in and locating our stateroom (we were on the 9th floor almost directly across the hall from Doug and Fran) we started exploring this magnificent ship of the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. That evening entertainment was a juggler and a comedian, both very good acts. We opted for the 8:30 dinner seating and met a very nice couple, Todd and Patsy, from Tucson, AZ.
Day 2 – At sea all day heading for our first port-of-call, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The weather was cool but mostly sunny. After a while in the gym, we found deck chairs and read most of the day. The evening dinner attire was formal and pictures were taken. Since we don’t do it too often, it was nice to get all dressed up to go out “on the ship”. Dinner was fabulous and the evening entertainment, the Royal Caribbean Singers and Dancers, was very good as well.
Day 3 – We disembarked the ship via tender boats around 10:00 a.m. We immediately saw a booth for a snorkeling trip and signed up for $15.00 per person. This price was much less than if we had signed up with RC on the ship. We had a fun day in Cabo, especially after meeting a local. His name was Enrique who was ironically born in Spring, TX. He took us around “old” Cabo to a authentic Mexican restaurant for lunch. The evening entertainment was good as was the 70’s “dancing in the street” routine preformed by the cruise director and staff.
Day 4 – We disembarked for Mazatlan around 10:00 a.m. The plan was to meet our Canadian friends, George and Gail, at a restaurant on the water near downtown. They are RV’ers who are spending several months in a park on Stone Island which is just off the coast. We hailed a cab, an unusual open air Volkswagen, and after an adventurous twenty minute ride, arrived at Poncho’s Restaurant. We had a wonderful visit, the view was magnificent and the food was very good. The evening entertainment was an ice show presented by a Russian Ice troupe. To say the least, it was a fantastic show. Later that evening, we sat in on the “Love and Marriage Game Show”. Needless to say, some funny and surprising things came out of the mouths of the contestants.
Day 5 – Puerto Vallarta – This once-sleepy fishing village became a popular resort after “The Night of the Iguana” was filmed here in 1964. With two other couples, we hired a tour guide to take us around the city. It was an enjoyable day for sure. Mike, Doug and Fran, even did the “Canopy Adventure”. This consisted of a network of cables, pulleys and platforms whereby you sail over a small river at heights of up to 90 feet. It was a thrilling, unbelievable, once in a lifetime, experience. Dixie stayed behind and took pictures. The evening entertainment was “Pure Energy” by the Royal Caribbean Singers and Dancers.
Day 6 – We were all day at sea on the way back home to Los Angeles. It was a rather cool & very windy day (so windy there was a tsunami in the swimming pools) but we were able to find some sunshine and got in some deck time sunning. This was our second formal evening with Lobster & Shrimp as the dinner specialty. The evening entertainment was a group called “Spectrum”, a tribute to Motown and R & B music.
Day 7 – Final Day at sea! The day was cool and cloudy so we did mostly indoor things such as a visit to the gym, bingo, a talk and Q&A from the Captain, a backstage tour, Karaoke finals, and NFL playoff game in the 19th Hole Lounge. As usual, dinner was wonderful and we said goodbye to our table mates and waiters. After dinner, the late night adult comedy show was a very funny way to end the weeks entertainment.
Our disembarkment on Sunday, went smoothly and we were off the ship by 10:00 a.m. After loading up the car, we drove around the Palos Verde Peninsula & then stopped in El Segundo at a Mexican restaurant that Doug frequented in the 70’s! From there we headed back to Indio where Mike & Dixie’s RV is parked.
After getting checked in and locating our stateroom (we were on the 9th floor almost directly across the hall from Doug and Fran) we started exploring this magnificent ship of the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. That evening entertainment was a juggler and a comedian, both very good acts. We opted for the 8:30 dinner seating and met a very nice couple, Todd and Patsy, from Tucson, AZ.
Day 2 – At sea all day heading for our first port-of-call, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The weather was cool but mostly sunny. After a while in the gym, we found deck chairs and read most of the day. The evening dinner attire was formal and pictures were taken. Since we don’t do it too often, it was nice to get all dressed up to go out “on the ship”. Dinner was fabulous and the evening entertainment, the Royal Caribbean Singers and Dancers, was very good as well.
Day 3 – We disembarked the ship via tender boats around 10:00 a.m. We immediately saw a booth for a snorkeling trip and signed up for $15.00 per person. This price was much less than if we had signed up with RC on the ship. We had a fun day in Cabo, especially after meeting a local. His name was Enrique who was ironically born in Spring, TX. He took us around “old” Cabo to a authentic Mexican restaurant for lunch. The evening entertainment was good as was the 70’s “dancing in the street” routine preformed by the cruise director and staff.
Day 4 – We disembarked for Mazatlan around 10:00 a.m. The plan was to meet our Canadian friends, George and Gail, at a restaurant on the water near downtown. They are RV’ers who are spending several months in a park on Stone Island which is just off the coast. We hailed a cab, an unusual open air Volkswagen, and after an adventurous twenty minute ride, arrived at Poncho’s Restaurant. We had a wonderful visit, the view was magnificent and the food was very good. The evening entertainment was an ice show presented by a Russian Ice troupe. To say the least, it was a fantastic show. Later that evening, we sat in on the “Love and Marriage Game Show”. Needless to say, some funny and surprising things came out of the mouths of the contestants.
Day 5 – Puerto Vallarta – This once-sleepy fishing village became a popular resort after “The Night of the Iguana” was filmed here in 1964. With two other couples, we hired a tour guide to take us around the city. It was an enjoyable day for sure. Mike, Doug and Fran, even did the “Canopy Adventure”. This consisted of a network of cables, pulleys and platforms whereby you sail over a small river at heights of up to 90 feet. It was a thrilling, unbelievable, once in a lifetime, experience. Dixie stayed behind and took pictures. The evening entertainment was “Pure Energy” by the Royal Caribbean Singers and Dancers.
Day 6 – We were all day at sea on the way back home to Los Angeles. It was a rather cool & very windy day (so windy there was a tsunami in the swimming pools) but we were able to find some sunshine and got in some deck time sunning. This was our second formal evening with Lobster & Shrimp as the dinner specialty. The evening entertainment was a group called “Spectrum”, a tribute to Motown and R & B music.
Day 7 – Final Day at sea! The day was cool and cloudy so we did mostly indoor things such as a visit to the gym, bingo, a talk and Q&A from the Captain, a backstage tour, Karaoke finals, and NFL playoff game in the 19th Hole Lounge. As usual, dinner was wonderful and we said goodbye to our table mates and waiters. After dinner, the late night adult comedy show was a very funny way to end the weeks entertainment.
Our disembarkment on Sunday, went smoothly and we were off the ship by 10:00 a.m. After loading up the car, we drove around the Palos Verde Peninsula & then stopped in El Segundo at a Mexican restaurant that Doug frequented in the 70’s! From there we headed back to Indio where Mike & Dixie’s RV is parked.
Getting ready to go!
Jan 4 – 9 ...All settled in at Indian Waters. Doug and Fran arrived on the 8th. Danny came over and we made Fajita’s. On Saturday we all met for lunch and then Dixie & Fran went shopping for some last minute ‘cruise’ items. We all went to a local bar/restaurant for dinner & listened to some good karaoke.
Sunday, January 03, 2010
Welcome to 2010!
Jan 1 – 3 ... We did get on the flight Jan 1st and finally arrived in Palm Springs around noon. Once we got to Danny’s we found that our car would not start – it apparently did’nt like sitting for 2 weeks. We did finally get he motorhome set up on a site around 330p. We are happy to be back in warm weather. On the 2nd Danny and we drove to “Pioneer Town” which is 5 miles north of Yucca Valley (about 30 miles from our park in Desert Hot Springs). It’s an old town that was created for filming western movies in the 40’s & 50’s. They have a great restaurant with nightly entertainment. Today, Sunday we spent the day getting stuff ready for our cruise which departs next Sunday. "getting excited" We also spent a couple of hours at the pool relaxing! Tomorrow we move back to the park in Indio. Later in the week Doug and Fran arrive for the cruise.
The end of 2009
Dec 26 – 31 ... We had fun visiting with some cousins that were in town for the holidays – Hal, Sandra & Sofia, Randy & Donna, Cheryl & Russ. Spent more time visiting with Dad & Mom. We had planned to fly back to Palm Springs on the 30th but the flights were too full so we decide to wait and try for the 31st. We couldn’t get on the 625am flight so we went home and came back for the 1pm flight. It was delayed so we didn’t leave until 5pm. Once we finally arrived in Salt Lake City we waited for another couple of more hours only to find out that we couldn’t get on the flight to Palm Springs. We spent our New Years Eve at a hotel in Salt Lake.
Dec 21 – 25 ... Finished some last minute Christmas shopping. Danny and Lexi were scheduled to arrive on the 21st but the airport in Great Falls was closed due to ice on the runway from freezing fog! They had to overnight in Denver but did make it on Tues about 5pm. Denita and family came up on the 23rd (despite the bad weather/roads). We had a wonderful Christmas Eve at Dad and Moms and then attended Christmas Eve services. On Christmas Day we had a delicious meal with Prime Rib as the main course at Doug and Frans. A good time was had by all!
Dec 17 – 20 ... We unpacked and repacked – We drove out to the farm on Friday the 18th and stayed until Sunday. While there we attended two of Levi’s basketball games and Shay’s church Christmas program.
Dec 12 – 16... Got ready to fly back to Montana. We put the motorhome in storage at the RV park we are staying at. We overnighted at Danny’s on the 15th and he took us to the airport at 5am on the 16th. Our flights were full but we made it all the way with no problem. It’s cold iu Great Falls but not as cold as it was --- no below zero anyway.
Dec 21 – 25 ... Finished some last minute Christmas shopping. Danny and Lexi were scheduled to arrive on the 21st but the airport in Great Falls was closed due to ice on the runway from freezing fog! They had to overnight in Denver but did make it on Tues about 5pm. Denita and family came up on the 23rd (despite the bad weather/roads). We had a wonderful Christmas Eve at Dad and Moms and then attended Christmas Eve services. On Christmas Day we had a delicious meal with Prime Rib as the main course at Doug and Frans. A good time was had by all!
Dec 17 – 20 ... We unpacked and repacked – We drove out to the farm on Friday the 18th and stayed until Sunday. While there we attended two of Levi’s basketball games and Shay’s church Christmas program.
Dec 12 – 16... Got ready to fly back to Montana. We put the motorhome in storage at the RV park we are staying at. We overnighted at Danny’s on the 15th and he took us to the airport at 5am on the 16th. Our flights were full but we made it all the way with no problem. It’s cold iu Great Falls but not as cold as it was --- no below zero anyway.
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