Diana - You might want to check Puerto Vallarta for a Dolphin Swim. You have the most time there. Trying to fit it all in in Cabo...you may run out of time for it all. I hate that we leave early in Cabo...to much I want to do there too! I do like the thought of the tour company, instead of doing it on my own...I know they are bringing me back to the ship - and they are already used to working with the cruise crowd.

A'ndrea - Thanks for the ideas. I am sure he will keep himself busy! Boogie boarding sounds good.

Also....I was in Costco yesterday and they have two different Snorkeling Sets right now. One for adults was $40 and the one for kids was $25. They were made by US Divers and looked really well made. I am going to pick up a couple sets this weekend. I have to shop now since I can't wait until Sept to shop for all the summer stuff...by then they will have all the Christmas stuff on the shelves!!!!

Michele, you are probably right. I am going to spend some time this weekend to really check out our excursions and decide what we are doing in cabo and p.v. A friend of mine, a kinder teacher at work, is going on this same cruise on May 13th. I told her to bring her docs with her since she is expecting them anyday so that we can do the doc dance together. She doesn't have any kids so she doesn't have the problem that we do about finding excursions for the whole family. I will be going to Sam's Club since I don't have a CostCo membership to see if they have masks. If not, I will ask a friend with a membership to be kind enough to take me with them so I can purchase them.

Diana - You don't have to have someone with a card. I know at our Costco anyone can go in and get a day pass to shop for one trip. My mom did it. The snorkel sets did look really nice! You can also find them online. A teeeeenny bit cheaper...but then you have to factor in the shipping so it wasn't worth it. I like Costco's return policy too. You can return ANYTHING at ANYTIME...(even without receipt I have done)and they honor it.

The picking of the shore excursions has been the hardest part. I really want to do SOOOO much - but of course it always comes down to the finances. So I am happy with what we have chosen to do. Now if that darn tax check better get here so I can pay for everything!!!!

I am truly looking forward to our "next" cruise. I am hoping to plan for the Grand Cayman/Cozumel trip in 2009. I'm all over the bookings as soon as I can. It will take us forever to come up with all the money - between the cruise and airfare. If I could only talk DH into driving to Texas!!!! Would that actually save us money???? And of course it would take a week with all the stops the kids would make. Wow...I have a headache just thinking about it!

Michele, I had also thought of driving to Texas. I think it was about 28 hours from where I live. Now my husband is talking about going to Hawaii. I told him that we should do the Hawaiian cruise instead. We will see. I know what you mean, if I had the money, then I would book it all. Not enough time or money

The Hawaii cruise looks fun...I just don't know if I could take many days at sea! Maybe later when the kids are older and just hubby and I can go. Our 20th anniversary is in 5 years and I told him just him and I will be taking the Alaska cruise. So now with at least my next 3 cruises planned (ok in my mind) I have alot to budget for!!!I need to find a TA that will do a weekly automatic withdrawl from our account!!!

Michele, Lol, My friend that is going on the same cruise just gave me her cabin number. I was going to have a little bon voyage gift delivered to her stateroom. she is taking the jeep excursion in p.v. the city tour in mazatlan and just seadoo in cabo. I told her to go to the Cabo Wabo. She also told me to book our excursions as soon as we know what we want to do because many of the excursions that she wanted were not available when she was booking. I will definitely be doing that this weekend.

OK Diana...just checking in on the excursion booking!!! The boys REALLY wanted to do the ATV rides but Kyle has to be 16. So they'll have to wait a few more years. Where did she find the Seadoo thing in Cabo...is that through Carnival or private company? Ok, I'm just too lazy to go look!

A'ndrea - Will the vendors REALLY be selling kites, boogie boards, sand toys? All Tyler will need is kite, pail/shovel and a a bottle of bubbles. DONE. He'll be good to go for days! Kyle will need a little more entertaining...but like I said the boogie board might work for a while. DH is good to go with a chair and a beer! And he'd really like to see that girl from the other thread walk by every now and then. Tryin to think back...did I ever look like that....thinking....thinking...NOPE never did!!!!

Well back to the beach...Ahhh I can feel the sun already....more sunscreen anyone????

Michele, regarding that girl.... my husband and your husband both ! I have a feeling, once she turned around to face the camera she's a butter face. If you're unfamiliar with that term, ask DH, he'll know.
Anyhow... yes. They sell all kinds of games, toys, boogie boards, kites on the beach. If waiting for a vendor to meander by is too long, take a walk out the El Cid front entrance where the cab drops you off and cross the street. You're now in the Golden Zone. They sell everything but their mother here. Trust me. A'ndrea

Hi Michele,
I don't know if she found a company already that rents the seedoos or if she is playing it by ear. I will let you know as soon as she gets back from her cruise. We are interested in doing that too.

I am dying here...my co-worker left on Sunday for her cruise - Conquest out of Galveston. I kept looking at the clock last night....oooohhh it's 4pm Karen's getting on the ship....it's 8:00 Karen's eating....it's 10pm....the family wants to throw me out in the doghouse for the evening. I am just soooo excited. I can't wait to hear all the stories when she gets back. She promised me she'd bring me back a surprise. Geez I feel like a little kid and my daddy is returning from a business trip. Whatcha bring me??? Whatcha bring me???

A'ndrea - sounds like I'll do less packing and buy the toys there. That should be fine. And gotcha on the butter face...have ALOT of those here in Calif. Except most of the time your not looking at the back view...most of the time you can't get past the chest area. Who knows what the face looks like! WOW are those yours???? Did you guys eat at any of the local restaurants in PV or Mazatlan. I think we have the excursions pretty much figured out...now just have to fit some food in there! I saw some pics of a family that had balloon hats and such (no, not Dave's pics). I think it was called Carlos Obriens...something like that. Looked fun.

Diana - definitely check out that link I sent you. The pictures she took are FABULOUS. From the start of the cruise til the end. BEAUTIFUL. The canopy top trip looks like they had a blast. It looks like they took the Mexican Riviera two seperate years. Nice albums. Hope you are feeling better!

Michele, No, we didn't eat in Mazatlan. We didn't get to P.V. because of the ship's mechanical problem.
When you are on your way to the El Cid, you'll see why we didn't eat in town. I'm betting that The El Cid is probably okay since it has a strong U.S. tourist influence. Still.... check at the ship's information booth and ask them. They will know for sure and advise you. The ship will make recommendations on safe places to eat at in all ports during the Port Informational Meetings. I would strongly abide by what the ship recommends.
Every time you arrive at port, the ship will sell bottled waters. Buy them. You will need to stay hydrated while off the ship. It's going to be VERY HOT. Also, Pepsi and Coke in cans are safe. Avoid ice.
When you're in Mexico, you're not in "Kansas" anymore.
A'ndrea

All this talk of bad food/bad water is starting to make me nervous, haha. If any of our shore excursions include a lunch and/or free drinks and they were booked through Carnival - are we safe then?

That is the last thing i want on this long awaited cruise...to get sick. Any suggestions?

I would suggest you buy and bring with you Immodium AD. Better to have it on you than have to seek it out in Mexico.

Here's the deal. My husband just got back Thursday from 4 days in Mexico City. He knew from our past experiences in Cozumel and Cancun that he had to play it safe with food/drink.

He stayed at the Fiesta Americana. He drank only the bottled water provided in his room. He even brushed his teeth with it. He was fine. He ate at restaurants that business associates told him were safe to eat at by "U.S." standards. He was fine. On his last night there, the crew took him out for one last dinner. He ordered a Corona with his dinner. Not thinking, he took a sip of his beer, noticing how cold it was. He got a lot in him before he noticed there was ice in the glass. He calls me from Mexico saying, "who puts ice in beer? I'm going to be sicker than a dog".

Guess what? He's been praying to the porcelain goddess since he arrived back home.

Play it safe in Mexico. Drink only soda and beer directly from cans. Eat only at ship recommended establishments. You will be absolutely fine if you do these things.

My husband still hasn't learned, I guess. Sucks to be him!
A'ndrea

Andrea, I am sorry your husband is so sick. But thank him for the new information. No ice in our drinks!

Thanks Diana. He's much better. Now, he's off to Philadelphia and Wisconsin for business. Can't get sick on the water in either place. We hope.
A'ndrea

A'ndrea...Sorry to hear about hubby, but glad he's better. Tell him to watch out for the cheese in Wisconsin...who knows whats in that My hubby just came down with a Blocked Salivary Gland in his face. He looks like a lopsided chipmunk whose about to explode. Boy, I am really looking forward to a holiday weekend at home.... I DON'T WANNA GO HOME!!!

Diana - Your almost under 40 days....yeah you!!!! Can't wait to hear all about the trip. And yes...I do need to hear all about the Build A Bear workshop- was it worth it?...Need the information on the secret door - was it hard to find and why is it so secret?...how did the early checkin go at the Queen Mary - did you see any ghosts?...and did you find the Cadillac Margarita to fit well in the Insulated Cup - available only at the bar by the casino?????

I think that about covers all the topics I read today! I better get some work done so I can go home and take care of DH...oh joy.

Michele, A blocked Salivary Gland? That's a first for me. It sounds terribly painful. What causes that and how is it treated?

I'm not sure who to feel more sorry for. Your DH, because of his pain and discomfort, or you, because you have to play nursemaid.

Does not sound like one bit of fun for your Memorial Day weekend.

P.S. My husband's been home for almost 2 weeks and he's still taking Immodium. He lost 10 pounds. I'm pretty confident he'll be requesting beer/no ice on his next visit to Mexico. Just an educated guess.

A'ndrea

Oh my gosh, Andrea. has your dh gone to see a doctor? it sounds serious! Michele, sorry about your hubby. they can be quite drama queens when they have the slightest pain. I remember one night coming in and finding my husband sitting straight up in bed fast asleep because he had a toothache. I laughed and told him he didn't have a breast aug surgery why was he sitting up like that. Sorry to hear so many are sick. We had a beautiful weekend here in southern cal. 80's We were at Disneyland today. We visited the new island called Pirates lair. my 7 year old ryan is in love with pirates I couldn't pry him off the island! Anyhow, my cruise is getting closer. I am getting pretty nervous!

Diana, a little over a month and you'll be off!

One word of advice... drink plenty of water while off the ship. These ports are going to be unGodly hot and humid. We were in Cancun/Cozumel in June once and I was sweating while showering. Air Conditioning couldn't keep up with the heat and humidity. Just be sure to drink plenty of fluids, especially your children.

A good SPF is very important. Bullfrog SPF is the best to purchase. It can be found at Walmart or Target. It's a little more expensive than the others, but well worth it.

My husband is grateful for the 10 pound weight loss. He's thrilled. I should have went with him!

We visited Disneyland while we were in California. We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel. We had a great time.

Regarding the drama queen hubbies, and, without offending anyone... there's a reason why God had women bear the children.

P.S. If you wear sterling silver, Mazatlan (at the El Cid Resort... on the beach) are the best prices you are going to find anywhere on your trip. Be sure to barter with the vendors.

A'ndrea