Day 3 – Cabo San Lucas
November 23, 2006
Yesterday was our first day in port as we visited Cabo San Lucas. It was another beautiful day with temperatures reaching about 80. You can feel the heat rising as we head South. Skies were once again clear and calm although the harbor where we dropped anchor was a bit choppy.
We had a scheduled arrival time of 10:30 in Cabo and we arrived right on schedule. It was very beautiful to watch the Mexican coast pass by as we approached Lands End (the end of the Baja California Peninusla). The rock formations that jut out from the end, such as El Arcos, were stunning.Â
We decided to lunch about noon and then take a tender into Cabo for our water taxi tour and ride out to Lovers Beach. Since they started launching the tenders about 11:00 and we didnt go there until about 1:00, we were able to get on a tender with no wait. I like the little boat rides in, but some people get really freaked out by them. Half a dozen folks turned around instead of getting in the tender and riding it ashore. I also heard others on deck saying no way they would ride in a tender boat which is actually one of the life boats. I guess they dont like small boats. Last time we did this itineray, all I did was ride the tender back and forth a few times.
After getting ashore, we began searcing for a water taxi to hire. After some haggling, we agreed on a price and plan. The water taxis are glass bottom boats about the size of a row boat with an outboard moter. The taxi driver gave us a little tour of the harbor and then headed for Lands End. The scenery near Lands End was very nice from the glass bottom boat. We saw some wonderful coral formations and many different kinds of fish. He gave us some nice close of views of the El Arcos and the other formations that make up Lands End. To be safe, we didnt bring our new digital camera with us, but wished we had. We did have a disposable underwater camer that we sanpped a few pictures of. Hopefully, they will come out well.
After the Lands End tour, we had the taxi drop us off at Lovers Beach near El Arcos. The kids were able to swim there for about an hour before we boarded the water taxi for the return ride to the harbor. It was a fun afternoon.
On the way back to the ship, we noticed the water had gotten a bit rougher, but the weather was still very nice although a bit humid. The tender Captain had a some trouble getting the tender tied up at the Mercury and at one point we crashed into the ship dock pretty hard. The fiberglass side of the boat creaked and bent pretty good. A small hole formed in the side of the tender. A couple of folks became panicked though I didnt really get why. The hole was a good 4 feet above the waterline and was no danger to the tender. Even if the hole had been on the direct bottom of the tender, it would have taken hours to take on enough water to cause issues. Oh well, someone still has some repair work to do.
Dinner was an informal night. Sean still wanted to wear a tie, so we let him. The kids also noticed on the menu in small print that escargot was one of the things that could be ordered any night of the cruise which just got them excited. So, they enjoyed a second straight night of escargot. For the entree, Savannah and I enjoyed pan roasted baby spring chicken seared with rosemary olive oil. It was very delicious though a bit small which actually was quite pleasant because we have eaten too much food as usual. Suzanne enjoyed a three fish combo plate and Sean ordered Sirloin Roast Beef with some Lamb shank on the side.Â
After dinner, the kids went to the Kids Club and Suzanne and I took in the show which was a ventriloquist. He was very good and hilarious. We had a good laugh at the show. The kids probably would have enjoyed it too. Late night meant karaoke night. Suzanne sang three songs. We retired for the night again about midnight.
The late night mean another short sleep night as we were docking at 7:00 am in Mazatlan the next morning and we had an excursion planned for the day. We will need a vacation to recover from our vacation at this rate.
Day 2 – At Sea
November 22, 2006
Yesterday was a wonderful day at sea on our way to Mexico aboard the Celebrity Mercury. The days at sea are the best for me. Most ports, I dont really care if we get off the boat or not. We usually do, but its certainly not a priority for me.Â
The weather yesterday was absolutely wonderful. The temperature was in the mid-70′s, mostly clear skies and very little wind. It was perfect for sitting up on deck and relaxing. The water was almost a sheet of glass. It was the calmest I have ever seen the ocean on a cruise. And to think, there was some apprehension before leaving about hurricane/tropical storm Sergio messing up the area.
The kids enjoyed most of the day in the Kids Club. They had a bunch of activities planned for them. We all got together for one of them – a family scavenger hunt. We had 30 minutes to scour the ship for a list of items. We did pretty fwell and finished 3rd overall. The kids won a Celebrity Kids Club backpack for our efforts.
I was in follow mode for most of the adult activities. Suzanne wanted to compete in several trivia contests that were held the first day. They are not my favorite thing, but were still relaxing. We actually took first place in one of the trivia contests and won a Celebrity pen apiece. I did manage to get to the duty free shops and pick up my obligatory Celebrity Mercury hat. I always get a hat of the ship I am on.
Last night was a formal night, so we got all decked out for dinner. Sean and I had on our tuxedos with matching taupe cumberbunds. Since we zeroed in on cruising as our family vacation, we own our own tuxes. Suzanne wore a nice gold dress. Since that’s the best I can describe it, I am sure I will be in trouble. Savannah wore a nice white dress that I think she got for her first communion. She got lots of compliments on it.
Dinner was wonderful once again. The kids were excited because they had escargot as an appetizer choice. They really love those snails. Sean and Suzanne had Gulf Shrimp in a sauce for dinner. Savannah had a nice looking roasted pork tenderloin. I had a filet mignon with a nice sherry sauce.
After dinner, it was the first big production show of the cruise with the Celebrity Singers and Dancers. We went as a family and enjoyed the show. The kids got a big kick out of meeting the cast afterwards and sharing with them all the dance classes they are taking. Some of the dancers said they will come by the talent show and watch the kids do their dances. I dont know if they will or not, but they were very nice to the kids.
It was a late night for everyone last night. The Kids Club was running a slumber party for the kids until 1:00 am so we let them go to that and Suzanne and I went out “on the town” for the night. We enjoyed several of the different clubs and the live music in them. Suzanne likes to stay out late on the formal nights when she went to the effort of dressing up. Also, we were scheduled for a late morning arrival into Cabo San Lucas so we could sleep in.
As I type in this post, we are anchored just outside of Cabo and tendering operations have begun. Its another beautiful day in Mexico. Our plan is to enjoy a lunch and then take a water taxi out to the El Archo on Lands End.
More to come from the beautiful Celebrity Mercury on our 2006 Mexico cruise…
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