Just got back from the VOS Mexican Riviera yesterday - Here are my thoughts/review of the cruise if anyone is interested! We are a family of 3 and this was our 5th cruise, 3rd with RCCL. Also, the following is just my perception, opinion and views so please don't flame me if you had a different and/or better experience than I.

EMBARKATION: We were in a AFT Corner JS on the 8th floor (top one with cabins) so we got to go into the Suite Check In line. We arrived around 12:30p and were on board by 1p. We live North of the pier so we drove, parked ($12 a day) and got on board. FYI - had a bad experience with a porter at the pier. Since I didn't have to worry about airline baggage weight limit, I "packed" my suitcases. While DH was parking the car, I got a porter to transport the luggage. He picked one up, looked at me in all seriousness and said there was a 50 lb. weight limit here at the port and I had to pay extra for him to check in the luggage. I told him this wasn't an airline and there wasn't a weight limit. He started to argue with me so I told him to take my bags off his cart and I'd do it myself. His tune changed and he said he "would do me a favor and let it slide this time but to watch the weight next time." - I told him not to bother with his "favors", got another porter who took my luggage. When I got inside the terminal, I checked with RCCL who told me there was no such rule and would report it to the porter supervisor. Anyway, got on board by 1p and went straight to our room since it was ready. Very happy with the size! We had been in a GS on the AOS in Aug. so we knew it would be smaller. We were pleasantly surprised with the roominess. The bathroom was smaller but there was a tub, there wasn't a "walk in" closet but ample room and enough hangers to hang everything. Drawer space was a tiny bit tight but I was able to put all of our things away and stowed the 4 suitcases under the bed. Went up to the Windjammer for a bite to eat ~ food was okay, loved the honey stung chicken although it was only served the 1st day, desserts were good; especially the flan! After lunch, went back to our room and saw our suitcases near the elevators. Asked a crewmember if we could take it and they said sure so I got 3 out of 4 suitcases by 2:30p. The steward delivered the last one an hour later so I got everything unpacked and put away before the muster drill. Muster drill is at 4:30p - very easy and then it was time to get ready for dinner. We had 1st seating by the window. Our main waiter was Fatih from Turkey (his last cruise; going home for 2 months) and his Asst. was from India (his 1st cruise contract) - can't remember his name but it began with a "C". EXCELLENT service throughout the cruise!

PORTS: Cabo San Lucas: Did the Swim with the Dolphins through the ship. Expensive but if you have a child under 8, only place they can really swim with the dolphins and not just touch. Minimum age is 5 and an adult also has to do it if they are under 12. DS LOVED it and would do it again if he could. PROS: Spectators can watch with no charge. CONS: You cannot take pictures or videotape it. Must buy their pictures at their prices if you want a memento. Individual pics @ $20 each or a CD with 8 pics of your choice for $100. Didn't really walk outside of the pier terminal area. You are tendered in and there were 3 other ships in port while we were there. Lots of military and police present. They did keep tour vendors behind a chained area but there is a lot of begging. We walked around a bit but decided to spend the rest of the day on board. Had a beautiful view of Land's End from our balcony so enjoyed it that way. People who said they went to the beach and Stone Island there said it was not fun nor did they feel safe...facilities were in poor condition, etc. Just their point of view... MAZATLAN: Our original tour was cancelled so we booked the Mexican Show, Sightseeing & Shopping Tour. Don't waste your money. While we enjoyed the beautiful Cathedral and the "Cliff Divers" (really just a high rock), the Spectacular Theater show was not very good. They fill up the theater before they begin, the dancers were good but because they have involved costume changes, the singer who entertains between sets was less than spectacular. The Papantla Flyers Show was interesting but since this all takes place indoors, it lost its historical or authentic feel. We enjoyed seeing the shrimp market and the drive along the beach and wish we could have stopped to sample more of the local shops. The shopping in the Golden Zone was not very good. Diamonds International was HORRIBLE re: customer service. We had purchased watches in the Caribbean last year and needed them resized. We had been told that since DI is all owned by the same person, there would be no problem in any of their stores. We even had Suzanne, RCCL's shopping lady write us a note. We were kept waiting for 20 minutes before anyone would help us, told us to wait while they got someone to talk to us and when they found out we didn't want to purchase anything, walked away and said there was no one available. Will be writing more on Trip Advisor as well as sending an email to DI. Guess I got spoiled by the shopping in St. Thomas or St. Maarten because I didn't find the Golden Zone golden at all! PUERTO VALLARTA: Best port of all of them! We did theTown, Country & Tequila tour and enjoyed it. Our tour guide was Arturo and you could tell he was very proud of his city. We did a short drive around the ship's pier and went to a neighborhood church, went to a tequila factory that is privately owned, did a short walking tour in downtown to another cathedral and drove along the waterfront. Beautiful statues and monuments, lots of places to eat and the most amazing sand sculptures! DS who is 6, did not want to walk so he and I stayed behind while the others went to the cathedral. We walked along the waterfront and enjoyed ourselves at Senor Frog's, a chain bar, restaurant and store in Mexico. If you wanted to stay in downtown longer, you could. It felt very safe; safest in my opinion than the other cities. We came back to the pier, took DS to Adventure Ocean and then we walked to Wal-Mart & Sam's Club across the pier (about 10 minutes) and did some Tequila shopping as well as souvenirs. FYI - in order for it to be called Tequila, it must be made in the state of Jalisco. Just like in order for sparkling wine to be called champagne, it has to be made into the Champagne, France. There are shops and a great bar & restaurant right at the pier that made the most amazing shrimp dishes and the salsa was fresh; best I ever had! Read more