Eight Days on the Good Ship Spirit to Tropical Paradise - Mexican Riviera "Ports" Review by LJHSViking

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Home > Member Reviews > LJHSViking's Port Reviews of Acapulco, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo

LJHSViking's Port Reviews of Acapulco, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo
Carnival Spirit cruise in January 2010

Member Name:	LJHSViking
Cruise Date:	January 2010
Embarkation:	San Diego
Destination:	Mexican Riviera
Member Review:	LJHSViking's Carnival Spirit Review

	Acapulco Port Rating: We docked in Acapulco and walked off the gangway to meet our shore excursion to snorkel at Isla Roqueta. Only 18 people in the group. We took a boat to the island, debarked onto a marina at a restaurant, and were given the choice of nature walk, then snorkel, or just snorkel. I chose to snorkel the whole time and was accompanied by a guide. I can usually find plenty of fish on my own, but I appreciated the guide nonetheless. Plenty of fish to see. The entrance to the cove was marred by litter and debris that someone at the site could spend a few minutes several times a day cleaning up with a net. Cigarette butts in the ocean are a real downer. However, the snorkeling was fine and the food was tasty. We boated back to the ship in time for us to change and go for a little exploring. The shopping was a little unpleasant and the area a little grimy. Back to the ship we went for dinner and entertainment. A Mexican folkloric group entertained at dinner (mariachis) and there was music and dance at the evening show in the Pharoah's Lounge, which was authentic, lively, and very well-received. If we return to Acapulco we will go see the cliff divers. Our friends went to the "show" and returned with great pictures and happy tales of entertainment, so it's probably worthwhile.
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	Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo Port Rating: Ah, Ixtapa. Or should I say Zihuatanejo? We were faced with a string of beaches around the bay, and having read in a guidebook that we could walk, we set out on foot with our snorkels and fins. Quite a bit later, we arrived at Playa Las Gatos, at the same time as a group of friendly local teens out for a day at the beach. Ship passengers arrived a bit later, via water taxi. We met a couple from California who were vacationing in the area and advised us of the protocol for sitting in beach chairs with umbrellas. For the price of two beers apiece and a plate of chips and guacamole ($11) we spent several hours snorkeling and soaking up the atmosphere. We could see the ship sitting in the bay and thought we could just about swim back. But instead we took a water taxi and then tendered back. Tender operations that day were easy and swift. Since we hadn't purchased a shore excursion, we went as instructed to the lounge on Deck 2 to get a tender sticker and ended up being in the first group to arrive on land. Shopping here was a little more pleasant, and after cleaning up we made a second trip to shore to enjoy the village. Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo has gorgeous beaches, friendly people, and a wonderful resort atmosphere.
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