CA/Radiance of the Seas Dec 31 - Jan 11, 2010

  • Dec 31st, 2009 - Jan 11th, 2010
Royal Caribbean
Radiance of the Seas
  • Mexican Riveria Cruise
  • (cruise is Jan 2nd - 11th)
  • San Diego, CA; Cabo San Lucas Mexico; Mazaltan, Mexico; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Manzanillo, Mexico; Ixtapa, Mexico and back to San Diego, CA
Bob, Debe, Micah and Chelcy


After the long flight to San Diego - it was on the shuttle and to the Comfort Inn Old San Diego to check in. With shuttles for free to the airport, port, Old San Diego district, and other major attractions, - this hotel was the perfect place. And breakfast was included. We decided to order pizza in tonight since San Diego had to cancel fireworks due to opposition from the enviromentalists who didn't want the remains of the fireworks to end up in the ocean. So it was watching the ball drop in New York on TV. Below you can see Micah and Chelcy at the hotel.

Up the next morning and off to the zoo. Shuttle from the hotel was free and we just had to call them 20 minutes before we wanted picked up. Nice. Zoo cost us $32 per person and that was after using a $5 off pp coupon I got online. We didn't get to see the newborn Panda Bear but we did see the new baby giraffe. One thing I love about the San Diego Zoo is the double decker bus you can take around the zoo, the sky lift from one area to the other, and the moving walkways. Gives you a rest when you get tired and it is all included in the price.




After a day at the zoo, it was to Old Town San Diego to visit the shops and eat dinner. We chose O'Hungry's $5 meals. Very good and very cheap. After that it was off to Cafe Coyote's for their flavored tortilla's. Different is all I will say. Overall - a News Years Day to remember.

After a great night sleep, wonderful breakfast it was off to do the Trolley and Seal Boat. I had prebooked this through Grupons on the internet. The cost was $27 pp for both activities. (regular price for the trolley is $28 so a great deal) We started on the trolley in Old Town and did the tour by the port, Midway ship, and until we got to Seaport Village. There we picked up the Seal Tour and completed it before jumping back on the Trolley. Then we were able to complete the rest of the Trolley tour. The Seal took us thru town before splashing down in the bay going by rock and roll alley, dingy beach, Navy dolphins, and to the huge bait boxes that the sea lions and birds hang out at. We also got a look at the American Cup boat as it went out for a practice. Back on the Trolley it was by the Zoo, Museums, Balboa Park, Gaslight District, Petco Park (home of the Padres), Coronado, Little Italy, among many other places. Both great tours.

A quick ride to the hotel to get our luggage and it was off to our home away from home for the next nine days. Yes, the Royal Caribbean ship - Radiance of the Seas. In the below photo you will see Micah and Chelcy with San Diego skyline behind them and also photos as we sail out of San Diego Port during the night. Beautiful look back at the skyline at night.

Our first port of call - Cabo San Lucas. At this port the ships must dock out in the bay and you tender into the marina. We had prebooked online the whale watching on Zodiac boats. The cost was $63 per person but is a great way to get up close and personal. Before the boat ride - it is tradition to make a stop at Senor Sweets for our favorite ice cream. Then off for whale watching. On this trip, not only did we see whale, but we also got to see a huge school of dolphins jumping all around us. What a beautiful day in Cabo.


LOOK MOM - NO HANDS!!!!!!!!!

I know many of you think we buy these pictures so check out the video with the mom and baby whales as they dive. Only when they dive do they usually show their tails. And it isn't always easy to get a photo with the boat rocking and your batteries running down on your camera. lol

Next port of call was Mazatlan, Mexico. We had again prebooked our excursion with a local company. This port we would be going horseback riding with Randi's Happy Horses. The cost was $45 per person and it was from 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. It also included being picked up at the dock, taking us by boat to Stone Island and then picking us up at that dock and taking us to the horse ranch. (and of course doing the same to return us to the ship) We would also have some beach time on the island. We really had a great time but as far as the transportation - well, while in Rome do as the Romans so while in Mexico, travel as the Mexicans. lol So we did.


Puerto Vallarta was our next port of call. Below you will see the new arches that were built after PV lost their others in Hurricane Kenna on Oct 25th, 2002. We took the local bus to town and walked the boardwalk next to the ocean. So beautiful. Then it was off to an internet shop before we headed to our prebooked excursion of ATVs. We had booked with Shoretrips for $79 for a single and $98 for a double. We had used them before with great results but this time was different. The ATV ride itself ws great. But the tour was suppose to be 4 hours. We were only with them for 2 1/2 hours. Of this time we were stopped at one place for a bathroom break (4 of us) for almost 25 minutes. Then we went to a Bar that had a Tequila Brewery (not really) but remants of one, and that was over 1/2 hour. The main purpose was for you to spend your money eating and drinking there which we didn't need to do since we were on an afternoon tour and had lunch already. Very disappointing and never again.




Manzanillo was our next port of call and one we had never been to. So we were excited for something different. We didn't book anything and decided to take a walk into the town. The walkway along the beach was very nice and easy to maneuver. Manzanillo is a huge fishing town and has a huge statue of a big fish at the main square of town. Overall a very relaxing day and enjoyed just seeing the area. (Don't ask Micah though - he was bored. lol)

Next stop - Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Mexico. Bob and I have been here before on a land trip staying in Ixtapa for a week but this trip - we really didn't go into Ixtapa. Bob, Micah and Chelcy prebooked ziplining with Shoretrips. Cost was $58 per person. I do love to zipline but this one also included an obstacle course that worried me. I am scare of heights and didn't know how I would feel slowly walking a line or boards. I found out later that I made the right decision. It was very rough and Chelcy came back looking like she was beat up. So they did their morning ziplining then came back on the ship, ate lunch and we headed back via tenders to the bay of Zihuatanejo. We grabbed a small cafe with free internet and hung out there. It is a fishing port so mainly fishing boats, places they sell fresh fish, and a lot of cafes and shops. Below are a lot of photos of the ziplining, obstacle course and the small fishing port of Zihuatanejo. Please take a moment to look at the awesome videos taken during their ziplining below.








With all the ports of calls visited - it was a couple days at sea. The first three photos are Micah and Chelcy at dinner and professional photos they had made. Awesome.
Next are photos from three shows that we did attend. There are many forms of entertainment and these three shows we saw were awesome. We also attended other activities but these were our favorites.

With Royal Caribbean - you have alot of sporting activities you can compete in. And we did alot of them racking up medals and prizes. In the first photo you will see Micah and Chelcy with all their medals and prizes. (Bob and I had alot also) Below that photo are photos of some of the many activites we all competed in.




And, of course, for those of you that follow our blog and always ask for photos of the ship and things on it - well, you saw the pictures of sports and activites so here are a few of others things around the ship. This includes our cabin, solarium pool area, outside pools, hair salon, gym, atrium, theatre, casino, sports bar, Seaside Cafe (awesome), Schooner Bar, pool tables, and buffet.









And nothing is more awesome than a beautiful sunset on a cruise. Micah and Chelcy competed in the Rock Wall climbing the last night while this beautiful sunset was going on. What a great finale to a great cruise. We do enjoy the Mexican Riveria but having Micah and his girlfriend Chelcy along - just made us feel like young kids again. Sometime you need that but being over double their age - we can't do it alot. lol
As always, we appreciate all of you taking the time to visit our blog. If you ever have any questions regarding our ports of call, excursions or the ships, please feel free to drop a note and we will get back with you. Our goal is to not only share our trips with you but to also give some details that just might help you on your next trip. Hope you enjoyed our photos from this awesome trip. And remember, all photos that are small can be seen larger if you click on them. But a reminder that you will have to click on the back button to go back to the blog. Enjoy.

THE END