| There was an enormous queue when we got to the dock whereas that for Dawn Princess was almost non-existent. But they were using many tenders and boats while we were seriously lacking. It's amazing really considering Royal Caribbean and many of the crew have been doing this particular milk run for a long time now. We boarded the tender and got up top - yes!!! A drier return! Some people were standing at the front so told to sit down. As there was no room they had to go inside. |
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| As we were offloading passengers, another tender came to dock behind us but struggled to get there. It was quite amusing to watch but they did eventually make it without colliding into us before we got off. |
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| Both we and Dawn were due to sail at 6pm. At 6pm Dawn raised her anchor. No idea when we had because a crew member was washing down the bow when we got there. Finally Dawn moved fourteen minutes later and blasted six times five minutes after that. We were mute as we followed her out of the Bay towards Mazatlan. |
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| There was a Crown & Anchor Society do for returning passengers in the Some Enchanted Evening Lounge. This was some party. They not only laid on the free booze but also a buffet with hot and cold food. Not ideal just before dinner but after hearing about Portunus Club parties on P&O, I was thinking this would be as bad. It was a pleasant surprise. We met up with Jack and Maria and the boys. Many crew were there including the captain. When the future cruise consultant mentioned Independence of the Seas sailing from Southampton I felt so proud. Afterwards John, the cruise director, came over and asked where we we all from. I said Southampton and would be on the maiden voyage of Independence. And of course by now Claude was getting groupies from all the karaoke we'd been missing so everyone knew who he was. We took our drinks with us to dinner where it was Italian night. After yet another delicious meal, the waiters all disappeared only to come out waving napkins before assembling on the staircase where they sang O Sole Mio. I did wonder if they get bored doing the same thing week in, week out but I never asked. It was fun anyway as everyone supports their own waiters. |
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| After an early night due to an early excursion, we went on deck just as the sun was starting to break through the cloud. However we did notice we appeared to be going really slowly so decided to go to the Windjammer. While eating we spotted Dawn in the mist. It was a recreation of two weeks earlier when Golden Princess had been in dock and the other two were loitering outside for the fog to lift. Dawn finally headed forward. We inched after her until she had turned and docked then went a little faster. |
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| Here's where Royal Caribbean get yet another black mark for crap organisation. We docked at 9.30am, an hour after we were meant to be on the dockside for our excursion. We were told absolutely nothing about revised times or anything. Amy contacted reception and was told we should just go down. Having been on P&O when lateness occurs and being kept up to date with everything regarding excursions, even though I still doubt we were ever going to Lisbon, I find this a total shambles. Yet again there was a massive queue. Yet again too many people on the dock and too many trips at the same time. The original coach had gone so there were less than twelve of us hanging around in the blazing sun for about half an hour waiting for another one. |
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| And here was our transport, not quite what anyone expected but they'd cleaned it which was something. I think our guide Norma was as embarrassed as the rest of us. We could not believe what a farce getting to these excursions is. How many people missed theirs due to lack of information? How on earth could they be so disorganised after all these years? |
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| So off we went on our Mazatlan Hightlights and Folkloric Show tour. We stopped to admire the view and were instantly swooped on by street hawkers. |
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| Then we headed towards the Inmaculada Conception Cathedral. The driver dropped us off further up the street and we had to walk past umpteen beggars. It really isn't a very nice part of the city. |
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| Another drive, this time past El Cid resort as we headed for the Golden Zone for shopping and to see the show. The Golden Zone like many cruise destinations, has shops recommended by the cruise lines to prevent passengers being ripped off. However we heard the prices actually go UP when ships are in so they're being ripped off anyway. The other shops are average tourist places and that particular area, as opposed to on the main street, is pretty run down and gloomy. |
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| Here we were offered a free drink. They also had stalls selling things. The show featured dancing and the Papantla Flyers and a good way to spend half an hour although Amy commented the dancers weren't that great. |
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| After the show, Amy looked for a present for her sister Karla while I had a little wander to survey the surroundings. |
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| Then it was time to drive to our final stop to watch the cliff divers. Slightly misleading blurb as there was only one unless others followed once we'd seen him and left again. |
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| Back to the port after dropping people off to shop and we said goodbye to Norma. This time the Mexican authorities checked passports. We entered the shopping area. This was probably the best part of Mazatlan. One shop had postcards featuring Vision of the Seas and either Diamond Princess or Sapphire Princess. You could buy three postcards for $1. |
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| Once we were back onboard and in the cabin we went to the balcony as Pam and my dad were trying to see us on the webcam without muck success. I even wrapped my red dress around my wrist and dangled it over the side but they didn't see it. Our balcony had become shaded as the day wore on and it was a little chilly in the wind. We took an interest in what was happening on the Princess behind us. Semi-naked men sunbathing. Nice! Lifeboat testing. Not so nice because they were fully clothed and it took an age. |
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| Golden Princess was due to sail at 5pm. We were now an hour later at 6.30pm but we had no idea what time Dawn Princess was going since she was originally 5pm too but was as late as us. At 4.55pm Golden's thrusters were going and she had a tug attached to her bow. Her first lines were cast now and at 5.03pm she began to move but was silent. Once she was some way out we rushed to the cabin to get Dawn from there. |
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| Despite running back to the cabin, Dawn was already halfway across as soon as Amy opened the door so we dashed to the balcony. Once she was away from the dock and moved towards us it became blast mania! Dawn blasted three times, we did it back. Dawn blasted once, so did we. Dawn blasted twice more but we'd lost our voice. How disappointing! Still for two ship nuts it was the best departure we'd had so far. I did notice the giant hand like Sea Princess only Dawn's crew aren't as good with the waving. I still think it's a wonderful idea though and a lot of fun. |
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| As we wouldn't be leaving yet, Amy decided to go to Royal Caribbean Online and check her emails. However Captain Bjorheim had other ideas and by 5.55pm we had no lines attached then a few minutes later moved away from the dock. |
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| Once Amy returned we went to the photo shop to find our pictures at Cabo and Mazatlan. The shop assistant was Aleksandria from Serbia who told us she had been both the pirate at Cabo and dolphin at Mazatlan. When we were in Puerto Vallarta she would be dressed as a whale so we said we'd have our photo taken with her then she'll be in all three. Amy later had her photos put on CD to free up the card as with her camera being so old, she can't use a 1Gb one, which was all they sold. Mine's newer and can't have it either. As she was having the CD done I went to dinner. Afterwards we returned to the cabin as we had another early start and seemed to be gaining on Dawn. |
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| The 27th was a confusing day. Puerto Vallarta time and ship's time. It was as bad as NCL! We were docking at 8am according to the itinerary but the ship information said 7am. We would be sailing at 8pm only it was 7pm ship's time. We had to be on the dock for our excursion at 7.45am only it was really 8.45am. Well we got up at 5.30am ship's time and saw Dawn was behind us for some reason. Having been avid webcam watchers for months and months, we knew Dawn should dock before Vision. Not today. We went in and docked while Amy noticed Dawn unexpectedly drop anchor. |
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