| Have you been thinking about a cruise? Everyone | | | | via a cruise ship several times. This is one of the |
| seems to be going on one and you don't want to | | | | most relaxing cruises I have been on. There are |
| feel left out, right? The problem is that there are | | | | basically three ports on a Mexican Riviera cruise |
| so many itineraries out there, which makes it hard | | | | and each one shows a different side of life in |
| to decide where your first cruise should be. In this | | | | Mexico. Most of the Mexican Riviera cruises go to |
| article I talk about the best five itineraries I have | | | | Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, and Mazatlan. |
| been on and why they are my favorites. | | | | This is your typical seven day cruise of the |
| Selecting my five favorites was not an easy task. | | | | Mexican Riviera. However, some cruise ships |
| I enjoy cruising so much and believe it is the only | | | | bypass Mazatlan and take you to Acapulco and |
| way to go on a vacation. You only unpack once | | | | Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo. These cruises are usually ten |
| and you get to see so many cool places. No | | | | or eleven days. |
| driving miles and miles a day on one of those | | | | My Second Favorite Cruise |
| driving vacations where you have to stop at a | | | | Alaska takes my number two spot. It was hard |
| different hotel every day. I find cruising very | | | | to decide between number one and number two, |
| relaxing and am always ready to go on the next | | | | but I went with Alaska. My husband and I have |
| one. | | | | taken this cruise about seven times and we |
| My Fifth Favorite Cruise | | | | never tire of it. Each port is a little different. The |
| Europe: This was a very interesting way to see | | | | glaciers are awe-inspiring. |
| several places I might have never gotten a | | | | One of the things that fascinated me the first |
| chance to see. I would recommend this cruise to | | | | time I took the Alaskan cruise was the wildlife. |
| anyone who can afford to take the time. It was | | | | There are eagles everywhere. If you see a white |
| fifteen days long and well worth it. | | | | spot in a tree, get out your binoculars. You are |
| On this cruise we went to Copenhagen Denmark, | | | | likely to find out that the white spot is actually an |
| St. Petersburg Russia, Helsinki Finland, Stockholm | | | | eagle's head. |
| Sweden, Oslo Norway, Tallinn Estonia, France | | | | We get to see several orcas on this cruise as |
| where we took a bus ride to Paris. | | | | well. There is nothing that compares to seeing |
| Paris was breathtaking and it was great just to | | | | wildlife in their own habitat. I used to go to zoos |
| be there. There are so many things to see in | | | | and places like Sea World regularly, but now that I |
| Paris and a tour is probably your best bet if you | | | | have seen some of these animals in their natural |
| have never been there. | | | | surroundings, the confinement of zoos just |
| St. Petersburg was a two-day stop and we could | | | | doesn't appeal to me. |
| have stayed longer. We took a tour one day and | | | | My Number One Favorite Cruise |
| got to visit the Hermitage Museum on the second | | | | Hawaii was my all time favorite cruise. I have |
| day. Wow, you won't want to miss The | | | | actually taken this cruise three times. I took it |
| Hermitage if you are ever in St. Petersburg. | | | | with Norwegian Cruise Lines each time. My |
| Basically, we took a tour at each port. Tours are | | | | husband and I boarded the ship in Honolulu and |
| great because you get to see the key points plus | | | | stopped at several ports. |
| learn the history behind everything. You also learn | | | | Lahaina, Maui |
| about their lifestyle and how different it is from | | | | We spent a couple of days here. On one of those |
| our own. This cruise was an experience I will | | | | days we rented a car and drove the road to |
| always remember. | | | | Hana. |
| My Fourth Favorite Cruise | | | | Kona |
| 10 Night Caribbean: There are so many different | | | | We take the Atlantis Submarine hear. The water |
| itineraries when cruising the Caribbean that it can | | | | is really clear and the fish are quite interesting. |
| be difficult to determine which one to take. My | | | | There are also some coffee plantations you can |
| favorite cruise of the Caribbean contained these | | | | visit in Kona. |
| three ports. | | | | Kauai |
| San Juan, Puerto Rico: Okay, this one was special | | | | We took a helicopter ride in Kauai. Several movies |
| to me because my father was born in Puerto | | | | were filmed on this island and there are so many |
| Rico. As a Puerto Rican I always enjoy stopping | | | | beautiful waterfalls. The helicopter ride was simply |
| here. If it is your first time in Puerto Rico, you | | | | breathtaking. |
| may want to take a tour of San Juan. The fort is | | | | Hilo |
| especially interesting. | | | | We took a tour in Hilo. There is a lot of volcanic |
| Key West: I totally fell in love with this little island. | | | | activity here and it is very interesting to see all |
| I have even thought of staying here for a few | | | | the hot spots and how the lava flows and |
| days. My only complaint was that we only had | | | | continues to move. |
| about five hours here and the first two hours | | | | FANNING ISLAND, REPUBLIC OF KIRIBATI |
| everything was closed. My suggestion for Key | | | | It took two days at sea to get here and two |
| West is that you take a tour of the island as | | | | days to get back. It was a very relaxing time at |
| soon as you arrive. I have regretted not taking | | | | sea, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The Island itself |
| one and have not had the opportunity to go back | | | | is rather primitive. It is a totally different way of |
| to Key West. I will the first chance I get. | | | | life than we are accustomed to. The Cruise Line |
| Bahamas: This was a great port. It seemed to | | | | has added several amenities for the natives, but |
| have a little bit of everything. There is a large | | | | you still get a good view of a more laid back |
| hotel that actually has an extensive aquarium. It | | | | lifestyle. This is also a great place to get postage |
| runs the entire length of the building and is | | | | stamps. You can mail yourself a postcard and see |
| something you must see at this port. I also | | | | who arrives first, you or your postcard. The |
| recommend that you take a tour if it is your first | | | | stamps from Republic of Kiribati are a novelty for |
| visit. A tour will give you an overview and then | | | | stamp collectors. |
| you can decide what you want to do with the | | | | Well, I hope sharing my five favorite cruises helps |
| rest of your time here. Again, make sure your | | | | when you are trying to determine where to go |
| tour includes a tour of the hotel on the other side | | | | on your next cruise. I never tire of cruising. I have |
| of the bridge. | | | | found that it is one of those things you either |
| My Third Favorite Cruise | | | | really love or really hate. You, of course, will have |
| Mexico takes this spot. We have been to Mexico | | | | to decide for yourself. |