PHS Mexico 6-0 Reunion Cruise tips – part II
Projected WEATHER:
Out at sea – don’t
know but breeze and winds can get cold during the evenings and nights
However - we are in hurricane
season through November 1. And though Pacific hurricanes are rare in comparison
to Atlantic and Caribbean ones, --- there is a little bad news.
Currently (Sept. 16) there are two storms brewing just off the coast below Baja. Both with less than 40 percent chance of becoming a cyclone and eventual hurricane. (the second photo is the five-day outlook of where the storm is heading.) We’ll just keep an eye on them. Either way – even if they did become hurricanes, they should be gone by Oct. 5. (But we might see damage left behind.) And, with there being two storms brewing – it’s possible more can develop later in the month. I always keep an eye on the storms as my cruise approaches so I’ll keep you all posted if any new ones develop. The cruise ships are really good at staying ahead of the storms but worse-case scenario – we get some rough sea waves. (Another reason to bring Dramamine)
9/17: Good news that second disturbance has disappeared. (Yellow X). Bad News: A new one is developing, just southeast of the red one.
Currently (Sept. 16) there are two storms brewing just off the coast below Baja. Both with less than 40 percent chance of becoming a cyclone and eventual hurricane. (the second photo is the five-day outlook of where the storm is heading.) We’ll just keep an eye on them. Either way – even if they did become hurricanes, they should be gone by Oct. 5. (But we might see damage left behind.) And, with there being two storms brewing – it’s possible more can develop later in the month. I always keep an eye on the storms as my cruise approaches so I’ll keep you all posted if any new ones develop. The cruise ships are really good at staying ahead of the storms but worse-case scenario – we get some rough sea waves. (Another reason to bring Dramamine)
9/17: Good news that second disturbance has disappeared. (Yellow X). Bad News: A new one is developing, just southeast of the red one.
PACKING:
Remember, light is best. And if you need it – there are laundry rooms on the ship. I always throw a couple of laundry pods and some dryer sheets in a Ziploc bag - just in case but I have only used them on the 7-8 day cruises. I like to write down the days of the cruise and go from there:
Remember, light is best. And if you need it – there are laundry rooms on the ship. I always throw a couple of laundry pods and some dryer sheets in a Ziploc bag - just in case but I have only used them on the 7-8 day cruises. I like to write down the days of the cruise and go from there:
Friday – Embarkation
Day
Comfy clothes for traveling. Dinner is a “come as you are” for the first night – so no need to change. They know we are busy with the mandatory safety briefing and sail away party and then show and dinner. Plus some people may not get their luggage delivered till later in the evening.
Comfy clothes for traveling. Dinner is a “come as you are” for the first night – so no need to change. They know we are busy with the mandatory safety briefing and sail away party and then show and dinner. Plus some people may not get their luggage delivered till later in the evening.
Saturday – Sea Day and
Elegant Night
Daytime: swim suit and cover-up, shorts or sundress and flip flops, hat, if you will be out by the pool.
Dinner – Elegant Night – dress up nice. Men: slacks, shirt, tie optional; Women: dressy or simple dress or just nice slacks and a dressy top. Take a sweater or shawl if you get cold easily. The showroom is usually cold.
Daytime: swim suit and cover-up, shorts or sundress and flip flops, hat, if you will be out by the pool.
Dinner – Elegant Night – dress up nice. Men: slacks, shirt, tie optional; Women: dressy or simple dress or just nice slacks and a dressy top. Take a sweater or shawl if you get cold easily. The showroom is usually cold.
Sunday – Ensenada
Comfort is key. Wear whatever you might need for your excursion. Wear comfortable walking shoes if you will do a lot of walking. Jeans and closed toe shoes if you are horseback riding. Swimwear and Shorts if you are kayaking. etc. There’s also zip lining and dune buggy excursions, wine tours, cooking classes, shopping in town, bar hopping, etc. La Bufadora (a natural blowhole on the coast) is cool to see. There are only three in the world – Australia, Hawaii and Ensenada. And Ensenada’s is the largest one in North America. (Second largest sea geyser of the world.) For photos of La Bufadora - click here: La Bufadora photos
And if you go there - you have to try their tacos and other sea food. Everything is so fresh and absolutely delicious. Don't worry - you'll still be hungry for dinner when you return to the ship.
Sunday night – just remember to change back for dinner. Casual/dressy wear is fine.
Comfort is key. Wear whatever you might need for your excursion. Wear comfortable walking shoes if you will do a lot of walking. Jeans and closed toe shoes if you are horseback riding. Swimwear and Shorts if you are kayaking. etc. There’s also zip lining and dune buggy excursions, wine tours, cooking classes, shopping in town, bar hopping, etc. La Bufadora (a natural blowhole on the coast) is cool to see. There are only three in the world – Australia, Hawaii and Ensenada. And Ensenada’s is the largest one in North America. (Second largest sea geyser of the world.) For photos of La Bufadora - click here: La Bufadora photos
And if you go there - you have to try their tacos and other sea food. Everything is so fresh and absolutely delicious. Don't worry - you'll still be hungry for dinner when you return to the ship.
Sunday night – just remember to change back for dinner. Casual/dressy wear is fine.
Monday – Debarkation
Time to go home - wear something comfortable for driving home.
This is how I
personally would pack.
Friday – black
exercise capris pants, t-shirt
Saturday – same black capris,
second t-shirt, flip flops for day / black dress and heels for elegant night
Sunday – jean capris
and t-shirt, Nike shoes for Ensenada / simple dress and sandals for dinner
Monday – same black
capris and another t-shirt for drive home.
Other – shawl for
dinner, long sleeve shirt for early morning walking, jeans in case of cold day,
undergarments, socks, swim suit and pajamas.
Toiletries: There is
shampoo and liquid soap in every shower - but no conditioner. In the past, some
rooms had hair dryers and some don’t. If you need one and don’t have a travel
one, just ask your room steward as soon as you see him since they have a
limited supply of them.
Other things which
help:
·
Post its – to leave
notes on your mirror for the steward or on your door for family or others on where you are, etc.
·
Small bills – ones and
fives and tens, maybe 20s if you plan on shopping. Avoid large bills. You don’t
need money on the ship so always leave your wallet and cash in the safe deposit
box in your room. While in port, you need your sail card, your driver’s license
and cash for food, water, shopping – do NOT use your credit card. I have heard
several bad stories.
·
Small cross-body purse
– for your cell phone around the ship if you don’t have pockets – and/or for
your cash and cell phone in Ensenada
· Backpack – for your
bottle of wine and sodas if you bring on the ship – also good place for
medicine, makeup bag, light sweater or anything else
you might need when coming onboard. This also great for Ensenada for your water bottles and anything
you might need when you get off in port. (You cannot take fruit or meat or food
off the ship – they have dogs to sniff you.)
· Laudry pods, dryer sheets; and Fabreeze
spray to freshen room
No Need to take towels
– there are plenty in the room and at the poolside. If you need them in
Ensenada, you do have beach towels in your room you can take off the ship with
you but you are responsible for them.
Irons are not allowed –
but there are self-laundry rooms onboard with irons and ironing boards if you
need them.
Continue scrolling page to see Part 1
Continue scrolling page to see Part 1