The Mexican Drinking Game

San Diego, ideal starting point for cruises to Mexico

There is no need to fly across the country for a cruise when you live in or near California.

This is the perfect setting for the first time cruiser who wants a no-muss, no fuss way to test cruise waters. Our recent cruise on Holland-America San Diego was an excellent example - a 45 minute drive from our suburban home in San Diego and we were ready to board our boat to the Mexican Riviera.

Cruises years will tell you that the ships and itineraries each has its own set of demographics, and often - mainly because of school holidays -- changes in age range of customers depending on time of year. Some routes are all about the ports, while other routes, such as the Mexican Riviera, tend to attract tourists more focused on the ship itself.

And then every cruise line has its particular niche. With Holland America Line, the niche is premium - The line of what it suggests is a more elegant cruise, but not so formal that travelers feel out of place. Holland America likes to compare his level of service to a Westin or Four Seasons Hotel.

Premium means you pay about $ 100 more, "said Noel DeChambeau, director of marketing for route Line of Alaska. "But well worth it."

Holland America is now experimenting with the use of larger ships in the San Diego-Mexico Riviera road shows - an itinerary that includes Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta. Our ship was the Oosterdam, a Holland America's newest and largest, and only in service since 2003. While this was not our first cruise, we do feel that the Oosterdam odyssey along the coast of Mexico would be an excellent, reasonably priced way Californians for time sampling of large cruise ships.

In San Diego, we parked our car within 100 meters of the vessel and began the process of loading high technology. Each passenger presented identification and then took digital photographs. From that point on, every time the passenger presented Netherlands your new card or return America to go aboard the ship, the photo appeared on a computer screen, giving the crew a visual confirmation that the card actually game with the passengers. This process took us about an hour, but it was relatively easy considering the Oosterdam was boarding the equivalent of two small towns like who grew up in - about 1800 passengers and 800 crew members.

This relationship between passenger crew presented a large degree of personal service throughout The seven-day cruise. The smiles and warm welcome we have received from members of the crew on board were only the beginning of a nonstop effort by Commissioners of the cabin, waiters, cruise directors and many crew members to pamper each of us for our stay in the boat. If it was only a cheerful "good morning" or a brief conversation about the day's activities, encounters with members of the crew were always hot and the staff seemed genuinely interested in making sure we had a wonderful holiday.

Holland America likes to boast cabin through the line is approximately 25 percent larger than the competition and, based on our personal experience, that seems accurate. The room we had - a luxury outdoor porch - was much broader than I remembered from previous experiences in other lines. About 67 percent of the rooms of this vessel had balconies.

The corridor proved useful in our journey - often sat there and read or watch the passing landscape, lulled by the gentle waves lapping against the hull of the ship. In our cabin, space was used efficiently: our room includes a king size bed, a sofa daven / bed, bathroom with bath, several cabinets and a desk. Satellite TV beamed on CNN and movie channels as well as several television camera views of the bow and stern of the ship. Just one floor below was the Internet Center where, for 40 to 75 cents a minute, passengers could be in constant contact with the outside world through email and the Internet.

Besides the three ports day, this particular itinerary included three days "at sea." The Oosterdam is like a floating hotel 10 Great story with a fine several and varied restaurants, pools and gym, a spa, shops, nightclubs, bars and numerous nooks and crannies. The ship has been carefully designed for maximum comfortable and exquisitely decorated rooms to be bright, colorful and well lit, while maintaining a sense of elegance and good taste. Whether in port or at sea, every day had a list of activities that ran the gamut - from tennis tournaments to art exhibitions, of the Catholic Mass to the happy hours of classic rock from the yoga to wine classes.

There is so much to do on a ship like the Oosterdam that actually began to feel a little guilty that just want to relax. But not guilty - We were in total control of our holiday and in any given day, not much or as little as we wanted.

Since I was a 5-years with us, our activities often involved the Lido Deck pool where children on this cruise added to congregate. Our cruise, we were told, was unusual for Holland America - had a total of around 180 children on board, more than usual. Holland America Line, in general, is a little older, more upscale demographic. But again, which may vary according to the vessels, time of year and the cruise itinerary.

A real convenience for parents is a relatively new for the ship's services called Club Hal. We were able to leave our daughter at Club Hal for hours at a time if necessary. Club Hal people teach children the arts and crafts, or play with them in an elaborate installation jam full of games, toys, movies and anything else kids could want. Of course, the proof is in the pudding: our daughter could not wait to come back the next day.

It will come as no surprise that board activity is important eat. No way to get around it - a cruise like this on the Oosterdam will tempt you morning noon and night with a variety of dining options ranging from casual to elegant. In addition to sit down style restaurant dining for all meals, the Oosterdam has an area on Lido Deck, which offers the cafeteria style or multi-station-style deli where you can order breakfast and lunch. Menus change daily, so there is always a wide variety of American dishes other offers as well as Italian, Asian and many. A fancy restaurant, the Pinnacle, is available for an additional charge.

Whether coincidence or costumes, dinner on the boat was always a festive occasion and enjoyed catching up with our colleagues in the day's activities.

On this cruise particular, there was a lot of time in port and enjoy the coast while spending three sun destinations. Cabo San Lucas, hot, was charming and picturesque. In Mazatlan, who spent time in a primitive fishing village with a wide and almost deserted beach. And, of course, Puerto Vallarta is one of the most popular beach destinations throughout Mexico, absorb and enjoy the local culture of shopping and listening to flamenco music played well most of the drinks and Mexican food.

But once our week at sea reached its all-too-quick conclusion, we realized the ports of call are really just fun diversions and not the meat of this particular trip. We were among those who think about the actual destination of this trip was the ship itself. As Cruise Director Jason Venner said: "Anyone who sails in it, loves Oosterdam.

AT A GLANCE

WHERE: These "experimental" large cruise ships left out of downtown San Diego.

WHAT: Among the newest additions to the fleet of Holland America, the Oosterdam has a regular program of weekly cruises to Mexico during the winter months.

WHEN: Oosterdam Mexican Riviera This schedule continues through April, then again in October. Other itineraries in Mexico are available.

WHY: This is an easy opportunity for Californians to show big-time cruise without flying across the country.

HOW: For more information on the booking a Holland America cruise, call 1-877-SAIL HAL or www.hollandamerica.com visit.

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