Great Cruise BUT

Oosterdam Cruise Review to Mexico

GordonD

Contributor Level: Deck Hand

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 22

Overall rating:

4 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Mexican Riviera (San Diego Roundtrip)

Sail date: December 08, 2007

Ship: Oosterdam

Cabin type: Balcony

Traveled as: Singles/Friends

Reviewed: 14 years ago

Review summary

The ship is a beautiful cruise ship and we were upgraded to a superior balcony on the top accommodation deck. (8th). The only complaint that HAL can not be held responsible for was that everyone around us seemed to smoke and the smoke seemed to find a way to our veranda. The tours, as are most cruise line tours, are expensive and make you feel like you are a cow in a cattle car, rushed from here to there at their pace. In most cases we have found that two couples can do much better by bargaining with a taxi driver and seeing what you want, not what they think you should see. They can and do change the tour highlights and if you change your mind, it is going to cost you. AVOID the tours if you can and do your own.

Ports of call

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

5 out of 5

A smaller city and interesting but do not get suckered into going to the "Tequila Factory" it is NOT a Tequila factory but a true tourist trap. They spend a few minutes telling you how tequila is made and then pressure you into buying highly inflated cost bottles. Go to a Wal Mart within very easy walking distance from the cruise port and you can buy the $44.00 bottle for $15.00. BUT be aware that HAL (and any other cruise line) will seize said bottle on your return to the ship and if you are unlucky, as we were, it won't come back to you in the same condition you gave it to them. One of ours was delivered to the wrong cabin and when we got it back around midnight, the seal was broken and some contents were missing. All HAL will do is say sorry and its not worth fighting to get more.

Thumbs Up 0

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

5 out of 5

Thumbs Up 0

Mazatlan, Mexico

5 out of 5

We found this city to be the best of the three visited because of a taxi driver who was proud of his city and took us everywhere. The three of us had an excellent 3 hour tour,(we had agreed on a 2 hour for $45.00) stop off to buy the best Tequila at the best price and all for a total of $55.00 or less than $20.00 each

Thumbs Up 0

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

3 out of 5

We've been there many times so it doesn't excite us.

Thumbs Up 0

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

3 out of 5

We've been there many times so it doesn't excite us.

Thumbs Up 0

Mazatlan, Mexico

5 out of 5

Thumbs Up 0