Always looking for something different to cruise while visiting new countries and new cities inspired me to book the NCL Cruise from Seattle, Washington to Port Canaveral, Florida from October 29 to November 20, 2023. The price was right for my budget at about $3000 USD for 20 days at sea plus the airfares were reasonable to and from Puerto Vallarta, making it a good bargain. It will be interesting to stop by Puerto Vallarta, Mexico where I live to visit and do some laundry.
I fly back to Seattle again and spend the night before the cruise departure downtown near the cruise ship port and spend a few hours exploring the Pike Place Fish Market and have breakfast at the Lowell’s Restaurant. To keep with the fresh seafood theme a crab benedicts was in order and it was very good!
Boarding the next morning was a pretty simple process as NCL uses their own pier embarkation area and we depart in the evening during a great evening and sunset. Our first port of call is going to be Astoria, Oregon. Astoria was founded in 1811 as the oldest city in the state of Oregon is actually located up the Columbia River and is famous for being a ocean side resort area with very beautiful homes. I have booked an NCL Tour “Seaside and Canon Beach” which is a bus ride along the coast with stops in Seaside and several other ocean side locations. Since it was the off season it was very quiet, but I could certainly see how these beaches are very popular during the summer months.
As we head south along the USA west coast, it takes 2 days at sea to reach the next port of Santa Barbara, California. We have to use tenders here and I did not book any tour as I have been here before, so just went ashore and took a free round the city shuttle.
Immediately the next day takes us to nearby Catalina Island, California where we also have to use tenders and I have a NCL tour “Avalon Scenic Drive”. This is a small bus tour around the city and up both sides of the hills to view the harbor from high above, so of course some great views from Mt. Orizaba. It is interesting to note that permits to drive cars is very limited and there is a long waiting list to get one, therefore golf carts are a common mode of transportation. While boarding the tender, we had a little bit of fun with a baby seal trying to make its way to the buffet!
Another day at sea takes us down the coast of Mexico as we arrive at anchor in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. At the tip of Baja California, Cabo is a very well known resort and provides lots of hotels. condominiums, and homes in the desert enviroment that it is. I take a NCL tour “Baja Highlights” that takes a bus tour to the historic center and then a stop a Restaurant for some views to the famous rocks and Arch of Cabos San Lucas in the distance.
Today I am back home for the day in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to visit with my partner, a client for lunch, my dog, and laundry! Of course I have not booked any tours here and enjoy the day catching up with people. It was a nice ride into the cruise ship harbor here.
We then head south to the next resort town of Zihautanejo/Ixtapa, Mexico. This area was always a fishing village, but the Mexican government decided to create the nearby resort city of Ixtapa with hotels and condominiums along the coast and the great beaches here. I had booked another NCL Tour “Highlights and Tour Zihuantanejo” where we drive around the area with a stops along the way including an hour at a resort hotel in Ixtapa.
Another day at sea is followed by our next stop in Puerta Quetzal, Guatemala a new country for me. Unfortuntately, NCL canceled the next port in Nicaragua before the cruise even started. But I decide to just do the NCL Tour Antigua Own Your Own” that is a bus ride from the port area to the old town area. Antigua is a UNESCO World Heritage site because it represents a unique architectual style and layout dating back to 1543 when it was the capital of Guatemala. Surrounded by several volcanoes including the still active Del Fuego, it provides a unique background to the city. Definitely a place to see!
Once again another day at sea and then we arrive at Puntarenas, Costa Rica. I had been previously in Costa Rica, but on the Caribbean side and this is my first time on the Pacific side of the country. The city is considered another beach resort city attracting tourist and surfers, with many beaches and has history dating back to 1522 when it was discovered by Gil Gonzalez Davila. Now a major port for exporting products such as coffee, bananas, and sugar cane to the Far East. My NCL tour today is “Scenic Costa Rica” with a bus tour around the area including a children’s dance show in the main Plaza and a stop in a Costa Rica handicrafts store.
A day at sea again as we did not stop in Nicaragua, puts us early the next morning at the Panama Canal for my 5th time. I always enjoy this visit and it is very interesting to be on the largest ship permited to be in the old locks. The new locks can now handle those mega cruise ships. As usual the outer decks are opened up front by the ships officers, affording passengers a great view as we enter the various locks along the way.
Finishing the day in the Panama Canal, we are right in Cartegena, Colombia the next day. This is another repeat port for me, so I try to find unique things to do each time. I booked the NCL Tour “Scenic Cartegena and Folkloric Show” which had an overfull bus, so I opted out and just walked to the little wildlife park at the pier. It’s loaded with parrots and flamingos and of course a gift shop.
Several more days at sea across the Caribbean, put us at the NCL Private Island called Great Stirrup Bay, Bahamas. Unfortunately, the sea conditions prevented us from getting there as they use tenders here. It is my understanding that 50% of the time this is a problem to access this beach, so why doesn’t NCL build a dock like another cruise line has done on the neighboring island?? Very dissapointing!
We dock the next day in Cape Canaveral Port, Florida for the end of the cruise there. I was thinking about going to Epcot for the day but at $180 USD, I decided it was probably not worth the expense. Near the hotel were a lot of restaurants options, so why not a visit to the Cracker Barrel one of my favorites during my motorcycle riding days.
After 20 days on the ship (my longest) I reflect back on this cruise and it was good, but not great. Missing ports of call is always dissapointing, although the friendships made on some of these cruises can be the best part!
