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available for families – from tots to teens and multigenerational trips Take me to the Riviera Jane Archer boards Carnival Cruises’ new ship Carnival Panorama for a sailing south from Long Beach to the magnifi cent Mexican Riviera

MEXICO

Take me to the Riviera

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Jane Archer boards Carnival Cruises’ new ship Carnival Panorama for a sailing south from Long Beach to the magnifi cent Mexican Riviera – a destination that is worth getting to know

New cruise ships invariably enter service on favourite routes in the Caribbean or Mediterranean, so it was quite a gamble for Carnival Cruise Line to deploy Carnival Panorama on the Mexican Riviera when it launched last December.

Or was it? If the passengers I spoke to on its inaugural one-week cruise from California’s Long Beach to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta in Mexico are anything to go by, it was a guaranteed hit.

Every one of them, all Americans, was so loyal to Carnival that, if the company had a new ship, they were going to be on it, no matter where it went or that they had been down Mexico way several times before. This itinerary is not a big-seller in the UK, but really should be. The ports are great, you can tack on a few nights in LA or nearby San Diego and, if you go in winter, as me and my husband did, you get a welcome dose of winter sun.

Iain Baillie, Carnival’s vicepresident international sales, is keen for agents to get to know the Mexican Riviera. “It’s important that we educate agents to make them aware of what this region o ers,” he says. The company’s sales team o ers faceto-face training, while the Loyalty Rocks Club is a fun way to learn. Carnival Panorama docks in Long Beach, just behind Queen Mary, the 1934-built ocean liner that was once the pride of the Cunard-White Star Line, but the two could not be more di erent. Where Queen Mary was loved by the rich (and often famous) for its posh formality, Carnival Panorama is party central, dedicated to Fun – with a capital F – for all ages. There are kids’ and teen clubs, an indoor trampoline park for youngsters with basketball, dodgeball and a small climbing wall (a new feature for Carnival that costs $12 for an hour), and an aqua-park with jets, fountains and a bucket that sloshes gallons of water on anyone below.

There are also two water slides – I tried both and they are Fun (of course) and furious – as well as a ropes course with high wires and swinging beams, and recumbent bikes that those with a head for heights Mazatlán from along the rugged coastline (previous page) and the main square in Puerto Vallarta; the new Carnival Panorama (right); and (below) the bay at Cabo San Lucas

Carnival Panorama

Built: 2019

Decks: 15 Capacity: 3,954 passengers

Gross Tonnage: 133,868

With its many places to eat and drink, activities and lively entertainment, the new Carnival Panorama is a top choice for couples, families and seniors seeking an easy-going holiday at sea and a fun time ashore.

(they are 45m above the ocean) can pedal around an 250m track at the top of the ship.

Extraordinarily, for a ship this size, the only queues we saw the entire week were for the water slides, bikes and guest services, although there were often a lot of frustrated people trying to use the lifts. Carnival has opted for a new system where you choose your deck and are then directed to a specifi c car, but it was so slow it was usually quicker to walk. This itinerary includes three sea days (one heading to Mexico, another two getting back to Long Beach) so there is plenty of time to try the activities, sample the entertainment – comedians, bands, production shows and more – and relax with a cocktail or two in one of the many bars.

And then there are all the places to eat. Burgers, burritos, tacos and pizzas by the pool, lunchtime Pasta Bar and Mongolian Wok, a selfservice bu et and large dining room. All those are complimentary. The other dining costs extra – brisket, smoked chicken and the like in the Pig & Anchor, sushi, a teppanyaki grill, Italian Cucino del Capitano – but prices are reasonable. JiJi Asian Kitchen, one of the best Asian restaurants at sea, is just $15 per person, while Fahrenheit 555, the steakhouse, costs $38, which is excellent value for the quality of the food and service.

I’m pretty sure many people didn’t get o during the port visits as there is so much to do on board; some also worried that it was not safe. A US Homeland Security warning issued at each port (be vigilant, don’t take valuables, watch out for crime) didn’t help; neither did the Chinese whispers circulating around the ship. “You have to stay inside the blue line around the city because it’s not safe there,” one passenger told us as

we were sailing to Mazatlán.

He was way o the mark. In fact helpful residents have painted a blue line on the roads to guide passengers from the cruise port to the historical centre. Also, retired Canadians who have moved south to Mexico’s sunnier climes were stationed along the way to o er suggestions of what to see and were amused when I suggested it was a dangerous place to choose to live.

After our experience, I can see why. We never felt threatened and the locals we met were charming and not trying to rip us o , as another of the Chinese whispers suggested.

Mazatlán was my favourite port because it felt like the real thing. The colonial-style buildings have a faded elegance about them, there’s a market that’s probably too authentic for some (weak stomachs need to look away in the meat section) and the cathedral, billed as the town’s top attraction, was doing a roaring trade in tourists and locals alike.

We found our way through the back streets to the ocean – where a daredevil diver risked life and limb going head fi rst into a rocky bay for a $1 tip from each of the onlookers – then strolled back to Machado Square to bolster our liquid levels. It might have been the week before Christmas but in Mexico that means 26-degree temperatures.

“Where are you from,” the young waiter asked. If the number of Britons on the ship is anything to go by – just 15 out of the total 4,610 passengers – English accents are indeed a rarity here. While talking of number, almost 900 on our cruise were minors (US speak for under 18s). That’s familyfriendly for you.

Carnival o ers excursions in all ports – everything from pirate boats to golf and whale-watching. We chose a boat trip in Cabo San Lucas to see a rocky arch said to mark the point where the Pacifi c meets the Sea of Cortez – very picturesque and the commentary was interesting – but we bade the group a hasty farewell when, back on land, the guide took us to a shopping mall.

Instead, we strolled back to the tender port on the other side of a marina packed with millions of

The colourful old streets of Mazatlán; sunset over Cabo San Lucas (right); the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Mazatlán (below)

dollars worth of yachts and lined with restaurants and bars. It could have been the South of France, except for the tacos on the menus, and more a ordable prices.

Last stop was Puerto Vallarta, where we skipped tours promising dancing horses and tequila and walked into town to seek out the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the historical Casa Kimberley, a hotel opened in the homes of star-crossed lovers Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor – who bought houses here in the ’60s – and stroll along the Malecón, a promenade with quirky statues and views out to sea.

All good stu , but still the most memorable moments of the day was fi nding an evil-looking crocodile hiding in a creek as we veered o the main road to get to the beach.

I’d honestly thought the signs we’d spotted warning of crocodiles were a joke. After all, the Chinese whispers hadn’t warned us about them.

THREE MEXICAN CRUISES

Mexican Riviera Mexican Riviera Baja Peninsula and Sea of Cortez

Norwegian Cruise Line – Norwegian Bliss Los Angeles (round-trip) December 20, 2020 From £1,056pp (cruise only)

The glamour of LA and charm of Mexico await on this seven-night Christmas cruise to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta.

Holland America Line – Koningsdam San Diego (round-trip) November 21, 2020 From £709pp (cruise only)

Tequila tasting, the Sierra Madre mountains, bird-watching and salsa dancing are among excursions on this seven-night cruise to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas. Princess Cruises – Emerald Princess Los Angeles (round-trip) October 31, 2020 From £749pp (cruise only)

La Paz and Loreto join the port line up on this 10-day cruise on Emerald Princess , which includes an overnight in Cabo San Lucas, a day in Puerto Vallarta and three days at sea.

Uncover the secrets of the British Isles

Taking in stunning wildlife and historic legends, Poseidon Expeditions’ trip from Plymouth to Edinburgh is the perfect way to explore our coastline

The British Isles is full of destinations that conjure up images of a storied maritime history, pretty seaside towns and close-knit communities. Throw in exceptional wildlife and you can see why tours here are so popular. There is no better way to do it than by sea. Poseidon Expeditions o ers an incredible 13-day Legendary History and Wild Nature cruise on board the intimate Sea Spirit. The ship has room for just 114 guests, who are looked after by 72 crew and 14 expedition team members, a ratio which rivals the most luxurious ships. Sea Spirit is nimble enough to reach the castles, abbeys and villages that are scattered along the coastlines of the United Kingdom and Ireland, but, while the ship is small, it still packs a punch. There is a gym, library, lounge, outdoor bistro and main restaurant. Sea Spirit has an open bridge policy for guests who want to know more about that side of the operation. For the British Isles sailing – which is part of the ship’s annual relocation from Antarctica up to the Arctic – Sea Spirit leaves Plymouth on May 8 arriving at its destination on May 20, 2020 (or from May 10 to May 22, 2021). Here are some of the highlights of what to expect on the trip: Exotic gardens In the subtropical Scilly Isles, just o the Cornish coast, guests will visit the magnifi cent Tresco Abbey Garden, with its collection of more than 20,000 exotic plants. The garden is also home to the Valhalla Museum, with its collection of fi gureheads salvaged from nearby shipwrecks.

Enchanting birdlife The must-see birding destinations of Saltee, Rathlin and Sta a islands, the Isle of Mull and Fair Isle are a hopeful addition to the itinerary (weather permitting). One of the most special places is the famed Bass Rock – an

Atlantic puffi ns are just one of over 100 bird species that guests can hope see during the cruise

The uninhabited island of Staffa in the Inner Hebrides is home to the legendary Fingal’s Cave

uninhabited island in the outer part of the Firth of Forth in the east of Scotland. This bastion of volcanic rock, also known as “the Bass”, plays host to over 150,000 northern gannets in the breeding season, making it the world’s largest colony of these magnifi cent birds. The voyage is perfectly timed to coincide with this amazing spectacle, as well as the breeding and migration season for over 100 other bird species.

Mountain magic Sea Spirit calls at Llandudno in North Wales, allowing guests to witness one of the country’s most dramatic landscapes – the mountains of Snowdonia. The call includes a visit to Betws-y-Coed in the Conwy valley, perfect for walking past waterfalls and woodlands in one of the most verdant corners of the British Isles.

Antrim is one of the world’s natural wonders, made up of 40,000 hexagonal basalt columns of di erent heights that gradually descend into the sea like a staircase. According to Gaelic legend, it is the remains of a causeway to Scotland built by the Irish giant Ffi on mac Cumhaill after he was challenged to a fi ght by his Scottish counterpart Benandonner.

Curious caves During the visit to the Inner Hebrides the ship will call at the uninhabited island of Sta a (weather permitting), allowing guests to explore Fingal’s Cave. Here, the sea and basalt columns work together to create an eerie melody, which was the inspiration for Felix Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture. Guests will also get to explore the neighbouring island of Iona, where the ancient Iona Abbey was founded in 563AD, making it one of the oldest Christian religious centres in western Europe. Ancient wonders In Orkney, guests will be able to visit the Neolithic village of Skara Brae – the best preserved ancient settlement in western Europe, dating from 3180BC and forming part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney Unesco World Heritage Site.

There are so many incredible sights around the British Isles that it would be impossible to see them all in one trip – a cruise is the only way you can come even close. The rate includes all scheduled landings and excursions, so guests can relax and allow an expedition team of ornithologists, naturalists and regional experts – led by historian and award-winning author Dr Huw Lewis-Jones – to show them the wonders of the British Isles.

For further information, please email sales@poseidonexpeditions.com, call on 020 3808 7787, or check out poseidonexpeditions.com

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