Princess Cruise - Pacific Coast - April 2022

In April 2022, we hopped aboard the Majestic Princess in the Port of Los Angeles to set sail for a 7-night cruise of the Pacific coast. We were privileged enough to get upgraded to Business Class aboard Air Canada and it is SO worth it. Lie flat seats, enough said.

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When we arrived at LAX, we met up with a porter from Princess Cruises who guided us to our bus. We left our luggage in her care and headed out on the road to our new home for the week, the Majestic Princess.

Our cabin was a fairly standard balcony stateroom. Pro tip: bring a bit of duct tape or painter’s tape to obscure motion sensor built into the hallway light in your room (pictured below). The light is so bright that in the middle of the night, you’d think you’re standing on the sun . The sensor is so sensitive that your garment hangers will trigger it as they sway back and forth. There is no way to shut this light off so stick a piece of tape up there to cover the sensor, just remember to take it down as you disembark.

After a day at sea, our first port of call was Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. We stopped at the upscale Breathless Cabo San Lucas and were treated to a sit-down lunch followed by a quick dip in one of the few swimmable beaches in Cabo. The Breathless has a very unusual layout but the venue they showed us for weddings is stunning. A 180-degree view of beautiful Cabo San Lucas.

Our next port of call was Mazatlan, Mexico. We opted for a hop-on, hop-off tour which was a great way to see the city. There are art installations all along the shoreline (pictured below.) Along the way, there was a cliff diver. The bus stopped so we could take pictures and video if we wanted (see below). He dove so close to the rocks! These talented performers work on the generosity of the crowd so be sure to bring some money to tip. We stopped into the El-Cid for an impromptu site inspection. It is a sprawling facility, and although a bit on the older side, appears to be well maintained. The staff were friendly and accommodating.

We then took a pulmonia back to the cruise port. The pulmonia is an open-air vehicle, with either a soft-top or hard-top roof and sometimes no doors. It’s an experience to zip around the city and certainly refreshing after a long day of walking.

Our final port of call was Puerto Vallarta, Mexico where we toured the lovely Mariott Resort Puerto Vallarta. The entire facility had undergone a facelift recently. The rooms were bright and cheery. The staff were lovely and accommodating. You must try drinking from a coconut that they chop at a poolside station. Very refreshing.

But the highlight of the visit has to be the wonderful wedding reception set up that they had prepared for us. As we approached the area that they had set aside for us, you could truly imagine this was your event. Set upon a jut out was a beautifully appointed table for 20 flanked on either side by beautiful palm trees. Directly in front sits the ocean. This venue was available for both reception and nuptuals. Then we were served a delicious meal, topped off with a desert with custom message written in chocolate on the plate.

While on our final day at sea, we participated in a guided tour of the ship. Princess has invested a lot of money into making their ships up to date technologically. All Princess ships are Medallion Class, which means you receive a small disc the size of a toonie. This medallion you wear around the ship and replaces the standard key card. But it goes even further, because you don’t have to hold the medallion to your door in order to unlock it. You simply need to approach, and the door unlocks automatically. When ordering a beverage at the bar, simply confirm your cabin number and the bar staff know who you are through their tablet. It’s all very convenient. Your medallion never leaves your body.

Overall, we loved our Princess Cruise and can’t wait to climb aboard another one!