Hi guys, welcome to my winter getaway! 🙂
I have always wanted to try taking a solo cruise and I thought the best way to do it was take a weeklong trip to Mexico on Carnival Cruises. The ship, Carnival Panorama, departs out of Long Beach and lasts 7 days, with 3 fun days at sea and 3 port stops in Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán and Cabo San Lucas. I haven’t been to Mexico since I was 16-years-old when I visited Cancún!
My cruise was February 11 – 18. Yes, it fell on Super Bowl Sunday and Valentine’s Day but Carnival Cruises was offering it at a cheaper price. If you have to opportunity to cruise during a cheaper option week, I would say go for it!
Did I find it enjoyable cruising solo? Did I get sea sick? Read more below to find out! 🙂
As always, make sure you follow me to TikTok and Instagram to see all of the cool videos I made!
Cruise Fees
I didn’t understand what some of the hidden cruise fees were (e.g., Internet, gratuity) until I booked a cruise. It wasn’t too bad IMO.
Note: Prices subject to change
Cruise (Room, Food) + Pre-Pay Gratuity: $946.70
Onboard Internet: $130.90
Cabo San Lucas Excursion (this is the only excursion I did): $44.99
If you noticed, I didn’t get a drink package ($59.95/day). What I paid solo was cheaper than getting the package! Between individual drinks/coffee, a few paid activities and the one time I got seafood options outside of my inclusive meals, I only spent $233.95. With the drink package, it would’ve been $419.65 and that’s not including the additional out-of-pocket meals + activities!
First Time Cruiser Tips
I am not going to lie, cruising versus going on a plane to a destination is somewhat of a 180. I had a few minor meltdowns (I met some other first time cruisers that did as well, LOL! The staff assured us that it’s completely normal!) and I wanted to share some tips if you go on Carnival (I also made a TikTok video with most of them):
1. Downtown the Carnival Hub App. It has your itinerary/ship time for each day and dinnertime preference (I did have it downloaded, but I didn’t know I needed it to check into dinner ahead of time!).
2. Dinner portions in the Vista and Horizon dining rooms are small. I had no clue you could order more food! There is also complimentary pizza, burgers, tacos and a marketplace on the Lido deck.
3. You absolutely MUST check into your Muster station (basically, how to put on a life vest in case of an emergency). The ship crew tracks this! They also call you by your station when you disembark the ship on the last day.
4. Listen to the announcements from the cruise director on the speakerphone. He or she will give you a rundown of ship activities during the morning, afternoon and evening!
5. The elevators go by letters, not numbers. Select on the electronic pad which deck (there are 15) you want to go to and the appropriate letter will light up!
6. You cannot use the internet simultaneously with your phone and laptop. It needs to be one at a time.
7. Speaking of the cell phone, make sure you leave it on Airplane mode. This way, you won’t be charged roaming fees and the quality is faster!
8. Bring sea sickness medication (e.g., sea band, Scopolamine) just in case! I luckily did not have this problem but I am so glad I had it!
9. Book excursions before the cruise. This will guarantee you a spot!
10. Have your Sail & Sign card on you at all time. This is used for charges on the ship and security protocols when getting on and off.
Day 1 – Saturday, February 11: Departed Long Beach
I left my apartment in Pasadena to take an Uber to the Carnival Terminal Port in Long Beach (it’s literally next door to the Queen Mary ship) for my check-in between 2 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. (you need to board at the designated time you selected during online check-in). The process was super fast! There was even a drug sniffing dog.
I then made my way onto the ship and to my interior room on the lower deck. I choose the lower deck because I read that if you are in the lower deck toward the middle the rocking and swaying is greatly reduced. Plus, it was more affordable! My two twin beds were also converted into a single bed.
Later I went and explored the ship and got a strong Mango Rum drink. It was very fruity and strong! I also snapped a photo of the Atrium area.
I then went to the Sail Away Party on the Lido Deck with some dancing and a toast as we departed Long Beach!
Afterwards I went back to my room to freshen up and went to the inclusive Vista Dining Room for dinner (remember the small portions I mentioned above in the cruise tips? Lesson learned, I could’ve ordered more!). I had a small Caesar Salad, Sweet n Tangy Shrimp with Fried Rice and a Strawberry Cream. It was ok!
I later got a slice of Pepperoni and White pizza at Pizzeria Del Capitano. They were yummy!
Later that evening, I went to get a drink at the Panorama Bar (it was a Spicy Pineapple Martini) before heading to bed. Yum!
During the night I woke up a few times due to the ship rocking a bit from the choppy waters. The best sleep I got was from 3 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.!
Day 2 – Sunday, February 12: Day at Sea
I woke up and went to the Lido deck to take in the views of the blue ocean and skies. It was a great day for sailing but still chilly, it was 56 degrees! I also got a photo of the ship’s funnel.
Also on the Lido Deck I grabbed breakfast at the Marketplace. Again, I was grateful but it was just ok. Keep in mind that if I wanted more high end food it was at restaurants that cost extra (not complimentary) and I wanted to save my money for Mexican food at the ports!
On the same deck was the SkyRide that I wanted to do around the ship, but guess who forgot to bring closed toe shoes on the trip? Me! I still got a photo of someone going around though.
There was also this neat Big Chess that I saw a couple people playing on, plus I snapped a photo of the WaterWorks slides (people actually went down it despite how chilly it was!).
I then made my way back down to the lower decks to explore the ship some more. I stopped at the Casino, Seuss at Sea store and viewed some artwork and items from the 2019 Carnival Panorama dedication ceremony.
I also stopped at JavaBlue Café for a Vanilla Latte. This coffee was perfect and the barista even made a heart out of the foam!
I then sat down for a bit to relax and about an hour later made my way to the Liquid Lounge for a game of $2,000 Bingo ($48 for 3 cards + bonus card and souvenir dauber. I didn’t win but it was still fun!) and a Bloody Mary. I didn’t win but it was still fun!
Afterwards I went to Guys’ Burger Joint for a Cheeseburger with hand-cut fries and later some Swirls Strawberry FroYo inside the Marketplace. With the Burger Joint, this is an absolute must when on this cruise when it comes to complimentary food!
On the way back to my room, I spotted the Towel Spot where the towels were made into cute shapes such as a snail, octopus, dog and seashell.
Speaking of animal towels, when I arrived back at my room, my maid had made towels into a dog for me! It was super cute!
My final stop of the night was at the Havana Bar where I ordered a Mojito. It was delicious! They also have Cuban Coffee which I purchased the next day.
I later went to bed around 11 p.m. and slept in the next day.
Day 3 – Monday, February 13: Day at Sea
I woke up around 9 a.m. and realized that we were 1 hour ahead! After manually adjusting my clock, I took a shower and headed back up to the Havana Bar for a Cuban Coffee (perfecto!) and then the Lido Deck for breakfast at the Marketplace. I also took in the scenic views of the island in the distance.
This is the day I decided to have 3 drinks for a change (not smart, I was feeling it a bit later but the good news is I drank a ton of water, so I wasn’t sick!) and went to Serenity Bar (adults-only retreat area) on the top deck for a Tropical Mule with rum. It was light and delicious!
On the other side of the bar, I noticed another Towel Spot that had made more towels out of animals, birds and a snail. They were so cute!
I then proceeded back to the Lido Deck get a Margarita at the BlueIguana Tequila Bar. It was a bit strong but refreshing! I also had a couple slices of pizza.
While I was enjoying my drink, I noticed an ice sculpture carver making an angel. It was really neat to watch and took him less than 30 minutes!
Afterwards I went back to the Atrium to relax and noticed that they have switched out their digital pillars to pay tribute to Dr. Seuss.
Later I went back up to the Lido Deck to have a Lobster Roll at the Seafood Shack ($21) with some fries and a Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri at the RedFrog Rum Bar. The Lobster Roll was fulfilling but just ok and the Daiquiri was fruity and a hit!
Afterwards I went back to my room and noticed my maid had made my fresh towels out of a crab (or was it a lobster?) on this day! I loved it so much since my zodiac sign is Cancer.
After taking a nap and freshening up, I went to the Liquid Lounge to watch the Broadway Beats show. This is an absolute must if you take this cruise, it was a ton of fun and energizing!
Below is a shot of the sun setting that evening before I went to bed and slept a ton to prepare myself for Puerto Vallarta in the morning.
Day 4 – Tuesday, February 14: Puerto Vallarta
Our itinerary in Puerto Vallarta was from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m., I was so excited to be at our first port! Once on land, I took an Uber to the famous Malecón Boardwalk to get a shot with the Letras Sign. I also got some shots of the coastal views and the waves hitting the rocks.
There was also a ton of sculptures and statues along the Malecón Boardwalk! I didn’t get all of them but took photos of ones that I found the most interesting.
Bailarines de Vallarta (Vallarta Dancers)
Los Arcos Del Malecón
Eriza-Dos
Triton and the Nereid
Lluvia (Rain)
Unicornio de la Buena Fortuna (Unicorn of Good Fortune)
La Rotunda Del Mar (The Roundabout of the Sea)
These last two photos were sand and stone sculptures that were along the beach.
I then went to Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe) Church to see the stunning Renaissance architecture and the crown of angels. The church was built in the 1930s and 1940s and is also part of El Centro (Central Downtown).
Outside I found some street art, colorful streamers and a gorgeous flower tree.
Not too far from the church was the Friendship Fountain with dolphins. According to Vallarta Lifestyles, the fountain represents the friendship between Santa Barbara, CA and Jalisco (sister city) since the 1970s.
I also saw an actor decked out in costume and face paint dancing on the Malecón Boardwalk. There was also these cute life-size rocking horses people were rocking on!
In the middle of downtown was an island called Isla Cuale (River Island) that has a ton of vendor shopping, restaurants, plants and art for a mile. I didn’t buy anything but I have a deep appreciation for these business owners!
Next I walked down the Malecón Boardwalk some more to the Zona Romántica where I saw the El Parque de Los Azulejos (Mosaic Park), the colonial Casitas Coloritas and around the corner some Cherry Blossom umbrellas dangling from light strings. These are Instagram-worthy spots to definitely check out!
I kept walking until I finally made it to my main destination: Los Muertos (Dead Man’s) Beach to go up the 337-foot-long pier and view the boats.
I was getting hungry, so I stopped at a spot called Si Señor that had beach dining. I ordered myself a Spicy Citrus Margarita, Grilled White Fish Tacos and Homemade Chips n Salsa ($41). It was amazing and some of the best authentic Mexican food I have had in awhile!
After lunch I found this place called JALato that claimed to have the best gelato in town. I completely agree! I ordered a scope of the Tonga and Lemon Creme flavor, it was to die for! I haven’t had gelato this good since I was in Vancouver, Canada!
I made my way further down the Malecón Boardwalk and saw street art with a pink skull painted on the wall. My main reason for heading that direction was to go to Gay Beach, where I took a photo of the Caballero Del Mar (Boy on Seahorse) sculpture and some neat rock formations along the coast.
My last stop was at Mar Y Vino because I saw on TikTok this dining area where you could have your feet in a pool. Unfortunately, they were not opening this section until dinner and already had full reservations, so I opted for a Citrus Prosecco Drink ($12) at the bar instead and took in the views.
I think it was around 4 p.m. when I was tired of being in the heat. I later learned that I had burned pretty bad and went back to the ship to take a well-deserved shower and relax. I really enjoyed visiting Puerto Vallarta, I loved the culture and vibe of it all!
BTW…it was also Valentine’s Day and I took some photos of these neat art displays along Los Muertos Beach!
Day 5 – Wednesday, February 15: Mazatlán
The next day the ship docked in Mazatlán from 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. I took a taxi with some other cruisers to Plaza Machado in the heart of the downtown historic district. There is saw the gazebo, colorful architecture, a sculpture of Albert Einstein and the Pirata Del Pacífico (Pirate of the Pacific) statue.
I then walked a few blocks and ended up at the Plazuela República where I saw another gazebo and a nice hospital donation bin in the shape of a heart.
Across the street was the Catedral Basílica de la Immaculada Concepción (Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception) that was built in the mid to late 1800s. It consists of basilica plants, three naves, an octagonal dome with a lantern and an iron cross crown. It was very pretty!
Next I took an Uber and went to the Museo de Conchas (Seashell City Museum), which has 2 floors of seashell art and souvenirs. Unfortunately, the second floor was closed, but I still got some shots of shells and a fountain.
I then walked toward the beach in the Zona Dorada (Golden Zone), which is the beach area the runs between Centro Historico (Mazatlán Old Town) and runs the length of Avenida Camarón Sábalo. Off in the distance are three islands called Isla de Pájaro (Bird Island), Isla de Venados (Deer Island) and Isla de Lobos (Wolf Island).
Just a few blocks away I walked to the Letras de Mazatlán, which you know I had to take a photo with! This is also the start of the 13-mile Malecón that is one of the longest in the world. There are also many sculptures and statues surrounding it! I couldn’t take photos of all of them but I made a TikTok video from my Uber on the way back to the other end of town.
On the south end of the Malecón was the world famous Punta de Clavadistas (Divers Point), which is 45 feet high where divers can jump off into the sea. It was fun to watch, check out my TikTok video of the guy diving into the ocean!
Next to Divers Point was the La Reina de los Mares (Mermaid) viewpoint, Carnaval Del Pacifico sitting area and the Monumento a la Continudad de la Vida (Continuation of Life), which represents the beginning and end of life.
A short way down the street, I stopped at La Cueva del Diablo (Devil’s Cave) that has a history of horror stories, debauchery and where meat was once stored. The gate was shut closed and all I saw was some trash inside and darkness.
I then walked to Centro Historico (Old Mazatlán) with 19th and 20th century French-style buildings. I also saw some statues of significant historical figures from the city and the La Sirena Carpa Oliviera (Dolphin Lady) statue.
I couldn’t find a lot of Mexican restaurants open for lunch except La Fonda de Chalio, where I got a Margarita, Chips n Salsa and Carne, Snapper and White Fish Tacos ($19). They were pretty tasty and the Margarita was very strong!
I took another Uber to my my final stop at the Observatario 1873, which is 73 feet high and was built as a military observation point in the late 1800s. They even house iguanas, peacocks, parrots and koi fish! I took an incline ride to the top and there was even a bar, where I ordered a Margarita. The views were spectacular!
In the distance I took a photo of the Faro (Lighthouse) from the mid 1800s. It is the second highest lighthouse in the world at 523 feet above sea level. There was also a glass walkway to take in the scenic views! However, the hike up was quite the journey and I didn’t have time to do it.
Afterwards I walked back to the ship and boarded. I was not feeling well from the sun and I wasn’t too hungry, so I went to bed.
Day 6 – Thursday, February 16: Cabo San Lucas
The ship docked at 6:30 a.m. at sea about 15 minutes outside of the Cabo San Lucas marina. We had to have small boats take us to land so that I could take and my 45 minute boat excursion. The sunrise was so pretty!
My excursion was to see El Arco (The Arch), which is made out of limestone formations, Playa Del Amor (Lovers Beach) and Playa Del Divorcio (Divorce Beach and swimming is not recommended due to high tides) in the Baja Peninsula. They were such a breathtaking sight!
Playa Del Amor (Lovers Beach)
El Arco (The Arch + Hidden Caves)
Playa Del Divorcio (Divorce Beach)
Resorts
We also saw a mama Humpback Whale and her calf splashing around at sea! I would recommend going to my Instagram page under the “Cabo” story highlights and checking it out.
Back on land I walked around and snapped photos of the marina. a red and white striped lighthouse, a surfboard sculpture, a swordfish statue, a hashtag #TACOS sign and a sea lion statue.
Of course, I also took photos with the photo with the #CABO sign and the Letras Sign.
On the other side of the marina, I stopped to get a bite to eat at Los Deseos for an Orange Margarita and Divorce Eggs ($25) over easy on corn tortillas in red and green sauce. This was delicious! They also had some nice angel wings, bottles hanging from the ceiling and a stone granite bowl in the shape of a pig.
My final shots were looking out to sea from the marina before I headed back to catch a small boat to my ship at 2 p.m. It was a short visit but worth it and very doable with the allocated time!
Day 7 – Friday, February 17: Day at Sea
TBH with you guys? I didn’t do much on this day, LOL! I took a shower, packed, filmed a couple TikToks (Top Bars on Carnival Panorama and Tips for First Time Cruisers). I mainly just relaxed and had more food and drinks (I actually got a $6 California Roll from Bonsai Sushi on this day, it wasn’t too bad!)! My maid also left my towel in the shape of a heart with a thank you card in the middle.
Day 8 – Saturday, February 18: Docked in Long Beach
I was up at 7:30 a.m. as we arrived back in Long Beach early at 8 a.m. The disembarking process was a cinch! The cruise director called us by our Muster Station and we followed a line to leave the ship to check-out/go through customs. It was over in 20 minutes! I then got an Uber and went home, did laundry, got my nails done and took a well-deserved shower.
Overall Thoughts
At the end of my cruise, I learned that I really, really like it! It’s easy, convenient, fun and everyone – staff and guests – are extremely helpful. The ports were just enough time for me to see everything. The bed was comfy and although the bathroom area was tight, it was doable. The Carnival Hub App kept me on track + the cruise director announcements. Cruising solo is not scary at all because you meet so many great cruisers, I would give the Carnival Panorama Mexico Cruise a 9/10!
The only downfalls I can think of is the inclusive food onboard was so-so, hence why I kept saying “it was ok” in all of my daily recaps. I wish I would’ve gone to the other restaurants (e.g., steakhouse, Asian, etc.), but I didn’t want to pay an enormous amount! I was also healing from my burn, so I was an itchy mess for a few days. Still, it was worth it for the experience!
Side Note: As of February 18, 2023, I am battling something called Mal de Debarquement Syndrome after the cruise, which is a rocking/swaying/gravitational pulling sensation that typically lasts for a few days but can go on longer. Please refer to my detailed blog about this. I am improving day by day and hopefully it will be resolved before the end of the year. This is an incredibly slow and frustrating process!
If you have taken a cruise, let me know what your experiences were like! 🙂
