At Sea: The Bliss was nearing the tip of Baja California when we woke this morning. There was an one hour forward time change overnight, and within a few miles of reaching Cabo San Lucas our phones/watches/whatever had moved to Denver time, so Kris and Steve were right at home.
The ship has a fun new breakfast room service delivery item: it’s a little bento box with three assorted pastries, fresh fruit and coffee. The first morning we each ordered one, but quickly realized one box would be enough for two people. Room service food is included in your cruise package, though there is a $4.95 service charge.
Kris and Steve had booked a morning aboard a sailboat for our excursion in Cabo. Not a party cruise. No snorkeling. Just a luxury sail with gourmet food and cocktails to enjoy whale watching and sea life.
There is no dock in Cabo San Lucas. ships anchor in the harbor and large water taxis tender passengers to shore. Since the four of us had actual ship-provided excursions, we were granted timed access to the tenders and were quickly on shore.
Please note: the ship behind us is NOT our ship. It is a Carnival ship branded the Firenze (Florence in Italian). Gonna have to google this because I can’t even begin to imagine what it all means.
Two ships in port equaled a big crowd.
After a quick walk around the port area, we boarded our sailboat.
We were treated very well on this vessel. 17 passengers. Three crew. We motor-sailed out of the harbor, passed by the Bliss, then took a right, heading north past the famous arches of Cabo San Lucas.
When the sails went up, a full bar was offered and each couple were given - wait for it - a Mexican bento box! Chips and guacamole. Ceviche. Chicken Caesar salad. Fruit kebabs, and chocolate cake pops!
It was difficult to eat this while flying about the water, but we did eat all the guac and chips! Kris and I were drinking Ranch Water (tequila and soda, with lime). Boys were drinking Pacifico beer. Everything was served in a proper (plastic) glass.
Our sail was just lovely. The weather was perfect. Few boats went out as far as the sailboat, as most tour boats were taking passengers to snorkel around the arches (thankful Kris did not book a snorkel excursion as the water was 64°). We were out about one hour when our Captain shouted he could see whales ahead.
This is when our fancy sailing adventure changed to a whale watching adventure. Within two minutes, the crew had dropped the two sails, the engine was started, and we motored towards the whales. This is when our whale watching adventure turned magical.
The Captain cut the engine and for over 30 minutes three Humpbacks frolicked around the boat! It was a small group with a several-week-old calf - about 9 feet long - his/her mother, and a guard/protector/uncle/aunt - another adult whale who watches over the mother and baby.
Kris could not have been more excited to have witnessed this magical scene on her birthday cruise. The sailboat just floated and the show went on around us. It was as if the whales didn’t even mind we were there. Hi, Kris, Happy Birthday!
Really, what could top this? After watching the whales, we had to return to port (I guess the sailboat had a 3p tour?). Anyway, 17 very happy tourists motored back to the dock, with our Captain blasting YMCA over the stereo system and passengers on every boat in the harbor were flashing up their arms to the famed song! Fun in Cabo today.
After returning to port, we walked along the marina to a fish and chip place we had visited previously. Baja fish tacos and tortilla soup:
Our perfect day went to poop at this point because something went seriously wrong with the return-to-boat tenders. Dave and I had to wait in line 90 minutes to get a ride back to the Bliss. This seemed a better option than the riot and fist-fights breaking-out in the line to board the Carnival ship. (Rumors!)
We finally boarded our ship (basically every tourist boat in the harbor was deployed to ferry passengers back to the two cruise ships, resulting in party boats cranking up the tunes to keep us all from rioting).
captured this spooky shot of the Bliss
After showering, the four of us went to dinner in the Taste dining room. Kris and I had salads and a cup of their white cheddar and potato soup. Another winner soup from Norwegian. The boys had entrees, but neither could finish. My siblings went to a show and we went to bed. As I finish this, the Bliss is pointed to nearby Mazatlan.
Until my next update, I remain, your amazed by nature correspondent.
Sounds like a fabulous time!