We have been a bit remiss about updating the blog of late, but here’s a concerted effort to catch up.
We flew out to Los Angeles to meet up with Pam’s parents not knowing what to expect out of our first cruising experience. A short stopover and a train ride later we were in San Diego boarding our ship “Radiance of the Seas”, bound for the Mexican Riviera.
The ship was massive and seemed to dwarf everything around it and on board accommodated over 2000 passengers and 800 staff. The ship was a floating playground packed with stuff to while away the hours at sea. There was a theatre, cinema, indoor & outdoor swimming pools, hot tubs, gym, health spa, library, shops, basket ball court, mini golf, climbing wall, casino, bars and a plethora of restaurants stuffing us with food 24x7.
With all the free food on tap it was hard to keep trim, we did our best by going to the gym each day but the tidal wave of food was just too much to resist and the pounds piled on! One memorable dining experience took place in one of the fine dining restaurants where after sending back the coffee because it was cold a very apologetic restaurant manager brought back a fresh and steaming pot to the table which to her horror she realised only contained water when the waiter poured it out into our waiting cups 
The cruise itself was excellent, we enjoyed our days at sea relaxing around the pool and in port visiting some of the best coastal towns along the Mexican Riviera. The highlights were perhaps Mazatlan, whose charming colonial old town and historic buildings were enjoyable to stroll around, and Acapulco where we saw the amazing cliff divers making death defying leaps into the churning sea below.
Overall we had a great time and if you can put up with the inane chatter of your fellow cruisers and have the budget it’s a great way to travel.
The next blog will feature our most recent Hilbre adventure, and then it’s onto Italy where we are currently.