We boarded the Splendor in Long Beach for a seven day cruise. Here is a link to the Cruisemates photo album

Pre-Cruise Stay
We drove to Long Beach from Sacramento and had a pre-cruise stay at the Long Beach Hilton. The cruise boards had let me know about the special Carnival code. The special code provided shuttle to and from the cruise terminal, seven nights parking, and one night stay for only $95. With tax and parking for an additional day the cost was about $122. This was an excellent deal. We did wish the hotel had a microwave and mini refrigerator but we cannot complain. The Hotel did have excellent Italian coffee (Lavazza) for the coffee maker. However, we learned the Hilton designates floors seven and above as the silent floors. People making noise on these floors will be asked to leave the hotel. We were on the fifth floor. This floor was apparently the �make as much noise as you can at 4AM in the morning floor�. There were teenage cheerleader competitors staying in the surrounding rooms. This was not the hotel�s fault. Just a warning to others to request a room above the seventh floor. Although you may not get it with the code. Earplugs are key.

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Embarkation
Carnival had called and left a message that our check-in time at Long Beach Terminal was 2p.m. I disregarded this message completely. The Long Beach terminal has early check-in from 9a.m. to 11a.m. This early check-in used to be at the Queen Mary Hotel, it is now at an outdoor kiosk at the regular Carnival Terminal. We took the shuttle and got to early check-in at about 9:45a.m. There was no line at all. Just six tellers all waiting to check us in. We were in zone one and we did have to wait until about 1:30p.m. to board. We found a nice comfortable spot on a concrete bench and my hubby brought out the video game and we played monopoly until it was time to board. The room was not ready yet so we headed to the Lido Deck for lunch. I got the Mongolian BBQ and my hubby got a hamburger, hotdog, fries, and I think a slice of pizza. He started with the Mongolian BBQ but was not happy with it. We were eating by 2p.m. The early check-in made this a really smooth embarkation.

Food and Entertainment
The Mongolian BBQ would be good for people who have never had a real Mongolian BBQ. The noodles were too thin, there were no bean sprouts, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, or straw mushrooms. The sauce also needed more flavor, plus soy sauce on the tables would have helped. The food at the grill was very good. My hubby liked the hamburger. The grill had the usual hamburger, hot dogs, fries, potato salad, Chili etc. The pizza parlor was good if the pizza was just out of the oven. The calzones were worth the 10 minute wait and one of my favorite foods for lunch. The Breakfast Buffet never changed and the bacon is just never crispy enough and a disappointment. The pancakes, ragout sausages (sausages in red meat sauce) and hard boiled eggs were very tasty. I got a chance to try the burrito bar. I got a steak burrito and asked for the hottest salsa. It had very little heat. The best was the dining room food. The desserts were excellent; if you are a chocolate lover try the chocolate melting cake!! The service was very good and a special thanks to Marlon and Wilfredo for the great service. We were blessed with wonderful tablemates, which made the time go by quickly. Thanks guys you were a blast!! The prime rib was tender and juicy. However, Carnival should stop trying to make filet mignon. Filet mignon has very little fat and over cooks easily. In 2008 on the Freedom in the main dining room the Filet Mignon was overcooked. On this cruise the Filet Mignon was overcooked. My hubby�s favorite and I have to agree with him, is the cream of wild mushroom soup.

The Ports
The ports were Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas. Something to note; Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan are on the Pacific Ocean. Cabo San Lucas is on the Sea of Cortez and is much clearer and less rough. Really nice to swim or snorkel in.

In Puerto Vallarta we booked the Wild Dolphin & Snorkeling excursion. The tour was ready to leave as soon as the ship docked and we just made it onboard the tour boat. About five minutes into the tour, a small boat with other cruise ship passengers approached and these cruisers had to jump from the small boat onto the main boat. The crew on this trip was wonderful and fun. We had the choice to kayak, snorkel or hang out at the beach. We decided to snorkel. The Pacific Ocean was very murky and not the best for snorkeling. We did see some fish though and on the way to Marietas Island we saw a pilot whale which was very cool. No wild dolphins though but it was never a guarantee to see any. They are wild after all. For lunch, there were sandwich fixings as well as potato and tuna salad and an open bar which included Pina Coladas, Margaritas, and rum and cokes. I really enjoyed the Margaritas. Beware of the jelly fish in the Pacific Ocean. Ladies with long hair, tie your hair back. A young lady had a jelly fish caught in her hair and it stung the heck out of her back. My hubby had a small sting on his leg but not from the one in the girl�s hair (didn�t want you to get the wrong idea here). The Jellies didn�t sting me at all. After all, �I am the Jelly whisperer�. After the tour ended, we went to the board walk in the Malecon area (it�s only a short cab ride). I should have brought my camera as it was a beautiful sunset. There are multiple sand sculpture artists that create beautiful sculptures for tips so bring some change.

My hubby found an aquarium in Mazatlan. Yes the bird show was in Spanish and all the exhibits were in Spanish. The aquarium is mainly for the Mexican people and it�s a small aquarium. However, the cost was only 75 peso at a 10 to 1 exchange rate that is only $7.50 and for the price you got a lot for you money. We took a pulmonia (open air taxi) to the aquarium; piece of advice, always negotiate the price before getting in any cab in Mexico. After the aquarium we took another pulmonia into the Golden Zone for shopping.

Cabo San Lucas was beautiful and my favorite port. Everyone on this cruise wished we had more time at Cabo San Lucas. My hubby and I hired a glass bottom boat that took us by Pelican Rock where you could see the fish clear as day. Cabo is the best place to snorkel. We went around the arch to the Pacific Ocean side. DO NOT SWIM ON THE PACIFIC OCEAN SIDE! IT�S VERY DANGEROUS. Lover�s Beach is on the Sea of Cortez side and I found the surf too rough for me to swim in, although there were people resembling Olympic Swimmers, ha ha, swimming and snorkeling. We only stayed at Lover�s Beach an hour then our glass bottom boat captain took us to Medano Beach. This beach is safer to swim in. We headed to the Baja Cantina�s roped off chaise lounges. They rope the lounge area off so the vendors can�t disturb you while you are relaxing. We ordered a bucket of six Pacifico beers with lime slices for 150 pesos. At 10 to 1 exchange rate it�s about $15. We took turns swimming in the Sea of Cortez and just chilled until the glass boat driver picked us up at 1p.m. We did some shopping then got in the long line for the tender boats. To Carnival�s credit the line moved quickly. Next time I will skip Lover�s beach and just head to Medano Beach.

Shows and entertainment
On this cruise we had three shows: The Beat, Fiesta Latina, and Vroom. My favorite show was Fiesta Latina. I love Latin music and the dancing in this show was wonderful. The two lead dancers performed an amazing dance that left me speechless. It�s a real rarity for me to be speechless. Vroom was also a high energy action packed fun show. The female singer Adrian Hall was an excellent singer and dancer. She also sang at the Past Guest party. The Beat was fun, but not as good as the other shows. My hubby enjoyed the Vegas style costumes. If you have small children, do not sit up front or they may see more than you might want them to.

Debarkation
The saddest day of the cruise. We learned to never do the self debarkation; we really over pack too much for that. Me with my shoes and my hubby with the electronics. Carnival has switched from calling colors to calling zones. The first zones to be called were zones 1-5. My guess is this group had the early flights to catch. For us this was no big deal. We were in zone 7 and got called with the 6-20 group. It was really easy to get off the ship and through customs. They have really improved the process since my last cruise out of Long Beach. We called for the hotel shuttle, which only took about 5 minutes to arrive. We were on the road by 10:30a.m. and falling asleep at the wheel by noon. Ha ha, hardy har har.

Overall, we had a good time and it was worth it. I�d give the cruise a solid B+.