Formal Nights & Shore Excursions

[PumpkinPatches]

Hi all,

I'm just in the process of booking shore excursions for my 12 night Mexican Riviera cruise this September.

There was some excursions that caught my eye in Puerto Vallarta and Cabo san Lucas. However, I am booked in for the early dining seating and I am concerned that since the shore excursions will end around 4:00 that I will not have enough time to get ready for formal night if it would fall on a night we are in port.

I have been told that usually formal nights fall on "at sea" days. The last "at sea" day is also the last dinner on the ship, so that would be the Master Chef's dinner..

My itinerary looks like this:

Day 1: Leave Vancouver
Day 2: Astoria, Oregon 11-8pm
Day 3: AT SEA
Day 4: AT SEA
Day 5: Avalon, California 8-5pm
Day 6: San Diego, California 7-5 pm
Day 7: AT SEA
Day 8: AT SEA
Day 9: Mazatlan 8-5pm
Day 10: Puerto Vallarta 8-5 pm
Day 11: Cabo san Lucas 9-5pm
Day 12: AT SEA **Most likely Master Chef's Dinner
Day 13: Disembark

Anyone have ANNY idea whether or not HAL places Formal Nights on Mexican port days?

[DeeDee]

This is only my opinion as I have never taken this itinerary - it could be that there are only 2 formal nights even though it's a 12 night itinerary.


Day 1: Leave Vancouver
Day 2: Astoria, Oregon 11-8pm
Day 3: AT SEA - Formal
Day 4: AT SEA
Day 5: Avalon, California 8-5pm
Day 6: San Diego, California 7-5 pm
Day 7: AT SEA Formal or the next sea day or it could be both nights.
Day 8: AT SEA Formal
Day 9: Mazatlan 8-5pm
Day 10: Puerto Vallarta 8-5 pm
Day 11: Cabo san Lucas 9-5pm
Day 12: AT SEA **Most likely Master Chef's Dinner - could be but they rarely have a Formal on the last night as everyone is packing. Personally I would never go to another Master Chef's Dinner - I'd eat in the Lido or have room service
Day 13: Disembark

Formal nights are really up to the discretion of the Captain and/or Hotel Manager and they can change at any time. We've been on ships where they have 2 Formal nights in a row and the consesus was "not again"!

Have a great time Pumpkin