It is a country whose heart and soul are so closely linked with ours. Mexico and the Philippines share an anguished colonial past, a colorful culture bursting with passion, and prayerful visions of the future. You see this in the storied structures left by the Aztecs, the art of Frida Kahlo, and cathedrals echoing with fervent faith.
This I realized when I took an eight-day Mexican Riviera cruise on the MS Norwegian Star with media members and travel agents. I boarded the sleek ship in Los Angeles after a comfy China Airlines flight from Manila via Taipei, and a free overnight stay at the Holiday Inn Los Angeles.
We visited four Mexican towns, each one with its own charm and character.
Acapulco brought us back to 1521 when, after conquering the Aztec empire the Spaniards saw Acapulco as an ideal trading post. The Philippines was discovered by Magellan in the same year, and it was no wonder that the Fort San Diego museum carries a lot of Filipiniana, including Imeldific ternos.
Zihuatanejo bursts with old-fashioned charm and romance, while Ixtapa, a resort just five minutes away, looms as a mini version of Cancun with its high-rise hotels, modern condos and shopping malls.
Puerto Vallarta has beautiful gold sand beaches, and it is a place that teaches you to be a dedicated ecotourist rather than just a sightseer or shopper. This town gained instant popularity in 1964 when Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor (then married to Eddie Fisher), fell in love with each other and with the place during the filming of Tenessee Williams’ The Night of the Iguana.
Cabo San Lucas, once a sleepy fishing village, is now a tourism fave spot teeming with pristine wilderness areas, 19th-century villages, lovely beaches and shopping places.
Half of the pleasures of this eight-day trip to Mexico came from the Norwegian Star; our ship was also our hotel.
It can accommodate more than 2,000 guests in its luxurious suites and 12 decks where 11 lounge/bars, 10 restaurants, 3 night clubs, 2 theaters, a casino, salon, spa, pools, kids’ playroom, teen club, fitness center, jogging track, cinema, auditorium, chapel and shops keep passengers busy and entertained.
Here are 101 must-do’s on a Mexican cruise:
2. Have lunch at Market Café and eat all you can from its countless buffet offerings – soups, salads, pizzas, pastas, omelets, waffles, main dishes, desserts, some prepared in food stations. Yes, they have special entrees for vegetarians.
3. Check out the ship’s Internet café. Enjoy wireless access with your own laptop computer or rent one of the ship’s computers.
4. Order the day’s newspaper. Choose from 17, including International Herald Tribune, Los Angeles Times and The Times (England) in 11 X 17 inch format.
5. Watch the hilarious stand-up comedy of Jeff Harms at the Spinnaker Lounge. Yes, he is so funny!
6. Enjoy an hour of therapeutic body massage at the spa. Ah, happiness!
7. Taste the best wines from around the world. You’ll sound like a wine expert after an hour of wine orientation at the SoHo Room.
8. Take dinner at La Trattoria, such an excellent Italian resto. Lobsters and prawns are served, too.
9. Show your stuff or simply watch the Mr. Hairy Chest contest at the poolside. Hairy, but not scary.
10. Watch a movie at the ship’s cinema. We cried a bucketful at The Notebook, starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams.
11. Listen to experts reveal "The Secret to a Flat Stomach and Detox for Weight Loss" at the Fitness Center.
12. Enjoy Andrew Lloyd Webber’s "Music of the Night" as the Jean Ann Ryan Company pays tribute to this musical great.
13. Try kickboxing at the Fitness Center.
14. Or golf putting at Gatsby’s.
15. Sing along at the Red Lion Pub as Jeffrey Allen hosts this zany event. Tunes by Don McLean, Billy Joel, The Beatles and more.
17. Explore Fort San Diego just across the pier. Built in 1617, this museum shows you the strong Mexican-Philippine connection via historic treasures.
18. Take a cool break at Dolphy’s Ice Cream parlor. No, it’s not owned by a famous comedian.
19. Visit John Wayne’s Hotel Flamingo, where movie stars of the ‘50s spent their holidays. Or the Acapulco Princess Hotel, erected like an Aztec pyramid. Or Vidafel Hotel, built to resemble a Mayan Temple.
20. Watch the brave cliff divers of La Quebrada as they take 130-foot leaps into the surging ocean surrounded by jagged rocks. Scary!
21. Swim with the dolphins at Cici Water Park. Watch these intelligent creatures share their world with humans.
22. Try Acapulco’s latest craze – the Shotover Jet – a thrill ride through Puerto Marquis Lagoon in a powerful boat through the shallow waters of the Papagayo River.
23. Go shopping for jewelry and crafts. Check out Plaza Taxco for gold handmade creations, Fine Bonita jewelry for silver pieces and The Little Princess for diamonds and gold.
24. Enjoy a Mexican lunch of local dishes like fajitas and burritos at Señor Frogs, where you get a fantastic view from a hillside overlooking Acapulco Bay. Si, Señor, it’s really fantastic!
25. Check out the endangered baby sea turtles conservation program.
26. Back at the ship, watch Antonio Ramirez’s Mexican folkloric show, complete with pre-Hispanic dances, rope tricks and singing at the Stardust Theater.
27. For Tex-Mex dishes, go to the ship’s Endless Summer resto, a modern Hawaiian-themed resto.
28. Sip a margarita as you watch the Mariachi Band at the Oasis Poolside.
30. Look for Alberto’s jewelry shop which was a fave of Paul McCartney.
31. Drive around town and see the same honeymoon sights enjoyed by Andy Garcia and Meg Ryan for their movie When a Man Loves a Woman.
32. Go kayaking at the lagoon.
33. Try snorkeling at Plaza Manzanillo.
34. Check your driving power at the Ixtapa Marina Golf.
35. Back at the ship, indulge in the Norwegian Cruise Line’s signature Chocoholic Buffet.
36. Get rid of the unwanted pounds with aerobics at the spa.
37. Or walk a mile on the ship’s jogging path..
38. Join the girls’ night out as the ship presents its "Ship ’n’ Males" revue. For adults only. Bring some cash to stash into the trunks of the hunks. Yes, Philippine pesos are OK. One or two of the hunks are Pinoy!
39. Tired, hungry and craving for a midnight snack? Go to the ship’s Blue Lagoon, a 24-hour food court-style eatery featuring American burgers, English fish and chips and pot pies, and Oriental wok dishes.
40. Watch a movie in your suite. The ship has its own schedule of TV movies.
42. Visit the two houses linked by an overpass which Richard Burton bought for himself and Elizabeth Taylor in 1964 while he and Ava Gardner were filming Night of the Iguana. Puerto Vallarta gained instant fame after this movie.
43. Watch pelicans fly low over the green waters of the Pacific.
44. Watch crabs sunbathe on rocks within quaint coves.
45. Walk through the town’s cobblestoned streets and discover a charming town full of good shops and restaurants.
46. Discover the craftsmanship in Mexican designer clothes, from $30 and up.
47. Choose from very affordable paintings and prints by local artists in Mabini-style stalls.
48. Take photos alongside interesting sculptures along the Malecon Walkway fronting Banderas Bay. Don’t miss the town’s famous Seahorse Statue.
49. Go house-watching and see the charming villas with beautiful views of the beachfront.
50. Visit a tequila factory and see how Mexico’s favorite drinks are made, from vat to barrel to bottle.
51. Explore the pueblitos of Valle de Banderas and their plantations laden with tropical fruits.
52. Explore the essence of Mexico on a mountain bike, taking a route from the Rancho Sierra Madre.
53. Visit Las Caletas, the hideaway of the late John Huston, complete with its original furnishings and memorabilia.
54. Choose between kayaking, snorkeling and a simple nature walk.
55. Attend a paella cooking demonstration.
56. Go horseback riding in the countryside.
57. Don’t just be a sightseer or a shopper. Be an ecotourist. Take a tropical jungle tour and see flora and fauna in their original habitat.
58. Better still, go on a jeep safari.
59. Back in the ship, spend happy hour with the Martini Club and try designer martinis served in a 10-ounce glass.
60. Go Japanese at the ship’s Ginza Restaurant which features a sushi and tempura bar, a teppanyaki room and a sake bar.
61. Attend the ship’s art auction and buy paintings at 40 to 80 percent off land gallery prices.
62. There, rediscover the art of Peter Max, America’s pop art master and painter laureate.
63. Try your luck at the ship’s slot machines
64. Or at the bingo games.
65. Be charmed by the Champion of Magic, Shawn Farquhar. If he calls you onstage, check your watch and jewelry before you return to your seat. Yes, he makes things disappear!
67. Discover Todos Los Santos and imbibe the town’s history and culture.
68. Taste "the world’s greatest shrimps" at The Shrimp Factory.
69. Walk through Boulevard Marina and go shopping for gemstones, pearls and diamonds. Designer jewelry is also showcased at Diamonds International.
70. Check out artworks and figurines by Alexander Flores, Salvadore Larios and Carlos Albert, the man who designed The Rain Forest Cafes in the US.
71. Visit Cabo’s shopping mall on the Marina, Puerto Paraiso. And don’t forget the flea market night at the pier. Best buys: Bracelets and neckpieces from $2, zany Mexican T-shirts at $3, and handcrafted hippie bags at $20.
72. Snorkel and sail to Santa Maria Cove.
73. Take picture-pretty souvenir shots at Land’s End.
74. Try world-class golf courses, including Jack Nicklaus’ El Dorado Golf Course.
75. Go fishing! Cabo San Luis in one of the best sportsfishing destinations in the world.
76. Back to the ship, enjoy a back, neck and shoulder massage, followed by a relaxing facial, then a foot and ankle massage at the spa. Ah, heaven!
77. Or do Pilates at the Fitness Center.
78. Or play volleyball. Or a game at the ship’s basketball court.
79. Listen to an hour of Elton John music by Jeffrey Allen at the Stardust Theater.
80. Watch Cirque Pacific, featuring the amazing Chinese acrobats doing incredible feats of contortion. Oh, my God!
81. Go French at Le Bistro, featuring modern and classic French cuisine.
82. Sharpen your singing skills at the karaoke bar.
83. Dance all night long at the Carousel Night Club.
85. Or learn how to beat those aches and pains from arthritis at a workshop.
86. Or attend a yoga session.
87. Or a pastry and cake decorating demo.
88. Or a makeup demo.
89. Take cha-cha and salsa dance lessons at the Spinnaker Lounge.
90. Try a full selection of hot and cold dishes at Las Ramblas Tapas Bar and Restaurant.
91. Or go for barbecue-style eating at The Grill on the pool deck, open 24 hours a day.
92. Or request the ship’s Pinoy chefs to prepare all the Filipino dishes you’ve missed by now – sinigang, adobo, lechon kawali and kare-kare. Yes, they will gladly prepare these for your group! Out of 1,100 crew staffers, more than 400 are Pinoy.
93. Join the ship’s very own version of American Idol – the Star Seekers talent competition, and win a cruise and entertainment contract with Norwegian Cruise Line. Don’t worry Simon Cowell is not one of the judges.
94. Groove to the tunes from yesteryears to today at the Carousel Nightclub. Dance through the 1950s to 2005.
95. Capture those cruise memories forever. Visit the photo gallery and look for those pictures of you taken on board and on land by the ship’s paparazzi. Surprise!
96. Go shopping at the ship’s Duty Free Shop. Best buys: jewelry, watches, perfumes, eyewear, clothes and hats. Great buys from $10 and up.
97. Relax at the ship’s Jacuzzi pools. Or swimming pool.
98. Combine aromatherapy with detoxification, perfect for the treatment of tight muscles, sore joints and water retention.
99. Enjoy a glass of freshly-squeezed fruits at the Juice Bar.
100. Get ready for more sightseeing, shopping and meeting up with relatives and friends in Los Angeles.
101. Sail into the sunset and catch a last view of breathtaking colors from your suite’s picture window.
The Norwegian Star’s next 2005 sail dates from Los Angeles are April 12, 22, 29; Sept. 30; Oct. 8, 16, 24; Nov. 1, 9, 17, 25; Dec. 3, 11, 19, 27. The 2006 sail dates are Jan. 4, 12, 20, 28; Feb. 5, 13, 21; Mar. 1, 9, 17, 25; Apr. 2, 10, 18 and 26.