Forums > Areas > Southern Mexico

Peter

Nov 8, 2010, 6:48 AM

Post #1 of 5 (4447 views)

Shortcut

Meeting a Cruise Ship in Ixtapa

Can't Post | Private Reply

In a few weeks my mother will be on a cruise ship with a stop scheduled for a few hours in Ixtapa. I have not visited there yet but live about 4 hours away and would like to meet with her when she arrives.

Does anyone know Ixtapa well enough to give me a little lay-of-the-land info, if there is a good hotel they would recommend convenient to the embarcadero, and if it is easy enough to recognize when passengers from a particular ship are arriving, obtaining information about arrival from the port if there is any change or delay in schedule?

Any information along this line would be helpful. I plan to arrive in Ixtapa the day before arrival and take a hotel room so where to stay and where to visit type recommendations I would like to get, please.

tashby

Nov 8, 2010, 7:13 AM

Post #2 of 5 (4438 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Peter] Meeting a Cruise Ship in Ixtapa

Can't Post | Private Reply

While the cruise line may list the stop as "Ixtapa" it will probably really stop in Zihuatanejo. The protective bay in Zihuatanejo has always been where cruise ships sit in the past anyway. I would confirm that information first.

In Zihuatanejo, you have tons of options with hotels, from moderately priced to through the roof. Unless things have changed there, which I doubt, ship passengers are shuttled to the pier in small pangas from the ship which stays out in the bay. Unless they've developed it further, there used to only be one pier in town. You can't miss it.

CAVEAT: I haven't been to that area in a handful of years, so maybe things have changed. First definitely confirm where passengers will disembark.

(This post was edited by tashby on Nov 8, 2010, 7:15 AM)

Peter

Nov 8, 2010, 8:23 AM

Post #3 of 5 (4430 views)

Shortcut

Re: [tashby] Meeting a Cruise Ship in Ixtapa

Can't Post | Private Reply

Thanks Tashby. Good argument for arrivig a day early and getting a look around. I doubt my Mom would know anything about where and how they will arrive. She makes the San Pedro, Catalina, Ensenada cruise frequently but this is her first time down this far and she was reading from a list of stops when I caught her mis-pronunciation of Ixtapa and suggested I will meet her there.

This may be one of my last chances to see her as I do not care to leave Mexico if I can help it. The good news is that as a good Oxnard, CA mother she was 17 when I was born so is not very elderly and is in good health, will probably outlive me. She is 74 at present.

Thanks, that is helpful.

tashby

Nov 8, 2010, 8:35 AM

Post #4 of 5 (4424 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Peter] Meeting a Cruise Ship in Ixtapa

Can't Post | Private Reply

There's a whole message board/forum for that area linked below. All kinds of hotel/etc. information. There's even a cruise ship shedule on the site.

Zihuatanejo is a more pleasant place to hang your hat for a night anyway, in my opinion. Lots of good food there, too. The cruise line probably lists Ixtapa as the stop since that's the resort area, about five miles away. They taxi cruisers over there who want the mall experience.

http://www.zihuatanejo.net/

(This post was edited by tashby on Nov 8, 2010, 8:40 AM)

Peter

Nov 8, 2010, 9:01 AM

Post #5 of 5 (4417 views)

Shortcut

Re: [tashby] Meeting a Cruise Ship in Ixtapa

Can't Post | Private Reply

Great Tashby, thanks. I can see another reason for listing it as Ixtapa. If my mom had to try to pronounce Zihuatanejo she might not have even bothered to tell me she was coming. I'll check out that site.

As often as I go to the coast here and the number of times I have gone with local friends to Guerrero beaches I have gotten within just a few kilometros of Zihuatanejo but have never gone there.