Janice’s Mexico Adventure

by Janice on March 23rd, 2009

Princess SapphireIf someone told me earlier this year that my husband Don and I would find ourselves on a seven-day cruise to the Mexican Riviera without kids, I would have laughed.  After all, we’re busy, it wasn’t something in our budget, and well, we have kids!  But that’s exactly what we did last week with my sister Lori and her husband Chris (thanks Mom and Dad for watching the girls). 

We cruised aboard the Princess Sapphire with stops in Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas.  Lori and I signed up for a cooking class in Puerto Vallarta and were sorely disappointeHomemade corn tortilla lunchd when it was cancelled due to low registration.  Perhaps folks preferred to eat rather than cook?  We settled on a rugged five-mile guided hike through the Sierra Madre instead.  Afterwards, we ate a lunch of homemade corn tortillas topped with a savory mixture of beans, chicken, cactus salad, and salsa. 

The food onboard was spectacular.  Honestly, you could indulge in almost any food imaginable including things like frog legs and sweetbreads!  Some of my favorites included the Mahi Mahi with Dill Sauce, Fennel Au Gratin, Grilled Filet Mignon, Lobster Tail with King Prawns, and Seafood Stew Cioppino.  Many of the entrees were rather decadent (AKA a bit high in fat and calories) though plenty of lighter options – things like Corn and Sweet Potato Chowder, Sauteed Barramundi with Green Asparagus Tips, and Fresh Garden Mixed Greens and Red Cabbage Chiffonade – were available too.

Frog Legs

Most mornings I feasted on a bagel with lox, cream cheese, red onions and capers along with a big bowl of fresh berries.  And yes, I admit that on several mornings, a chocolate croissant made its way on to my plate as well!  You would think that a five-pound weight gain was inevitable given all that I ate but that simply wasn’t the case … at least I don’t think it was.  We don’t have a scale at home, and it’s probably been a year since I weighed myself, but when I did get on the scale at the Y, my weight was the same as I remembered it (so there!).

Seafood Stew Cioppino

 On our final day at sea, I attended a fabulous and very humorous culinary demonstration with the Executive Chef and Maitre D’, followed by a tour of the main galley.  If you’re curious what the ship’s shopping list looks like for a one-week cruise with 2,670 guests and close to 1,000 crew members, here it is:

  • 57,000 eggs
  • 44,850 lbs. fresh fruit
  • 39,895 lbs. fresh vegetables
  • 29,784 lbs. potatoes
  • 15,600 lbs. beef
  • 10,665 lbs. seafood
  • 9,576 lbs. butter
  • 5,284 lbs. cheese
  • 4,275 lbs. pasta
  • 479 lbs. smoked salmon

Total food used per cruise is 130 to 140 tons!  To burn off some of those extra calories consumed, the ship’s fitness center comes complete with treadmills, free weights, and plenty of other exercise equipment.  I worked out a few times but not as often as I had planned.  After all, there were ports to explore, computer classes to take (I actually took a class in photo editing) and sunshine to absorb — my vitamin D levels were in need of a boost after the long, dreary winter in New England.

Janice with Princess Executive Chef and Maitre D'

All in all, it was a spectacular week filled with fun and relaxation.  Surviving seven days without internet access or phone communication was surprisingly easy to get used to – I told myself the world would continue to revolve without my presence online … and it did.  Now that I am home and back to the usual hectic pace of home and work, I like to close my eyes and picture myself sitting on the balcony sipping wine and gazing at a beautiful sunset. 

Janice's Favorite Breakfast

To view my photos from the trip on flickr, click here.

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1 Comment | Filed Under CulinaryAdventures 

One Response to “Janice’s Mexico Adventure”

  1. dave on March 24th, 2009

    Hi Janice, After reading about your cruise, it made me hungry and wanting to take a cruise. Thanks for the info.

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