Burn The Floor is a production on three of the NCL ships, the Getaway, Breakaway and the Epic. We first saw the show on the Breakaway about three years ago. There was little difference between the two shows. In each one, the scenes were disjointed and the sets didn’t change.There were spiraling steel staircases for the dancers to move on and off the stage as needed. Spotlights took your attention to different performers as they become the star of each scene. The opening begins with the traditional ballroom waltz, followed by a rebellious gang as grunge rockers dressed in black leather take the stage. The next group is lead by a scorching leading lady in a cocktail dress and arm length gloves, dancing in a smoky jazz club.
After having lunch, we found the Sugarcane Mojito Bar. It was a bar that served mainly mojitos and very limited on other type of drinks. We learned to make a mojito at Bar Tending School several years ago. It is a drink we like and have always said Dee makes the best! The mojito is a beautiful, very refreshing rum-based cocktail born in Havan. A traditional mojito is made with white rum, simple syrup, lime juice, sparkling water and mint. It is garnished with mint leaves and lime wedges. The Sugar Cane Bar offered a large range of mojitos to include Bacardi, Spicy Passion, Pineapple Coconut, Jalapeno Cucumber, Raspberry Guava, Coco, Pisco Punch, Porton Mate, Pacific Ocean and Pimm’s No 8 cup. There was a nice couch in the corner by the window and a band playing Cuban music. Our first drinks were Raspberry Guava, Pisco Punch and Bacardi Mojitos. …
This was our 12th cruise and our 8th on Norwegian Cruise Line (Getaway). When we first started with NCL we were getting double loyalty points for the cruises. This moved us up the ladder to Platinum level for this cruise. As a Platinum members, we have an exclusive check in line at the embarkation port. Once we checked in we got our boarding number, not realizing we did not need one. Our number was eight and they hadn’t even called one yet. Fred, having checked in on his cruise in September as a Platinum member, knew this wasn’t right. So he went out to find the Platinum boarding. In just a few minutes he was back and we were off to embark on the Getaway. One minor problem, Dee had not reached Platinum yet. But with a few words from Steve and Fred we were on our way to the …
After a day of relaxing by the sea, we boarded our catamaran for our 45 minutes ride back to the ship. During trip back the staff put on a nice show of singing and dancing while we enjoyed an open bar. Save
As we speed away from the port of Puerto Vallarta, the skyline could be seen. We had a 45-minute boat trip each way to the tranquil retreat of Las Caletas. It was a relaxing ride followed by a day spent at an isolated cove where we lounged on a palm fringed beach. In describing his Mexican hideaway, John Huston said, “Las Caletas faces the sea and its back is to the jungle so for some reason one thins of it as an island.”
There were five or so restaurants on the island. The one we were assigned to was John Huston’s Hall. In a portion of it was represented as his library.
Our lunch was a delicious buffet with a ton of variety and an open bar. Save
Day of the Dead is one of the most iconic Mexican traditions because of the whole ritual around this date. It is a day for remembering and celebrating loved relatives who have passed on. Beautiful altar, decorated with candles, buckets of wild marigolds, mounds of fruits, peanuts, plates of turkey, mole, stacks of tortillas and breads called pan de muerto, are made in each home. The altar needs to have lots of food, bottles of soda, hot cocoa and water for the weary spirits. Toys and candies are left for the angelitos, and on Nov. 2, cigarettes and shots of mezcal are offered to the adult spirits. Little folk art skeletons and sugar skulls, purchased at open-air markets, provide the final touches.
Las Caletas Hideaway was once the private home of the famous film director John Huston. He came to Puerto Vallarta to film The Night of the Iguana. This brought Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Ava Gardner, Tennessee Williams, and other celebrities to Banderas Bay. Huston bought Las Caletas and the other celebrates purchased homes as well. A tourist industry was quickly born. Save
Las Caletas is a beautiful 3/4 of a mile long beach broken up into 4 smaller beaches only accessible by boat. We arrived after a 45 minute catamaran ride, greeted by a line of waiters lining the shoreline waving, a waterfalls and parrots circling overhead. In the distance we could see five restaurants, beaches with hammocks, chairs and floating islands in the bay. Â Save
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