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Cruise Review: Cruise West - Pacific Explorer

Whales and Wildlife - January 2005

Linda,

We can't thank you enough for your expertise. We loved our experience. If your clients are looking for a casino, booze cruise or nightime excitment this is not the cruise for them.

Instead we enjoyed hiking, kayaking, zodiac exploring. Everyday we were in our bathing suits exploring the nature of this incredible area. This is a photographers dream destination. We searched for whales and wildlife and our second morning were treated to a group of (best count 200) dolphins playing around our ship. We swam with Sea Lions in Los Islotes, well I stayed in the zodiac but everyone else swam with the Sea Lions. We visited quaint villages such as Loreto, and after some shopping were treated as special guests at the old mission, being part of the Cruise West "family".

Our food was delicious, fresh and well prepared. A mix of american and regional specialities. There was a family of 5 who were all diabetic and the kitchen staff made them unique special desserts. We met wonderful well traveled people and enjoyed that there is no reserved seating at meals so we met new people at every table.

We had a deluxe cabin which I suggest. It was good size and we liked the location. Cabins are relatively small in other categories but no one seemed to make that an issue. One of the more well traveled passengers told me that all small ships have smallish cabins. The point being that you are on deck to relish the destination not nap in your cabin. I could agree with that.

Our staff was educated experts in their fields. Welcome in offierng their knowlege and experience at every turn. I made use of the books in the little library to learn about different birds and cacti that we came in conatct with.

On our 5th day at 6am I awoke to a quiet annoucement that they had spotted Orcas. I threw on my clothes, grabbed my binoculars and was out on deck in a flash. There they were, so close to our ship you could almost reach out and touch. This was a treat as I had never seen Orcas before. They stayed with us for quite a while as we watched them from the dinning room while eating breakfast. The dinning room has large windows which is nice for breakfast and lunch.

Our whole experience, from being picked up at the airport to our transfer off the ship was smooth, comfortable and "up close and personal" as they say. Linda, we thank you for suggesting Cruise West, we will travel with them again in the future.

Ms. Doris Weston
additions by Preston Weston
New York, New York