Shirley and I were invited as special guests of the Pacific American Lines to cruise aboard their cruiseship, the Experience. On January 9, 2012, we embarked from the port of San Diego. That afternoon, we took a walk about the ship and attended a mandatory lifeboat drill. Later we enjoyed predinner cocktails at the Ocean View Bar and dined at 5:45 p.m. Finally, we returned to our suite, retiring at 9:00 p.m. Thus began our journey, a much expected routine. It had lulled us into anticipating this was the way our cruise would continue . . . However, our disillusionment would soon become evident. If you would like, you are welcome to join us!

Somewhere In Time

A Cruise To YesteryearBy Frederick Dale Mitchell

Trafford Publishing

Copyright © 2012 Frederick Dale Mitchell
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4669-5782-4

Contents

PREFACE.........................................................xiiiChapter 1. THE BEGINNING........................................1Chapter 2. THE HAPPENING........................................9Chapter 3. THIS IS THE CAPTAIN SPEAKING.........................39Chapter 4. WHERE ARE WE?........................................45Chapter 5. LAND HO..............................................53Chapter 6. MAZATLAN.............................................59Chapter 7. MAZATLAN DAY.........................................275Chapter 8. THE GIFT.............................................99Chapter 9. SAN JOSE DEL CABO....................................105Chapter 10. LOOK OVER THERE.....................................127Chapter 11. THE STORM...........................................139Chapter 12. HOME AT LAST........................................147Chapter 13. PLANNING THE RETURN TO MAZATLAN.....................165Chapter 14. PRESENTATION AND THE MAR AZUL.......................203Chapter 15. DAY 2 AT MAZATLAN...................................221Chapter 16. TOPOLOBAMPO AND CABO SAN LUCAS......................229Chapter 17. THE CORONATION......................................247Chapter 18. SAN DIEGO, WE ARE HERE..............................259Chapter 19. PEARL HARBOR........................................269Chapter 20. SAN DIEGO, HELLO AGAIN..............................301Chapter 21. TORTILLA FLAT AT LAST...............................309EPILOGUE........................................................323

Chapter One

THE BEGINNING

In March 2000, Shirley and I took our first cruise down the Mexican Riviera, and from that time on, we were hooked. It is now January 9, 2010, and we are about to embark on cruise number 30, a special cruise once more to the Mexican Riviera. Shirley and I were invited as guests of Pacific American Lines (PAL) as a reward for our many prior cruises with them. We were anticipating this cruise to be twelve fun-filled, relaxing days.

We were up bright and early to prepare for our fifty-minute flight from Phoenix to San Diego. From the airport, we had only a short bus ride to our ship, the Experience, the "old lady" of Pacific American Line's fleet of fifteen ships. She was relatively small, with a capacity of only 970 passengers and a crew of 400. She was vintage by cruise ship standards, built in 1993; however, she had class and attracted a devoted following of dedicated cruisers. The Experience had recently been refurbished and updated with the latest navigational, communication, and engine room gear. This was to be a special shakedown cruise before returning to her normal cruising.

We were ushered aboard the Experience and escorted to our suite, where we unpacked our carry-on baggage. Later, we took a walk around the ship, noticed many updates, attended the mandatory lifeboat drill at 4:00 p.m., enjoyed predinner cocktails, and then had dinner at 5:45 p.m.

The Experience embarked at 6:00 p.m., and that evening, we attended a "welcome aboard" show where the senior officers and the ship's staff were introduced. Afterward, we returned to our suite, unpacked the rest of our baggage, and retired at 9:45 p.m.

The next morning began promptly at five-thirty with our wake-up call. I nudged Shirley. "Let's be up and out." Shirley replied, "You seem unusually lively this morning?" I retorted, "That's easy, me lassie, I be hungry." Rubbing her eyes, she mumbled, "That's nothing new."

We took our copy of the Update (daily schedule) to breakfast with us and made our plans for our first full day at sea: a morning presentation about the Sea of Cortez by tour guide Linda Britton in the Show Lounge, afternoon duplicate bridge, cocktail hour, dinner, and a Mozart concert in the Show Lounge presented by the ensemble Adagio.

There were a plethora of activities available aboard the Experience on sea days: enrichment speakers, the casino, bingo, dancing, swimming, library, fitness classes, culinary presentations, golf contests and lessons, Ping-Pong contests, a variety of board and card games, several audience-participation games like Trivial Pursuit, Name That Tune, plus many others.

On days in port, there were guided shore excursions to choose from, or one might just go ashore and find something to do on his or her own. Shopping and eating, of course, were always an alternative.

In keeping with our desire to learn more about the early Spanish Missions, at 9:00 a.m., we attended Linda Britton's first lecture on the "Sea of Cortez: The History and the Development of the Jesuit Missions." Specifically, Loreto would be today's study with Guaymas and San Jose del Cabo to follow on future lecture days.

Linda, a neat-looking young lady of about twenty-eight, five foot six inches with long brown hair, obtained her master's degree in Mexican studies at the University of Monterrey in Mexico and had been with PAL for two years. She had a very pleasant voice and after introductions began her presentation.

Linda welcomed everyone and thanked us for attending her lecture. She began, "Mission Nuestra Señora De Loreto was established in 1697 by a small group of intrepid Spanish Jesuits who erected a makeshift tent at the mouth of the Arroyo San Dionisio River, and the first European settlement in Baja California was born. A sturdier mission, church, and fort were later needed, which required fifty years of dedicated work to complete. Over the years, hurricanes, earthquakes, and Indian attacks took a toll on the mission, which was restored several times.

"The church's last renovation took place in 1976. However, it still today contains the original Virgin de Loreto brought ashore as the icon of the mission in 1697."

Linda next showed slides, some which depicted the original layout of the mission. At the conclusion of her talk, she thanked us and said she hoped to see us all the following morning. Everyone gave her a very nice applause.

After lunch at the grill on Lido Deck, we returned to our cabin and discussed duplicate bridge. At 1:30 p.m., we went to the card room and sat north/south. The couple who joined us at east/west was Julie and Ed Madison from Tempe, Arizona, a pleasant couple of about our age.

Our first round was quite uneventful, as both sides seemed to bid and play their hands well. Anyway, it was fun, and as the Madisons left, we told them how much we enjoyed playing bridge with them. They thanked us, offering perhaps they would see us around the ship. At the end of play, we stayed for a few minutes to see our results. Pretty good—we were second, only a half point out of first place. The Madisons placed fourth.

Next up was the Ocean View Bar, where pianist Peter Miles was holding forth, and I asked him to play "Memory" from Cats, which he graciously did. Ana, our waitress, was quick to usher us to her area and asked if we would have the same as last evening. I replied, "Perfect." I noticed Julie and Ed at a table across the room and told Ana I'd like to buy them a round, which they accepted with a smile and lifted their drinks in thanks.

Dinner this evening was particularly up my line: New Orleans Crawdads (crayfish). Shirley just said, "Ugh." Our dinner wine of choice, German Riesling, was iced and waiting for us to arrive. Following our meal, it was off to the Show Lounge to be entertained by a concert...