Once a disembarkation point for Spanish galleons bearing spices from the Orient… Now an “American
Riviera” with sun-drenched beaches framed beneath imposingly rugged cliffs…
The CARONIA is due to sail into the bay of Acapulco and drop anchor at about 10am. Passengers will go ashore by local
tenders. Consult ship's bulletin boards for full details of the tender service to be maintained during the day.
Maiden Arrival at Acapulco,
Caronia anchored in the bay 14 January 1951
[Photo: Cunard, Courtesy of Brian Hawley]
Departure Time
6pm sharp. Last tender will leave the town at 5.30pm.
Cars will be waiting at the quay in Acapulco to transfer members of this Shore Excursion up
to the El Mirador Hotel, located atop cliffs with magnificent views over the Pacific. The
“El Mirador” has lovely gardens and a truly Mexican holiday atmosphere. At noon we shall
see one of Acapulco's famous exhibitions of native boys diving from the high cliffs in
front of the hotel down into the breakers far below.
Buffet Luncheon will be served in the spacious “ship's deck” dining room of the “El
Mirador”, against a background of music provided by a typical Mexican orchestra.
[Left:]
The breathtaking spectacle of the La Quebrada cliff divers at Acapulco. Each dive needing to be
timed perfectly with an incoming wave, or face almost certain death! The diver can just be discerned
in mid-flight
[Photo: Caronia
Peter Stevens Collection]
[Right:]
The El Mirador Hotel, Acapulco
[Photo: Caronia
Peter Stevens Collection]
Free for relaxing at the “El Mirador” or strolling back down and around the town to take
pictures of this colourful resort. Cars for the transfer from the hotel back to the dock
in Acapulco will be available up to 5.00pm. The last transfer car must reach the dock not
later than 5.15pm.
Diving in front of the El Mirador Hotel, AcapulcoNavBar
Cruise Notes on Acapulco
Mexico's seaside playground
Acapulco - is in the heart of the “Mexican Riviera” the closest beach on the Pacific Coast
to Mexico City.
It is justifiably famed for its all-year-round tropical weather and excellent bathing.
Deep-sea fishing is superb in these waters, especially during the winter months. Flying
fish, sunfish, giant stingrays and marlin are the principal game fish caught. Acapulco's
name comes from a Nahuati Indian phrase meaning “place of the thick bamboos”.
Mexican Money
The unit of Mexican currency is the peso, worth approximately 13c. The peso is divided into
100 centavos. The Foreign Exchange Bureau aboard ship, located on Main Deck Aft, directly
below the Cruise Office, will have a limited supply of pesos available for passengers
during business hours on Friday and Saturday.
Acapulco Bay area
A Bit of History
Acapulco's wonderful harbour has played a romantic rôle in history. In 1521, shortly
after Cortez captured Mexico City, Spanish conquistadors appeared here and began building a
fleet. During the next few years explorations of the Central American coast were made from
this port.
Later a most important trade sprang up after the conquest of the Philippine Islands, when
the yearly “plate ship” made the long voyage across the Pacific to Manila with silver and
Spanish goods, returning with paper, preserves, sandalwood and silks.
The silver, taken to the Philippines in such large quantities, eventually resulted in the
common currency of the Far East being called “dollars Mex”.
Acapulco harbour seen from a departing Caronia Photo: Caronia - Peter Stevens Collection
At nearby Puerto Marques is a cove where Sir Francis Drake
lay in wait for the arrival of the rich “plate” galleons.
At the end of Spain's domination of Mexico, Acapulco slept as an out-of-the-way fishing port
and watering station for occasional sailing ships until the highway from Mexico City was
laid in 1927. Since then it has become one of the best-known and most fashionable of winter playgrounds.
Departure
The RMS Caronia will sail from Acapulco at 6pm sharp for Long Beach. Be sure to notify your
Bedroom Steward of your return on board.
