GOING COASTAL on a voyage from Long Beach, Calif., to Cabo San Lucas, at the tip of the Baja Peninsula, is a busy time for young and old onboard Carnival Pride.

The steady streams of sunshine that have beamed continuously through the balcony door of my stateroom appear again in the wee hours of the third day aboard the Carnival Pride, but with a difference.

For the first two days, the view has been nothing but blue sky and Pacific waves, certainly nothing to complain about. But this new vista offers the sun rising over the dramatic Sierra Madre Mountains, which tower over the picturesque city of Puerto Vallarta. This sleepyhead, feeling the after-effects of an over-indulgence of wine at dinner the night before, peers out onto rooftops from seven decks up on the Pride.

This side of the Sierra Madres is still shrouded by shadows, emphasizing the mystery that has been part of their history for centuries. It's in a cave in one of the many valleys between the rugged peaks where a cache of gold was allegedly hidden from Spanish invaders by Aztec ruler Montezuma.

'Them thar hills'

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre may just refer to the mines in "them thar hills," but it was made famous in the 1948 movie of the same name starring Humphrey Bogart, and is apparently for sale in the multitude of gold shops along the waterfront.

Puerto Vallarta will immediately charm visitors with its seaside beauty. It's here in 1963 that the growing love affair between Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor first gained international attention while Burton was shooting The Night Of The Iguana with Ava Gardner and Deborah Kerr. Some say that notoriety put Puerto Vallarta on the map and it's been a growing metropolis over the past few decades.

Puerto Vallarta's mystique is shattered somewhat when a Wal-Mart is spotted in the distance. As we take our first step off the ship, two beauties in tight tank-tops flash a welcoming smile and hand us maps to the local Hooters franchise. As we make our way to the tour bus, representatives from all the local attractions attempt to lure us their way.

Once on the bus, and after a quick tour of the city, we stop to do some shopping. We then motor out of town, miles away from the dock but still with the gargantuan Carnival Pride dominating the horizon. Everywhere we stop, vendors are attempting to sell silver or crafts. Upon our return to the city, merchants implore us to check out their inventories.

The following day in Mazatlan we wind our way through the lush Sierra Madres to a lunch stop in the charming town of Copala, which was founded in 1565. The shore trip is well worth it, especially the Mexican combination plate at Chalva's, which consists of refried beans, Spanish rice, chicken enchilada and beef taco. The outstanding food and scenery gives me the strength to ignore the ever present vendors and to initiate a siesta on the way back to the ship.

Charmed the next day by the harbour in Cabo San Lucas, on the tip of the Baja Peninsula, we blow off a snorkelling trip to explore on foot. The seaside cafes, shops and restaurants are a pleasant adios to Mexico before the Carnival Pride manoeuvres around the cliffs and heads out to sea again for the trip back to its home port in Long Beach, Calif.

As breathtaking as some of the scenery was and as warm as the Mexican people are, the cruise aboard the Pride is as much fun, perhaps more so, as the ports of call. The ocean view from the balcony of my stateroom, the afternoon sun, and a bottle of wine enjoyed with friends would have made for a pleasant day, but the Pride stretches 320 metres -- about three Canadian football fields -- from bow to stern and has 12 guest decks, a casino, gym, shops, restaurants, lounges and many activities. Going stir crazy is not an option.

Lazy days

Bodies stretch out on deckchairs in pursuit of that bronze finish. Barefoot kids dart to the soft ice cream machines to cool off, while adults imbibe liquid refreshments with reggae or Jimmy Buffett tunes, among others, playing in the background. This is a scene not unlike that at any warm weather resort that Canadians may frequent, so arrival time at the destinations down Mexico way become less important.

A special treat awaits us on the top deck where a crowd has gathered, leaning over the railing for a better view of the spectacle below. We watch as countless dolphins flip through the ship's wake, becoming airborne before submerging and launching themselves again.

With respect to the entertaining productions each evening in the Taj Mahal lounge, the ship couldn't have planned a better show than this, which continues for about 20 minutes of pure delight.

From this vantage point, one gets a true picture of the size of the ship. From this height the dolphins look like guppies, though having been lucky enough to swim with them in Hawaii, I know they are in fact almost two metres in length.

There are those who have said cruising is for senior citizens. That theory is shot down by the cross-section of ages aboard the Pride. There is a positive, infectious attitude served up by the staff, along with sumptious fare at the Normandie dining room or David's Supper Club, or drinks at the Rafael Lounge, and at all watering holes on board.

Many members of this multi-national staff are 20-somethings who go about their duties professionally, but display an exuberance for seeing the world at such a young age, perhaps with a touch of homesickness, judging by the passion with which they speak of their respective countries.

It's a delightful package that nicely complements dinner and drinks, and ensures kids of all ages won't even thinking of whining with the familiar refrain, "Are we there yet?"

MORE INFORMATION: Visit www.carnival.com.