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Cruises to Mexico have an attraction that is onerous to match.
Pacific Coast itineraries cowl each Baja California (with stops in Ensenada) and the realm farther south thought-about the Mexican Riviera (that includes the ports of Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta). The place else are you able to spend the morning whale watching from a small boat, adopted by a day of buying or having fun with genuine Mexican delicacies?
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The ports on Mexico’s jap coast are sometimes lumped along with different Central American ports or island locations on Western Caribbean cruises. Do a little bit of digging and yow will discover three- to five-night cruises from Galveston, Texas; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Cell, Alabama that go to solely Mexican ports, together with Cozumel, Costa Maya and Progresso.
Seashores and watersports, in addition to consuming and consuming, are the first attraction of cruises to Mexico. Each coasts of Mexico provide ample alternative to play within the solar and sand. The most effective Mexico cruises have prolonged port stops that present loads of time to discover, plus time on board the ship to chill out and decompress.
You could even have the ability to cruise to Mexico with out a passport in case your cruise begins and ends in the identical U.S. port.
What are your finest choices for crusing to our southern neighbor? Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line run year-round cruises from Los Angeles-area ports, whereas Princess Cruises, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line, Superstar Cruises and Disney Cruise Line provide seasonal cruises to Mexico from the West Coast.
Sometimes, yow will discover luxurious cruises to the Mexican Riviera on strains like Silversea and Regent Seven Seas. American Queen Voyages and UnCruise Adventures provide distinctive small-ship alternatives to cruise Mexican ports on each coasts.
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We scoured all of the choices and got here up with one of the best Mexico cruises to assist slender your decisions. Here is what we discovered.
3-night Baja cruise on Carnival Radiance
Carnival Radiance will get the nod for having a year-round schedule of quick escapes to Mexico.
Carnival Cruise Line’s west coast Mexico cruises sail from the port of Lengthy Seashore, which is a enjoyable vacation spot in its personal proper, with seashores, water sports activities and the Aquarium of the Pacific.
Radiance (previously Carnival Victory) underwent a whole refit in 2021, including a devoted comedy membership, top-deck water sights and the primary ever hen joint from Shaquille O’Neil, aptly named Large Rooster.
The ship goes to Ensenada and again with one enjoyable day at sea. Water sports activities and whale watching in winter are among the many high actions in Ensenada for Carnival cruisers. For an area lunch in port, order fish tacos; Ensenada claims to have invented the dish. Some additionally declare Ensenada is the unique dwelling of the margarita. Drink sufficient of these and it received’t matter if it is true or not. If margaritas aren’t your factor, there are standard wineries in port price trying out.
Who ought to go: It is no secret that Carnival’s Enjoyable Ships are generally known as occasion ships. This quick hop to Mexico is right for residents of the Western states on the lookout for an escape any time of 12 months. The ship’s ambiance is enthusiastic and enjoyable, which spills into Ensenada on the only port day of the cruise.
Associated: A newbie’s information to selecting a cruise line
4-night Baja cruise with Catalina Island on Disney Marvel
Disney Marvel could also be one in all Disney Cruise Line’s oldest and smallest ships, carrying solely 2,700 passengers. Nevertheless, it’s full of Disney adventures, together with a musical stage manufacturing of “Frozen,” character meet-ups and essentially the most family-friendly staterooms at sea. Marvel sails to Mexico from San Diego through the fall and winter.
Not each four-night cruise on Marvel contains Catalina Island, however in case you can snag one which does, it is an enormous bonus of household enjoyable. Actions within the port of Avalon on Catalina embrace an incredible zip-line course of 5 strains. Hovering alongside the island’s hillsides 600 toes above the seashores under, the journey course takes over two hours to finish.
In case your crew is not into highspeed zipping, strive a backcountry bison expedition or a calming day on the seashore. Catalina is an enthralling island with a European really feel, memorable meals and interesting historical past. The second port on the itinerary is Ensenada, the place the wildlife-watching or seashore enjoyable can proceed.
Who ought to go: Disney Marvel is a perfect ship for household cruise journey from the West Coast. Options embrace the Marvel Superhero Academy contained in the Disney Oceaneer Membership, the exercise house for youths. You may have family-friendly lodging on board, most with cut up bogs (one with rest room and sink, the opposite with bath-shower combo and sink). Mother and father have loads of alternatives to take pleasure in an evening out with out the children, eating on the adults-only Palo specialty restaurant or sampling an grownup beverage on the After Hours leisure district.
5-night Mexico cruise with Cabo in a single day on Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas
Not each five-night crusing contains the in a single day keep in Cabo San Lucas, however it’s our favourite selection amongst all of the quick cruises to Mexico from the West Coast.
In any case these different cruise ships say adios to Cabo, cruisers onboard Navigator can discover town’s nightlife. Road taco tour anybody? Tequila flights? How else are you able to take pleasure in late-night freshly fried churros on a avenue nook? Apart from Cabo, this itinerary has two sea days to benefit from the ship.
Who ought to go: This cruise is for adrenaline junkies and foodies. Daytime actions in Cabo embrace sport fishing, wildlife watching, boat rides, camel rides, kayaking, parasailing and snorkeling. Add in night tasting excursions and also you’re set.
Associated: Ship-sponsored vs. unbiased shore excursions on cruises: Which must you guide?
7-night Mexican cruise plus Roatan on Royal Caribbean’s Attract of the Seas
Attract of the Seas is the biggest cruise ship ever to sail from Galveston, and there is a shiny new terminal designed to deal with the behemoth.
The seven-night sailings provide ample seashore time at Cozumel and Costa Maya, plus a 3rd cease in Roatan, Honduras. The remainder of the journey is all about enjoyable on the ship as you cruise the Gulf waters for 3 sea days.
Who ought to go: A Mexico cruise on Attract is right for big-ship lovers. Cheap flights into Houston’s two airports make it accessible to at the very least a dozen central U.S. states. And for Texans who can drive to the port in lower than a day, the enjoyable of a seashore day on Galveston Island earlier than or after the cruise makes this crusing a straightforward selection.
7-night Mexican Riviera cruise on Carnival Panorama
From a jaw-dropping, nail-biting ropes course excessive above the decks to water slides and an indoor trampoline park, this ship is a crash course in playtime. The seven-night itineraries sail from Lengthy Seashore and embrace all the primary western Mexico ports of Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta, the place it stays into the night hours.
With three sea days, cruisers have loads of time to benefit from the ship. The most effective half is that this floating thrill journey cruises this itinerary year-round.
Who ought to go: It is an ideal selection for households with tweens and teenagers as a result of so lots of the onboard actions are geared for them. {Couples} crusing with out kiddos can take pleasure in adults-only areas just like the Serenity solar deck retreat, a luxurious Cloud 9 Spa and Havana staterooms with their unique pool deck.
7-Evening Expedition to Baja on Safari Voyager
UnCruise Adventures does Mexico with a completely totally different strategy to cruising.
Go away the occasion ships and the joys rides behind for an expedition journey aboard the 66-passenger Safari Voyager. The ship sails from La Paz, Mexico, between January and June, taking passengers looking for grey whales, whale sharks, rays and an incredible number of sea life, in addition to wildlife on dry land.
Actions embrace mule rides, kayaking, Zodiac boat rides, snorkeling, climbing and naturally, downtime on the seashore. Safari Explorer is considerably primary in its facilities. You possibly can count on cabins which are fairly cozy, however ample public house on deck to look at for sealife and meet your fellow passengers.
UnCruise fares embrace all meals, excursions, tools, drinks (together with alcoholic drinks) and airport transfers, leaving you free to benefit from the journey.
Who ought to go: This cruise is for bodily match adults and households with youngsters ages 8-17 searching for journey within the wilds and waters of Baja, California.
Associated: Large vs. small cruise ships: Which is able to I like higher?
7-night Mexican Riviera cruise on Discovery Princess
The seven-night itinerary contains Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta, plus three sea days to benefit from the ship, which carries 3,660 visitors. Discovery Princess brings a little bit of class to the Riviera, with afternoon tea and the flexibility to order the Final Balcony Breakfast to your cabin’s non-public veranda (for a further cost).
Whereas Discovery Princess is much like most Princess ships in design and decor, it has one thing no different ship within the fleet has — two Sky Suites. Every suite has two bedrooms and an opulent 1,000-square-foot balcony for unequalled views.
Who ought to go: That is one of the best Mexico cruise for these searching for Princess’ relaxed upscale mode of cruising. Kids are at all times welcome on Princess, and there are many connecting rooms and cabin choices with third and fourth bunks. Although the ship gives a youth program, don’t count on water slides and thrill rides. The vibe on board is low-key, and the common age is a bit older when in comparison with Royal Caribbean or Carnival.
9-night Mexico land and cruise tour from Cozumel to Cancun on Ocean Navigator
American Queen Voyages’ Ocean Navigator is designed to cruise the shoreline of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, carrying solely 202 passengers because it visits little-known ports like Valladolid, Campeche and Huatulco.
The ship has the texture of a river cruise ship — smaller than most ocean-going vessels, however elegant and comfy with ample public areas, each inside and outside. Most staterooms are barely smaller than these discovered on bigger ships, sized between 140 and 185 sq. toes.
The cruise tour contains resort stays in the beginning and finish, with loads of journey and downtime in between. On a line identified for its river cruises on U.S. waterways, this itinerary falls someplace between a conventional cruise and an expedition crusing, with loads of onboard enrichment and shore excursions centered round historical past, archeology and tradition.
Who ought to go: American Queen Voyages caters to singles and {couples} with a program that leans extra towards enrichment than outright journey. You could hike Mayan pyramids, however will probably be simple to reasonable hikes. Don’t count on strenuous excursions.
Backside line
The most effective Mexico cruises are those that fit your journey persona. Whether or not you’re on the lookout for a celebration ambiance or journey, there is a ship ready to take you to Mexico any time of 12 months.
Focus your search on round-trip itineraries from main ports in Los Angeles, San Diego and Galveston, however you may additionally discover choices for cruises to Mexico from San Francisco, New Orleans and even Cell, Alabama.
Planning a cruise? Begin with these tales:
