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Try to find information or reviews of cruising to the Mexican Riviera. Go ahead…I’ll wait…

Serving a significantly smaller demographic, and utilizing only the few ports on the West Coast, cruising to the Mexican Riviera has far less popularity than the Caribbean. While there are substantially less places in the Mexican Riviera you can visit compared to the many different islands cruising from Florida, it is no less alluring and impressive. 

I’ve done this 7-day cruise several times, and have done the shorter weekend cruise many times that only goes as far as Ensenada. We received decided to do Spring Break on this cruise, leaving from The Port of Long Beach in Southern California.

Ports On The West Coast

If you haven’t looked into this cruise yet, you are probably wondering what you can do to add a day or two onto what might be a long trip for you. If you are coming from the Northeast or Southern states, you can certainly extend your trip by a few days and enjoy the west coast since it will be new to you.

There are three main areas in California alone from which you can board a cruise ship. The lesser popular of the three are San Francisco and San Diego. With smaller cruise port terminals, these locations can’t handle the volume of say Fort Lauderdale or Miami, and have fewer companies serving that port, and few options for dates and locations. In the middle, the Los Angeles area has two ports you can choose from—the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California, or the Port of Long Beach, which is literally just across the bay. 

All three of these locations are extremely interesting to tourists, and there are many reasons to extend your vacation a few days to enjoy the cities. A little research will uncover a wealth of information about all three locations, with suggestions for a day—or even a week!—in the area. If you are traveling aa distance to take a West Coast cruise, I strongly suggest you add a few days to visit attractions in these port cities.

Having cruised from three of the four mentioned ports—I haven’t done san Francisco…yet—I can tell you they are extremely convenient and simple ports to use. Servicing only a few passenger ships, navigating around the areas is quite simple and there are parking options at all three locations. I’m hard-pressed to choose a favorite among the three, but the nod for amenities must go to San Diego, which docks right at a pedestrian mall with restaurants, shops and hotels right across the street. 

Who’s doing this route right now?

You might be surprised to find your favorite cruise line visiting one or more of these West Coast ports, but you will also find that most of their visits are a “one and done” or an in-transit visit. For example, West Coast ports are often used for repositioning cruises when ships come from the Caribbean to do Alaska or Hawaii. Some cruises from these ports are only seasonal—to catch whale watching season, for example.

Consistent and convenient lines that service these ports are quite limited to Carnival, which uses the Port of Long Beach year-round, and Royal Caribbean, using the Port of Los Angeles. You can find both lines doing the shorter 3- and 4-night cruises, as well as 6- or 7-day itineraries as well. 

Is it cheaper than the Caribbean?

Less cruise line options. Less available ports. Less frequent departures. It must be cheaper, right?

Well, not all the time, no. 

The real beauty of these cruises for me is the ease of getting to the port. I can do a weekender with very little effort, as the southern port cities are five or six hours away by car, or a quick one hour flight. This is the same convenience those in the eastern states enjoy with the East coast ports. 

From a strictly apples to apples cost comparison, the Mexican Riviera seems to be a bit more expensive whenever I look at it. There are less alternatives of cruise ships, less alternatives of ports, and higher port fees than the Caribbean, driving prices slightly higher. Whereas I can get a short cruise out of Miami for $250 per person down season, it is extremely rare for me to get a 3-nighter from California for that price—although it can be done!

So, no, it isn’t going to be a cheaper cruise. But, it will be all new ports, all new ships, and the chance to visit California for a few days before you embark.

In other words, it’s absolutely worth it.

Ports for you to enjoy

I could probably do four back-to-back Caribbean cruises with little port repeats, but that simply isn’t the case with California cruises. The ports from the West Coast, however, are quite interesting and diverse in what they offer. Let’s look at them…

• Ensenada – Often considered a “throw away” port by those of us who do this itinerary frequently, Ensenada is a great day to enjoy a little shopping and a nice authentic meal. With a recently remodeled esplanade, you can walk off the ship and be in the center of town in minutes, with security quite obviously present to make sure you enjoy your time. I’ve done whale watching from here, and the smaller boats are a very short distance from the cruise dock. 
• Cabo San Lucas – The only tender port on this list, this is the only place I actually enjoy tendering! You put down anchor a fair distance from the marina, but the views are incredible. Not only can you get great beach pictures from the ship, but you are perfectly poised to see the famous Lover’s Arch. With the most aggressive street vendors in Mexico, walking the gauntlet is a bit daunting, but worth it for a nice meal and some good shopping. Whale watching, coastal cruises and water taxis to the great Medano Beach are all plentiful right off the tender dock.
• Mazatlan – With a relatively new and nice shopping mall within the port terminal, Mazatlan has gotten better in terms of a port. My go-to at this location is Stone Island, which is not easy to reach, but once you are there provides a fantastic full-day beach and dining experience that I always look forward to. Additional activities are right at the beach, making it a very full and active day.
• Puerto Vallarta – While there are plenty of options at this port, my favorite day is to take a taxi to the Malecon and walk the beachfront boardwalk shopping and relaxing. Looking at the famous sand sculptures, or even just parking myself on the beach for an hour or two is very relaxing. Al fresco dining right on the beach is a wonderful way to enjoy a cool beverage and watch the waves, with very fresh seafood available. 
• Other infrequent ones – While a few longer cruises hit La Paz, the cruise lines have dropped Acapulco from their Mexican Riviera lineup, and I’m very sorry I never had the chance to visit that destination. Overall, however, you are limited most of the year to the ports I mentioned above, all of which provide an excellent experience for cruisers.

“Better” Is Relative

“Is it better? Is it worth it? Should I bother?” are all questions I receive about flying to the West Coast to jump on a cruise ship. All of those answers are relative, for sure, but in my opinion, it is a fantastic way to experience different parts of the Pacific Ocean while enjoying the convenience of cruising. 

What is glaringly lacking in the Pacific, however, are private islands. Strictly found in the Bahamas, none of the cruise ships have their own luxury retreat in the Pacific. Private islands are one of the things that I truly enjoy when cruising from Florida, and something I look for in every itinerary I book, so the lack of this amenity in the Pacific is something that I find unfortunate. 

Best Things About This Itinerary

A few things for you to put on your list of benefits for cruising from California…

• Chance of whales – I’ve done whale watching in Alaska and several ports in Mexico, but I’ve never seen the volume of whales, with a incredible level of activity, as I’ve seen in Cabo. If this is a bucket list item for you, I strongly recommend doing this activity in Mexico. 
• Cooler temperatures until you get really low – I’ve sweat my tail off cruising in the Caribbean in the summer, and it isn’t the most pleasant experience. While I love a good heatwave, and am definitely a sun worshiper I can tell you that I am significantly more comfortable cruising Mexico. While I can enjoy my sundresses and the adults only deck in Mexico, I don’t have to worry about that overwhelming heat—and that pesky humidity—in the Mexican Riviera. 
• Historical places – One thing about living out West is that we don’t have the centuries of history the East Coast has, but that isn’t true for the beautiful cities in the Mexican Riviera. I’ve enjoyed visiting centuries-old churches in Mexico that we just don’t have here in Las Vegas.

Here’s My Suggestion…

I can heartily recommend a Mexican Riviera cruise, and hope you can fit it into your vacation schedule this year or next. The ports are quite different and have tremendous excursion opportunities, and you can extend your visit by a few days to enjoy the surrounding areas. 

Time your cruise with whale watching season if possible, or do a holiday at sea in the Pacific. Either way, you’re going to love these new port destinations!

See you on board~

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