Hot Fun In the Summertime: Mexico

When you think of summer vacations, sandy beaches, bright sunshine in a blue sky and beautiful people with tropical drinks probably come to mind, even if reality is more muggy city heat and traffic jams where you live.

A big reason tropical cruises became so popular is that the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii and the South Pacific can deliver that summer dream in the middle of the winter.

In summertime, however, most of the big ships head to Alaska, where people can take a cooling break from stifling city smog, and even more so Europe, perhaps the most lucrative market from the aspect of shore excursions.

After reading about the last minute deals to sunny escapes in the winter, many will be disappointed to find the Caribbean or Mexico cruise of their dreams sold out if they wait too long.

On the West Coast, we'll only have two ships cruising from Southern California this summer.  Carnival Splendor continues her reign as our year-round heavyweight champion, leaving every Sunday for the 7 night Mexican Riviera cruise from Long Beach.  With two days in Cabo and one in Puerto Vallarta, this remains the best bet for many Los Angelenos and those south of the Orange Curtain.  Carnival Inspiration continues to visit Ensenada from Long Beach, alternating 3 nighters leaving Fridays with  4 nighters on Mondays, with Catalina added to the latter itinerary.  The time aboard the cruise remains the top draw, and you get all the great entertainment and fun you expect from Carnival on every cruise, even if you've been there and done that.  Can you really sip a Margarita by the clear blue sea too much?

Without getting into extended Western Caribbean cruises from Florida, there's a short 4 nighter to Cozumel and fun 5 night cruise from New Orleans on Carnival Elation. We did a similar trip on a much worse ship in 2004 and had a lot of fun.  There's a similar 5 night trip on Carnival Triumph from Galveston, Texas, but if you're flying to Galveston, I recommend taking the far more extensive 7 nighter on Carnival Magic, one of Carnival's newest ships that will be visiting the amazing Western Caribbean ports of Grand Cayman and Jamaica in addition to Cozumel. Similarly, you can take that traditional Western Caribbean week aboard Carnival Conquest from New Orleans, a cruise that alternates with a week cruise to the Bahamas, but now we have strayed from Mexico.

Have you picked up on a theme?  If you want to go to Mexico on a cruise this summer without starting in Florida, you're going to be on a Carnival cruise, so you may think you don't require a professional Cruise Planner to help you phone Carnival.  However, there's more to a cruise than just ship and sail date.  There are different room categories, ways to get the most from your time onboard and ashore, and an array of price codes that even someone like me who studies them every day finds increasing complex to navigate.  Recently, Carnival has begun a new type of pricing they call the More the Merrier, meaning the price may be quoted as the average per person based on the size of the family rather than a higher price for first and second passenger and reduced for third and fourth.  It means the same thing usually in the bottom line, but you want to be sure you understand what you're buying should one of your roommates bail out before the trip.

Oh, and lest you forget, I also sell land packages, including the best all-inclusive resorts in Mexico.  Ole!