¿Por qué no Mexican Riviera?

Jungle Escape in Puerto Vallarta

As we approach Cinco de Mayo, it's not unusual for me to be fielding calls from Southern California couples and families looking for a weeklong summer cruise close to home.  Unfortunately, I have to tell them I cannot help them.

Coming off a winter when the Mexican Riviera had the least ships in recent memory, and even those ships often split between cruises up the West Coast or to Hawaii, we now have reached a point where all ships cruising the Mexican Riviera have abandoned us altogether, just in time for summer.



Parasailing near Catalina

Even venerable Carnival has deserted its Long Beach home for 7 night cruises.  Yes, they still do 3 and 4 nighters on Carnival Inspiration, which can be fun escapes, but no Mexican Riviera for the first time in decades.

Cruise lines choosing to ignore 20 million Southern Californians may be puzzling, but it seems many experienced cruisers have become jaded about returning to Mexico for the umpteenth time, while some landlubbers have been scared off by the criminal element south of the border.  The other night, Julie and I watched a great Denzel Washington movie set in Mexico called "Man On Fire," and if I thought that nightmare awaited me on the Mexican Riviera, I certainly would never return, nor would I help anyone else go.  Fortunately,  the reality is considerably more favorable.  Stay out of dark alleys and avoid ostentatious displays of wealth like wearing more jewelry than Mr. T or Zsa Zsa Gabor, and you should be okay.

Buccaneer Queen in Cabo

What about in the fall?  Will the cruise lines be back?

I had someone from San Diego contact me about Norwegian Star, which will return to Southern California in the fall.  She wanted to go to the Mexican Riviera in October, but the first few cruises after Norwegian Star arrives in October will be through the Panama Canal.  Perhaps the information I shared will with her will help you too.

Cabo Cantina



 

For October, your choices for seven night and shorter cruises from Southern California are Carnival and Princess.

For Carnival, I would recommend Miracle, which is one of their nicest ships and will be doing a seven or six nighter to the Mexican Riviera in October.  You'll note there are green dates which have alternative departures that you can click on to see lead rates there. 

On Princess, you'll note their West Coast cruises in October do not go to the Mexican Riviera.  The longer ones go to Hawaii and up the West Coast, which are terrific cruises in their own right that you might want to consider.  Of particular interest to me is that Princess will be introducing shorter cruises, an exciting prospect for Southern Californians, with four night voyages that call on the requisite foreign port of Ensenada, which you may or may not know has some great wineries in the nearby countryisde, and also stops in either San Diego, Catalina or Santa Barbara, with the latter being the itinerary that particulary piques my interest because beautiful Santa Barbara has been rarely visited on short cruises.

Ship from Stone Island in Mazatlan

Come November, you have the opportunity to take the gorgeous, comfortable Sapphire Princess to the Mexican Riviera, if you can wait that long.  Note there are several alternative dates in green.

In October and November, Norwegian Star will be traversing the Panama Canal on wonderful 14 night sojourns, and you might be interested in one of these if you have more time, but it won't be until Christmas week that the Mexican Riviera becomes available with NCL.  Obviously, Christmas and New Years weeks are the most expensive, prime weeks of the year, but note that there are many other dates that follow.



Ziplining in Puerto Vallarta

It's a long shot (in more ways than one), but if you want an amazing cruise of a lifetime, join Holland America for a 30 night cruise to Tahiti in October (subject to availability).

Come November, Mexican Riviera and Hawaii cruises come into play for San Diego.

Each cruise line has its own approach to cruising, and I am happy to explain each one, but what separates me from a robot is that I want to learn about you and then find the perfect fit for you personally.
 
And what if something unexpectedly goes wrong, as in the case of Carnival's ship that losts power recently?  Who will be your advocate to help you follow up?

I will be your personal Cruise Planner, from the initial quote through the cruise through follow-up, and because cruises are my specialty, you benefit from my extensive knowledge and well-thought out advice while at the same time taking advantage of the national buying power of Cruise Planners American Express.
 

Horse back riding on the beach in Mexico

While Norwegian Star to Mexico in October is not available, you may be pleasantly surprised by the other choices.  Note that the prices listed are the "lead rates," or lowest nationally advertised rates, but sometimes we have special group pricing or amenities, while other times you may qualify for a special promotion by being the resident of a specific state like California or being a senior citizen or a military member.  I'm happy to sort through the possibilities on your behalf so that you don't have to tackle that daunting task.
  
Let me help you get the best value from your vacation dollar, knowing that you never get a better rate directly from the cruise line than you will with me.  I will not limit you to that one cruise line.  Using me as your Cruise Planners doesn't cost you money; it saves you money, and Better service leads to better trips!  Believe it!