Mexico Cruises

Mexico cruises are popular and are convenient to both eastern and western United States departure ports. With a rich culture, relaxed atmosphere, temperate climate, and jovial hospitality, Mexico cruises are fabulous getaways for both novice and experienced cruisers.

Cozumel is a popular port in Mexico.

Cruises to Mexico operate year-round because of the country’s exceptional climate and convenient location. If the itinerary’s ports of call include stop on the nation’s mainland, the climate can be uncomfortable during the summer months. Mexican ports of call along the Caribbean coast may be affected by hurricanes, particularly the island of Cozumel. As the popularity of Mexico cruises continues to grow, many shorter cruises with stops in Mexico are becoming sought-after spring break getaways, making March or April voyages more boisterous and less appealing to sedentary passengers.

Mexico cruises vary from three to eight days, depending on the cruise line and the ports of call. Many Western Caribbean Cruises include Cozumel as a port of call along with other destinations such as Key West, Jamaica, and Grand Cayman. Three day Mexico cruises typically depart only from the western United States for stops in Baja, while longer voyages may include ports of call on the mainland and the Mexican Riviera. The longest voyages (perhaps up to three weeks) may traverse the Panama Canal and offer ports of call on both Mexican coasts.

All the major cruise lines visit Mexico, including Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America, Norwegian, and Celebrity Cruises. Larger ships tend to dock at Mexican ports for up to twenty-four hours, allowing passengers plenty of time to explore assorted shore excursions and local attractions.

Depending on the ultimate destination in Mexico, embarkation ports can be found on both coasts, though naturally their itineraries vary greatly.

• Miami, FL: The busiest cruise departure port in the world, Miami is the beginning of many Caribbean voyages that call on Cozumel or other Mexican ports.
• Fort Lauderdale, FL: Twenty-five miles north of Miami, Fort Lauderdale offers slightly fewer itineraries with Mexico as a featured destination.
• Port Canaveral, FL: Further north along Florida’s Atlantic coast, this port is more convenient for northern passengers who wish to cruise to Mexico and other Caribbean ports.
• Tampa, FL: On Florida’s western coast, Tampa is convenient for shorter itineraries that include Cozumel or other Mexican ports of call.
• Mobile, AL: Few cruises depart from Mobile, but those that do are often bound for Mexico.
• New Orleans, LA: Situated on the Gulf of Mexico, many cruises departing from New Orleans call on Mexico.
• Galveston, TX: A limited number of cruises depart from Galveston, but many of them include Mexico on their itineraries.
• San Diego, CA: This southern California departure port offers a wide range of Mexico cruise options, including popular Baja ports.
• Los Angeles, CA: The largest cruise port in California, many Mexican ports of call can be accessed from Los Angeles through a wide variety of cruise lengths.
• San Francisco, CA: More convenient for northern California departures, many Mexico cruises begin in San Francisco, usually longer ones.

Before choosing an itinerary, passengers should investigate the differences between ports of call on the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Mexico. Just like the eastern and western coasts of the United States are vastly different, so are different regions of Mexico and cruises to different sides of the country will offer unique experiences.

• Cozumel: The most popular Mexican port of call in the Caribbean, this tiny island offers a wide range of shore excursions, including trips to the mainland, but has little in the way of native culture beyond the downtown shopping and dining district.
• Costa Maya: Close to the Belize border on the Mexican mainland, highlights of Costa Maya include several stunning Mayan ruins, eco-tours, and cultural shows.
• Playa del Carmen: Close to Cozumel, Playa del Carmen is more convenient to spectacular ruins than ships that dock at the island. Because of the proximity of the two ports, the shore excursions are similar, often identical.
• Progreso/Meridia: Just two hours north of Chichen Itza, site of some of the most famous Mayan ruins, this sleepy port relies on shore excursions to entertain cruise passengers. In addition to visiting the ruins, options include historical tours, jeep treks, and visiting the Celestun Estuary Nature Reserve.

Rock Formations near Cabo San Lucas

• Acapulco: One of the most popular ports of call along the Mexican Riviera, Acapulco is home to several beautiful ruins as well as superb beaches, shopping, and other cultural attractions -- even cliff divers.
• Cabo San Lucas: At the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, Cabo San Lucas is a rowdy town known for plentiful bars and adventurous excursions, including fishing, whale watching, golfing, and more.
• Mazatlan: Across the Sea of Cortez from Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan is less frenetic and offers more historical and cultural tours, along with golf excursions and exquisite beaches.
• Puerto Vallarta: This high-profile destination was once the exclusive retreat of celebrities, but today offers golf, beaches, shopping, museums, and other attractions for cruise passengers.

With a wide variety of ports of call accessible from both eastern and western United States departure ports, Mexico cruises have steadily gained popularity for years. Depending on the destination, cruise passengers can find themselves embroiled in a spring break party atmosphere, descending in the ancient past of the Mayans, or frolicking in the joyful abandon of modern Mexico’s culture, shopping, and hospitality.

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• Adults Only Cruise Ships
• Cruise Ship Cabins
• Royal Caribbean Cruises
• Cruise Ship Formal Nights
• Carnival Cruise Line

• Category:Cruise Destinations
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