Cruise to Mexico

Learn more about the different types of cruises to Mexico and its most popular ports of call.

Mexico, for decades one of cruising's classic destinations, is really several different destinations rolled into one, each with its own distinctive flavor.

There's the Mexican Riviera, the country's Pacific-facing coastline – rugged and rocky, but lined with soft, bronzed beaches and a huge number of ultra-luxurious resorts and hotels – which first rose to fame during Hollywood's Golden Age, when Tinseltown's royalty (Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and others) descended upon its seaside towns and villages for the privacy they afforded. Today, it remains just as charming and laid-back as ever, popular with fishermen, foodies, surfers, and other types of travelers. A majority of Mexican Riviera itineraries depart from California (Long Beach/Los Angeles and San Diego, especially) and select sailings include a visit to Catalina, SoCal's scenic island paradise.

Cruisers can also opt for a sailing that calls upon Mexican ports along the Caribbean Sea and/or the Gulf of Mexico. The beaches here are just as extraordinary as those you'll encounter out west, but in different ways – white sands instead of gold, palm trees in place of limestone formations, and the waters are calmer. Many of Mexico's most important Mayan ruins are also located in the east including Chichén Itzá and Tulum.

But no matter where you go in Mexico, you're sure to find a fiesta. All told, Mexico offers cruisers well over 6,000 miles of coastline to explore, and both sides boast great weather virtually year-round. There's also tons of art, history, and culture to discover, eco-adventures to be had in Mexico's lush tropical jungles, and plenty of opportunity to savor the country's authentic and internationally admired cuisine.

All of the top cruise lines cruise to Mexico including the Mexican Riviera and the Western Caribbean/Eastern Mexico including:

• Carnival Cruise Line
• Royal Caribbean International
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Princess Cruises

• Disney Cruise Line
• Celebrity Cruises
• Holland America Line

Popular Mexican Cruise Ports

Cabo San Lucas. Busy and boisterous, and a featured stop on pretty much every sailing that visits the Mexican Riviera and/or the Sea of Cortez, this is the west coast's premier party town. Its bars and nightclubs are among its most popular attractions – examples include the Cabo Wabo Cantina, rocker Sammy Hagar's venue, and the enormous El Squid Roe – but there's plenty to see and do beyond the dancing and drinking.

Long before it was discovered by spring breakers, Cabo was best-known for its sport fishing – huge marlin, especially – and it's still among the world's top destinations for anglers. You'll also find many excellent options for families here including world-class whale-watching and an Outback and Camel Ride Safari through the Baja desert. Additional highlights include Chileno Beach, a terrific spot for snorkeling, and romantic Playa del Amor (Lover's Beach) at Land's End, home to many magnificent rock formations including the famous El Arco.

Cozumel. Located in the Caribbean Sea just east of the Yucatán Peninsula, this is Mexico's largest Caribbean island and its most heavily trafficked port of call, welcoming well over three million passengers per year.

Like Cabo in the west, it's popular with revelers, but Cozumel's two main draws are its scuba-diving sites, considered by many to be the planet's very best, and its ancient Mayan ruins. No visit to the island would be complete without an excursion to nearby Chichén Itzá and/or Tulum: the latter, with its famous "stepped" pyramid, is rightly considered one of the seven new wonders of the world; the former, well-preserved and perched high above the ocean, is among the last of the cities to be built by the Maya and it's the easiest/quickest get from port. Shore excursions may include a tour of the Kaokao Chocolate Factory (the Maya are widely believed to have invented the sweet treat) and resort-style fun and games at Mr. Sancho's Beach Club.

Ensenada. This once-sleepy fishing village is now one of Mexico's most eclectic and energetic ports, home to a thriving and cutting-edge culinary scene, great wineries in the Valle de Guadalupe (a.k.a. "the Napa Valley of Mexico"), and many of Mexico's best craft-beer breweries including Ensenada Brewing Co. and Wendlandt Cerveceria.

La Bufadora, Ensenada's most legendary natural attraction, is a marine geyser that dramatically spouts sea water skyward; it erupts frequently – often several times per minute, depending on how active the surf is – and it's the world's second-largest blowhole, capable of sending its spray up to one hundred feet in the air. Other popular pastimes include souvenir shopping along First Street, horseback riding along the beautiful hillside trails of San Miguel, and a visit to the laser-lit/music-synced fountains at El Parque de la Bandera. Cañon de Doña Petra, Ensenada's elevated ecological park, and Hussong's Cantina (Mexico's oldest) are also standouts.

Mazatlán. One of Mexico's major Pacific ports of call, nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Madre, Mazatlán is a fascinating mix of opulent oceanfront resorts, elegant historical attractions, and exhilarating off-road adventures.

The town's impressive malecón, lined with sandy-white beaches, stretches on for more than thirteen miles, making it one of the world's longest boardwalks. And Mazatlán's gorgeous downtown, the Centro Historico, is a sightseer's dream: prominent points of interest include the Plaza Machado, the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, and the Ángela Peralta Theater.

Mazatlán's mountainous terrain - tailor-made for ATV, horseback, and zipline tours – helps make it a very attractive destination for active cruisers. There are many family-friendly choices available, too, including day trips to Isla de las Piedras (Stone Island Beach), Playa Brujas (the place for surfers and boogie boarders), and the Acuario Mazatlán (one of Mexico's very best aquariums).

Puerto Vallarta. "The Crown Jewel of Mexico's West Coast," this colonial-style town became internationally famous when director John Huston made it the principal setting for his Night of the Iguana, filmed here back in 1963. It remains a playground for the rich and famous, but you don't have to be either to make the most of your time in port.

Puerto Vallarta is best explored on foot. Here, as in Mazatlán, you'll find a popular malecón to stroll, though Puerto Vallarta's is significantly shorter and dotted with colorful statues and sculptures. Viejo Vallarta – or Zona Romantica, the town's most cultured and historic neighborhood – boasts a burgeoning arts scene, hip cafés and restaurants (Puerto Vallarta is a foodie hotspot), ultra-chic shops and boutiques, and more. And there are several amazing beaches just a short distance from where you'll dock, including Playa de los Muertos.

Puerto Vallarta is also among the country's most L.G.B.T.-friendly destinations, affectionately nicknamed "the Gay Beach Capital of Mexico."

Where are the Departure Ports for Mexican Cruises?

Cruisers interested in Mexican Riviera, Baja California, and/or Sea of Cortez itineraries can choose from a wide range of convenient departure ports along the Pacific Ocean including: Cruisers interested in a Western Caribbean itinerary, featuring visits to select Mexican destinations, can set sail from any of eight departure ports located along the U.S. East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico including:

When is the Best Time to Cruise to Mexico?

Cruises to Mexico – both Mexican Riviera itineraries and Western Caribbean itineraries – are available year-round, but Mexico's high season (which is also its dry season) runs from October to April. Demand for sailings is strong throughout these months, particularly during the holidays, when young children are out of school and traveling with family; Mexico is also a hugely popular spring-break destination, so if you're looking to steer clear of the college-age crowds, you'll want to think carefully before booking any sailing that visits Mexico in March or April.

If you're flexible on travel dates/weather, you'll find the best Mexico cruise deals on offer for the summer months (when Mexico is at its hottest and most humid, and prone to bursts of rain). There are also good bargains to be had between late April and the end of May, when the weather is still largely dry and the temperatures remain comfortable, with lows in the low 50s and highs in the low 80s.

It's also important to remember that Mexico's Caribbean-facing coastline is subject to the same unpredictable hurricane season as the rest of the region. As a rule, the islands of the Western Caribbean are far less likely to be affected by hurricanes than those of the Eastern Caribbean; storms in the Western Caribbean, if they occur at all, will generally surface between mid-September and early November.

Do I have to Exchange Money when I cruise to Mexico?

Yes. While you may find a vendor here and there who accepts U.S. dollars, and while there are a growing number of establishments that honor U.S. debit and credit cards, an overwhelming majority of your purchases will need to be paid for in cash, meaning pesos.

The Mexican peso (MXN), or "Nuevo Peso," is the country's official currency; it also makes use of the dollar sign/symbol ($), which can be confusing for first-time visitors, though it's a pretty safe bet that virtually any price you encounter that includes a dollar sign/symbol will be referring to "pesos," not "dollars."

The dollar/peso exchange rate is more volatile than most, and almost constantly in flux. But as a general rule, one U.S. dollar will equal between ten and twenty pesos. You'll want to exchange at least a little bit of money prior to departure, so that you'll have some pesos on hand for any modest purchases you might make upon arrival (e.g. cab fare, convenience-store sundries, etc.), but you should hold off on exchanging the majority of your dollars until you're actually in Mexico. For the very best rates of exchange, always swap your currency at a Mexican bank or a casa de cambio (exchange bureau).

You'll also find an abundance of ATMs available throughout Mexico's cities and towns that accept U.S. debit/credit cards and dispense in pesos. For security reasons, however, you should always endeavor to use an ATM that's connected to a Mexican bank: they're secure/monitored and unlikely to contain counterfeit bills, which is a major problem among the country's stand-alone machines (keep in mind that withdrawal fees may apply, and those fees will vary from financial institution to financial institution).