REVIEW: 7-day Mexican Riviera Cruise From Los Angeles

Have you been thinking about booking a 7-day Mexican Riviera Cruise From Los Angeles but not sure if it’s worth it? I’ll give you an honest review of what it’s like to sail the Mexcian Riviera so you can decide if this is a good trip for your family!

I’ve been on several cruises including ones to the Caribbean and Alaska. Exploring new places is always a goal of mine but I also really enjoy cruises. The Mexican Riviera cruise has been on my radar for awhile but for some reason… it just didn’t seem that exciting.

Not compared to the Caribbean anyway!

But I also didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to explore some new destinations on another cruise so I decided to give the Mexican Riviera Cruise a try. And I’m prepared to give you a very honest review of what I thought about it.

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Cruises Sailing to the Mexican Riviera

Almost every cruise line sail along this route. You can sail with Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Princess, Norwegian, and even Holland America. Just to name a few. So my suggestion is to do some research on each cruise ship and compare pricing.

This review is focused more on the destination, including ports of call in Mexico and things to do there.

You can read more about my review of the cruise I took, the Carnival Panorama by clicking here: Carnival Panorama Review – The Good and The Bad.

Mexican Riviera Cruise From Los Angeles

Typically, a 7-day Mexican Riviera Cruise From Los Angeles includes the following 3 ports; Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas.

And while Mexico is great for sunny beach days, would these ports be as exciting as a Caribbean cruise going to places like Honduras, Belize, or the Bahamas?

And honesty… it was!

There are some pros and cons to sailing the Mexcian Riviera but overall, I can say it was worth it, and I’m even hoping to go again someday!

Mexico didn’t feel like there was much to offer, but after our time there I realized there were so many more things I wish you did that we didn’t have time for.

Go Exploring in Puerto Vallarta

Puerta Vallarta is typically the longest stop you’ll get at a port day, regardless of what cruise ship line you decide to sail on.

With the Carnival Panorama, Puerto Vallarta was our first stop and we were docked here from 9 am-8 pm. Which gave us plenty of time to explore the area and do some excursions.

Puerto Vallarta is a beautiful city with gorgeous beaches that you can see the minute your ship pulls up. It’s no wonder this has become such a popular vacation destination outside of cruising.

From the second we got off the ship, we had fun! There were mariachi bands playing music and dancers. Not to mention all the booths selling fun stuff. I got 2 bottles of the best-flavored tequila to bring home!

Since we had so much time at this port, we decided to do an excursion right off the boat and then spend time exploring.

We chose an excursion through the cruise company and had the most amazing time. It started with a boat ride to a private beach about 30 minutes away and on that boat ride we saw tons of whales swimming all over the place.

Once we arrived at the private beach, we had a quick lunch (with amazing Mexican food!) and headed out on a horseback ride through the rainforest. When we got off the horses, we walked along some cobbled streets through the cutest little town. And then ended up at a waterfall and swimming hole and did some swimming.

Then we continued to another boat ride to another private beach where they had a big buffet lunch (yes, two lunches!). We did some swimming and relaxing in hammocks before heading back to Puerta Vallarta. I highly recommend this excursion!

Once back in town, we spent some time walking around the town and doing some shopping. There are tons of places to shop, eat, or just relax by the beach. You can even hang out at some of the nicer resorts for some drinks in the sun.

Puerta Vallarta was just as good as any Caribbean town we have visited on a cruise!

Have a Fun Beach Day In Mazatlan

Mazatlan was probably our least favorite place to stop on our 7-day Mexican Riviera Cruise From Los Angeles. But it was still a lot of fun!

You’ll probably notice that there aren’t as many excursions of things to do there. Mazatlan does have a downtown area where you can do a little shopping or have some lunch. The shopping area of Mazatlan is called the “Malecon” and you can walk there right from the ship.

However, the most popular tourist attraction in Mazatlan is Stone Island. Located very close to the Cruise ships, Stone Island is the perfect getaway to eat, drink, lay in the sun, and even partake in some fun water activities.

At Stone Island, you can go horseback riding along the beach, seek adventure on a banana boat ride, or rent a table or lounge chair and even some sand toys.

Or take a tour of Stone Island and have your transportation, food, drink, and lounge chairs waiting for you! Book the Stone Island Beach Getaway for a great, relaxing beach day.

Exploring Cabo San Lucas

Usually the last (and unfortunately the shortest) port day is in Cabo San Lucas. Cabo is a well known vacation destination in Mexico and there is plenty to do there!

Cabo San Lucas can be a very busy place, because its also a really popular vacation deintination in Mexico. So you’ll see a lot of shopping, tons of bars and restaurnts and a very cowded beach area.

The beach itself in Cabo is gorgeous. The water is clear blue and the sand is soft and powdery. You’ll also have a great view of the cruise ship and several yachts from the beach.

The only thing I did not enjoy about the beach in Cabo is the hoards of locals trying to sell you items. I understand they are trying to earn money, but it’s nonstop.

There were even times we were laying on our towels, enjoying the sun, and would be surrounded by 5 people at once trying to sell us different items. Even when saying “no thanks” they persisted.

So if you like the party scene, Cabo is a great place to just hang out. But if you are traveling with kids or just looking for some quiet time, try an excursion instead. Cabo has so many relaxing or adventuring excursions you can partake in.

Check out the BEST Cabo San Lucas Excursions HERE!

7-Day Mexican Riviera Cruise From Los Angeles

If you love cruises and not sure if you want to attempt a 7 day Mexican Riviera Cruise From Los Angeles, I can reassue you it is worth it!

If this is your first time cruising, youlll love this cruise also! The weather is nice year round and the ports all have some amazing excursions to offer.

Whether you’re looking for a relaxing beach vacation or adventurous activities, The Mexican Riviera is a great choice; You wont regret it!

You Might Also Be Interested In:

• Carnival Panorama Review – The Good and The Bad
• What To Do In Puerto Vallarta On Your Own
• 25 Must-Pack Items For Any Cruise

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