Prices are shown in US dollars from our supplier feed and may change until confirmed. Online booking and payment are not yet available.
Two coasts, two cruises: the Yucatan's reefs and ruins from Gulf and Florida ports, the Mexican Riviera from California.
Season
Year-round
Typical length
4 – 8 nights
Sea temp
70 – 84°F
Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash
Mexico is two different cruises depending on which coast you leave from. From Galveston, New Orleans and Florida, ships cross the Gulf to the Yucatan: Cozumel for the reef, Costa Maya for the ruins, Progreso for Merida. From Los Angeles, Long Beach and San Diego, the Mexican Riviera runs down the Pacific side to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta, with Ensenada on the shortest loops.
The Caribbean side is warmer, calmer and busier, and its ports are built for cruise ships. The Pacific side is a longer, older-fashioned trip: more sea days, bigger swells, and towns that were resorts long before the ships came. Choose the Yucatan for beaches and snorkeling on a short trip; choose the Riviera for a week away from the Caribbean crowds.
Cozumel
The reef starts a few hundred yards from the piers, which sit in and just south of the main town of San Miguel. Snorkeling and diving are the reasons to come; a ferry to the mainland reaches Playa del Carmen and, with a long day, the ruins at Tulum.
Costa Maya
A purpose-built cruise pier at the fishing village of Mahahual, with a beach road of palapa bars a short walk away. The Mayan sites inland - Chacchoben, Kohunlich - are the real draw and take most of the day.
Progreso
The gateway to Merida and the Yucatan interior. Ships tie up at the end of an exceptionally long pier, so the day starts with a shuttle; Merida, Uxmal and the cenotes are all inland and all worth the drive.
Cabo San Lucas
Where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez. Ships anchor off the marina and tender in, so the first and last hour are slower than elsewhere. The Arch, Lover's Beach and a glass-bottom boat are all right there at the harbor.
Mazatlan
The most Mexican-feeling call on the Riviera: a working port with a centuries-old historic center, a long seafront promenade and a Pacific beach. Ships dock in the commercial harbor and shuttle to the edge of the old town.
Puerto Vallarta
Ships dock at the marina north of the center, with the Malecon and the old town a taxi ride south. The bay is huge and the Sierra Madre rises straight behind it; a boat trip to the southern beaches is the classic day.
Browse Mexico sailings with dates, ships and current US-dollar fares from our supplier feed. Cabin availability is checked when you view cabins.
