Cruises

Mexico has a stunning coastline along the Pacific Ocean, and this is a highly popular tourist destination because of its many wonderful beaches, secluded coves, clear waters and lush jungle landscapes. The entire coastline has been transformed by tourism from sleepy fishing villages into lively towns and resorts full of luxury hotels and grand seaside villas and is known as the Mexican Riviera for its fast paced, high living atmosphere.

Acapulco is a must do during a Mexican Riviera Cruise

The Mexican Riviera is also a popular destination for cruise ships, and is in fact in the top five most popular cruise destinations in the world, and is considered to be a very good alternative to the more traditional (and often more expensive) Caribbean cruises.

Year Round Cruises

The Mexican Riviera enjoys sunshine nearly 365 days of the year, and cruises are offered all year round by lines such as Royal Caribbean and Carnival, but the months of August and September can be very hot with temperatures reaching well into the 90’s, and this is combined with a surprisingly high level of humidity which can make things a little uncomfortable, especially at nighttimes.

Most cruises to the Mexican Riviera depart from Los Angeles, but there are some services from San Diego and San Francisco

Flexibility

One of the main reasons why cruises along the Mexican Riviera are so popular is that there are so may different choices available.

You can take short three to four night trips from Los Angeles to Ensenada with Carnival, which is ideal for those passengers who are new to cruising so that they can try a short trip to see if it suits them. These short cruises are also popular for special occasions and because there is a great party feel to Mexican cruises these short trips are ideal for wedding, retirement and birthday celebrations. Most cruise lines also offer seven, ten and fourteen day itineraries around the Mexican Riviera and typical ports of call include the popular Acapulco and Manzanillo, as well as the lesser known ports of Ixtapa and Ziguatanejo.

A beach in the fantastic Acapulco

Top Experiences

No cruise of the Mexican Riviera would be complete without a stop of the famous resort town of Acapulco, which has been for many years one of top tropical destinations in the world for the international jet set, and has some stunning beaches along with a plethora of luxury hotels, spas, restaurants and shops. Acapulco continues to prosper and grow and there are so many activities? on offer from water sports through to watching the famous cliff diving from La Quebrada that visitors will be spoilt for choice.

cabo san Lucas is a popular port pof call during a Mexico Cruise

Cabo San Lucas has a fine reputation as being a top party town, and alongside the beautiful beaches and scenery there are plenty of things to do in the day including snorkelling, diving and big game fishing (Cabo is famous for its marlin fishing) and there are also fine golf courses and other recreational facilities. Nights out on the town in Cabo are very lively, and this is a great place to go and let your hair down with a mainly youthful American crowd.

The marina in Cabo San Lucas

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Canada is a favorite destination for cruises, and there are several port stops that stand out along the many routes available around this fascinating and diverse coastline.

Montreal

Montreal is one of those fantastic Canadian destinations that has retained its European roots so authentically you will feel as if you have walked straight into a charming Parisian suburb, rather than a sprawling North American city. From quaint cobblestone streets through to pavement caves and leafy sidewalks there is a certain continental vibe to many parts of the city, and this combined with the French streets signs, high fashion boutiques and laid back Gaelic attitude will charm many visitors. Montreal has had a turbulent history and although many Canadian settlements were first founded by the French, the British took over following the French and Indian War. Montreal clung stubbornly to its French beginnings though and this has caused quite a lot of tension over the years, but has meant that this city has retained a very strong and authentic French culture, in fact there were some serious attempts during the 20th Century to have Montreal declared an independent sovereign nation from the rest of Canada, but inhabitants narrowly voted in favor of continuing as a province.

Looks like Paris, but is Montreal Old City in Winter

Montreal has many attractions for visitors and aside from the wonderful relaxed café culture and excellent shopping facilities the city has some lovely art galleries, museums, theatres and concert venues, and there are plenty of parks and gardens to stroll around and get away from the busy streets of the main city center.

The language in Montreal is mostly French, but you will also find a diverse multicultural population here and most people speak a bit of English. The currency is the Canadian dollar and there are plenty of ATMS and banks throughout the city for you to take out and exchange money.

For cruise day trippers ships dock directly at the Iberville Passenger Terminal which is just a short walk away from some excellent dockside attractions and also the historic old town. From here you can visit attractions such as the science center, IMAX theatre and also take jet boat trips along the scenic St Lawrence River.

Quebec

Another wonderful European city in the heart of Canada, Quebec is an enchanting place full of lovely plazas, graceful buildings and a relaxed café culture. Quebec celebrated its 400th anniversary in 2008, and a deep sense of history and culture pervades the city creating a very distinctive and charming atmosphere, and is an essential stop over point on any Canadian cruise.

The weather in Quebec can vary dramatically throughout the year, with summers being quite hot and the weather starting to cool rapidly towards the fall and winter months, so make sure you pack appropriate clothing. Quebec has some stunning fall foliage, but is at its most impressive during the early spring months when the parks and gardens are full of luscious green foliage and colourful spring flowers.

French is the main language of Quebec although some English is spoken in the main areas, and the currency is the Canadian dollar.

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