About Cruises to Mexico

Mexico or the United Mexican States is a country that is full of Caribbean flair, exotic history and pristine beaches. Authentic Mexican food and drinks are also a part of the culture that one will experience when they visit this country. One of the best ways to experience the many highlights of Mexico is by taking a cruise to the area. A cruise ship has a preplanned destination itinerary that will allow guests to experience all that Mexico has to offer.

Features

Some of the features of cruises to Mexico would be the stunning ports of call. Some of the most popular ports of call are Puerto Vallarta, Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas that all include snorkeling, beach bathing, scuba diving, kayaking and rock climbing. Progreso and Cozumel are both famous for the Mayan ruins that abound in the area. Acapulco is on the pacific coast of Mexico and is home to one of the most gorgeous beaches in the world. Cruises typically have set itineraries in place which tells guests how long they can visit a port of call as well things to do there, such as fine dining, where to take scuba lessons and locations to buy gifts and souvenirs. Mexico is well known for authentic Mexican food such as tacos, enchiladas and burritos. Margaritas and Tequila originated from Mexico and are still popular drinks today.

Types

There are two types of public cruises that generally travel to Mexico, the commercial cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Princess Cruises are the most popular. The other type of public cruises are those owned individually or by small private corporations and generally only host up to one hundred people at a time, the smaller cruise lines may not have as many added amenities as the larger cruise lines do such as swimming pools, restaurants, day cares and activities for children, fitness areas and live entertainment.

Time Frame

The time frame for taking a cruise to Mexico is generally three to fourteen days depending on where the ship departs from. The most popular departure ports for major cruise lines in the United States to Mexico are from Los Angeles and San Diego, California as well as Galveston, Texas. Most cruise ships stop off at ports along the way giving passengers a chance to experience different locations and destinations that involve local living, art and landmarks as well as unique cuisine to certain locales. Most ports of call generally dock for anywhere from a few hours at a time to up to twenty four hours at a time. Smaller, commuter boats generally take passengers back to the ship as it is docked at sea. For smaller cruise lines, a ship may directly visit each port of call for more than a day at a time or may only go to one destination in Mexico.

Geography

The geography of Mexico is mainly Mexico has some mountainous terrain as well as deserts and deep valleys. Mexico borders the Pacific Ocean and the beach and its related activities of boating, sunbathing and surfing make parts of Mexico such as Cabo San Lucas in the Baja Peninsula well sought after by those looking to have fun, yet relax at the same time. Most of the weather in Mexico is warm. The temperature is around 85 degrees all year with minimal rainfall, making it a desirable vacation destination due to the hot temperatures and sunny weather.

Warning

Mexico is a not a state or region affiliated with the United States and their laws and regulations differ greatly from the United States and other countries around the world. United States law does not stand in the country of Mexico and therefore great care should be taken when visiting another country as to gain a general understanding to what their laws are and what behavior is acceptable. Drinking water in Mexico has been well known to hold harsh and even deadly contaminants that could be lethal to human consumption or contact, Giardia and other water borne parasites are prevalent in most areas especially rural areas. Bottled or filter water is highly recommend when traveling to any location in Mexico.