Anyone sail the Mexican Riviera? Would like opinions!

[Corl4]

I'm looking for thoughts on the Mexican Riviera ports. I've already booked and canceled a Carnival cruise out of NYC for next summer in favor of the Magic in California. I'd only fly that far for Disney!

Thanks!

Beth

 

[princess Snow]

I've done the Mexican Riviera twice and the Caribbean several times, and I prefer the Caribbean. I found the Mexican beaches dirtier, and I was saddened by the toddlers begging for money in the streets. I was also frequently harassed by shop owners who were a lot pushier than any Caribbean hair braider I've encountered.
Not to put a damper on the vacations of those who are doing the West Coast cruises--I'm sure you'll have fun. As for myself, I'll stick to the Caribbean.

 

[AmyJ of Ca]

My husband and I were pleasantly suprised with the Mex Riv. We had done 2 Carribean cruises before and thought that this would be a let down in comparison. We live in OC, Ca (yes, we can even hear Disneyland fireworks from our house) and had been to Tijuana and Ensenada a few times and were expecting something along those lines but it was much nicer!! Puerta Vallarta was very tropical, Mazatlan we rode horese on the beach and Cabo was beautiful but more of a desert type climate. Don't worry about going this part Mexico, you'll enjoy yourself. As far as the people, they were no more agressive than we found in the Carribean and if anyone has walked through the "shops" as you leave Dunn's River Falls in Jamaica this is a walk in the park in comparison.

 

[Luv2Dream]

Although my cruise was in 1992, we encountered no beggers. In fact, it was quite beautiful on the west coast ports. We have encountered the beggers during excursions out of Cancun and Cozumel, but not the west coast. Of course, that could have changed.

 

[TaraBelle1069]

I took my first cruise ever this past March on RCCL. It was the same as the Disney itinerary but in reverse. I enjoyed it enough to get hooked on cruising. However, the ports I enjoyed most were because of the whale watching and the Disney cruises aren't going in whale season.

Cabo San Lucas seemed very nice. A lot of people went snorkelling by Lover's Beach...we went past on our whale watching boat and it looked nice.

I was annoyed in Mazatlan by the people asking if I wanted a taxi. I tried to walk to somewhere but was asked about 50 times so I walked back and took a shopping tour. I didn't want to shop but it was $15 and took me to a few places that were okay (other than shopping).

In Puerto Vallarta, I booked my own excursion once I got off the ship. The ships docks not far from a huge WalMart (one of the ones with a full grocery store...we don't have those in Canada) and a Sam's Club. I bought Disney Kleenex at WalMart (not your typical Mexican souvenir!).

 

[CAMICKEY]

I would have to agree with Princess Snow as this was the same as we encountered. The difference for us between Jamaica and Mexico is that in Jamaica when we said no, we were not bothered anymore. In Mexico (not all ports), sometimes they do not like taking no for an answer. Our preferences for cruising are in the following order - Caribbean, Mediterranean, Alaska (placed 3rd since we do not go until next year), and then the Mexican Riviera. Of all of the Mexican ports we have visited, we enjoyed Cabo San Lucas and Cozumel the best, with Ensenada being the worst. - Mike

 

[wide awake]

I didn't see any difference in Cozumel and Ensenada...begging, pushy merchants, and dirt. Am hoping that Acapulco and Cabo are better, we are on the repo cruise next August.

 

[TaraBelle1069]

Originally posted by wide awake
I didn't see any difference in Cozumel and Ensenada...begging, pushy merchants, and dirt. Am hoping that Acapulco and Cabo are better, we are on the repo cruise next August.

I didn't find Cabo as bad as Mazatlan.

 

[princess Snow]

I agree that Cabo was the best of the Riviera ports. I found the nicest merchandise there and the least pushy vendors. IMO, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta were the worst for rude vendors and (sadly) begging children. In Puerto Vallarta, shopkeepers were actually touching me to try to get me to their stores which I'm not okay with!

 

[TaraBelle1069]

Originally posted by princess Snow
In Puerto Vallarta, shopkeepers were actually touching me to try to get me to their stores which I'm not okay with!

I mainly went to Wal-Mart (which was fine) and whale watching so didn't have much of this experience in Puerto Vallarta. I did find the vendors near the ship were kind of pushy but I did end up getting a very good deal on something I had been shopping for since first port. On the way back from whale watching, I didn't notice much with the vendors but that may have been thanks to the tequila!

 

[Kalypso]

I have been to Acapulco four different times on vacation - it has gotten cleaner and better over the years - they had to do a major facelift a few years back after it was hard hit by storms - and they were also forced to improve conditions there due to the booming tourist business in Cancun and Cozumel - Acapulco was being neglected by travelers who felt it was too dated and dirty.

the last time I went, I had a great time - yes, the vendors are very pushy and you will definitely be pestered by the kids selling "chicle!" to you! I think, sadly, both of these things just sort of go with the territory in Mexico.

I am thinking about booking one of the Mexico cruises for next year...

 

[TaraBelle1069]

Originally posted by Kalypso


the last time I went, I had a great time - yes, the vendors are very pushy and you will definitely be pestered by the kids selling "chicle!" to you! I think, sadly, both of these things just sort of go with the territory in Mexico.

I am thinking about booking one of the Mexico cruises for next year...

It was my first experience with Mexico and it didn't turn me off. The pluses (whales, ocean, tequila and Mexican food to name a few) definitely out weighed the minuses.

 

[AnnaS]

I will say we had a great time at Mr. Sanchos in Cozumel - the only drawback was the shopkeepers and waiter - too pushy for me. I hope that they are not any worse.\

We were also in Acapulco many, many years ago and encountered pushy people all over the place which is a big turn off.

My brother and family just came back from Santo Domingo and the resort they stayed at literally had a wall on one end with a guard holding a bat to keep out the locals (mostly kids trying to sell something) from coming over. My brother and sister-in-law also said young girls were offered to him. It's so sad to see this and sometimes "I" feel guilty but it's found in many places.

Having said that, I am excited to always see/explore something new. I hear Cabos is beautiful. We might have to do exersions withn Disney and we will all definitely miss Castaway Cay.

 

[Itinkso]

Just returned from a RCCL cruise which stopped in Ensenada. My 15 yr old DD was ready to return to the ship after walking through 1 store! We are booked for the Disney Magic Mexican Riviera cruise for next August and she may not want to leave the ship!! Is there anything in Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan or Cabo which I can use to coax her from the Magic? One fellow cruiser described Mazatlan as "Tijuana with a beach!" Our room steward also stated that he felt the ports in the Caribbean were much nicer with less poverty-stricken people pushing their wares.

 

[cotomom]

I agree wholeheartedly with sooooo many of these posts!

Ensenada is by far the worst port ever!

Mazatlan is pretty close next. But if you visit Senor Frogs and get a pair of beer goggles , you'll feel like it was fun until the next day

Cabo san lucas is a bit of a sleepy, slightly more quainter village type of town. It is nicer with some interesting stores and Van Halen's Sammy Hagar's home of Cabo Wabo Tequila and restaurante!

I personally love Cozumel, having grown up going there each summer.

My ultimate is the mediteranean (sp?) which is/was fabulous!

Alaska is beautiful as well.

And then the Caribbean is a perfect cruise destination.

You will have a great time on a Disney ship no matter where it goes. You just might have to look a wee bit harder for the "great" excursions in the Mexican rivera (which I think is a stretch of a name...)

 

[KaitlinsMom]

Just wanted to chime in -

Ensenada is the worst - I really wouldn't bother getting off the ship - But I don't think that DCL is stopping there, is it?

I own a time share in Cabo - It is a beautiful city with some good shopping and excursions - Sunset Cruise, rent wave runners, parasailing, glass bottom boat, rent boats for fishing, snorkling -
Sammy Hagar does have a restuarant called Cabo Wabo -
You will run into some pushy vendors, but not as pushy as some other Mexican towns - The only thing with Cabo is that they are always trying to get you to go to a time share presentation - But with being on a cruise, that shouldn't be a problem -

Since I live in So Cal, there really isn't a draw for us to do DCL mexican cruise - We could do it cheaper on our own - Now an Alaskan Cruise would be different! That would be cool!

 

[TaraBelle1069]

Originally posted by Itinkso
We are booked for the Disney Magic Mexican Riviera cruise for next August and she may not want to leave the ship!! Is there anything in Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan or Cabo which I can use to coax her from the Magic? .

Honestly, I did enjoy my Mexican Riviera cruise but it was mostly because I enjoyed the cruise experience. In Mazatlan, the one day I wasn't whale watching, I was very tempted just to get back on the ship....and it was my birthday! I was by myself on this trip, so you have to consider that. I did end up doing a tour but only a few parts of it appealed to me.

I don't think I would go outside of whale season because I think compared to my last trip, I would be disappointed. However, if it was my first time, and I wasn't such a whale freak, I would enjoy it. Of course, I have nothing to compare it to...I might feel differently after the Caribbean.