Mexican Riviera cruise worth it?

[DisMike]

Hi all!

I've been wanting to take a Disney cruise with the family for some time. The cost of the cruise is prohibitive enough but add in the airfare from Idaho to FL and it's ridiculous.

I'm at the point where I'm considering going out of LA since we can drive there at a considerable savings. I know Mexico is having issues. Is it worth it to spend the money and go to Mexico?

Thanks.

 

[Grammy4Lizzy]

You have a very short window of opportunity to do the Mexican Rivera as it sails for the last time in December.

 

[aan1701]

My only advice I can give is what I would do. Since I live in LA and could easily take on of the remaining MR cruises if I could get time off of work, I would do so without a second thought I haven been to Mexico enough in my life, heck sometimes I think I live there, I would use the cruise as a way to enjoy a beautiful cruise ship for a week. I would not get off in port and just relax and enjoy doing nothing.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[jetskigrl]

We did the MR cruise last April and loved it!!

I'm going to miss having the Wonder here in LA. I would book another MR cruise in a heartbeat!

 

[All American]

I've heard mixed reviews on the Mexican Riviera. A couple at church had a fabulous time; whereas, another swore of cruising after their experience. One family member had a horrible time, but my brother and his wife had an absolute blast on their cruise (honeymoon) this past April. It always seems that for one set of people who loved it, there is another who didn't.

Because of that, we've decided to book a trip far in advance to cruise out of Port Canaveral. It is giving us plenty of time to save for it. I agree that airfare is an absolute killer. That's why I'm so excited about the cruises out of Galveston. It is a further drive than Long Beach but is doable. We are in Utah County, just south of Salt Lake City and don't know how much further Meridian, Idaho is than that. Would driving to Texas be possible? It would take of couple of days but may be worth it for a cheaper cruise on the Magic plus stops at Castaway Cay and Disney World. I'm hoping we love our cruise so we can give it (Galveston as a port) a shot.

ETA: I think the MR would be really fun even if you stayed on the ship.

 

[marciemouse]

We decided to do the Mexico cruise for the same reason: the cost savings of driving. We went in March and had such a blast that we are going again in November before the Wonder leaves the west coast. There are some really great VGT rates for the MR cruises now, too. A VGT room for 4 is $3031... cheaper than any other room available on the cruise, and you'd get a verandah!

We stayed on the ship in PV but had fun at the beach in Cabo. It really was a wonderful trip. If you're in it for the ports, maybe not the best itinerary ever. But if you're in it for the Disney cruise experience, it's AWESOME.

Check out my trip report in my signature to get a better idea of what it was like.

Oh, and if you choose the November 4th sailing, be sure to check out our meet thread and FE exchange!

 

[miry]

We (ds 13 and I) did the mexican riviera in december and did get off the ship in both puerto vallarta where we did a disney excursion and in cabo both days where we did things on our own. We had never been to either community and enjoyed them both very much. I never felt uneasy or unsafe and in fat was more nervous taking the subway from the train station in la to universal studios which we did after returning from the cruise. We are relatively new to cruising and are still selecting our cruises based on itineraries, this year is an eastern caribbean on the fantasy, but I would definitely do the mexican riviera with disney again. It was a wonderful vacation, quite possibly our favorite so far.

 

[Dis_Grk Grl]

Any cruise is better than no cruise. You could always just stay on the ship if your worried about Mexican ports.
You could also try the California coastal cruises (they are some decent prices for them right now I think).

 

[Brumbie13]

We did the MR cruise as our first cruise and we loved it!
We'd go back if we could.

 

[collectoraholic]

We did the MR cruise last Thanksgiving and LOVED it! We booked our zip line excursion in PV directly w/ the zip line company, as we'd done the same zip line excursion when we went on the Panama Canal in `08. Then in Cabo, we did ATVing & horseback riding combo for an excursion the first day there. The 2nd day, we just got off the ship and shopped and tracked down the post office to mail postcards. We felt completely safe in everything we did off of the ship. I would not hesitate to book another MR cruise.

HTHs! & If you opt not to do the MR, definitely consider doing DCL out of Galveston, TX.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Yes! We are going back again in October for our second MR Cruise. We're in L.A. so no airlines to worry over.

We did the City Tour in PV. I wouldn't do that again. Although we had a great tour of the city, they stopped first for a high-pressure shopping trip.

The rest of the tour was great and we never felt "un-safe."

Cabo. Well, I just LOVE Cabo. We hired a local for a parasailing trip and it was just awesome.

I can't wait to go back and this time, we are going to try a day-visit at one of the resorts in PV, and then one day resort in Cabo and then just on our own for the half-day in Cabo.

 

[PurpleDaisy]

We finally decided to book an MR cruise for this November before the Wonder leaves, because we decided we will never be able to justify the cost of airfare plus a Disney cruise. There are 5 of us in our family and so we already have to get two inside staterooms or a bigger verandah room. I'd say go for the MR cruise. I've never been on a Disney cruise before (and we are SO excited), but I have been on three cruises to Mexico out of L.A. on Carnival and Royal Caribbean, and although Ensenada wasn't "glamorous" by any stretch of the imagination, it was still fun to do a little bargain shopping for a few hours. And like others have said, you don't HAVE to leave the ship when it's in port. There is plenty to do on board.

Also, before I saw this post, I was just checking the time it would take to drive to Galveston from my home in Utah to see if that would be doable for us next year for a Disney cruise and it is 23 hours (L.A. is 10.) So that would mean taking an additional 4 days off of work just for traveling, which does not seem worth it.

 

[DisMike]

Didn't know that Disney was pulling out of LA at the end of the year. RATS!

Guess that's it. Can't afford it this year. Guess I'll save up and hope to be able to go out of FL or TX. Don't want to go to Alaska. My idea of a fun cruise is lying in the sun not freezing on the deck.

Thanks for your input.

 

[ORDisneyfans]

I just booked a November (11th) Mexican Riviera Cruise last night! It was too good of a deal to pass up! $3066 for 4 in a VGT! We have never cruised and I have been trying to talk DH into one forever! He finally caved! I have been watching the price for the last 2 months and finally booked through Costco. We will also get $225 Costco Cash card and our Disney Visa OBC. We can drive down or fly if I can get reasonable airfare. I am so excited! Even if we never leave the ship! Though I know we will! I was able to get Palo brunch and dinner reservations too! I say go for it!

 

[kindsoul73]

Hi,
FWIW, I grew up in San Diego. Even lived in Cabo for a few months when I was 18. Mexico wouldn't be my IDEAL itinerary, but I didn't hesitate for a second to book a second MR Disney cruise. It was awesome!
Went last Oct. and heading out this Oct. for Halloween.
I felt safe at both ports, and loved every moment off and on the ship!

 

[ludari]

I enjoyed my MR cruise and I would do it again. If you have some reservations about going into Mexico you can always stay on board the ship.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Didn't know that Disney was pulling out of LA at the end of the year. RATS!

Guess that's it. Can't afford it this year. Guess I'll save up and hope to be able to go out of FL or TX. Don't want to go to Alaska. My idea of a fun cruise is lying in the sun not freezing on the deck.

Thanks for your input.

While I understand this mentality, I would strongly encourage you to try to reframe your thoughts on an Alaskan cruise.

We have cruised to the MR, the Bahamas, and Alaska. Yes, it's a different type of cruise. No, it's not about sunbathing. However, you will see some of the most amazing scenery you will ever see, you will see wildlife you may not see often, you will experience a part of the US that is rarely explored and so very gorgeous all the while enjoying continuous activities and entertainment onboard a wonderful ship. If you ever decide to take an Alaskan cruise, may you enjoy it as much as we did.

^ Taken by me from the top deck of the Disney Wonder, last May.

- Dreams

 

[princesskayla]

We loved our MR cruise and Cabo was soo fun. We never felt unsafe. (however, we chose not get off the boat in PV - we were enjoying the boat too much!!)

 

[aaklang]

We did Mexican Riviera a few years ago through Carnival for three nights. The destination is not great, as the ports aren't really that nice or exciting. But, just being on the cruise ship was fantastic! And, while I've never sailed Disney (first cruise next month), I imagine it will be even better than doing it on Carnival! Much better.

Plan to not really get off much in the ports. Enjoy the food, pools, spa, entertainment, etc on board and you will have a fantastic vacation.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I can understand your not wanting to go to Alaska, but you've probably been to Yellowstone Park and/or Jackson, WY, and Alaska is about the same temp in July/Aug. We love Alaska, more than the Mexican Riviera.

For what it's worth, we recently booked air fare from Phx to Orlando for about the same $$$ as our flight from Phx to SLC two mos ago. Go figure. When you do decide on a cruise, you'll probably book it up to a year in advance, which gives you ample opportunity to "score" a great rate on air fare. Part of the anticipation of a cruise is doing your "homework" while planning.