Navigating the Mexican Riviera With Princess Cruises

Bon voyage! We sailed away from the Los Angeles cruise ship terminal.

This area also gives you direct access to the buffet and is in close proximity to the adult pool, fitness center, and activity areas like the basketball court and walking track.

The ship hosted tons of organized activities and theme nights. There were two formal nights where you can dress your best and dance the night away!

My family chose to go to Bingo (twice), a comedy show, and a few other smaller activities. The fitness center also hosts classes.

Sea Sickness!

Sea sickness is something that is on another level on a cruise. I thought I would be fine because I normally don’t get sea sickness. However, being on a cruise ship is a different feeling. The first day was very strange because it felt super weird. The last two days were very rocky, especially at night, as there was a storm nearby.

I definitely got used to it, but I made sure to wear special sea sickness patches during our sea days. I also took chewable tablets on the more rocky days. Luckily, the Mexican Riviera cruise is less rocky than other cruises, such as the Alaskan cruise.

Find the patches that I used here!

Find the chewable tablets that I used here!

Food

There was definitely plenty of food and drinks on this vacation! Every guest has unlimited access to the buffet and main dining rooms, as well as most of the walk up food options and room service.

There are many upgraded food options, too. For example, you can pay anywhere from $15-$30 a person to try the other casual or formal restaurants, like the Italian restaurant or the steakhouse, when you get bored of the regular dining options. We also had a special package that included two upgraded casual dining credits.

With the drink package, you get 15 alcoholic drinks per day! Before the cruise, I had no intention of using up that amount every day. Let’s just say … it’s easier than you think. There is plenty of food and activities to keep you going with all those drinks.

Overall, the food and drinks were pretty good. And as with anything, some not so good. I enjoyed the food more in the main dining room than the buffet (see below). To be fair, I think I enjoyed the fancy coffees and alcoholic drinks better than the food!

Cabo San Lucas

This stop was a great example of why excursions can be less stressful. The boat was too big for the port areas, so we had to take small shuttle boats from where the ship was anchored to the dock. Without an excursion, it was a free-for-all. With the excursion, we had a designated boat at a specific time to take us to the excursion meeting spot, stress free.

I really enjoyed our excursion, which was whale watching. Our boat tour was two hours long and included an open bar with snacks. On the way, the guide took us to the famous arch, “El Arco.” Throughout the tour, we saw SO many humpback whales and dolphins!

After the excursion, we had about an hour and a half left before we had to be back on the ship, so we looked around for some t-shirts before heading back.

Then, the bus tour took us to the famous spots like the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Malecón de Mazatlán (huge seafront promenade), and Punta de Clavadistas (cliff divers).

My Cruise Tips

Having recently finished my first-ever cruise, I’d like to share some valuable tips based on my personal experience exploring the Mexican Riviera with Princess Cruises. For additional information from Princess, be sure to check out their website!

• I wish I had brought more comfortable or active clothes and better prepared for the weather in the port cities. Mexico was a lot warmer in the winter months than I had expected, but I was cold when I went outside on the sea days.
• While the cruise is well-organized, I recommend carving out some ‘unscheduled’ time for yourself to fully enjoy the experience. Take advantage of non-peak hours to explore less crowded areas, such as the pool.
• Consider upgrading to a larger accommodation because the standard rooms can be quite small, especially if you’re inclined to spend more time in your room. Keep in mind that, while you can bring as many suitcases as you’d like, you’ll be living with them in your room. Fortunately, there’s storage space available under the beds.
• For those heading to Mexico, ensure your credit card allows free international purchases. When I studied abroad in Spain, I opened a new credit card specifically for my international purchases. So, I just used that on my cruise. Check out this article for some more travel safety tips!
• Plan your excursions in advance and pack accordingly to make the most of your time.
• Before disembarking, review your onboard expenses to ensure accuracy. Check out while still on the ship to address any discrepancies before you leave. Otherwise, you will have to resort to the telephone help line.