7 Day: Mexican Rivera Cruise
We did a 7 day Mexican Rivera Cruise from Long Beach, CA to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas. We went on the Carnival Panorama Ship which was built in 2018 (so newer). The ship was super clean and the staff was very friendly. The cruise was very kid and stroller friendly!
Sea Days and Port Days
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Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
Take a taxi to the malecon (boardwalk). This is the perfect spot to grab something to eat, shop, do an excursion, or stop by a resort. The people are very friendly and we felt safe.
We grabbed lunch at Playa Los Arcos Beach Resort. This had an ocean view and we ate in a waiting pool. The aguachiles and ceviche was super good!
*My daughter did drop my phone in the water since we were eating in water so be careful with belongings.
We stubbled upon a Starbucks and I had to try! Of course, it was delicious and very cheap!
Near the front of the malecon there was a beautiful cathedral. Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe was right near the drop off for the malecon and was free to walk inside.
Before we got back on the ship, we stopped at the mall across the street from where the boat was docked. We did some shopping and sipped on some mexican coca cola. It tastes different in Mexico :)
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Mazatlan, Sinaloa
There is plenty of shopping and drinking right when you get off the boat. However, we took a taxi to downtown. We told our driver to drop us off at Lucky B’s. This was a great starting point! We grabbed lunch and sipped on margaritas. Very affordable place and the food was delicious!
After lunch, we relaxed at the Marriott. They had an infinity pool and a swim up bar. The resort was practically empty! However, if you want to go down to the beach there are plenty of locals renting chairs, surfboards, umbrellas, etc. Everything is accessible.
After countless margaritas and mojitos, we stubbled upon a juice bar. Del Mar had such fresh and organic options for half the price of the states! There wasn’t anyone in there which made it nice to sit and enjoy some air conditioning.
Before we headed back to the boat, we stopped by El Clavadista. This location is known for cliff divers. They are there pretty much all day! This is a must see! This area also has a malecon where you are able to walk around and do some shopping.
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Cabo San Lucas
Our first stop was taking a boat tour to The Arch of Cabo San Lucas. Most of the tours take credit card which is nice. The tour is well worth it because you are able to have a private boat and the boat has glass on the bottom which makes you able to see marine life.
Cabo Wabo was a great stop for lunch. This is a big touristy spot but still decently priced and we were surrounded by fellow cruisers.
The beach was fairly close to where the boat was docked which made it easy to grab a spot. We took towels and were able to layout before getting back on the boat. It was super hot here that day!
*You might want to take dramamine before the tour. The boat is small and see through on the bottom.
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Sea Days
Carnival does a great job at having activities running constantly throughout the day. The ship is actually very kid friendly which made the trip even more enjoyable!
We were able to go into the Habana Lounge which had live music each night and bar. Kids were allowed in the comedy area, karaoke, movie nights, trivia, bingo, etc.
The food on the ship was decent and for the price we paid I didn’t expect anything more. It was a great affordable cruise!
*Kids were not allowed in the adult only pool, adult comedy, and the casino.
The Stroller We Used and Why!
We took our Doona carseat/stroller on this trip. I am not sure what the laws and regulations are as far as a carseat in Mexico. However, I personally wanted to use a carseat. My daughter was only 7 months at the time of travel so I knew we were taking a carseat! The Babyzen Yoyo 2 would have been a better option to use when trying to walk on the cobblestone (which there is a lot of ). However, we still ended up taking the Doona. It worked out great and did exactly what we needed it to do. I love the Doona and we use it just as much as our Yoyo! It works great in the States!