Mexico Cruise Checklist: What To Bring On Your Cruise
Mexico Cruise Checklist 101
Mexico cruise checklist: what to bring on your cruise
So youve booked your cruise to and need to start packing. I dont know about you but I hate forgetting essential items when I am away on vacation. Well packing help is here with a Mexico cruise checklist full of items you dont want to forget!
Ruth Ann
Mexico cruise checklist: what to bring on your cruise
Identification: Here at CruiseExperts.com we recommend always having a passport for travel outside the U.S. If you are on a closed loop cruise you can travel outside the United States with other forms of I.D. but getting a passport is still the most preferred option. to learn more about closed looped cruises.
Regardless it is always best to bring a few forms of identification. Personally, I even make copies of my birth certificate and drivers license, and although I have never had to the copies it makes me feel safer to have a backup. Its important to remember that identification guidelines change all the time so double check with your travel advisor before sailing and ensure you have all of the required identification you will need.
Currency: People often forget to bring cash when cruising. I recommend always having a little stash of cash hidden away for when I need it for tipping, cab fare, and other hidden fees. You never know when an ATM machine will be down. Even though this is not essential on the cruise ship itself, you never know when you may need a few extra dollars.
Sunstone Tours And Cruises
Courtesy of Sunstone Tours and Cruises
Baja’s Bounty 8-dayCruise
This small ship cruise aboard the 66-passenger Safari Voyager begins when guests arrive at Los Cabos International Airport to meet the expedition team and travel over land to La Paz for boarding and a welcome dinner. The small ship features spacious decks, big windows, colorful art, and an air-conditioned lounge.
The next day, the ship arrives in the Gulf of California Biosphere Reserve for snorkeling, hiking, or relaxing on the beach. At Bahia Agua Verde the following day, cruisers can visit a local ranchero, take a mule ride, or explore the coast in a small skiff. The next stop is at Isla San Francisco, with a desert beach where guests can kayak, paddle board, or just enjoy the rugged beauty of the island. In the Sea of Cortez, cruisers observe whales, dolphins, and marine life.
The cruise continues to Los Islotes and Isla Partida with options for beach hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, or paddle boarding. On Isla Espiritu Santo, the ship tucks into a secluded cove for the last day of exploring and the evening farewell dinner. The next day, guests disembark in La Paz for a transfer back to San José del Cabo for a flight or extended stay.
The Best Mexico Cruise For Every Type Of Traveler
Visit Mayan ruins and white sand beaches on cruises to Mexicos Costa Maya.
There is no shortage of choices for a cruise to Mexico. More than 1,000 voyages a year include at least one stop in the country, making it one of the most visited cruise destinations in the world. But with so many options, it can be hard to figure out which one is best for you and your travel preferences. To help you plan your trip, start by looking at these top Mexico cruises.
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Arrival At The Departure Port
We arrived at the port and dropped our luggage off with the porter. It is customary to tip the porter $1 per bag so we paid him $2 for our two bags.
In addition to porter tips, my parents had to park their car. Parking at the port cost $15 a day and totaled $90 for the six days we parked the car at the port.
We could have parked off-site and taken a shuttle but my parents have had a bad experience with that in the past. I paid half for the parking making our port arrival costs $47.
Gratuities Just When You Thought It Was Over Theres More
Carnival adds gratuities on your statement on the last night of the cruise. They used to charge $11.50 per person per day. This which totaled $115.00 for us. We did pay this in advance of our cruise. That way we didnt have to worry about it while we were cruising.
Carnival has since raised its gratuity prices to $13.99 to $15.99 per person per day.
You dont have to pay the gratuities if you dont want to, but the crew does rely on them as a large part of their compensation.
If you had any problems with your service or dont feel you should have to pay that much, you can go to guest services. Then, you can request that they reduce the gratuity amount on the last day of your cruise. We had outstanding service so we didnt adjust our gratuity payments at all.
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Onboard Drinks Food And Entertainment
My parents helped subsidize our costs in this spending category. They had bought us a first cruise gift package. The package included 4 drink tickets worth $5.75 each and a photo voucher worth $15, along with other gifts.
In addition to the $23 in drink vouchers, we spent an additional $12.08 on drinks. We considered ourselves lucky compared to many of the people on the ship who constantly drank.
Drinks cost about $7 to $11 per drink. Additionally, there is a mandatory 15% gratuity charged on top of the advertised drink prices.
On the first day of the cruise, my girlfriend won an $89 off certificate to the spa on the cruise ship.
She had always wanted a massage so she splurged for a hot stone massage that ended up costing $65 after the discount. This is probably similar to what wed pay locally for a massage so it wasnt a horrible deal.
We ordered room service for breakfast a few times. It is customary to tip the room service waiters, too. We ended up spending $8 on room service tips.
There was a casino onboard the cruise ship! I had always wanted to try playing blackjack but it was $6 a hand. I did decide to play three separate times. The first time I won $6 and the second time I won $16. Sadly, I lost the $30 I brought the third time I played.
Overall I lost $8 playing blackjack for a couple of hours but I had a lot of fun. That isnt too bad for entertainment dollars per hour. It could have been a lot worse though.
Best Mexico Cruises And Areas To Visit
Baja California is a region rich with culture, natural beauty and unique wildlife. La Paz, the capital of Baja California Sur and a departure point for many Baja cruises, is a cosmopolitan city that blends old world charm with a modern edge. The waters between La Paz and Loreto brim with marine life, including several species of whale, dolphins, marlin and rays. In Bahia de la Paz, from November to mid-January, search for whale sharks, the largest species of fish in the world, and take the opportunity to swim with these gentle giants. The city of Loreto features colonial buildings on a mountainous backdrop.
The Sea of Cortez, also known as the Gulf of California, has been called the worlds aquarium, due to its incredible biodiversity. It remains a favorite diving site and Mexico small ship cruises of the area explore many of its treasures, from its many uninhabited islands to its rugged coastline and, of course, its vibrant and varied wildlife. Over 900 types of fish and 32 species of marine mammal call the area home.
The Bay of Loreto National Park covers nearly 2065 square kilometers in the Gulf of Mexico and dates back to 1996. Mexico boat cruises passing through this UNESCO World Heritage site will share its waters with over 800 species of marine life. Over a third of the worlds cetacean species can be found in the park, including blue whales, sperm whales, fin whales , humpback whales, and pilot whales.
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Flights And Transportation To & From The Cruise Ship
Even if you live in the port city from which youll depart , youll still have transportation costs associated with getting yourself to the gangway. More likely, youll need to factor in the cost of flights, airport transfers, hotels, and/or parking. Some cruise lines may offer additional transfer packages at the time of booking , but these prices are also adjusted to include overhead for the additional manpower needed to coordinate travel. They can certainly save you a headache, but if your budget is your main concern, spending a few extra hours checking airfare, transfers, and hotels can save a lot of money.
How much does transportation usually cost?
Not to sound like a broken record, but it ultimately depends greatly on your departure dates, how far in advance youre able to book transportation and lodging, and where your cruise departs. Generally speaking, plan to spend around $500 per person for flights, with transfer costs averaging anywhere between $20 and $100 per person.
Hilton Los Angeles Airport
Set just a quarter of a mile away from the Los Angeles International Airport and featuring a complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport, the Hilton Los Angeles Airport is ideally situated for business travellers. Our hotel offers 1,234 stylish and comfortable guest rooms in which you can relax. Choose from four terrific dining options, keep on top of work in the business centre, and utilize 55,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space for seminars and conferences.
Distance/Airport: 1 mile
Transfers between Airport and Hotel Transfers between Hotel and Pier
Important Note: Maximum quad occupancy per room.
Set just a quarter of a mile away from the Los Angeles International Airport and featuring a complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport, the Hilton Los Angeles Airport is ideally situated for business travellers. Our hotel offers 1,234 stylish and comfortable guest rooms in which you can relax. Choose from four terrific dining options, keep on top of work in the business centre, and utilize 55,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space for seminars and conferences.
Distance/Airport: 1 mile
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Cruises To Mexico: Best Cruise Lines
Cruises are here to take you on an unforgettable voyage to Mexico in sophisticated comfort, offering some of the most outstanding experiences and fun activities in ports of call all over the country. Every trip on your Mexican Cruise holiday is guaranteed to be filled with lots of excitement and adventure. Many cruise lines visit Mexico each year and have different ports of call. Here are some of the top cruise lines in Mexico:
Royal Caribbean Departure Ports to Mexico:
- Miami, FL
- 7 Night Western Caribbean Holiday
- 11 Night Western Caribbean
Carnival Departure ports to Mexico:
- LA/Long Beach, CA
Norwegian Departure Ports to Mexico:
- Miami, Florida
What Are Popular Regions Of Mexico
Cruises to Mexico run year-round as part of Western Caribbean itineraries or dedicated Mexico sailings. It’s a surprisingly large country, densely packed with sightseeing opportunities.
The main regions of Mexico visited by cruise ship are Baja California and Baja California Sur , which are the “arm” attached to the left of the mainland the west coast along the Pacific and Gulf of California and on the east coast around the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula along the Gulf of Mexico .
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Siesta Or Fiesta We’ve Got The Best Mexico Cruise For You
Each port on our Mexican Cruise vacations is filled with fun and adventure including kayaking, zip lining, swimming with dolphins, scuba diving and much more. You’re never far from a beautiful beach or a good party in Norwegian’s cruises to Mexico. Explore old traditions and stunning towns when you cruise to the Mexican Riviera on Norwegian Bliss.
Traveling To And From The Port
We saved some money in this area by traveling with my parents who were going on the cruise as well. We split the cost of gas, tolls and the hotel for the night before the cruise.
I ended up paying $60.00 in gas, $6.60 in road tolls and $62.44 for the hotel after splitting these costs with my parents.
While traveling we stopped for breakfast, lunch and dinner on the way to our hotel. We had some bad service at dinner so the general manager gave us our meal free. The server did a good job, so we still left a tip.
We only stopped for lunch on the way home from the cruise. I spent $46.38 on food on the way to and from the cruise for both my girlfriend and I. We spent a total of $175.42 on traveling to and from the cruise.
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Cheap Mexican Riviera Cruise Deals
Cruise Critic can help you find affordable cruise deals to Mexican Riviera. Choose from the best cruise deals and specials for Mexican Riviera cruises. Save up to 74% on last minute Mexican Riviera cruises. For the best cruise deals, its best to book far in advance of your trip. Popular time cruise deals are released is during wave season .
Popular Mexican Riviera cruises often sail to Cabo San Lucas, Catalina Island, Los Angeles, La Paz and Manzanillo during their cruise itinerary. Mexican Riviera cruises could leave from Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, the West Coast and California. Most commonly, Mexican Riviera cruises sail for 10-14 Days days.
Gratuities And Service Charges On The Cruise
Regardless of whether or not you agree with the policy, the fact is that many cruise staff members rely on tips and gratuities. These days, most of the gratuities youll be expected to pay will automatically be added to all onboard purchases. The standard cruise gratuity is 15%, though this is adjustable in your onboard account. Its important to note that you do not have to pay these gratuities, but if you enjoyed the service from your stateroom and dining staff, you should pay them.
Daily service charges go to your stateroom attendant and server, and will either be billed to your shipboard account or prepaid at the time of booking. All other gratuities for bartenders, guides, etc., will be added to your bill afterward.
The exception is your porter, or the person who carries your luggage on and off the ship. Porters do not receive a percentage of the total gratuities, but should still receive a small tip. Bring enough cash to tip your porter $1 to $4 per person, or $1-2 per bag. Its not required, but it is a nice gesture to show your appreciation for their work.
How much do gratuities and service charges usually cost?
This really depends on how generous you want to be and how good the service was, but you can roughly estimate around $13 per person per day.
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Best Mexico Cruises For Families
Theres an appreciable degree of crossover between the mega-ship and family cruise categories, pushing Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean into this grouping. However Fun Ships operator Carnival Cruise Line is also at the head of the family-cruise class, both in terms of its clientele and the number of Mexico itineraries the company will offer in 2021 and 2022. Disney Cruise Line is another natural family-market player in Mexico.
As a means of selecting among the major players, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean offer the destinations largest ships, with the aforementioned widest array of activities for guests of all ages. Of course, for some families, theres no substitute for a Disney resort experience, whether on land or at sea, and Mickey does not fail to excite the brands loyal followers.
Disneys largest vessels, 4,000-passenger Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, visit Cozumel on five- and seven-night voyages from Port Canaveral, Florida, while 2,700-passenger Disney Wonder features Cozumel and Progreso on its five-night western Caribbean itineraries sailing from New Orleans, plus Costa Maya on five-night western Caribbean cruises from Galveston, Texas.
As Disney aficionados likely know, the privilege of sailing aboard the S.S. Mickey isnt cheap. Travelers are almost certain to pay substantially more for Disney family cruise than for one with Royal Caribbean, Carnival or Norwegian.
Adventure Cruises In Mexico
Mexico is a country rich in culture, natural beauty and unique wildlife. A fantastic place for seeing dolphins and Whale spotting.
Mexico cruises of the Sea of Cortez take visitors into a land of rugged red cliffs, turquoise waters and what Jacques Cousteau dubbed the worlds aquarium. Also known as the Gulf of California, the Sea of Cortez separates the Baja California Peninsula from the rest of Mexico and is home to a staggering number of fish and marine mammal species, including numerous species of whale, rays and dolphins.
An adventure cruise paradise, the area offers the opportunity to explore on land and sea, from hiking the arroyos to kayaking secluded coves and even swimming with seals and whale sharks. Sea of Cortez cruises encompass the laid-back culture of La Paz, the biodiversity of the Bay of Loreto National Park, and the arroyos of Bahia Agua Verde, and much more.
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How Much Does A Cruise Cost
Cruises continue to offer the best value when it comes to traveling, and the perks really cant be beat. Anyone who has taken a multi-city trip can attest to the planning, coordination, and cost associated with major vacations. The idea of getting to explore different places while unpacking once is one of the cruise industrys biggest bonuses. However, getting the most out of your cruise means more than finding the lowest cruise prices. Seasoned cruisers stress the importance of staying sensible when it comes to shipboard spending, and being aware of what may not be included in that super-low cruise fare.
Weve taken a look at some of the most frequently overlooked cruise costs, and were here to break down some of the hidden costs of cruises.