I’ve Been on 9 Cruises in Mexico — Here’s Everything You Need to Know to Cruise Mexico Like a Pro

Thinking about taking a cruise to Mexico?

To help you, here are a few important things to know before you go, so you don’t miss the boat (literally 🤪) on any of your cruises in Mexico.

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10 Pro Tips for Cruises in Mexico (From a Longtime Cruiser)

1. Be aware of tender ports

Some Mexico cruise ports, like the Cabo San Lucas cruise port, don’t have docks large enough to handle a cruise ship.

In these cases, you’ll have to take a tender from the ship to the shore. Tenders are smaller boats and can be either local boats, or your ship’s lifeboats.

As such, they might not be able to accommodate all types of wheelchairs. This is something to be aware of if someone in your group has mobility issues. 

It’s also important if you plan to book your own tours in Cabo San Lucas.

While guests with ship-sponsored excursions will have higher priority for the tenders, give yourself a couple of hours as a buffer to account for the time needed to tender.

⚠️ Pro Tip: Tender ports should be indicated on the cruise itinerary.

2.  Know your ship time vs. local time

Most of the time, the ship clocks will change as you move to a port that is in a different time zone — but this is not always the case.

Sometimes, ship time will be different from local time, and it’s up to you to know when the “all aboard time” is.

“All aboard time,” which is usually 30-60 minutes before departure, will always be in ship time; not local time.

📲 Here’s What to do so you don’t get left behind

The best practice is to turn off the automatic time zone adjustment setting on your phone.

You can then manually change it when instructed to do so by the ship. This way you’ll ensure you’re on ship time, and won’t miss the boat 🛳️

3. Ship shore excursions

A big reason to take a cruise is to explore new destinations (or enjoy another visit to a favorite).

While in port, you’ll probably want to book a tour or shore excursion, choosing from activities like whale watching, tacos crawls, and tequila tastings.

Ship-sponsored shore excursions typically have quite a higher price than ones that you can book on your own.

However, the extra cost does come with peace of mind that if your tour runs late, that the ship will wait for you.

You won’t get that assurance if you book an independent tour.

On my last cruise, some passengers were on an independent tour, and the bus got a flat tire! Luckily they made it back on time.

However another family was not so lucky and had to pay for a hotel and flights to the next port — which was an expensive mistake.

4. Do I really need to book a shore excursion?

If you’re more of a DIY type of person, you can avoid the tours altogether. This is the cheapest option, and gives you the most flexibility.

My favorite thing to do is just to walk around and explore on foot. Some ports are better than others, if this is your style.

In Puerto Vallarta, the cruise port is about a 15-20 minute cab ride from the Malecon, beaches, and main attractions — and you can get there with a quick taxi ride.

Mazatlan is one of my favorite Mexican Riviera cruise ports because it’s so walkable.

They even have colored lines painted on the streets to guide you along different routes to see the top attractions in Mazatlan.  

5. Ship schedules may vary from the published itinerary

Most of the time, your ship will arrive in port at the scheduled time.

However, sometimes the port arrival and departure schedules can change between the time you booked the cruise and your sailing date.

Due to various reasons, your ship might be late to arrive in port, or may skip a port altogether.

It’s all part of the terms and conditions of your ticket, and unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do about it.

If you had booked a ship excursion, you’d get a refund for your missed excursion — but if you book a tour independently, you’d be out of luck.

🤦‍♀️ Missing Your Tour Isn’t Fun (My Cautionary Tale)

This happened to me on a recent cruise, and was one of the rare times I booked an independent shore excursion. 

Anticipating a 9am arrival time, I had booked a local tour for 10am with a 9:40am meet time.

It was only a 20 minute walk from the pier to the meeting location, so I figured I’d have plenty of time.

Unfortunately, our ship arrived in port late, and then took a really long time to get cleared by the local authorities.

Long story short: By the time my feet hit land, it was 9:50am and I had missed my tour 😭

6. You can experience local Mexico celebrations

If you time your cruise right, you can experience some fun Mexican holiday traditions.

Last year I took back-to-back Mexico cruises at the end of October/beginning of November, and all the cities we visited had decorations for the Day of the Dead.

It was especially fun to see the giant La Catrina figures on display on the Malecon in Puerto Vallarta.

If you’re sailing in late-February and visiting Mazatlan, keep an eye out for the monigotes (loosely meaning “puppets” or “rag dolls”).

These are giant sculptures made of paper mâché, and they are part of the city’s massive Carnival celebrations.

7.  Bring a reusable water bottle

You’ve all heard don’t drink the water in Mexico, and I can attest that you will not like the consequences unless you want to get sick in Mexico 🤢

While there are plenty of water-filling stations at the cruise ship’s buffet, many cruise lines are moving away from single-use plastics.

This means that you can’t get a bottle of water to take off the ship with you.

You can purchase bottled water on shore, but I prefer to carry a reusable water bottle like this one and fill it up before I head off the ship.

8. You can’t take food off the ship

While it is tempting to grab a banana from the buffet to snack on when you’re on the beach — my $0.02 is: Don’t.

There are regulations that prohibit perishable items from being taken off the ship to prevent the spread of disease or pests.

I’ve seen produce-sniffing dogs at some cruise ports in Mexico, with lots of bananas and apples confiscated from passengers’ backpacks and thrown in the trash.

Be sure to check your ship’s daily bulletin for any specific restrictions for what you can take ashore.

⚠️ Pro Tip: Sometimes even your cup of Starbucks coffee is prohibited, so make sure to check before disembarking.

9. You can bring beach towels from the ship

Planning to hit the beaches in Mexico? Good news: You don’t worry about packing beach towels from home.

Cruise lines generally allow you to borrow beach towels from the ship as you visit the port. Though procedures vary depending on the cruise line.

You might have a specific quantity that have been placed in your room (which will be tracked), or you might need to check them out as you head off the ship.

Either way, be sure to bring them back — otherwise a charge will be added to your onboard account.

10. Money in Mexican cruise ports

The Mexican peso (MXN) is the official currency in Mexico. That being said, the U.S. Dollar is fairly commonly accepted in the larger cruise ports.

However, you’ll want to carry smaller USD bills, as you’ll get your change back in Mexican pesos. 

⚠️ Pro Tip: You can break a larger bill onboard your ship by visiting the guest services desk.

I recommend doing this to get smaller bills that you can use small purchases and for tip money to give local guides, servers, bartenders, etc.

FAQs About Cruises in Mexico

Which cruise line is best for Mexico?

The “best cruise line for Mexico” depends on the type of trip you’re taking, but here are a few things to consider:

• Royal Caribbean is great for multi-generational trips.
• If you’re traveling solo to Mexico, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has solo-friendly pricing.
• If you want to party hardy, opt for Carnival.
• 🤑 Looking for the best deals on cruises? I recommend booking with Cruise Direct here for the best prices on cruises to Mexico and beyond.

Does Mexico have cruises?

Yes — Mexico actually has more than 20 cruise ports. There are vacation cruises that dock in several parts of the country, from coast to coast.

Mexican Riviera cruises visit the Pacific Coast, with destinations like Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas, Ensenada, and Huatulco (pictured above).

Ports on the Gulf of Mexico side are part of many Caribbean cruise itineraries, including Cozumel Island, Costa Maya (Mahahual), and Puerto Progreso.

Are there Cancun cruises?

Yes — There is a cruise port in Cancun, but it can only accommodate small vessels, so today’s modern mega-ships can’t dock there.

For this reason, Cancun and nearby Playa del Carmen, which also has a small port, aren’t popular Mexico cruise destinations.

How many Mexican cruise ports are there?

There are more than 20 Mexican cruise ports, although some are much more frequently visited than others.

The 5 most popular and most-visited cruise ports in Mexico are: Cabo San Lucas, Cozumel, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Ensenada.

What’s the best Mexico cruise port?

There is no one best Mexico cruise port, as they each have their own highlights, but here are a few things to consider: 

• Mexican Caribbean: You can visit Mayan ruins from Caribbean ports like Cozumel and Costa Maya, and snorkel in the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef.
• Mexican Riviera: Ports like Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan offer gorgeous sandy beaches, mountain excursions, and colorful sunsets over the Pacific Ocean.

What’s the busiest cruise port in Mexico?

Cozumel Island in the Yucatan Peninsula is the busiest cruise port in Mexico. In fact, it’s actually one of the busiest ports in the world.

What’s the best month to cruise to Mexico?

The best time to cruise to Mexico is from November to March during the country’s dry season when you’ll have smooth seas and great weather.

⚠️ Pro Tip: The worst time to cruise to Mexico is during Atlantic Hurricane Season (June 1-November 30), especially the peak months of August to October.

What month is the cheapest for a Mexico cruise?

You can find great prices for Mexico cruises in January, but be sure to avoid cruises over the holidays and Spring Break, which are busier and more expensive. 

If you’re flexible, there are often amazing last-minute deals for Mexico cruises.

Do you need a passport for a cruise to Mexico?

It depends — You may not need a passport to cruise to Mexico if you’re taking a closed-loop cruise, which is a cruise starting and ending in the same port.

Of course, requirements can vary by cruise line, so be sure to check for specifics before booking your Mexican cruise.

Is it safe to cruise to Mexico?

Yes — It’s safe to cruise to Mexico, but you should still take precautions and be aware of your surroundings at ports in Mexico (or anywhere in the world).

The cruise ships themselves are very safe as well, as there is plenty of onboard security.

Where is the safest place to cruise in Mexico?

The safest places to cruise in Mexico are generally the most popular cruise ports, like Cabo San Lucas, Cozumel, and Puerto Vallarta.

Your cruise line may modify their itinerary for any late-breaking safety concerns — like the time I had a planned stop in Ensenada removed from my cruise itinerary.

My Final Thoughts on Cruises in Mexico

From beautiful beaches to delicious food, there’s so much to experience on cruises in Mexico.

A cruise is the perfect way to dip your toes into Mexico, and you don’t have to worry about being able to speak Spanish.

Mexico is a great choice for a cruise destination, especially for first-time cruisers coming from the U.S.

This article was submitted by Lisa of the travel blog Waves and Cobblestones, who’s been on 27 cruises across 8 different cruise lines (and counting 🛳️)!