Seven nights on
the Mexican Riviera

February in Long Beach. The Panorama is the newest, brightest ship in Carnival's fleet, fresh out of the shipyard. Seven nights down the Baja coast and into the Mexican Riviera — Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, Puerto Vallarta — with two real sea days to soak it all in. This was the trip where we figured out that the 7-night Mexican Riviera, not the 5-night version, is the one to book if you can.

Here's the journal.

Why seven, not five —

We did the 5-night version of this itinerary a year later on NCL Joy. Same three ports, same coast, similar weather. The 5-night version is great — but the 7-night version is better, for one reason: the sea days. With two full days at sea (one outbound, one returning), the trip settles into a rhythm the 5-night version doesn't get to. You read a book. You actually find your favorite spot on the ship. You eat dinner without scrambling to make the next morning's excursion. By day five you've forgotten what your inbox looks like.

The 5-night Mexican Riviera is a vacation. The 7-night Mexican Riviera is a reset. — Seanna, on day six

The Panorama, candidly —

Carnival's Vista-class ships (Panorama, Vista, Horizon) are some of our favorite "fun" ships. They're not as polished as the high-end Princess or NCL options, but they're noticeably more energetic — Carnival leans into casual fun, the bars and restaurants are well-spread-out, and the entertainment is genuinely good. The SkyRide (a suspended bicycle track over the deck) is the kind of feature that's silly until you do it; we did it twice. If you're cruising with a multi-gen family or just want a cruise that doesn't take itself too seriously, the Vista-class is a great call.

The three ports, briefly —

Cabo San Lucas. The arrival, past Land's End and the famous arch, is one of the great cruise arrivals — set your alarm. Tender into town. We took a snorkel trip to Pelican Rock and Land's End and would do it again. Lunch at a beach club, back to the ship by 4pm.

Mazatlán. Our favorite of the three. The historic centro is a stunning colonial neighborhood — pastel buildings, oceanfront promenade, the kind of place where you turn a corner and stop walking for ten minutes. Take a pulmonia (open-air taxi). Eat ceviche.

Puerto Vallarta. Most touristy of the three but also the most polished. The malecón walk is excellent. The day-trip to Yelapa (by water taxi) is the upgrade if you have it in you.

See all 81 photos from this trip →

What we'd do differently —

1. Book a balcony if the math works. Two sea days means two mornings of coffee on the balcony watching the Pacific go by. That's the single best thing this trip has on offer. Worth the cabin upgrade.

2. Skip the ship's bus excursions. Same advice we give everywhere — local taxis and pulmonias get you more for less. Save the ship's excursion budget for the snorkel trip in Cabo.

3. Whale-watching add-on. February is humpback season in the Sea of Cortez. Cabo and PV both offer small-boat trips. If you only do one excursion, do this one.

Want to go? —

Carnival, NCL, and Princess all run year-round Mexican Riviera cruises from Long Beach, San Diego, and Los Angeles. 5-night, 7-night, and 10-night options. The 7-night version is our default recommendation for first-time cruisers who want a real cruise length without an international flight.

Plan my Mexican Riviera trip

Read the other Mexican Riviera trips: December 2019 on Carnival Miracle · February 2023 on NCL Joy (5 nights)