Cruising the Mexican Riviera & Baja: A Guide to the Ships & the Ports of Call (Cruising the Mexican Riviera & Baja) (Cruising the Mexican Riviera & Baja)

The author tells how to find bargain rates, when to book and makes you aware of considerations for disabled travellers, solo cruisers and being aboard with young children. And it's not just the big boats. Walking tours at each port of call are supplemented by detailed port maps Ports of call include: Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas, Catalina Island, Ensenada, Ixtapa & Zihuatanejo, La Paz, Loreto, Manzanillo, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, Santa Rosalia. Embarkation cities (such as San Francisco, Monterey, San Diego, Long Beach and more) are included. New Table of Contents......Page 2 Cruise Popularity 1......Page 10 What's Included 2......Page 11 A Brief Survey of Mexico 3......Page 12 Geographically Speaking 4......Page 13 Baja 5......Page 14 Mexican Riviera 7......Page 16 A Brief History 9......Page 18 People & Culture 12......Page 21 Social Classes 13......Page 22 Types of Cruises 15......Page 24 Duration 16......Page 25 Cruise Lines with Baja & Mexican Riviera Itineraries 17......Page 26 The Mass Market Lines & Their Ships 18......Page 27 Other Lines 66......Page 75 The Cruise Line 70......Page 79 The Ports of Call 71......Page 80 Information Sources 72......Page 81 Evaluating Ship Itineraries 74......Page 83 One-Week Roundtrip Mexican Riviera Itineraries 75......Page 84 Other Itineraries 76......Page 85 Organized Shore Excursions 78......Page 87 On Your Own 81......Page 90 Complete Cruise Tours 83......Page 92 Accommodations on Land 87......Page 96 Climate & When to Go 89......Page 98 Costs 90......Page 99 Discounts 94......Page 103 Gratuities 97......Page 106 Dining 100......Page 109 Disabled Travelers 104......Page 113 On Board 106......Page 115 Dress in Port 108......Page 117 Packing 109......Page 118 Driving/Rental Cars 110......Page 119 Financial Matters 114......Page 123 Flight Arrangements 116......Page 125 Gaming 118......Page 127 Getting to Your Ship 119......Page 128 Health 120......Page 129 In Port 121......Page 130 Passports, Customs & Other Considerations 124......Page 133 What You Can Bring Into Mex ico 125......Page 134 Re turning to the US 126......Page 135 Payments, Cancellations & Cruise Documents 127......Page 136 Crime 130......Page 139 Safety on the Ship 133......Page 142 Selecting the Right Stateroom 134......Page 143 Unique Items 136......Page 145 Bar gaining 138......Page 147 On Land 140......Page 149 On the Wa ter 141......Page 150 Tele phones 142......Page 151 Internet/E-Mail 144......Page 153 Time Zones 145......Page 154 Traveling with Children 146......Page 155 Frequently Asked Questions 147......Page 156 Los Angeles 153......Page 162 San Diego 156......Page 165 San Francisco 157......Page 166 Acapulco 158......Page 167 Onboard Sightseeing 159......Page 168 Tourism Information 160......Page 169 Seeing the Ports 161......Page 170 Acapulco 163......Page 172 Arrival 165......Page 174 Getting Around 166......Page 175 The One-Day Sightseeing Tour 168......Page 177 Other Attractions 172......Page 181 Shopping 174......Page 183 Sports & Recreation 175......Page 184 Cabo San Lucas 179......Page 188 Tourism Information Office 181......Page 190 The One-Day Sightseeing Tour 182......Page 191 Shopping 185......Page 194 Sports & Recreation 187......Page 196 Catalina Island 189......Page 198 Tourism Information Office 190......Page 199 The One-Day Sightseeing Tour 191......Page 200 Shopping 195......Page 204 Sports & Recreation 196......Page 205 Ensenada 198......Page 207 Tourism Information Office 199......Page 208 Getting Around 201......Page 210 The One-Day Sightseeing Tour 202......Page 211 Shopping 209......Page 218 Sports & Recreation 212......Page 221 Ixtapa & Zihuatanejo 213......Page 222 Getting Around 216......Page 225 The One-Day Sightseeing Tour 217......Page 226 Shopping 219......Page 228 Sports & Recreation 220......Page 229 La Paz 222......Page 231 Tourism Information Office 224......Page 233 The One-Day Sightseeing Tour 225......Page 234 Shopping 227......Page 236 Sports & Recreation 228......Page 237 Loreto 230......Page 239 Getting Around 231......Page 240 The One-Day Sightseeing Tour 232......Page 241 Sports & Recreation 233......Page 242 Manzanillo 234......Page 243 Tourism Information Office 235......Page 244 The One-Day Sightseeing Tour 237......Page 246 Shopping 240......Page 249 Sports & Recreation 241......Page 250 Mazatlán 245......Page 254 Getting Around 246......Page 255 The One-Day Sightseeing Tour 247......Page 256 Shopping 253......Page 262 Sports & Recreation 254......Page 263 Puerto Vallarta 255......Page 264 Tourism Information Office 256......Page 265 The One-Day Sightseeing Tour 257......Page 266 Shopping 261......Page 270 Sports & Recreation 263......Page 272 Arrival 265......Page 274 The One-Day Sightseeing Tour 266......Page 275 Sports & Recreation 268......Page 277 Mexico 269......Page 278 Costa Rica 271......Page 280 Guatemala 272......Page 281 Panama 273......Page 282 Index 275......Page 284 Annotation I read the appropriate chapter before each port of call. The author gives you hints on problems you may face as well as encouraging you to see the important sights. I felt that with his guidance we didn't miss anything, and enjoyed the vacation spots much more. -- Judith Orlopp This is a very quick book to read about the ports you will be visiting. I read it on the airplane on the way to my cruise. It made my trip to the Mexican Riviera a pleasant experience with many helpful hints. -- Paula J. Down This book is a fine guide to cruising the Mexican Riviera and Baja California. It describes the main cruise ships, especially those on the Carnival, Celebrity, Holland-American, Norwegian, Princess, and Royal Caribbean lines. There's advice on climate, what to wear, both in port and on the ship, and the costs involved. And there are good descriptions of the ports. Anyway, I was on a one-week cruise and found the book very useful. The cruise prices were very reasonable (it was the off-season, but the weather was fine). Do not expect to get seasick: I rarely noticed that the ship was moving. Yes, I liked the food. And the Lido deck. And even the art auctions with the free champagne. As the book explains, cruises are often one week long, with stops in Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas. These leave from the Los Angeles area: mine started from Long Beach. It's fun being pampered and having all sorts of things to do on board. -- Jill Malter 336-page guide - the most detailed available on this subject. A unique cruise guide offering concise, easy-to-read information on every vessel plying the popular Mexican Riviera region this season. Ship facts include stateroom size, dining options, passenger/crew ratio, crew nationality, ship registry and even when the last refurbishment was completed. This candid book has done your homework for you, reviewing ship itineraries and making you aware of the highlights and potential pitfalls of every one. The author tells how to find bargain rates, when to book and makes you aware of considerations for disabled travelers, solo cruisers and being aboard with young children. Walking tours at each port of call are supplemented by detailed port maps. Ports of call include: Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas, Catalina Island, Ensenada, Ixtapa & Zihuatanejo, La Paz, Loreto, Manzanillo, Mazatln, Puerto Vallarta, Santa Rosala. Embarkation cities (such as San Francisco, Monterey, San Diego, Long Beach and more) are included. These combination cruise-sightseeing guides are among our bestsellers, perhaps because of their unique approach that offers in-depth information for the cruiser, plus thorough sightseeing details. The first half of each book is dedicated to the ships and what they offer - passenger/crew ratio, service, amenities, cruise routes, dining options, etc. It gives all the information you need to select a ship to suit your taste, style and budget. The rest of the book is dedicated to making the most of your time ashore, with tips on how to avoid crowds, trip planning and pitfalls to avoid. The authors even tell you which sites are not worth your time. Town maps I read the appropriate chapter before each port of call. The author gives you hints on problems you may face as well as encouraging you to see the important sights. I felt that with his guidance we didn't miss anything, and enjoyed the vacation spots much more. -- Judith Orlopp "This is a very quick book to read about the ports you will be visiting. I read it on the airplane on the way to my cruise. It made my trip to the Mexican Riviera a pleasant experience with many helpful hints." -- Paula J. Down "This book is a fine guide to cruising the Mexican Riviera and Baja California. It describes the main cruise ships, especially those on the Carnival, Celebrity, Holland-American, Norwegian, Princess, and Royal Caribbean lines. There's advice on climate, what to wear, both in port and on the ship, and the costs involved. And there are good descriptions of the ports. Anyway, I was on a one-week cruise and found the book very useful. The cruise prices were very reasonable (it was the off-season, but the weather was fine). Do not expect to get seasick: I rarely noticed that the ship was moving. Yes, I liked the food. And the Lido deck. And even the art auctions with the free champagne. As the book explains, cruises are often one week long, with stops in Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas. These leave from the Los Angeles area: mine started from Long Beach. It's fun being pampered and having all sorts of things to do on board." -- Jill Malter 336-page guide - the most detailed available on this subject. A unique cruise guide offering concise, easy-to-read information on every vessel plying the popular Mexican Riviera region this season. Ship facts include stateroom size, dining options, passenger/crew ratio, crew nationality, ship registry and even when the last refurbishment was completed. This candid book has done your homework for you, reviewing ship itineraries and making you aware of the highlights and potential pitfalls of every one. The author tells how to find bargain rates, when to book and makes you aware of considerations for disabled travelers, solo cruisers and being aboard with young children. Walking tours at each port of call are supplemented by detailed port maps. Ports of call include: Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas, Catalina Island, Ensenada, Ixtapa & Zihuatanejo, La Paz, Loreto, Manzanillo, Mazatln, Puerto Vallarta, Santa Rosala. Embarkation cities (such as San Francisco, Monterey, San Diego, Long Beach and more) are included. These combination cruise-sightseeing guides are among our bestsellers, perhaps because of their unique approach that offers in-depth information for the cruiser, plus thorough sightseeing details. The first half of each book is dedicated to the ships and what they offer - passenger/crew ratio, service, amenities, cruise routes, dining options, etc. It gives all the information you need to select a ship to suit your taste, style and budget. The rest of the book is dedicated to making the most of your time ashore, with tips on how to avoid crowds, trip planning and pitfalls to avoid. The authors even tell you which sites are not worth your time. Town maps.