by nightowl
Before I had kids, I used to think that cruise vacations are only for rich and retired people who need to air out their formal wardrobe and jewelry.
Being neither rich nor retired, I never even bothered to take a closer look at how this form of travel had evolved into a fun-filled, family oriented and downright economical alternative to other, more traditional forms of vacationing.
 Leaving L.A. for our Mexican Cruise nightowl |
As an independent person with no parental responsibilities and budget restrictions, I chose my travel destinations on a whim.
Couple years later, and well into parenthood of two active boys, I was faced with planning a vacation that would satisfy a number of criteria:
Finding a package deal that would fulfill all those criteria was a bit of a challenge, until I was finally ready to consider a cruise. Since we live in Southern California, the logical choice for us were the Mexican cruises.
Priceline.com
Top 10 Deals, Up to 75% off Last-Minute, Carnival, Princess, Celebrity, Caribbean, Mexico, Europe! 110% Price Guarantee. select from 190 ships on 20 Cruise lines!
Travelocity.com Cruises
Features all major cruise lines and cruise destinations. Guides, tips and resources for first time cruisers as well.
Cruise.Expedia.com
Expedia features cruise vacations at top cruise destinations around the world. Cruise to the sunny Caribbean, Bahamas or Mexico or a more adventurous location such as Europe or Alaska.
Groupon Getaways
If your mind is not set on a specific destination or cruise line, you can sometimes snag fantastic deals on cruise travel at Groupon Getaways.
 Trading our ship for the beach nightowl |
Depending on the duration of the cruise, ports of call are usually along the Mexican Riviera and include a combination of
 Arrival at Cabo San... |  Lover's Beach Cabo ... |  Fishing Harbor Cabo |  Shopping in Cabo Sa... |
 Mazatlan Lighthouse... |  View over Mazatlan ... |  Arrival in Puerto V... |  A day at the beach ... |
The nature of cruising allows only for a few short hours in each new port of call. Our family was not in a position to take advantage of the organized shore excursions that were offered by our cruise line. In addition, we don't appreciate much being herded around in tour buses and would rather do our own thing anyway.
I found it imperative to read ahead of what to expect in each port of call. The information on board is naturally limited to the tours they want to sell, so you have to do a bit of homework to make the most of your trip.
Thanks to the guides I read we were confident enough to flag down a cab and explore the new places on our own. Unless you are the overly cautious type who wants the security of an organized tour you can save a lot of money on your family cruise vacation.
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| Mexican Riviera Cruises for 1st Timers: Ports of Call, Ex... Only $9.95 |
 Rock Climbing |  Kid's Club |  Catching a Show |
 Ice Skating |  Swimming & Ta... |  Poolside Party |
Experienced cruisers might laugh at my preconception that life aboard the cruise ship would be dreadfully boring. Well, I guess it depends on the cruise line and ship amenities to some extend. Aside from the traditional pasttimes of shuffle board and lounging to cocktails and piano music we were keeping plenty busy with
After the second day it became clear that vigorous physical activity was necessary to work up an appetite for the next meal. Food was surprisingly decent, decadently abundant, and last but not least, included in the price.
CountrySunshine
on 02/26/2012
I've been on several cruises, and while they are extremely popular, they just aren't for me. I'd rather spend time exploring a destination than a ship!
nightbear
on 06/08/2011
I'm a little nervous about sharks, and I've watched the Titanic about a million times... sigh.
nightowl
on 06/01/2011
The stops at each port of call are not always long enough to really explore a place.
CruiseReady
on 07/01/2015
We love cruising - and most cruise the Bahamas and the Caribbean itineraries, which are our choices from east coast departure ports. Hubby likes to stay on the ship and relax on port days, while I can hardly wait to dive into the beautiful turquoise waters of the Caribbean.
nightbear
on 06/08/2011
I would love relaxing on the deck or at the pool and having no responsibilities. And I love the water.
nightowl
on 06/01/2011
You get to see many different places that you might not otherwise be able to cover during one trip.
All considering, cruises (to Mexico or elsewhere) are definitely a fun way to spend a family vacation. Despite my initial skepticism, we had a great time and especially the kids had a blast. Would I do it again? Perhaps in the future - I won't rule it out.
Quite honestly though, I'm more of an adventurous explorer. I don't much like organized activities and would rather take the time to get lost in new civilizations. Traveling with smaller kids however, this might not always be a sensible choice. Mexican cruises, especially for West Coast residents, take out much of the stress of having a great family vacation.
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I''ve never done a cruise, but I have been to Mexico to Puerto Morales. I came home so refreshed. The ocean was warm and beautiful. There is something about the negative ions that is healing.