Visiting Mexico While On A Cruise Ship
Going on vacation on a cruise ship is still a very popular choice for many travelers. Quite a few cruise ships make embarkations in Mexico on both coasts. This type of vacation combines the luxury of a floating resort with excitement of exploring a different culture with day excursions. There are some great shore excursions available for cruise guests that range from swimming with dolphins to exploring ancient Mayan ruins. But, what considerations should be made when deciding on whether to take a cruise ship to Mexico?
To begin with, as of January 1, 2008 all United States citizens will need to have a valid passport for any travel to an international destination, including Mexico. You will need to present your passport to your cruise ship when checking in. Whenever you disembark for a shore excursion in Mexico you will need to show your passport as well.
Staying healthy on a cruise ship has never been more important with the rash of food poisonings and disease outbreaks aboard several ships in recent years. Make sure you are in good health before you travel and ask your physician if you might need any preventative medication, especially if you are older than 65, have had acute or chronic illnesses, or are pregnant. Good sanitary practices, such as frequent hand washing and the use of antibacterial soap, will also help reduce the risk of illness. If you begin to feel ill, inform the medical staff on board right away and avoid contact with the general population to lessen the risk of spreading a disease.
Packing light and leaving valuables at home are advised. Anything that you can’t afford to lose would be best placed in an in-room safe. Avoid bringing large amounts of cash or more than a couple of credit cards. On the ship, you can have most purchases charged to your room and once on shore, most purchases can be done with Pesos acquired from a currency exchange. Also avoid using a handbag, fanny pack, or outside pockets for your currency. If you need a larger amount of money consider using a money belt.
When you go ashore you should ask questions of your ships tourist counselor about any unsafe areas of the port of call that you should avoid. They will have suggestions for what to avoid as well as where the more common tourist areas are located. Staying close to those confines will help to keep you safe.
There are so many choices of cruise ship companies, Mexican destinations, and shore excursions to choose from. Making that choice should be the hardest part of your vacation experience, while keeping these tips in mind will make the rest of it easier. Vacationing on a cruise ship combines a luxury hotel experience with ports of call that are hundreds of miles apart. Cruising can provide a safe and secure feeling of traveling in a guided fashion with the ability to range far a field and experience the culture and history of the country. Taking a cruise ship to Mexico can give you a very satisfying vacation experience.
I am planning to visit mexico this year, looks like a cruise is something I cannot miss.
Thanks for the info.
From experience I know that when going on a cruise ship vacation, you don’t want to carry too much cash. Use cards if it is possible. While my wife and I were window shopping in the Carribean country of Puerto Rico I was robbed. I had my fanny pack on backwards and somebody took my cash, and my passport. Unbelievable.
Cruises can be a great thing to see a country in a short amount of time without having to unpack. However I am of the slow travel movement and believe that the only way to get to know a place is to stay there for at least a month. Obviously this is out of the range for most people. That said a cruise to an area such as Mexico would be great to get an overall feel of the country.
very useful tips.cruise sounds thrilling too.guess i should not miss it.thanks for sharing.
I have to admit to being afraid to visit Mexico. I know it’s stupid to buy into stereotypes but somehow I always think of Mexicans as being unwelcoming of foreigners and especially unwelcoming of American visitors to their country. Movies should never be used as reference points I know, but it’s always made to seem as if Americans traveling to Mexico are victimized by robbers and sometimes even killed. I do know that I have a responsibility not to buy into ignorant views, but I never seem to see Mexico portrayed in a positive light and it’s made me wary of visiting the country.
I went to Mexico on the Baja Mexico cruise, and they had a guy standing outside the ship that was selling wristbands for Mango Mango bar. I would recommed you buying one if you want to go have a few drinks – They were $25 and it was about 90% of the alcohols you can get (Jeager is not included etc..) all day long you could leave the bar and come back, it was awesome!
I think its a nice experience going to this cruise ship then travel to mexico city
Thanks for sharing these valuable tips; you have made life easy for many of us. Next time when I will on ship, will try to take every thing into consideration.
Thanks for the great advice. Especially about what to look out for when the travelers disembark. We have had a number of students who are scammed by the “travel agents” that they meet on the docks.
You had some good tips, I liked the one about the in-room safe the best. Interesting comments, it’s too bad we have to be so careful when traveling anywhere. We have a couple of properties on our luxury division’s site and haven’t had any complaints from our clients who stayed there, fortunately!
This sounds like a great way to see several different cities in Mexico. It would be a nice experience to travel all over without the need to check in and out of hotels each day. You just go back to your room at night and it moves off to the next city.
Going on a cruise in Mexico is a fabulous holiday and the ideal opportunity for you and your family to get away from it all. Cruise can last from a few days to a couple of weeks (or even longer) and it is your chance to forget about the rest of the world. Imagine going back home when your cruise is behind you and sharing your fabulous experiences with your friends and neighbours… they’ll be green with envy and you’ll be reliving those thrilling moments all over again.