The allure of the Mexican Riviera, commonly known as Riviera Maya, attracts millions of visitors each year who are eager to explore its beautiful beaches, exciting culture and picturesque sceneries. Add a Carnival Cruise to the mix and you have a winning combination of fun and adventure for a perfect family vacation.
Sure, you could book a flight and room in Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan or Puerto Vallarta, but why limit yourself to just one of these fabulous destinations? Carnival offers a value-packed, seven-day Mexican Riviera Cruise that departs weekly from the Los Angeles port of Long Beach. In addition to the all-inclusive fun of a Carnival Cruise, this trip lets your family experience all three of these amazing stops along the beautiful coast of Mexico.
Each leg of the trip includes a stopover in these popular Mexican destinations with plenty of time to explore the local scene as well as to enjoy some spectacular excursions. Carnival did all the hard work for you and arranged some of the best adventures available to maximize your family fun.
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Cabo is world famous for its unique landscape and beautiful beaches. With friendly locals, great food and warm, turquoise waters, this beach city is a tropical paradise. With the Luxury Day Sail excursion you and your family can board an expertly crafted Benetau sailboat and hit the water for a luxurious sailing tour of the Sea of Cortez. As the newest of Carnival’s shore excursions in Cabo, this trip is great for couples or families with children ages eight and older.
The five-hour Canopy Adventure in Mazatlan takes guests ages 5 and up deep into the jungle for an aerial adventure that includes a canopy bridge walk and nine zip lines that send you soaring the treetops. This excursion is somewhat strenuous and involves a hike along the Blue Agave Trail, but your hard work will be rewarded in the end with a sampling of local tequila at the Los Osuna Tequila Distillery where you can see how tequila is made from the agave cactus (all included with the cost of your excursion).
Swim with Dolphins in Puerto Vallarta
With a full day in Puerto Vallarta, you will have time to take an excursion or two and still explore the city and its beautiful culture. Families with children ages 5 and older will especially love the dolphin swim excursion. Interact up close and personal with Pacific bottle-nose dolphins in this 3.5-hour adventure that includes unlimited food and drinks. After a brief orientation for the safety of you and the dolphins, you can swim with, play with or simply observe these magnificent creatures in a supervised environment.
Photo: Enrique Gomez | Dreamstime.com
While this is just a sampling of the unforgettable fun you can have on your Mexican Riviera cruise, don’t forget the ship itself is a non-stop adventure for the whole family. Onboard entertainment comes in many forms, such as a kids clubs, Seuss at Se, and comedians offering shows suitable for children and late-night shows for after the kids go to sleep. Ice cream machines throughout the ship and all the food you can eat keep tummies full and happy. Water slides, pools, mini golf courses and more keep the entire family from getting bored during those long hours at sea.
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