Discover the fun of Mexican cruises that include stops in ports such as Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta on the Mexican Riviera. You will find these cruises almost every month.
All of them offer round trip service from San Francisco and include a couple of enjoyable days at sea.
These are a few of the most popular stops for these cruises to Mexico from San Francisco.
The shorter voyages are more prevalent with this destination. In the vicinity of the harbor in Los Angeles, you have the opportunity to disembark the ship and enjoy a day or an afternoon. Typically, this serves as a day layover where numerous cruises make a stop in Los Angeles while heading south or on their return journey northward.
This is a common feature of cruises, with stops ranging from seven days to five, four days. Before heading back to the boat, you can explore the waterfront area where there is a great day stop. Most cruises from San Francisco or San Diego to Mexico make a few stops in both ports, either in San Diego, San Francisco, or LA.
Most cruises stop here in the late evening to mid-morning, and you will also find some interesting history museums. From strolling along the promenade, you will find quite a bit to do here, including grabbing some local cuisine. This is often due to Mexico being so close to the shorter cruises. Ensenada is a small port city on the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico.
This resort town is a stop on some longer cruises from Mexico to San Francisco. It offers quite a few fun things to do and is located on the Pacific Ocean. You can spend the day at the beach, explore some of its historic sights, grab a few drinks at a local restaurant or bar, or do a little shopping. This stop is most commonly included in cruises that run for at least 10 nights.
On longer cruises, you can join a guided tour or explore the city on your own for at least 10 nights. It also offers great diving sites and a fun place to do a little shopping, as well as gorgeous beaches. Another port of call you will find is Manzanillo, to the south of Puerto Vallarta.
This is another popular stop on longer cruises. Here is my favorite spot where you can check out amazing restaurants, explore some museums, and see historic buildings. It has an amazing boardwalk. This town resort is another gorgeous stop along the cruises from San Francisco to Mexico.
You can explore their historic sights and enjoy a little shopping here. It is common to stop here with night cruises and seven-day cruises. Another stop along the Baja Peninsula is San Lucas Cabo, Mexico.
What Should You Pack
You’ll find it’s quite cooler than San Francisco to visit Mexico in the sunny but often cool western coast of California.
As you travel further south, you have the option to eliminate them, and when in San Francisco, it may be necessary to don multiple layers. I suggest bringing a diverse assortment of layers, and this is among the factors to consider.
Bring a lightweight jacket, along with two sweaters and longer pants. I also recommend skirts and shorts for your stops in Mexico. Make sure to bring at least one comfortable pair of shoes, so your feet don’t hurt while you explore all these amazing locations!
≫> Additional information on what to bring and wear for every month in San Francisco.
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What Should You Expect on a Cruise to Mexico from San Francisco
You will find cruises running for 4, 5, 7, 10, or 12 nights. They run the most cruises from May to September, throughout the year.
What can you expect from shorter cruises? The 4 and 5-night cruises often stop in Ensenada for just one day. The other days will be spent at sea or stopping at ports such as San Diego, Santa Barbara, or Los Angeles in Southern California. Even though it’s only one day, you will really enjoy cruising Mexico.
Instead of stopping at three ports on the south way to Mexico, you will likely stop at just two ports in Southern California. In this cruise, you will find more stops along Southern California than the shorter mentioned cruises. Usually, it offers a stop in Ensenada and just one stop in Mexico. Additionally, seven-night cruises usually offer this.
If you want to spend more than one day exploring Mexico, you should look at cruises that stop at additional ports such as Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta, and then head further south to give you enough time.
It is common to experience a period of being out at sea for two or three days before making a stop at the initial port in Mexico, but this does mean that you will spend a longer duration at sea. This option provides a significantly greater amount of time to explore Mexico compared to the shorter cruises.
In San Francisco, you will often spend a couple of days making your way to the sea and then stopping at new ports for three days before spending the next two days.
If you have the time and money, I recommend opting for longer cruises ranging from twelve to ten days. They offer a more extensive experience of Mexico, but they are not frequently available.
Where to Stay Near Pier 27
You can also visit Pier Street Hyde or the Maritime Museum, including one of its many attractions, the Bay Aquarium. This area offers fun shopping and various tours, such as Segway tours and ferry rides around the bay. If you plan to stay in the Fisherman’s Wharf District, I recommend spending a little time in San Francisco before or after your cruise.
Staying in Fisherman’s Wharf, here are some of the top options. It also offers dozens of places to eat, drink, and relax.
Click here to discover some extra suggestions for hotels near Fisherman’s Wharf. You will come across numerous options suitable for any budget.
Upcoming Dates for Cruises to Mexico from San Francisco
4 Night Voyage with Carnival.
5 Night Cruise with Carnival.
5 Night Voyage with Princess.
7 Night Cruise to Mexico with Princess.
10 Evening Voyage with Princess.
Today! Make your reservation for a trip to the Riviera Mexican by visiting the Expedia website: Book Your Cruise. You will be able to find prices and dates on the website, as well as a few different options for shorter and longer cruises. Additionally, you can find more information about this specific cruise.
Additional Cruise Destinations from San Francisco
Alaska
While heading back home, make sure to explore at least one town in Canada and make up to three stops in Alaska. These vibrant tours, which are part of an Alaska cruise, offer breathtaking views of abundant wildlife, majestic mountains with ice-capped peaks, and magnificent glaciers along the scenic Inside Passage.
Hawaii
Most of the small port town of Ensenada in Mexico offers a final evening stop, where you can unwind and relax. You will also have several days at sea, where you can enjoy the ocean. On these trips, you will stop at four ports on the islands. Each year, you will find several dates from San Francisco. Another popular cruise destination is the Hawaiian Islands.
Panama
On the opposite bank of the canal, you will pause at either only a handful or multiple locations. Subsequently, you will navigate through the Panama Canal, guiding you southwards along the shores of Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica, encompassing all of the voyages in Panama.
More About the 10 Night Cruise with Princess
Itinerary
Day 1.
The Grand Princess departs at approximately 4pm, and you will embark on the first day. Ensure you remain outdoors to enjoy the splendid sights of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Days 2 – 4.
Sit back and relax for the first few days of your trip as you enjoy catching a few rays at the pool or sampling new wines in the casino. You can also take some time to cruise down to Mexico and enjoy the trip.
Day 5.
Your first stop is in Puerto Vallarta, which is one of my favorite towns in Mexico, known for its abundant places to explore and beautiful beaches.
You can also go on a guided walking tour around this historic city by visiting Viator.Com. Some of the top shore excursions here include adventure ATV tours and ziplining, as well as swimming with dolphins. Click here to learn more about these options.
The vessel docks in Puerto Vallarta approximately at 8 am and sets sail at 8 pm.
Day 6.
You will arrive at 7 am and leave at 4 pm. You will have the entire day to check out the sites. It’s also a place that offers several fun activities and is located south of Puerto Vallarta. Manzanillo is the second stop of your journey.
Day 7.
In Mazatlán, you can either enjoy many adventurous activities or hang out at the beach, making it a perfect stop for your northbound cruise.
You can go on an Adventure ATV ride or try out ziplining, and another option is to stop and swim with dolphins. If you prefer a guided walking tour, you can learn all about this town. Additionally, you can also take a self-guided bike tour in Mazatlán, go on an ecological jungle tour, or head out on another adventure.
Click here to explore Viator and discover further information about coastal tours in Mazatlán.
Day 8.
Your last destination in Mexico is Cabo San Lucas. You are expected to arrive at 7 am.
In Cabo, you can also relax and hang out on one of the stunning beaches or go horseback riding. The adventure options here include kayaking, snorkeling, and scuba diving.
Click here for more information on these and other coastal tours in Cabo San Lucas.
Ninth and tenth day.
After days 9 and 10, without any further stops, you will be sailing across the Pacific Ocean and eventually returning to San Francisco, where you can finally take some time to unwind.
Day 11.
You will ride under the Golden Gate Bridge at Pier 27, arriving before 7 am on the morning of the 11th day.