Cruise

Cruising Down the Mexican Riviera with Carnival Panorama

by Olivia Liveng

My husband, Jonathan, kept anxiously asking me a variation of the same question over and over as we drove to Long Beach Cruise Terminal in anticipation of our voyage aboard Carnival Panorama: “But isn’t Carnival for families? What will we do to entertain ourselves the whole time?”

His whining questions were almost immediately quelled, however, when we arrived at the dome-shaped terminal. Yes, there were families with little children and Disney suitcases scurrying towards the entryway. But, more so, there were couples like the two of us: young, eager to explore diverse new ports with open minds and relax with a cocktail on the forward lounge deck on sailing days. We sailed from Long Beach, California, on a seven-day cruise winding down the Mexican Riviera. Carnival may be stereotyped as the most “family-friendly”
of the other ships in the Carnival family–namely Seabourn and Princess–but, boy, were we in for a treat in terms of luxury, service, and quality.

Long Beach to the Western Coast of Mexico

Sailings out of Long Beach are not only convenient for southern Californians but provide ample opportunity to first explore Los Angeles for travelers flying in. Jonathan and I opted to arrive in The City of Angels a day before the cruise to see all the touristy hotspots that had been on our bucket lists: selfies at The Hollywood Sign, star viewing at The Griffith Observatory, and celebrity spotting on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The day our cruise commenced, we arrived
in Long Beach a few hours early to explore this more laidback beach town. Long Beach is home to The Queen Mary, a historic floating hotel conveniently based adjacent to the cruise port. I suggest any history buffs arrive at the dock early to have time to explore Her Majesty and meander the sleepy beach town.

After the sail away ceremony, the ship begins its journey down the Mexican Riviera, with three unique ports planned. The first Puerto Vallarta allowed Carnival guests to be as busy or lowkey as desired. This beachside paradise is especially famed for its myriad of water activities, including snorkeling, scuba diving, jetskiing, and lazily swimming in the crystal turquoise waters. Jonathan and I enjoyed strolling the cobblestoned streets, searching for the most authentic street tacos (and yes, we were successful in our endeavors!) Other cruise patrons enjoyed more exhilarating adventures, including excursions to the jungle with ziplining, hiking, and even waterfall-repelling some of the possibilities.

The cruises’ day in Mazatlan, a lively and romantic town with equal parts historical and natural draws, is another favorite for passengers, Jonathan and I included. We enjoyed a Carnival excursion on this day, hiking as a group to the top of El Faro Lighthouse, one of the highest lighthouses in the world (and thank goodness we left early in the morning because the sun gets hot quickly!) The city has only recently been reintroduced to cruising itineraries, but this “tropical neoclassical” hotspot, with over 20 kilometers of pristine beach, certainly contributed positively to our Mexico experience. It felt less charted by Western tourists, thereby being more authentic and less gimmicky.

That saying about saving the best for last? It was pretty on target for our final stop aboard Carnival Panorama. We sailed into Cabo San Lucas early in the morning, just as the light started making shadow puppets on the beige rocks that surround the town’s harbor. Carnival guests had the option for cultural excursions at this port, including tequila tasting, tortilla making, and even a camel ride on the beach. Jonathan and I instead opted to find comfy couches on the Havana Deck (the exclusive deck only for guests staying in a Havana suite on deck five) and drink a margarita while witnessing the jaw-dropping surroundings of the port. After all, we were only a few hundred meters from sites like the Arch of Cabo San Lucas, a distinctive rock formation that the city is famous for. However, we were assured by all our friends onboard that exploring on land was equally stunning and fulfilling.

As we sailed back to Long Beach a little more sunburnt and a few pounds heavier (thanks to all those delicious Mexican street tacos!), we enjoyed our last days aboard Carnival Panorama. We saw magic shows and cheered on our favorite singers in karaoke competitions. We participated in a silent dance party and got so close with our nightly waiter, Emilio, in the dining room that I vowed to see him again something, wherever it may be.

But then Jonathan, the King of Doubt before the voyage, said something that surprised me. “Why can’t we keep that promise to them by booking another Carnival cruise? What about that next voyage Emilio will be on? Let’s look at our schedule and see if we can make it happen!”

I laughed. “You’re not the same pessimistic husband who pulled up to Long Beach not even a week ago.” He shrugged his shoulders as a smile escaped. That’s all I needed to see: it took one week aboard Carnival Panorama to convince my husband that he could be a big cruise person, but this may be his preferred type of travel in the future.

www.carnival.com