Navigator of the Seas during our Mexican Riviera cruise
Our Mexican Riviera Cruise on Navigator of the Seas: Highlights, Tips & Port Guides
We recently returned from our Mexican Riviera cruise, and it was such a fun and memorable trip. From Cabo to Mazatlán to Puerto Vallarta, each stop had something unique to offer. I'm sharing our favorite highlights along with helpful tips we learned along the way to make your own cruise even better.
We decided on this cruise after receiving a Players Paradise offer directly from Royal Caribbean — essentially a tax-and-gratuity-only deal that made this trip too good to pass up. If you're a Royal Caribbean cruiser who enjoys the casino, it's absolutely worth checking your email and the Royal Caribbean app regularly for offers like this one. The cost for taxes and fees typically runs between $105-$197 per person depending on the itinerary — which for a cruise is an incredible value! Finding opportunities like this has become part of how we approach travel in retirement — staying flexible, watching for value, and choosing trips that feel enjoyable rather than rushed. Royal Caribbean won't send these offers to everyone, but if you cruise with them regularly and play in the casino, keep your eyes open!
One thing we've learned over time
Arriving the day before a cruise makes the entire experience more relaxed. Instead of worrying about delays or rushing to the port, it gives you time to settle in and actually enjoy the start of your trip.
Before Embarkation Day
For this cruise we arrived in the Los Angeles area the day before and stayed in San Pedro, which turned out to be a great decision. If you're sailing out of the Port of Los Angeles, San Pedro is a convenient and easy place to stay before embarkation.
Traveling With Friends
Traveling with friends adds an extra layer to trips like this. Sharing the planning process and looking forward to time together is just as much a part of the experience as the destinations themselves. To stay organized I created a travel itinerary guide that we used for this trip — and I now share a version of it on Etsy.
🌊 Explore Each Stop on Our Cruise:
Planning Your Own Cruise?
Get our Mexican Riviera Cruise Guide on Etsy — packed with port tips, planning ideas, QR codes and cruise resources.