Kudos to whoever coined the term “The Mexican Riviera.” Any Aramcon past or present yearning for a perfect tonic for chasing away the winter blues needs look no further than Mexico’s Pacific coast for escape and revitalization. From mid-October through the end of April, the weather couldn’t be better than along this sun-drenched stretch of coastline for curing whatever seasonal maladies ails you.
No doubt the best way to sample this paradise in luxurious comfort is by cruise ship. Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, Ixtapa, Zihuatanejo, Acapulco—the fabled names of possible destinations beckon you: "Come visit. We’re waiting!" Perhaps this is the year you finally heed their call. And why not? After all, who deserves a treat like this more than you? Think of it not as an indulgence but as a reward. The Mexican Riviera is one of the Top-5 cruise destinations in the world, surely proof of the power of its attractions. Major cruise lines offer West Coast sailings from both San Diego and Los Angeles. Your length of time at sea can be as short as three days or as long as a week or two or more. Some of the longer cruises venture through the Panama Canal into the Gulf of Mexico and may even call on the Mexican Riviera’s east coast alter ego, the Maya Riviera.
More manageable time-wise are the shorter cruises, such as the 7-day packages offered by Princess Cruises sailing from Los Angeles in October and calling at Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas. On-board amenities include numerous specialty restaurants, lounges, a casino, spas, fitness center, movies under the stars, theaters, pools and much more. The list of possible on-shore activities is extensive, and includes something for everyone: fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving, sight-seeing, arts and crafts, para-sailing, wine tasting, fine dining, whale-watching, shopping and much more. There’s far more worth knowing about cruising the Mexican Riviera than the few tidbits offered here. Look for more stories and information pieces in future newsletters. For those of you afflicted with wanderlust, come join the AramcoExPats Travel Club for a magnificent Mexican Riviera Cruise October 25 - November 1, 2015; what fun we will have!
