Best Mexico Cruises for Kids, Teenagers and Families - 2

Family-Pleasing Excursions

Cruise lines coordinate with local vendors to provide excursions that will conveniently shuttle guests to and from the ship to activities near its ports of call. Many cruise lines contract with the same vendors and end up offering similar excursions. The notable exception is Disney, which has several creative options designed just for their guests.

All excursions should be booked in advance (popular activities are sold out weeks before the ship even sails) and range wildly in price (from $20 to $400 per person). Following are a few of the best options for families traveling through western Mexico with children. (Unless otherwise specified, prices shown are per person for adults; children’s excursion rates are usually 25 to 50 percent less; note that Disney charges “adult” prices for kids 10 and older.)

For children 8 and younger:

• Royal Caribbean’s Dolphin Kids (Puerto Vallarta): Children learn about bottlenose dolphins in a land-based educational program, and can afterward climb into the water to pet and kiss the beloved marine mammals. Parents cannot accompany kids into the water, but must chaperone them through the land portion of the tour. For ages 4-8, $84; accompanying adult(s), $33.

• Disney’s Salsa and Salsa (Mazatlan): Adults and children learn to make a variety of salsas in this hands-on cooking demonstration. Guests get to eat the fruits of their labor before moving on to an ocean-front venue for a one-hour salsa-dancing lesson. For ages 5-9, $55; children 10 and older, $87.

• Beach goers take some time to relax on some ultra-comfortable beach pads.
• Brian Kong

• Royal Caribbean’s Whale Watching (Puerto Vallarta): Humpback whales migrate south in the winter along the Mexican coastline. This seasonal excursion onboard a 70-foot sailboat takes guests into Banderas Bay to look for the behemoth creatures; it’s a fun sail, even if you don’t spot whales. For ages 4 and older, $50-$67.

For children 9 and older:

• Carnival’s Palma Sola (Acapulco): One of the newest excursions offered in Acapulco is a tour through Palma Sola, a hillside archeological site with spectacular views overlooking the bay. Guests hike up more than 500 uneven, steep stone steps to view ancient petroglyphs. Even though this might not appeal to all children—our 12-year-old daughter was the only child to take this excursion on a recent cruise—it is a worthwhile educational experience to see the 3,000-year-old rock carvings. For ages 12 and older, $79.

• Princess’ Horseback Riding on the Beach (Cabo San Lucas): For horse lovers, there is no more idyllic ride than one on the beach. This excursion allows guests to meander on the sand and into the shallows on gentle animals that are appropriate for kids and for equestrian novices. For ages 12 and older, $72-$82.

• Disney’s Sea Kayak and Snorkel (Cabo San Lucas): Athletic families will enjoy kayaking through the choppy waves to Los Arcos, the iconic rock formations just off the coast of Cabo San Lucas. Kayakers stop at Playa del Amante (Lovers’ Beach), which is accessible only by boat, and snorkel in the clearest waters off the west coast of Mexico. (During the hottest summer months, be careful of jellyfish in the warm ocean; their stings generally aren’t serious but they can be extremely painful, especially to children.) For ages 10 and older, $49.

For teenagers only:

• Disney’s Teen Cruise (Puerto Vallarta): This sunset party cruise through Banderas Bay is only for teenagers (no parents allowed—but cruise line staffers go along as chaperones). Kids enjoy dancing, boisterous games and age-appropriate beverages. For ages 13-17, $45.

• Disney’s Surfin’ Safari (Cabo San Lucas): Small groups are taken to calm-water beaches within an hour of the port and learn to hang ten with a certified surfing instructor. This excursion is also chaperoned by cruise line staff, and parents may not tag along. For ages 13-17, $89.