From Southern California, it’s a short haul by sea to the storied western shores of Mexico. Leaving Los Angeles and San Diego, cruise ships ply the gentle Pacific along the same routes as the gray whales that make their annual migratory journeys between Alaska and the lagoons of Baja California. Yes, you will likely see whales on your Mexican Riviera cruise, particularly if you sail during the peak winter months. And you’ll have ample opportunity on and off the ship: Whale-watching excursions are offered throughout the region.

Rich in history and natural wonders, Western Mexico is primarily a fall, winter and spring cruise destination, though some ships offer Baja itineraries year-round from Los Angeles. Western Mexico sailings typically are offered as either Mexican Rivera (which require one week or longer) or Baja (primarily short sailings from Los Angeles).

Mexican Riviera cruises feature resort destinations and Spanish Colonial cities such as Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo (the two cities are only four miles apart and are referred to as one, a mouthful to pronounce, no doubt) and Acapulco.

Baja cruises call on cities along the 800-mile, semi-arrid peninsula flanked by the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. Primary ports are Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas (also a port of call on Mexican Riviera cruises).

Though Southern California serves up a variety of Mexican Riviera itineraries and ships, there are also Mexico cruises from San Francisco. The more popular departure points, however, are from Los Angeles and San Diego. Los Angeles cruises depart from either San Pedro or Long Beach. Both are about 20 miles from Los Angeles International Airport. If you’re a cruise ship buff, be sure to visit the Queen Mary Hotel, near the cruise ship terminal at Long Beach, the departure point for many Carnival cruises. Have a drink at the hotel bar or dine at one of the restaurants.

San Diego cruises depart from downtown. You could practically heave your luggage from the airport to the cruise terminal, a five-minute taxi ride away (see our port guide to San Diego for further information).

Almost all of the major cruise lines offer western Mexico cruises from one of these two cities.

Most are standard fare but of varying lengths, from two-, three-, four- and five-day Baja cruises from Los Angeles to seven-day, 10-day and longer cruises from Los Angeles and San Diego.

From San Diego and Los Angeles, it’s a short journey by sea to the storied cities and sites along Mexico’s western shore.

A Mexico cruise is where Tecate (one of the national beers) and tequila meet marine life and cacti — and where seven- and 10-day sailings expose travelers not only to marine wonders but also to Mexican culture. Mixed among such shoreside activities as swimming with dolphins and sport-fishing are cooking classes where participants learn to make six types of salsa before being instructed in salsa dancing.Rich in history and natural wonders, Mexico is primarily a fall, winter and spring cruise destination, though some ships offer Baja itineraries year-round. Cruises in Mexico typically are offered as either Mexican Rivera (which require one week or longer) or Baja (primarily short sailings from San Diego or Los Angeles).

Mexican Riviera cruises feature resort destinations and Spanish Colonial cities such as Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo (the two cities are only four miles apart and are referred to as one, a mouthful to pronounce, no doubt) and Acapulco.

Baja cruises call on cities along the 800-mile, semi-arrid peninsula flanked by the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. Primary ports are Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas (also a port of call on Mexican Riviera cruises).

Typically along the way, passengers see lots of marine life, as ships ply the Pacific using the same channels as the gray whales that make migratory journeys between Alaska and the warm lagoons of Baja each year. Because of its abundant marine life, in fact, the western coast of Mexico has been compared to Alaska.

Yes, you will likely see whales on your Mexico cruise vacation, particularly if you sail during the peak winter months. And you’ll have ample opportunity on and off the ship: Whale-watching excursions are offered throughout the region.

In a conference call to Wall Street analysts Carnival Corporation CEO Micky Arison said, “We have started tweaking pricing on a variety of brands.”

Read: Prices are increasing. However, some incredible deals are still to be found.

Despite the global economic slowdown, nearly 20 million people chose to cruise in 2008, a healthy increase of 7.9 percent growth over 2007 that contributed to the five-year growth rate of 6.9 percent, according to reseach by Shippax Information.

The Caribbean continues to be the largest market for cruising, representing one-third of the passengers who cruise. However, the European cruise destinations, particularly the Mediterranean but also the Baltic and Northern Europe, showed some nice growth and may be overtaking the Caribbean.

The economy did have an impact on orders for new ships, which were low at just seven. However, with annual and long-term growth trends such as these, it would seem that the cruise lines are being understandably cautious and will probably place orders for magnificent new ships once the economic picture appears more stable.

Highlighting the entertainment and enrichment roster, John Cleese will sail with the Silver Spirit on the segment from Buenos Aires to Santiago starting Feb. 20. A writer, actor and comedian, Cleese is probably best known for his madcap television work on Monty Python’s Flying Circus and the series Fawlty Towers. Cleese will share insights and anecdotes from his long career and will entertain guests.

For the trip from Los Angeles to New York starting April 2, Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, the first female Astronaut to walk in space and a veteran of three space shuttle missions, will provide her perspective on her space career during the voyage.

The Silver Spirit will depart Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 21. The voyage will take her down one side of South America and up the other, to the Mexican Riviera and through the Panama Canal before heading back up the Atlantic Coast to finish in New York. During the 91-day voyage, she will explore more than 20 countries and 45 ports. Of course, travelers who would like to see the new ship can sign up for any one of several shorter segments if they cannot commit to the full three-month adventure.

For guests who can sail 70 or more days, Silversea has arranged four complimentary onshore events to kindle the spirit of celebration:

**Naming Ceremony Gala — In Fort Lauderdale, on January 20, the evening before departing on the Grand Inaugural Voyage, guests will enjoy a welcoming gala dinner and overnight accommodations aboard Silver Spirit. The following day, guests are invited to attend the Naming Ceremony festivities including a special VIP luncheon.

**Spirit Cup Polo Match — During the ship’s call in Barbados on January 30, a special polo match has been arranged for Grand Inaugural Voyage guests. Spectators can cheer on two fast-paced chukkas (a seven-minute playing period), have some fun “stomping the divots” (a tradition of smoothing the field) while sipping champagne, and at the end of the match applaud the victorious team as they are awarded the Spirit Cup.

**Carnaval! — The centerpiece of this Grand Inaugural Voyage is the ship’s arrival in Rio de Janeiro on February 14, at the height of Carnaval. Following an early dinner, guests will have the chance to experience the magic of the Rio Carnaval parade from prime seats reserved for them at the Sambadrome. The atmosphere promises to be electric, the floats and colorful costumes spectacular and the thousands of dancers and drummers passionate as they exert every ounce of energy in competition with rival samba schools.

**Panama Hat Party — The historic and picturesque city of Montecristi, birthplace of the original Panama hat, is the setting for an event arranged exclusively for Silversea guests during the March 16 visit to Manta, Ecuador. Guests will experience the unique culture of this colonial town as they enjoy local dances and demonstrations of hat-making by master weavers. As a memento, each guest will receive a traditional hat rolled into the customary balsa wood box.

Additionally, all guests aboard the Grand Inaugural Voyage will enjoy three complimentary Silversea Experiences including an innovative children’s ballet performance at the grand Teatro José de Alencar in Fortaleza, Brazil; a visit to one of the world’s largest Magellanic penguin colonies, home to thousands of penguins, near Camarones, Argentina; and a delightful folkloric presentation of dances that portray the history of Panama, staged at one of the country’s most treasured landmarks, the National Theater of Panama, during the ship’s call in Fort Amador.

Additional services and amenities available to guests sailing 70 or more days aboard the Grand Inaugural Voyage include complimentary perks such as private car transfers, luggage forwarding service, business class air upgrade, a commemorative gift, and Onboard Spending Credits of up to $2,000 per suite.

The $100-a-day spending credit is available to families that book verandah staterooms.This special offer is available on most Disney Cruise Line itineraries, including three-, four- and seven-night sailings to the Bahamas and the Caribbean. Guests may use the onboard spending credit to treat themselves and their family members to special indulgences, including rejuvenating spa treatments at the Vista Spa and Salon, shore excursions at ports of call, shopping onboard the ship and at Castaway Cay, and purchasing keepsake photos at Shutters.

Offer valid on most sailings for the next two months:

• Seven-night cruises: June 20 to Aug. 8, 2009

• Four-night cruises: June 28 to Aug. 9, 2009

• Three-night cruises: June 25 to Aug. 6, 2009

The Disney Channel stars, who may be well known to the teens and pre-teens who enjoy that programming, are scheduled to appear on eight special sailings during the first-ever “Disney Channel Summer at Sea.” During the special sailings — three- and four-night Bahamian cruises taking place July 9 through Aug. 2 — Disney Channel stars will participate in onboard deck parties, join guests for Q & A and autograph sessions, preview screenings of Disney Channel programming and participate in live musical performances.
Participating Disney Channel stars include Roshon Fegan from “Camp Rock” (July 9-12, July 12-16), Chelsea Staub from “Camp Rock” (July 23-26, July 26-30), Oleysa Rulin from “High School Musical” (July 16-19, July 19-23), musical act KSM (July 30-Aug. 2),  Mitchel Musso from “Hannah Montana” (July 19-23), Jason Earles from “Hannah Montana” (July 16-19, July 19-23), Tiffany Thornton from “Sonny With A Chance” (July 9-12, July 12-16), Alyson Stoner from “Camp Rock” (Aug. 2-6), and Debby Ryan from “The Suite Life on Deck” (July 30-Aug. 2).
Go ahead. The kids will love it.

Several lines are planning to resume their scheduled visits to Mexican ports. Among them, Royal Caribbean will resume port calls to Mexico on voyages departing after May 24 for the Enchantment of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, and the Liberty of the Seas. While Royal Caribbean resumes its regularly scheduled programming to Mexico, other cruise lines were only passing through; quite a few ships were actually diverted from Mexican ports during repositioning cruises to Alaska, and they will not be back to Mexico until the fall. For instance, Princess Cruises had six ships that were set to visit Mexico on their way to Alaska, and all of them are cruising the great north already or will start doing so this week. The same is true of five ships that Holland America Line was moving to Alaska for the summer season.

Don’t forget your passport, even if you are an American cruising to your friendly neighbors in Canada, the Caribbean or Mexico. New rules require passports, and your border crossings are likely to go smoother, too. It may sound counterintuitive, but officials say that border crossings actually move along faster when passports are required, and as of June 1, passports – or the new passport ID card – will be required for returning Carribean, Mexico and Canada cruise passengers, even U.S. citizens.

These changes represent the second phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative that started in 2007. The only exceptions are travelers returning on a “closed-loop cruise,” which is defined as a Western Hemisphere itinerary that starts and ends at the same port. In these situations, a birth certificate or drivers license will suffice, although it seems that it would be wisest to carry a passport

Good news for family cruising as shipyard construction continues in Germany on two new ships for Disney Cruise Line, and the first pieces of steel — including a mouse silhouette, appropriately enough — have been cut and are being assembled.

The Disney Dream is set to debut in 2011, and when the Disney Fantasy sets sail in 2012, the Disney fleet will be up to four ships. At 128,000 tons and with 1,250 staterooms, the new ships will be larger than the original Disney twins, Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, which have been cruising for a bit more than a decade.

The new ships are specifically designed with families in mind, and they will both have areas and activities for the entire family together and each member individually. In other words, there will be lots of fun things to do.

We feel this is a significant advance for family cruising as few travel products are more highly rated by families than Disney cruises. They get it right.

In 2011, when the Disney Dream is scheduled to arrive, the Disney Wonder will be repositioned to home port in Los Angeles. Disney has been scheduling Mexican Riviera cruises out of Los Angeles for two previous summer seasons, with pre- and post-cruise land vacation options available at Disney Land. Caribbean cruises are frequently paired with trips to Disney World and other Florida theme parks.

I’ve been corresponding with Bonnie Childs while on Regent Seven Seas Mariner. Many of you know Bonnie. She’s one of the extremely dedicated cruise consultants for Cruise Specialists. She’s also a dedicated grandmother, and she knows a thing or two about cruising with families, as she’s cruised with her own family. Yesterday, Bonnie shared this cute story with me about cruising with her grandsons.

Not long ago, she and her husband picked up their grandchildren in Tucson and drove to San Diego for a Mexican Riviera cruise (Bonnie didn’t say, but I’m betting they were on a Holland America Line ship).

The children’s program was excellent, and the grandchildren had a great time. As proof, Bonnie still has a little note from her grandson Drew.

“Thank you for the cruise. It was the best experience in my
life (but I am only eight). I’ll always think about it. My favorite
part was the Ice Cream bar!!! Love Drew.”

Bonnie says she keeps that little note by her desk, because she thinks it “says it all” about the special experiences families can have when cruising.

Cruises offer a lot of “kid centric time,” when kids can be with other kids in the children’s programs, and a lot of family time, when the entire family comes together, especially for dinner, even on formal night.

Formal night can be fun for kids. Her grandsons dressed to the high nines, proud to be in their tuxes and “shiny shoes.” They felt so grown up and sophisticated, Bonnie says.

As someone who values a quality family experience herself, Bonnie is extremely committed to helping her clients get the best experience they can on their cruises. She says she listens carefully to her customers and qualifies them to put them on the ship she knows they’ll be most happy on.

It’s because of the dedication of people like Bonnie that business at Cruise Specialists remains brisk and strong. Despite the downturn in the economy, the phones are ringing constantly. “Sometimes people hesitate for a little while, and maybe they will take a shorter cruise,” Bonnie says, “but then they realize they that they really want to travel and they find the funds.” (My own philosophy is don’t delay living your life: travel and enjoy.)

To gain first-hand knowledge of the ships, Bonnie tries to get on every cruise that she can and confesses, “My last cruise is nearly always my favorite.”

She’ll never have to go alone, as there’s always a willing companion. If you have any doubt of that, you simply need to read the postscript on that note from her grandson. It reads:

“P.S. if you ever think about taking me on a cruise, please do!”

There’s no better music to Bonnie’s ears.

Editor’s Note: Yesterday, by the way, I met a family of four doing Regent’s whole world cruise. The kids, ages 11 and 14, are being home – er, ship-schooled. What an education. Drew, are you reading this?

Where Tecate and tequila meet whales and cactus.

Fifteen nautical miles off the coast of Baja California, Holland America Line’s Oosterdam is making 21 knots toward San Diego. For the more than 1,800 passengers on board, seven days of ocean cruising ends tomorrow. The excitement on the last full day at sea, however, is as palpable as it has been on preceding days. Dolphin and whale sightings send spectators scurrying to the over-sized windows in Windstar Cafe, the ship’s coffee and pastry shop. Each time a whale blows its spray, a chorus of oohs and aahs competes against the steamy hiss of the espresso machine.

An alternative to Caribbean cruising, the Mexican Riviera is where Tecate (one of the national beers) and tequila meet whales and cacti –and where seven- and 10-day sailings expose travelers not only to marine wonders but also to Mexican culture. Mixed among such shoreside activities as swimming with dolphins and sport-fishing are cooking classes where participants learn to make six types of salsa before being instructed in salsa dancing.

Increasingly also, cruisers are getting away from the docks and into the interior. “As popular as the ocean is, Cabo’s desert side is getting more attention,” says Sunny Irvine, a tour operator in Cabo San Lucas. Rounding Cabo, some ships even head up into the Sea of Cortez to call at Loreto and La Paz as well as the melodic-sounding Topolobampo, where cruisers can jump ship to explore scenic Copper Canyon by train. Cruise ships sail roundtrip from Los Angeles and San Diego fall through spring to explore Mexico’s Riviera.

One of the highest-rated shore excursions in Mazatlan, Mexico, Salsa and Salsa combines cooking and dancing. First, learn to make six different types of Salsa, then learn to dance the Salsa. Available on Princess Cruises, Holland America Line and others.