How Holland America is changing the Mexican Riviera – and itself
From the archive. Published December 13, 2016. Ships, prices and port details may have changed since.
Sometimes, a good cruise is like a visit from an old friend. That’s the case for me this week as I cruise aboard Holland America Line’s gracious 1,916-guest Westerdam to the splendid Mexican Riviera on Mexico’s Pacific Coast.
I’ve been cruising to the Mexican Riviera for over a decade now. I’ve also been sailing with Holland America for the past eleven years, having amassed two-star Mariner status with the line long before I’d ever begun writing about cruising and cruise ships as a career. Both line and destination have changed in the intervening years. Fortunately, that change has been for the better.
A decade ago, the Mexican Riviera was overloaded with cruise ships. It wasn’t uncommon to have three – sometimes four – ships calling on Puerto Vallarta on a single day. Prices were low, the weather was hot, and for many cruisers on the West Coast, a voyage to the Mexican Riviera was one of the most cost-effective cruises they could take.
Walter Christen's insight
My wife and I have just recently talked about taking a cruise to the Mexican Riviera. She did this itinerary many years ago with friends before I had met her. Nice to see that the cruise ships are coming back to this location.
We have also started looking at cruise lines we have not sailed on before. Holland America has changed and has partnerships with America’s Test Kitchen, BBC Earth, and B.B. King's All-Star Band that make it an attractive option.
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