Carnival Kicks Off New Year-Round Cruises to Mexican Riviera Gene Sloan - USA Today
go to original October 5, 2014

Industry giant Carnival is officially back in the business of year-round sailings to the Mexican Riviera.

The 24-ship line's 2,124-passenger Carnival Miracle this weekend is kicking off the first of a new year-round series of seven-night voyages to the region from Long Beach, California.

The ship will operate three different seven-night itineraries that include a three-port voyage that stops in Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta. A second, two-port itinerary will pair a stop in Cabo San Lucas with a two-day overnight stay in Puerto Vallarta. The third itinerary pairs a visit to Puerto Vallarta with a two-day call at Cabo San Lucas.

Carnival last offered year-round sailings to the Mexican Riviera in 2012. The Carnival Miracle has sailed to the region seasonally since then but has spent part of the year in Alaska.

The Carnival Miracle is joining two other Carnival ships — the Carnival Imagination and Carnival Inspiration — in sailing year-round out of Long Beach. The latter vessels operate what the line calls Baja cruises: short three- and four-day trips that include a call in Ensenada, Mexico and, in some cases, Catalina.

The Carnival Miracle will be the first major cruise ship to visit Cabo San Lucas in the wake of Hurricane Odile. It'll arrive in the port on Monday and bring several pallets of bottled water, canned food and other supplies for local residents affected by the storm's damage.

For more information and reservations, visit Carnival.