Mexican Riviera Cruise News

Families who want to cruise the Pacific Coast of Mexico should be aware of several changes coming up over the next year. While several cruise lines are moving ships out of LA and San Diego, there are still many choices for 3 to 10 night sailings in the Mexican Riviera and Baja California, and a special new arrival!

Who’s Leaving

Royal Caribbean announced that they are pulling the Mariner of the Seas out of LA in January, ending the cruise line’s presence in the Mexican Riviera. The Voyager class ship had been offering year round cruises to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta, the classic “Mexican Riviera” cruise itinerary, for just over a year.

Norwegian Cruise Line also announced they will no longer sail seasonally out of LA beginning in 2011.

Carnival is discontinuing 7 night Mexico cruises out of San Diego, and will offer instead alternating 5 and 9 night cruises from December to May. Both Carnival Spirit sailings will include a single, two-day stop in Cabo San Lucas, and the longer cruise will include a stop in La Paz. (I am happy to hear about the extra day in Cabo. One day has never been adequate because of it being a tender port. Now cruise passengers will have more time to enjoy this pretty and unique location.)

The Carnival Elation, which was also based in San Diego, is scheduled to leave the city later this month.

Who’s Staying

Carnival is keeping two ships in LA year-round: The Paradise which offers 3 and 4 night Baja California sailings, and the Splendor, offering 7 night voyages

Princess and Holland America cruise lines will continue to offer 7 day seasonal sailings to the Mexican Riviera out of LA and San Diego, respectively.


For families seeking a luxury cruise, Crystal Cruise Line offers traditional 7 night cruises out of LA, as well as 10 day cruises which include La Paz, Loreto, and Topolobampo.

And when Disney Cruise Line adds their third ship to the fleet in 2011, the Wonder will be moved to LA to operate 7 night sailings April to December as well. Families can a few days pre- or post-cruise at the Disneyland Resort for a great land and sea vacation!

For more information about family crusing, contact Suzette Mack, Family Travel Specialist, at suzette@family-treks.com.

A Family's Most Memorable Vacation

I have a client who has been booking trips with me for many years. She tries to take at least one family vacation each year, and spends a reasonable amount of money. She does not book luxurious trips, but not bargain basement ones, either. She is not wealthy by any means; in fact, several times she had to wait to make her reservations until she had enough money saved up. Whenever she got some extra money, such as a tax refund, she called me to plan another trip. Some might consider that a bit irresponsible, but family vacations were a priority for her.

A few years ago, she took a Caribbean cruise with her husband and two boys. This was a trip funded on an unexpected windfall. They had a great time, came back with wonderful pictures. Talked about how they couldn’t wait to go on another cruise together.

Four months later, her husband died in a tragic accident. He was young, fit, healthy, someone you would expect to be around for a long time. Their two boys were still in school. Of course, the family was devastated.

A few months later, I saw her after she returned to work. Pictures of their cruise were on display in her office. I had wondered since the accident if she regretted spending the money now that finances were going to be even tighter for her as a single mom.

Instead, she told me how thankful she was that they chose to use the money for the cruise, and that they were always talking about how much fun they had. It was very comforting for her sons to look at the pictures and know they had that wonderful time with their dad in the last few months of his life. Those memories were helping them cope with their loss. It was a rough time, but they would pull through, and she was eager to plan another trip to keep their life as normal as possible.

Of course, we all try to spend as much quality time with our kids as we can, and in our busy schedules, it often means fitting in a game of mini-golf or spending an afternoon at the beach. But there’s something special about going away together. It allows families to really focus on one another, without day to day distractions getting in the way. (I know I am not the only mom who can’t help thinking “When I get home I need to ...” or “What I am going to make for dinner tonight?” during my “quality time.”)

I certainly don’t advocate anyone spending beyond their means for a family vacation. It can be as simple as a weekend camping trip. The point is to have a change of scenery, and to have nothing on your schedule but enjoying each other’s company. Your kids will love you for it.

Now go away.

Half Off for the Half-Pints

The following resorts are offering 50% off a second room for children:

Hotel Plaza Athenee, New York City * Virtuoso *
In March, July and August, the hotel offers 50% off a second connecting room, continental breakfast daily, four tickets to the Central Park Zoo, and milk and cookies at turndown. Chidlren also receive a gift bag containing a coloring book, plush toy penguin, Yankees baseball cap or crystal bracelet and more. Read about our family vacation last summer!


Fairmont Southampton, Bermuda * Virtuoso *

Children also enjoy complimentary access to Explorers Kids Camp and kids under the 12 eat free from the children’s menu. Book by April 26 for travel through Dec. 31. Also includes Virtuoso amenities on the first room: upgrade on arrival (subject to availability), daily full breakfast for two, and $100 food & beverage credit.

Four Seasons Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo * Virtuoso *

Second room half off for travel April 8 through December 17, excluding Thanksgiving week. Preferred Partner amenities for the parents’ room include daily full American breakfast for two, a $100 golf credit, and complimentary upgrade, based on availability at time of check-in. And Kids for All Seasons Program is always free, at all Four Seasons resorts.

Westin St. John Resort & Villas, USVI
Offers 50% off second room for stays June 1 through August 31, if booked by May 31. Also $200 worth of resort credits for mom and dad. Book by May 31 for stays June 1 through August 31, 2010.

Grand Hyatt Kauai *Virtuoso *
Families can combine Sunshine on Sale promotion with the Family Plan, to receive both a 5th night free and a second room at 50% off. Offer valid through 2010, minimum 5 night stay required. (Read my hotel report.)

Ritz-Carlton Cancun * Virtuoso *

Ther Love & Family Package allows kids to have a special evening of their own at the Kids Camp while parents still away for a romantic candlelight dinner for two. In addition to 50% off the second room, families receive daily breakfast for two, beach toys, a five course dinner for two, and one Kids Night Out for up to two children.

For help with planning a great family vacation, contact Suzette Mack at suzette@family-treks.com.

Don't Be Tripped Up by Travel Insurance

It’s not only a waste of money to pay too much for travel insurance, but if it's the wrong type of policy, a family can still end up losing their entire vacation investment should they have to cancel a trip unexpectedly. And as I have pointed out before, often the insurance provided by a travel supplier, such as an airline or cruise line, is not the best choice for travelers.

As with any purchase, the keys are to know what you need, and understand what you are buying. That means actually reading through the policy so that you understand what is and isn't covered, rather than assuming it will cover you ‘no matter what.’ The most common mistake I see travelers make is purchasing insurance because they have a specific concern, such as a family member who is ill, or an uncertain employment situation, but the policy they chose specifically excluded these situations. Hurricane coverage is also frequently misunderstood. Your resort may offer a "Hurricane Guarantee" but they are certainly not going to reimburse you for missed flights!

To avoid purchasing the wrong policy, read through the list of benefits to verify that they cover anything that might cause you to cancel your trip. (This type of detail may not be in the brochure. You need to find a dcoument called Description of Coverage, Schedule of Benefits, etc.) For example, a basic policy may not offer coverage for work-related reasons, which is often needed by lawyers, doctors, and business owners. This is where insurance sold by travel suppliers may fall short, and they usually charge more to boot! But with a third party insurance policy, you can purchase an inexpensive upgrade which will provide this additional coverage.

It helps to understand insurance terminology, and many policies provide a glossary. Important definitions to check are “trip delay,” “trip interruption,” “family member,” and “pre-existing condition.” For example, does trip delay coverage start after 3, 5, or 12 hours? Is flight cancellation due to inclement weather covered, or just for mechanical problems? Does the policy cover non-related traveling companions and domestic partners?

Here’s one scenario I learned about recently. Let’s say a group of friends who are not related book a cruise together, and purchase insurance. A few weeks before the trip, when most of the cruise fare is nonrefundable, one family has to cancel due to a medical emergency. Their insurance policy covers them, but can the rest of the group also cancel and get a refund? If they purchased the cruise line insurance, probably not. However, if they had purchased a third party travel insurance policy which includes coverage for traveling companions, then the rest of the group could cancel as well.

No matter how you book your vacation, consult a professional when buying travel insurance. Any travel agent should be happy to help you sort through the various options to select the policy that is right for your family. For more information, contact Suzette Mack at suzette@family-treks.com.

A Girls' Getaway to San Francisco

San Francisco is a fun city to spend a few hours or a few nights, a perfect destination for a girls' getaway weekend. And when "the girls" are mother and daughter, it makes for great memories.

Recently, my daughter and I spent a night in the city along with a group of friends. Our "home" for the evening: the fun and hip Hotel Triton. The location couldn't have been more convenient. Out the door to the left was the Union Square shopping district. To the right was the gate to Chinatown. Across the street was a Starbucks, and right next door was Café de la Press which had great breakfast and pastries. And cable car stops were just a short walk away.

As soon as you walk into the lobby of the hotel, you know it's a special place. The whimsical decor, bright colors, and wall murals pay homage to pop art culture. It's the kind of place where you notice new details on every visit, and there are fun surprises, too, like Dr. Seuss books on the lobby tables one morning. We were all impressed with the staff, who were warm, friendly, and eager to go the extra mile for their guests. I half expected eye-rolling when they saw a group of 10 year old girls march in the door, but they went out of their way to accommodate us, such as having plenty of juice and soft drinks on hand for the complimentary manager's reception in the evening.

Since there were just two of us, we had a standard room with two double beds. Though on the small side, typical for a boutique city hotel, the details were impressive. A beautiful vanity lined with mirrors, custom glass light fixtures, fun wall art, a checkerboard shower stall, and, much to the girls' delight, zebra print robes in the closet. And if that's not enough, the Hotel Triton welcomes pets, and has also been widely recognized for its eco-friendly practices. Harper's Bazaar named it the best hotel in San Francisco: "a happening and unique escape from the mundane."

For families, I'd recommend the specially themed Häagen-Dazs Suite. It has a king bed, sofabed, and room for a rollaway, so it can comfortably sleep up to four. And the best part: all the ice cream you can eat. There is even a stocked freezer in the room! (The hotel also has two other Celebrity Suites: Kathy Griffin and Jerry Garcia.)

Hotel Triton is a member of the Kimpton Hotels group, which offers a great selection of accommodations in many cities across the country. They all offer the Kimpton Kids program, with special amenities and services for families.

There are lots of activities for all ages in San Francisco. On our trip, we strolled through Chinatown, saw the musical Wicked, and visited the King Tut exhibit at the De Young Museum in Golden Gate Park. If we had more time, some other activities kids love are a cruise on the bay, a tour of Alcatraz, walking across the Golden Gate Bridge, and shopping and eating on Fisherman's Wharf. And many other northern California attractions are an easy drive away, including beautiful coastline, giant redwoods, and wine country.

For more information about planning a great family vacation, contact Suzette Mack at suzette@family-treks.com.

Family Trip Report: Gran Melia Puerto Rico

A family recently visited Puerto Rico with their children ages 4 and 7. She rented a car for her trip, as there are many fun and interesting places to explore on the island, including El Yunque Rainforest, Old San Juan (a UNESCO World Heritage site), and Rio Camuy Cave Park. (Click here to receive a Puerto Rico Nature and Adventure guide.)

Here are some of her comments about the resort:

"The Gran Melia Resort was nice. The common areas were beautiful. We enjoyed our stay. All the staff we interacted with were welcoming and friendly.

The pool area was excellent! There are 4 pools at the resort. One is a separate kiddie pool for babies - maybe 1' deep. Another is the main resort pool, which is a huge pool shaped like an amoeba. Within the huge pool, there are several parts that are very shallow - families can take their pick from at least 3 different areas of the pool that are shallow (anywhere from 12 inches or so up to 3 feet deep). There is no water slide, and there are no hot tubs or jacuzzis in the pool area - only jetted sections of the pool. There is a 3rd pool which is for Royal Service guests only and is strictly for adults. Finally there is a pool at the spa.

The room itself was comfortable and spacious. It had a separate sitting area. We had a Royal Service room which was in one of the closer buildings to the main resort area. The room decor and overall feel was nice...marble vanities, nice bedding.

Families who stay at the Gran Melia should know that there is a beach but it is very rocky and there is a lot of seaweed. The good news is that nice beaches are very close. Luquillo Beach is 15 minutes away, and Seven Seas Beach (in Fajardo) is 20-25 minutes away. We went to Seven Seas beach and it was gorgeous.

The best meal of our vacation was actually a homestyle Puerto Rican meal at El Punto in Old San Juan. It was a tiny restaurant with maybe 4 tables, tucked in the back of a souvenir-shop alley. Their rice and beans were excellent. We also enjoyed the Brass Cactus in Luquillo, which serves Southwestern cuisine and is owned by a California native. "

It's not too late to plan a great vacation, and many promotions are available for summer travel to the Caribbean. And remember, no passports are required for Puerto Rico!

To receive a Nature and Adventure guide for Puerto Rico, or for help with planning great family vacation to any destination, contact Suzette Mack, Family Travel Specialist, at suzette@family-treks.com.

On Vacation, Happy Kids = Happy Parents

My friends told me it would happen, and I heard about it happening to others. But I never actually thought it would happen to us. I guess I had been in denial, I was sure this was not something that my family would go through. We planned ahead, and carefully raised our kids to avoid this problem. Things were going to be different for us!

Alas, we were wrong. On our last trip, it happened. We heard what every parent dreads: “I’m bored.” “Why didn't we just stay home!” I cringed as these words came out of my 12 year old son’s mouth.

Now granted, this was not one of our “big” vacations. It was just an overnight getaway only a few hours from home. I had been frustrated that we had not spent much time enjoying the tourist attractions right in our own backyard. So when we had a free holiday weekend, we took a quick trip up to Pt. Reyes and Tomales Bay, just north of San Francisco. I was looking forward to a fun family adventure: we could visit a spot along the San Andreas fault where it ruptured in 1906, see a beautiful stretch of California coastline, and also go whale-watching. What’s not to like? First stop, the visitor center, and a short interpretive trail along the fault line. The complaints started rolling in: “I hate these trails!” “ Dad’s going to want to stop & read every sign!” “It’s so boring!” “I want to go to a beach!” Given that we had experienced several earthquakes recently, I thought the kids would really be into this. But even my daughter, who’s usually very enthusiastic, had a frown on her face. Apparently the recent quakes had the opposite effect: she was worried that the ground was going to open up right beneath our feet and she couldn’t wait to get back to the car.
Next stop, the Pt. Reyes Lighthouse. But getting there required going to another visitor center to purchase bus tickets, and then waiting for the bus. We were at a pretty beach, so both kids’ eyes lit up and they asked, “Can we go play in the sand?” Well, of course the answer was "No," as we had to get on a bus, so now there was more grumbling and moaning. I was really getting worried that our “fun family outing” wasn’t going to be so fun.

Finally we arrived at the lighthouse, which is exceptionally picturesque perched at the bottom of a very steep cliff. Steep as in over 300 steps almost straight down! This time I was the one not so enthusiastic, trying to decide whether going down or up was going to be more painful. But things were looking up for my kids, who couldn’t wait to race down the stairs. Now I was hearing “Cool!” and “Wow!” The situation was looking better!

From the lighthouse, we started scanning the horizon for whale spouts. "This could be ugly," I thought, “If we don’t see a whale I will never get these kids out here again.” A few minutes later, a shout of “There’s one!” and the kids were hooked. No more complaints the rest of the afternoon. On the bus ride back to our car, the kids happily talked about the day, and kept an eye out for more wildlife, including elk, deer, and hawks.

Whew! We dodged a bullet on this trip, though I see that it may take a bit more work to keep my kids engaged as they grow older. I need to be sure that we budget time for the little things they enjoy most, like playing on the beach. And any opportunity to see wildlife is a sure hit.

There is more good news. My son told me last night he wants to see the fossils at the La Brea Tar Pits – music to my ears!

For help with planning your next family adventure, contact Suzette Mack at suzette@family-treks.com.