Pacific Mexico in Whale Season
18-25 February 2028
Roundtrip out of LA on Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas
Big Wildlife. Big Fun. Surprisingly Affordable.
In February 2028, we’re trading winter for warm Pacific sunshine as we sail south from Los Angeles to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta. We’ll soak up Mexico’s dramatic coastline, spend plenty of time enjoying the ship, and seek out some seriously epic wildlife encounters along the way, right in the heart of humpback whale season!
We wanted to do something a little different from our typical Caribbean sailing. Something affordable, wildlife-focused, ridiculously fun, and timed for one of the best marine wildlife seasons on Mexico’s Pacific coast. So we’re heading west for a 7-night Mexican Riviera adventure aboard Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas.
And yes, the WHALES are a very big part of why we chose this one. February puts us right in the middle of humpback whale season along this coastline, including peak season in Banderas Bay near Puerto Vallarta. We’ll be looking for private or very small-group excursions whenever possible so we can get away from the giant excursions and make the most of the wildlife opportunities. Humpbacks will be the headliners, but dolphins, sea lions, rays, sea turtles and seabirds can all be part of the experience too.
P.S. Yes, Navigator is family-friendly. But we’re sailing in February, after winter break and before spring break, so the odds are very much in our favor for a more grown-up crowd. Basically: all the fun, far fewer tiny humans.
Itinerary
Day 1 | Los Angeles
We sail from Los Angeles and head south along Mexico’s Pacific coast. Easy U.S. departure, no Caribbean repeat, and we’re officially off in search of whales, sunshine and a very different kind of Trevino Adventures cruise.
Day 2 | At Sea
First order of business: see just how much fun we can pack into a day at sea. Yes, we can absolutely behave like children on the waterslides, but there’s plenty of grown-up fun too. The adults-only Solarium, cocktails at The Lime & Coconut and Bamboo Room, live music, shows, the casino, ice skating, rock climbing and plenty of places to grab a drink and settle into vacation mode.
Day 3 | Cabo San Lucas
Welcome to serious whale country, with one hell of a backdrop. Cabo sits along a major winter humpback migration route at the southern tip of Baja, where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez. We’ll also get to see the dramatic granite formations of Land’s End, including the iconic Arch, with opportunities for whales, dolphins and sea lions along the way. This is exactly the kind of scenery-and-wildlife combination we wanted from this itinerary.
Day 4 | Mazatlán
Mazatlán is all about color, energy and classic Pacific Mexico. Think huge oceanfront promenade lined with beaches, bars, sculptures and Pacific views, cliff divers launching into the sea, colorful Old Mazatlán, parasailing, catamaran rides and plenty of ways to get out on the water. It’s a completely different vibe from Cabo and Puerto Vallarta, and that’s exactly what makes the stop fun.
Day 5 | Puerto Vallarta
This is the BIG whale day. February is peak humpback season in Banderas Bay, where whales gather to breed, give birth and raise their calves. We plan to seek out a private or very small-group whale-watching experience so we can make the absolute most of being here at exactly the right time of year. If there is a day on this trip when someone is likely to hear me screaming “WHALE!” from a small boat, this is it.
Day 6 | At Sea
After three port days, we have nowhere we need to be. Book a treatment at the spa, hang out in the adults-only Solarium, grab a long lunch, hit the casino, find a cocktail, catch a show or simply plant yourself somewhere with an ocean view and refuse to move for several hours.
Day 7 | At Sea
One more full day to enjoy the ship before we head home. Maybe we finally try whatever we skipped earlier in the week. Maybe we go back to the waterslides because apparently we are 12 now. Maybe it’s spa, cocktails, dinner and nightlife. The important thing is that nobody is making us get off the ship.
Day 8 | Los Angeles
Back in Los Angeles after a full week of Pacific Mexico, wildlife, ridiculous fun and hopefully a truly unreasonable number of whale sightings.
February is one of the best times of year to explore the Baja coast, when migrating whales are putting on an incredible show. Between sea days spent scanning the horizon, the chance of whale sightings right from the ship, and the opportunity to choose unforgettable wildlife excursions in Cabo, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta, this itinerary is about so much more than beaches.
Pricing
We currently have a limited number of Ocean View Balcony cabins held at our Trevino Adventures group rate:
Ocean View Balcony: $1,895.76 per cabin
Preferred-location Ocean View Balcony: $2,137.76 per cabin
Pricing is based on two people sharing a cabin and includes port taxes and fees. These prices are for the entire cabin, not per person.
Suites are also available starting at approximately $5,000 per cabin
based on double occupancy. Royal Caribbean offers several suite categories, so I’m happy to provide a quote based on what you are looking for.
A $500 deposit per cabin secures your reservation. The deposit is non-refundable.
PLEASE BE SURE YOU HAVE A PASSPORT VALID 6 MONTHS PAST YOUR TRIP END DATE.
Inclusions
Your cruise fare includes your seven-night accommodations, meals in Royal Caribbean’s complimentary dining venues, onboard entertainment and shows, access to the pools and hot tubs, and many of the ship’s activities and amenities.
Navigator of the Seas also has several complimentary dining options, including the Main Dining Room, Windjammer Marketplace, Café Promenade and El Loco Fresh. Specialty restaurants, alcoholic beverages, internet, excursions, and other optional purchases are additional.
Gratuities are additional and are currently $18.50 per guest, per day for standard cabins and $21.00 per guest, per day for suites.
Royal Caribbean often runs sales on drink packages, internet, specialty dining and other onboard extras. As we get closer to sailing, I’ll keep an eye on those offers and let everyone know when there are good opportunities to book at a discount.
TRAVEL FAM INFO HUB
In the coming months, I’ll launch a dedicated Travel Fam Info Hub web page just for this trip. As we get closer to sailing, I’ll keep it updated with helpful guidance on flights, packing, travel insurance, excursions, pre-cruise planning and all the little details that help you get the absolute most out of the adventure.
It’ll be your go-to place for trip updates, planning resources and everything you’ll want to know before we set sail.
