13 nights · California · Departs San Diego (USA) · Visiting Cabo San Lucas, Loreto, Guaymas, Topolobampo, La Paz, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, Ensenada · Aboard Holland America on the ms Zaandam
Image courtesy of Holland America ©
| Cruise line | Holland America |
|---|---|
| Ship | ms Zaandam |
| Duration | 13 nights |
| Port calls | 10 |
| Departures | 1 sailings |
| From fare | $1,454 per person |
| Year built | 2000 |
| Guests | 1718 |
| Cabins | 716 |
| Crew | 647 |
| Length | 202 m |
| Beam | 32 m |
| Cruising speed | 23.0 kn |
San Diego makes an easy first impression: a working harbor, sunlit waterfront and Pacific air. From the cruise terminal, the USS Midway Museum and lively Embarcadero are close at hand. Balboa Park brings world-class museums, gardens and the San Diego Zoo together in one grand setting. In the Gaslamp Quarter, Victorian façades frame restaurants and bars. Nearby neighborhoods reveal Mexican heritage and coastal ease.
Cabo San Lucas sits at the tip of Baja California Sur, where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez. Cruise ships anchor offshore, and tenders bring you to a lively marina lined with cafés, fishing boats and shops. From the marina, water taxis reach El Arco, the sculpted granite landmark at Land’s End. Beyond it, beaches and desert trails reveal a quieter side of Cabo. Choose a boat trip, fresh seafood or a day in the sun.
On Baja California’s east coast, Loreto pairs a compact colonial town with the wide blue of the Sea of Cortez. Founded by Jesuit missionaries in 1697, it became the first successful mission settlement in the Californias. Visit the mission museum before boarding a boat for Loreto Bay National Park. Its desert islands shelter clear water and abundant marine life. Winter and spring bring chances to see migrating whales; calm coves invite kayaking and snorkeling.
Guaymas puts you on Sonora’s coast, where the desert meets the waters of the Gulf of California. At the working harbor, fishing boats land the shrimp and fish that define local menus. Explore the compact center, then head to San Carlos for broad beaches and views of Tetakawi peak. Here, a day ashore can move from harborfront streets to quiet coves without losing sight of the sea.
Topolobampo is a working port on the Gulf of California, where fishing boats and ferries share a sheltered bay. Los Mochis, about 25 kilometres inland, is the western terminus of the Chepe Express. The railway climbs into the Sierra Madre Occidental toward Copper Canyon, trading the coast for high mountain country. Fresh seafood and a small-port pace make a welcome counterpoint to the journey inland.
La Paz, capital of Baja California Sur, faces the Sea of Cortez, where desert hills meet clear, island-dotted water. Along the Malecón, cafés and galleries offer an easy introduction to this relaxed Mexican city. Nearby Balandra is famed for pale sand and shallow turquoise bays; access is regulated to protect its fragile landscape. In season, guided trips may bring close encounters with whale sharks in the bay.
On Mexico’s Pacific coast, Mazatlán remains a working port as well as a resort city. Its appeal lies in the contrast: broad beaches and a lively seafront meet a carefully restored historic center. Walk the Malecón, then head inland to Plazuela Machado, the Angela Peralta Theater, and the cathedral. Come for the Pacific light; stay long enough to see a city shaped by trade, fishing, and Mexican life.
Puerto Vallarta sits between the Sierra Madre mountains and Banderas Bay. That setting brings jungle-clad slopes, broad beaches and memorable Pacific views. Begin in the historic center, where cobbled streets lead to the landmark Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Follow the Malecón, a seafront promenade lined with sculptures, cafés and galleries. For a taste of the coast, settle in for fresh seafood and watch the bay.
Manzanillo sits on Mexico’s Pacific coast, where two sheltered bays frame a working port and palm-lined beaches. Its waterfront is shaped by fishing boats, cargo ships and the pursuit of sailfish, a local emblem. Inland, Colima’s volcanic peaks rise above seafood restaurants serving the day’s catch. Choose a beach day, explore central Manzanillo, or head to nearby Santiago for a quieter stretch of sand.
Ensenada is Baja California’s lively Pacific port, where fresh seafood and celebrated wine country meet. Downtown cafés, market stalls and the history museum are close to the waterfront. Order fish tacos, a local specialty, or travel inland to Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico’s leading wine region. Taste among the vineyards, or head south to La Bufadora, a marine blowhole famed for its spray. Ensenada rewards a day planned around one good meal, one glass and the coast.
San Diego makes an easy first impression: a working harbor, sunlit waterfront and Pacific air. From the cruise terminal, the USS Midway Museum and lively Embarcadero are close at hand. Balboa Park brings world-class museums, gardens and the San Diego Zoo together in one grand setting. In the Gaslamp Quarter, Victorian façades frame restaurants and bars. Nearby neighborhoods reveal Mexican heritage and coastal ease.
Published September 27, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
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