Recent Mexican Riviera Cruisers (Osterdam Mazatlan)

Leaving on Feb. 4th for the Mexican Riviera. Just read the new travel advisory for Mazatlan that says do not travel. Looks like we are still scheduled to stop there.Anyone with recent port experience there?

Leaving on Feb. 4th for the Mexican Riviera. Just read the new travel advisory for Mazatlan that says do not travel. Looks like we are still scheduled to stop there.Anyone with recent port experience there?

We were just there over Xmas but did not leave the port stores area..but i did not hear of anyone having any problems while there. LuAnn

The travel advisory states:

• Mazatlan: U.S. government travel is permitted only in Zona Dorada, the historic town center, and direct routes to and from these locations and the airport or the cruise ship terminal.
  

Mazatlan is my favorite port on the MR. Come back to the roll call! ;)

We were there on a cruise in December and walked to the Cathedral and down by the beach. No problems.

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I was there on Oosterdam's Christmas cruise. Traveling solo, I decided to only go on escorted ship excursions on the port stops, Cabo, PV and Mazatlan. No problems and the tours were very good. Especially the tequila tasting in PV! Went to turtle sanctuary and then resort with private beach in Mazatlan. Chef even accommodated my food allergies with a delicious eggplant casserole. I did a look see at the port shops in Mazatlan after the tour and there was a bunch of little kids at one of the booths circling me and then bumped into me. It was harmless enough-kids will be kids. But I am a senior citizen and leery of getting hurt from being part of a game. Didn't like the fact that no apologies from the kids or from the Mom --obvious who she was--owner of the booth. Funny though how she told me not to break anything when I reached out to get a better look at one of the magnets for sale. At that point I decided it was time to go back onboard.

Shipshapertoo, do you remember the name of the resort you went to after the turtle sanctuary?

The name of the resort the ship's tour took us to in Mazatlan after the turtle sanctuary is Estrella del Mar. Gated community. Lovely beach, clean sand, warm surf to wade into. No lifeguards so you are on your own there. Pool looked good but I didn't try it. Hotel supplied beach towels and free bottled water. Very relaxing-and good food.

The name of the resort the ship's tour took us to in Mazatlan after the turtle sanctuary is Estrella del Mar. Gated community. Lovely beach, clean sand, warm surf to wade into. No lifeguards so you are on your own there. Pool looked good but I didn't try it. Hotel supplied beach towels and free bottled water. Very relaxing-and good food.

Thanks! :)

We were there last October (Oosterdam from San Diego) and did our own self-guided visit to Stone Island. Loved it, and had no problems.:)

There are really two Mazatlans - the old historic center that has become quite beautiful which is in walking distance from the port and the more modern high rise hotel district that requires transportation. Where the renewed drug crime is taking place "in Mazatlan" needs this distinction - typically is it happens in the higher end resort areas and not the more local historic parts of town.

But if it is unsafe anywhere, HAL will not put passengers in peril. We loved the Centro Historico of Mazatlan and the Pacifico beer brewed in Mazatlan, which is one of Mexico's finest. The ferry to Stone Island, another worhty venture as noted is located in the older part of town right near the port facilities. I hope you have a very enjoyable stop - this is one of our own very favorites on the Mexican Riviera itinerary.

Not normally on this board but we're considering a HAL cruise in 2019. We did a Princess to the MV several years ago and I have to say they were the most uncomfortable ports I've ever been to. PV was an armed camp - never saw so many groups of police/military in a resort are. In Mazatlan the was cartel to the extent that there had been a public beheading a couple of weeks before our visit. In CSL we were constantly bothered by street vendors pushing very cheap looking jewelry and weed. At one point on the way back to the tender we were surrounded by several at once. No desire to go back.

We were also on the Christmas Oosterdam cruise and did not feel unsafe in any of the Mexican ports (Cabo, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta). We took HAL tours in both Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta. We didn't have a tour in Cabo and didn't stay long, but that was because the area was too crowded with passengers (should have done a shore excursion).

We were just there in January. No problems as we toured and shopped on our own, but we did stay in the tourist zones.

Not normally on this board but we're considering a HAL cruise in 2019. We did a Princess to the MV several years ago and I have to say they were the most uncomfortable ports I've ever been to. PV was an armed camp - never saw so many groups of police/military in a resort are. In Mazatlan the was cartel to the extent that there had been a public beheading a couple of weeks before our visit. In CSL we were constantly bothered by street vendors pushing very cheap looking jewelry and weed. At one point on the way back to the tender we were surrounded by several at once. No desire to go back.

Cabo has changed completely - they now call it "The No Stress Zone", and cleared out all the aggressive touts in the entire port area which is now a lovely walk with lots of nice vistas shops and restaurants. Remains to be seen if this is going to work for them financially, but for a cruise passenger who has been there many times, this has been a major improvement. I wish them well.

PV on all our prior visits has been very lovely with our own favorite walking the sea side path all the way to the end to a great restaurant. And Centro Historic in Mazatlan, as stated before, is our most favorite of all . Hope those terrible drug murders do not undo any of these ports (again!) as this is a very good itinerary. With lots to offer in each port.

We were just in Mazatlan a few days ago and had no problems. We hired a van with driver from one of companies in the cruise port. We toured the historic district and a little of the golden zone with no issues. There were 4 of us in the van and I think we paid $120 for what ended up being close to 4 hours.

Thanks for all the reassurances.