What to expect (Weather)

[shubsens]

We have never been to the Mexican Riviera  before and were wondering what to expect as in weather and water temperature the first week of December. We are cruising out of LA on a 7 day to (Cabo,PV,Maz). Can we expect it to be hot enough out on the ocean to hang out swimming at the pool all day and when we are in ports would the beach escapes be warm enough (water). We keep reading reviews of people mentioning the ocean water being too cold. We do understand LA won’t be swimming  weather but hope as we go down the coast it gets warm enough to be swimming.

[Hlitner]

The Pacific Ocean, along the West Coast of the USA/Mexico is somewhat colder than we experience with the Atlantic.  For those used to the temperature, swimming is fine.  As you cruise south towards Puerto Vallarta the water will warm up.  In December it will likely be in the mid-70s (at Puerto Vallarta) somewhat colder (darn cold) off of California.  If you have good weather you will see plenty of folks in the water in Mexican resort ports such as Cabo St Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta.  

 

As to hanging out at the pool,  it should warm-up as you head South and in Puerto Vallarta (where we live in the winter) we normally expect the high air temps to average about 80f (26.5c).   DW and I are out on the beach just about every day in the winter.  

 

Hank

[CruiserBruce]

Been in Cabo in March, and the water was pretty cold. Plus, the number of swimmable beaches at Cabo isn't huge.

 

As to air temps, a quick Google search (for example " Cabo San Lucas December weather") will get you the historical data.

[SDPadreFan]

Cabo weather should be just fantastic (and warm) during the day. Pretty much the same thing will apply in Mazatlan & Puerto Vallarta. If you are going to be in port in the evening (especially out on the water) however, a light jacket might be a good idea. It doesn't really get cold, but a light breeze can make it feel cooler (at least this is true for Cabo). Water temps are a whole different matter. I don't really have much experience with ocean temps in Mazatlan or Puerto Vallarta. Cabo is a completely different animal however. There is virtually no continental shelf at the tip of Baja. So in Cabo - you can go from 1 foot of water depth to 6 feet of water depth to 100 feet of water depth VERY QUICKLY. So typically, Cabo's winter time ocean temps can be pretty nice (low to mid 70's). HOWEVER - a winter storm out in the ocean away from Cabo can still cause havoc. 100 feet down is very cold water and an offshore storm can cause an up-welling of that cold water to the surface and suddenly Cabo's nice ocean temps can get pretty darn cold for several days until things return to normal.

 

On your cruise ship - Sailing south will get better and better with each mile. Generally, following seas and winds (north to south). Once you get a little south of San Diego it will be really nice and most people will be on the Lido Deck enjoying the sunshine. It should pretty much stay that way until your return trip. As you head north of Cabo, the ship will run smack into the southbound ALASKAN current. Remember those southbound (nice) following seas and winds. Now the ship will be heading straight into them. The further north of Cabo you get - the colder it will get. It's not unusual for the Captain to close the outdoor decks starting the night after you get past Cabo. So that last day/night you can pretty much figure on being indoors. The ride north can also get a little rough since you will be heading straight into the southbound current.

 

All that said - mid Nov through March can be a fantastic time to cruise the Mexican Riviera. We're doing it Nov 26 on Carnival Panorama.

[Mike45LC]

Quick rule of thumb:  first day at sea and last day at sea will be cool, the other five days of the cruise will have wonderful weather for the pool.  

 

Suggestion:  Search for Mazatlan's Stone Island posts on this Forum.  Highly recommended.

[Milhouse]

17 hours ago, SDPadreFan said:

The ride north can also get a little rough since you will be heading straight into the southbound current.

 

We did this itinerary over a decade ago and one of the few things that I recall is remembering the ride down was very pleasant while the ride back north was somewhat rough.  😆

 

Was reading someone's review of a very recent sailing and they said it was pretty humid on their balcony.  That's my kryptonite.  Hoping it eases up when we sail in early November.

 

[SDPadreFan]

At least in Cabo - the humidity "usually" breaks in late October to early November. Watch the hurricane storm tracks, they generally form around Acapulco and cruise up the coast. If the bigger storms are done (Tropical Storm and above), then generally the humidity will subside further up the coast, but this is not an absolute, just the historical trend we have experienced over 20 years of going to Cabo (mostly in very late October).

[SDPadreFan]

This is a very useful chart/map. It shows current ocean surface temps. See that blue/purple colored area - that's the Alaskan current migrating southward. It will continue it's southward trek (generally terminating around Cabo in mid April and then slowly start receding northward. Surprisingly - that's also when the whales head home to Alaska. Fun time and play is over and it's time to put on the feed bag up in Alaska until the next Fall when they start heading south again. So May/June is surprisingly the coldest ocean temps in the Cabo area. The air temps are certainly hot, but not the water.

[DukeASUGirl]

On 10/4/2022 at 6:54 PM, SDPadreFan said:

 So May/June is surprisingly the coldest ocean temps in the Cabo area. The air temps are certainly hot, but not the water.

 

 

Oh wow, that's fascinating! We're planning to do the Navigator of the Seas cruise out of LA in May. I hope my Arizona babies won't find it too chilly to get in the ocean!

[SDPadreFan]

It's not frigid, just not bath water warm. I would guess in the range of 65f to as high as 72f.

[chubbypiggy]

In 2 weeks, we will be doing the Mexican Riviera cruises on Princess for a total of 16 days, RT L.A.  Will be visiting Cabo, Mazatlán, PV, Ensenada, and San Diego.

 

How is the weather at those ports in early November?  How about sea days?  

 

Don't know if we should pack mostly short sleeves or long sleeves T-shirts?  

 

[CruiserBruce]

2 hours ago, chubbypiggy said:

In 2 weeks, we will be doing the Mexican Riviera cruises on Princess for a total of 16 days, RT L.A.  Will be visiting Cabo, Mazatlán, PV, Ensenada, and San Diego.

 

How is the weather at those ports in early November?  How about sea days?  

 

Don't know if we should pack mostly short sleeves or long sleeves T-shirts?  

 

You can Google search weather for your ports. Try "Mazatlan November weather" for example.

[chubbypiggy]

25 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

You can Google search weather for your ports. Try "Mazatlan November weather" for example.

Thanks.

[SDPadreFan]

The weather going southbound for the most part should be pretty nice. Could start out cool leaving LA in the late afternoon, but by the next day it should be really nice. While you are down in the Cabo, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta area it should be fantastic (both in port and at sea). The caveat being that no further storms/hurricanes develop down by Acapulco (they "shouldn't"). But the storms that are created during Sep/Oct tend to hug the coastline rather than head out to sea. By November, things have generally settled down and no further big storms develop. short sleeve shirts and shorts will be perfect for most occasions. IF - you are planning any evening excursions that are on the water, then you may find it cool and a light jacket (windbreaker, sweater) would be handy to have. Evening activities like the Rhythm of the Night show in Puerto Vallarta would be an example. Perfectly fine during dinner and show but could get cool on the boat ride back.

 

Going north FROM Cabo (back to LA) is a whole different matter. From mostly smooth sailing heading down, going north from Cabo, you will be heading smack into the southbound Alaskan current and also the prevailing winds. The ride will generally be rougher. Being out on deck could be quite uncomfortable and it's not unusual for the Captain to close all weather decks to the passengers (uncovered pool areas, etc.) especially at night (but even during the day is possible as well).  The blue/purple area in the below map shows how far down the cold water has reached as of yesterday. By next March/April, that cold water will have reached all the way down to Cabo before slowly receding northward again. The air temps will still be fine for the most part however.

 

Hope you have a great time! We'll be down at our timeshare in Cabo next Saturday (Oct 22). We are also going down on Carnival Panorama for a 7 day cruise right after Thanksgiving.

Edited October 15, 2022 by SDPadreFan

[SDPadreFan]

Should also mention. This is a great website for watching the weather in the region. Updated daily.

 

http://www.eebmike.com/

 

[chubbypiggy]

3 minutes ago, SDPadreFan said:

Should also mention. This is a great website for watching the weather in the region. Updated daily.

 

http://www.eebmike.com/

 

Thank you so much for the information in both of your posts.

 

We will be doing 7 days RT L.A. going to Cabo, Mazatlan, PV, then back to L.A.  Then 5 days RT L.A. (Cabo only), then 4 days RT L.A. going to San Diego and Ensenada.  So South to North, then North to South, then South to North again, etc...😊  

[SDPadreFan]

You will certainly be experienced in the difference between heading south along Baja and then north. We will probably do some B2B, 7 day cruises down to the Cabo area starting in 2024/2025. We had an Eastern & Western Caribbean B2B canceled by COVID. That would have been on Carnival Magic. So we'll plan it again sometime in the future.

[shubsens]

Just got back and yes the responses pretty well matched your comments. We got lucky the LA departure (Sat 3rd) ended up swimming and laying out in the sun before departure in the mid afternoon but then that night and the next day it was sweaters and coats forcing most people inside. Once at Cabo it was 80's and all sun. The last day coming back up the coast it was back to sweaters and coats for most.