Getting ashore
Puerto Vallarta is usually a dock stop.
Most ships dock at Puerto Vallarta, which usually makes the day simpler: walk off the ship, meet your tour, and get back on board without tender queues.
Mexico
Puerto Vallarta Cruise Port
Puerto Vallarta is a long port day with regular dockside arrivals and moderate cruise traffic throughout the year, but concentrated in January, April, and December.
Usually docks
Moderate traffic
~10h typical visit
Mid-size ships
What to expect in Puerto Vallarta
How much time will you have?
About 10h is typical
Most cruises spend 10h to 12h in Puerto Vallarta, which makes it a relatively long port day compared with many stops.
How busy does Puerto Vallarta get?
Expect other ships to be in port.
Multiple ships are in port on roughly 37% of days, so the exact date can change the port experience considerably.
- Typical day: ~3,950 passengers
- Busy day: 7,600+ passengers
- Multiple ships on 37% of days
Check your date
September 2026
Jump
Quieter
Busier
Ships
Sun
Mon
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Sat
Where Puerto Vallarta fits into a cruise
Puerto Vallarta is most commonly visited on Mexican Riviera itineraries, often alongside Mazatlan and Long Beach .
Commonly arrives from
Puerto Vallarta
Commonly continues to
When to cruise to Puerto Vallarta
Cruises visit year-round, with the busiest season from January, April, and December.
Cruises visit year-round, with the busiest season from January, April, and December.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Visits
63
59
62
66
16
13
12
18
21
51
40
83
Who sails here?
Ships visiting Puerto Vallarta typically carry around 3,348 guests, with Discovery Princess, Carnival Panorama, and Norwegian Encore calling most often.
Most frequently visiting ships
- 1 Discovery Princess 30 calls
- 2 Carnival Panorama 26 calls
- 3 Norwegian Encore 26 calls
- 4 Koningsdam 16 calls
- 5 Navigator of the Seas 16 calls
- 6 Norwegian Star 12 calls
Next port calls
Sep 17 Carnival Panorama
Sep 23 Island Princess · Brilliant Lady
Sep 29 Carnival Panorama
Sep 30 Brilliant Lady
Oct 2 Coral Princess · Grand Princess
Cruises that visit Puerto Vallarta
Once the port-day tradeoffs look right for you, here are some good sailings that feature Puerto Vallarta.
Koningsdam
San Diego → Manzanillo → Cabo San Lucas → San Diego
Dec 8 · 11 nights
Visits Puerto Vallarta on day 5
Good value
$1,799 suite · $164/night
10% below typical · 6-month low
Koningsdam
San Diego → Cabo San Lucas → Puerto Vallarta → San Diego
Nov 28 · 10 nights
Visits Puerto Vallarta on day 7
Good value
$799 inside · $80/night
11% below typical · 6-month low
Norwegian Encore
Los Angeles → Cabo San Lucas → Puerto Vallarta → Los Angeles
Dec 6 · 7 nights
Visits Puerto Vallarta on day 5
Good value
$539 inside · $77/night
14% below typical · 30-day low
Norwegian Encore
Los Angeles → Cabo San Lucas → Puerto Vallarta → Los Angeles
Dec 13 · 7 nights
Visits Puerto Vallarta on day 5
Good value
$539 inside · $77/night
14% below typical · 30-day low
Queen Victoria
Southampton → New York → Puerto Vallarta → Los Angeles
Jan 10 · 26 nights
Visits Puerto Vallarta on day 23
Exceptional value
$7,381 suite · $284/night
44% below typical · 6-month low
Disney Magic
San Diego → Cabo San Lucas → Georgetown, Grand Cayman → Galveston
Nov 6 · 14 nights
Visits Puerto Vallarta on day 4
About average
$2,393 inside · $171/night
Cruise routes that include Puerto Vallarta
These route families show how cruise lines usually package Puerto Vallarta, so you can compare the whole trip instead of judging this stop by itself.
11 Night Mexican Riviera & Sea Of Cortez
From $899
$899
·
2 upcoming sailings
·
1 ship
2 upcoming sailings
1 ship
View itinerary →
Mexican Riviera Loop via Cabo San Lucas & La Paz
From $799
$799
·
1 upcoming sailing
·
1 ship
1 upcoming sailing
1 ship
View itinerary →
Mexican Riviera Loop via Cabo San Lucas & Mazatlan
From $464
$464
·
97 upcoming sailings
·
7 ships
97 upcoming sailings
7 ships
View itinerary →
ABC Islands One-Way via New York, Oranjestad & Panama Canal
From $2,681
$2,681
·
1 upcoming sailing
·
1 ship
1 upcoming sailing
1 ship
View itinerary →
Mexican Riviera One-Way via Cabo San Lucas, Panama Canal & Cartagena
From $2,393
$2,393
·
1 upcoming sailing
·
1 ship
1 upcoming sailing
1 ship
View itinerary →
Mexican Riviera Loop via Puerto Vallarta & Cabo San Lucas
From $1,221
$1,221
·
5 upcoming sailings
·
2 ships
5 upcoming sailings
2 ships
View itinerary →
Related ports near Puerto Vallarta
Compare nearby cruise ports with active sailing coverage.
Tap to view port guide, ship schedules, and best time to visit.
Tap to view port guide, ship schedules, and best time to visit.
FAQ about cruises visiting Puerto Vallarta
Short answers for common search intent around the best time to visit, itinerary patterns, and how to compare cruises that include Puerto Vallarta.
What is the best time to visit Puerto Vallarta on a cruise?
The best time to visit Puerto Vallarta depends on both schedule density and live pricing. Use the calendar above to compare exact port-call dates and the featured cruises section to see which sailings currently stand out.
When is Puerto Vallarta busiest for cruise traffic?
Traffic patterns are still building as more schedules get indexed. Jibhop will surface the busiest months as upcoming port-call coverage expands.
Which cruise itineraries usually include Puerto Vallarta?
Common upcoming itinerary families that include Puerto Vallarta include 11 Night Mexican Riviera & Sea Of Cortez, Mexican Riviera Loop via Cabo San Lucas & La Paz, and Mexican Riviera Loop via Cabo San Lucas & Mazatlan. Open any itinerary card to compare route mix, next departures, and which sailings look strongest on price.
How should I compare cruises that visit Puerto Vallarta?
Start with the best cruises section to see today's strongest pricing signals, then use the port-call calendar to find the exact visit dates that fit your trip. Once you narrow the timing, compare itineraries and ships rather than choosing on this stop alone.
Plan your route
Explore cruises that visit Puerto Vallarta
See itineraries, compare routes, and find the best way to include Puerto Vallarta in your trip.