Seven Seas Splendor: 28-Night South Pacific

Stretched along Banderas Bay with the Sierra Madre mountains rising directly behind the shoreline, Puerto Vallarta draws about 290,000 residents year-round and far more during the winter cruise season. The city has managed to grow as a tourist destination while keeping its Mexican identity intact, particularly in the Zona Romantica and the malecon (boardwalk) areas where local life and tourism coexist on the same streets.

Cabo San Lucas sits at the very tip of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula, where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez. This is a tender port: ships anchor in Cabo San Lucas Bay and passengers ride small boats to the marina.

Los Angeles cruise port is in San Pedro, a harbor neighborhood at the southern tip of the city, about 25 miles from downtown LA and 18 miles from LAX. The port is called the World Cruise Center, and it's the main departure point for Mexican Riviera, Hawaii, and Pacific Coast itineraries.

Los Angeles cruise port is in San Pedro, a harbor neighborhood at the southern tip of the city, about 25 miles from downtown LA and 18 miles from LAX. The port is called the World Cruise Center, and it's the main departure point for Mexican Riviera, Hawaii, and Pacific Coast itineraries.

Ships dock at Kahului Harbor on Maui's north shore, providing access to the stunning Road to Hana, the Haleakala volcanic crater at sunrise, and the historic whaling town of Lahaina. Maui's beaches are consistently rated among the best in the world.

Honolulu is the capital of Hawaii and the primary cruise hub for the Hawaiian Islands, serving as both the embarkation point for inter-island Hawaii cruises and a port of call on transpacific and repositioning itineraries. Ships dock at Honolulu Harbor's Aloha Tower or Pier 2, both within the downtown waterfront area and a short distance from Waikiki.