Get your sea legs with Mexico sailings

With all the unrest in the world, many people are looking for vacations close to home. Southern Californians are fortunate to have seven cruises departing every week from Los Angeles and San Diego.

First-timers may want to test the waters with a three-day cruise, sailing from Los Angeles on Friday with a day at sea and a visit to Ensenada, Mexico, or a four-day cruise leaving Monday with a day at sea and calls at Ensenada and Catalina.

Cruisers with more time and money can choose seven-day sailings from Los Angeles or seven- and 10-day cruises from San Diego. All seven-day Riviera cruises call at the same ports: Puerto Vallarta, the quintessential Mexican resort, with red-tile roofs and cobblestone streets running along the wide beach; Mazatlan, with its shopping areas and the Papantla Flyers, who have been performing their aerial act for decades; and Cabo San Lucas, where the town is an easy stroll from the tender dock.

Seven-day cruises from San Diego into the Gulf of California offer a different view of Mexico, concentrating on the small towns of Baja California. Calls are made at Pichilingue for La Paz, where you can snorkel with sea lions at Isla los Islotes; Loreto, which has a mission founded in 1697; and Santa Rosalia, which displays its French colonial influence in a church designed by Gustave Eiffel.

On 10-day cruises from San Diego, two more stops are added to the usual Riviera ports: Acapulco and Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa.

Because the itineraries are much the same, choosing which ship to sail on depends on your lifestyle and what you expect from your cruise.

Carnival Cruises ([800] CARNIVAL [227-6482], www.carni val.com) has year-round sailing on the 70,367-ton Ecstasy, which carries 2,052 passengers on three- and four-day cruises leaving Los Angeles every Monday and Friday.

The shipboard atmosphere is active, and the vessel is filled with young and old, looking to have as much fun as they can. The ship is bright and gaudy, and music is everywhere. Rates on a three-day cruise range from $699 to $1,149; on a four-day, from $849 to $1,379.

The Elation, a sister ship of the Ecstasy, makes seven-day round-trip sailings every Sunday from Los Angeles. The atmosphere is much the same as the Ecstasy’s, but you could spend a quiet moment in Duke’s, an intimate piano bar with a New York setting. Rates range from $1,349 to $2,599.

The 78,491-ton Vision of the Seas, from Royal Caribbean International ([800] 327-6700, www.royalcaribbean.com), sails every Sunday from Los Angeles on seven-day round trips through April. The 2,435-passenger Vision is aptly named: Windows provide vistas nearly everywhere. The ship’s atmosphere is active, with entertainment, sports, fitness and a large spa. Rates run from $1,279 to $6,449.

The 109,000-ton Star Princess, from Princess Cruises ([800] PRINCESS [774-6237], www.princess.com), carries 2,600 passengers and makes regular seven-day round-trip cruises from Los Angeles on Sundays through April. This elegant ship is dressier and offers dazzling entertainment, plenty of deck space and pools and a late-night disco 15 decks above the sea. Rates range from $1,379 to $4,519.

The 77,000-ton Sun Princess, with 1,950 passengers, has several 10-day sailings from Los Angeles this winter and spring. It has a more intimate atmosphere, with the same amenities offered on larger ships. A favorite alternate dining spot is Fabio’s, which features made-to-order pizzas. Rates range from $1,639 to $4,179.

Holland America’s 55,451-ton Ryndam and Statendam, carrying 1,266 passengers each, sail round trip from San Diego on seven-day Gulf of California cruises, calling at Loreto, La Paz and Cabo San Lucas. Seven-day cruises call at Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas. Holland America ([800] 426-0327, www.hollandamerica.com) also has 10-day cruises calling at Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, Acapulco, Zihuatanejo and Puerto Vallarta. These beautifully appointed ships have a more relaxed and restful atmosphere, offering fine dining and entertainment and an excellent library. Rates for seven days at sea range from $1,762 to $7,322, 10-day cruises from $2,669 to $10,629.

All rates quoted above are per person, double occupancy. Almost any travel agent should be able to get lower prices in today’s market.

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Harry Basch travels as a guest of the cruise lines. Cruise Views appears twice a month.