Continuing to share about our 16 Day Cruise on the Carnival Legend. As I mentioned in my previous post, we were really looking forward to Day 6 because we were supposed to have stopped in Cabo on Day 5 but couldn’t because of hurricane, so we were SO ready to get off the ship by Day 6!
Acapulco has struggled with significant crime in recent years, and there’s an active travel advisory for the area; Do Not Travel! Cruise lines, including Carnival, have largely avoided Acapulco for that reason. In fact, Carnival hadn’t sailed there in about 15 years.
With all that in mind, we decided to book a Carnival shore excursion rather than explore on our own. It ended up being a great choice. We had a wonderful time and felt safe the entire day. The people of Acapulco were genuinely excited to welcome us, and they went out of their way to make our visit special. It turned into such a memorable experience!
That morning Rob woke up before I did, per usual! He went out on the balcony to watch us come into port. He came and told me I was missing out and so I went out there to watch.
We needed to grab something to eat, and when we headed up to Lido we walked right into the full towel‑animal takeover. It always makes me so happy to see them all lined up like that.
As we watched from the balcony while the ship eased into port, a crowd of tour guides and locals called out to welcome us. A couple of bands were playing, giving the whole scene a lively feel, and a line of military officers stood along the dock providing security.
We grabbed a breakfast burrito on board as we watched people heading off the ship while we ate. From our spot, we could hear the band playing down on the dock, the Rocky theme echoing up to us.
After we ate we headed back to our cabin to gather up our things and then went to the theater where we were to meet at 10:30 for our excursion. From there we didn’t have to wait too long and then we were herded off the ship and to our bus. Our first stop was to see the cliff divers do their thing!
Acapulco’s World‑Famous Cliff Divers
Since 1934, these elite athletes have been thrilling crowds with daring headfirst dives from towering cliffs into a narrow, churning inlet—a tradition recognized by the Guinness World Records. Note: This tour isn’t wheelchair accessible and isn’t recommended for guests with mobility challenges.
Not only a beautiful spot, but an amazing feat to see these guys climb down the rocks, wait the waves to be going in the correct direction, jump in, swim to the other side, climb up the other side, and then wait for their turn to dive.
There’s two different levels to watch from. The higher level is less stairs, but the view isn’t as good. The lower level is more stairs to climb down (and then back up) and you get a full view of the divers from jump to the splash at the bottom.
Here is the view from the top level before decending down to the bottom level with the better views.
The divers come down to the 2nd level to get to where they are diving from
Nautical Acapulco & Flamingos Hotel Stop
After leaving the majestic cliffs, we traveled through Acapulco’s old town and nautical district on your way to the iconic Los Flamingos Hotel. Enjoy a refreshing drink and soak in the nostalgia of this cliff‑top retreat, once home to “Tarzan” star Johnny Weissmuller.
Acapulco City Edition & Gifts
Browse local shops for handcrafted souvenirs and jewelry, then cruise along the vibrant Costera Miguel Alemán Avenue. Enjoy sweeping views of Acapulco before heading to the city’s historic district, passing the nautical zone and Caleta Beach. Panoramic Viewpoint: Take in breathtaking vistas of Acapulco and Puerto Marques from a scenic overlook that showcases the region’s natural beauty.
Next stop was the flea market that wasn’t anything to write home about. We do have to keep in mind that all there were specifically opened for us since this is the first time carnival has cruises there since 2010. We were a last minute add since we couldn’t go to Cabo a couple days ago.
After that it was a ride higher up for some views and to use the restroom.
As we drove back to the fort/port we got to see more of the city and enjoyed hearing more about each area.
Fort of San Diego
Step into Acapulco’s star-Shaped fortress, built to defend against pirates and protect Spanish treasures. Now a museum, it features 12 immersive exhibits on the city’s dramatic past, including tales of piracy, revolution, and Pacific trade. Outside, enjoy stunning views of Acapulco Bay.
Lastly we stopped at the port which is near this fort. However, Rob and I decided to skip this part and go walk around on our own.
Here’s a picture of the port from our ship that morning.
Rob and I walked down the street and went into a store so Rob could get an HDMI cable. We wanted to try and hook his computer to the TV to watch streamed stuff including the game that night. Then we went to this courtyard area and had some pork tacos that were amazing. Only $7 after tip!
This is trompo al pastor or vertical rotisserie where they cut the meat from.
After that we headed back to the ship.
Back to ship and to balcony to watch us leave. Rob got the game pulled up on his computer and watched the game as we left.
By the time we made our way back to the ship that afternoon, Acapulco had carved out a special place in our hearts. With cruising and the weather, you never really know if your itinerary will hold, but this unexpected stop turned into a day filled with energy, history, sweeping views, and some of the warmest welcomes we’ve ever had in port. Watching the city fade into the distance from our balcony while Rob pulled up the game felt like the perfect ending to a day we never saw coming but were so grateful to experience.
More pics here>>>>Acapulco Pics
