Ancient Echoes – Merida & Cozumel

About this cruise

This is the kind of trip that just works. 5 nights from New Orleans, visiting Cozumel and Progreso (Mérida), sailing May 11, 2026, and nothing about it feels forced. Sea days bookend the port visits. You settle in, see the ports, then have time to wind down before heading home. Snorkelling, palm trees, rum. Each stop does it a bit differently. Most ports give you about 8 hours, so you can do more than just tick off the main sights. As for the ship itself, Carnival Valor takes the food seriously, with 12 restaurants to choose from. 9 are included, and the rest are worth the splurge. Good for anyone who can't take two weeks off but still wants the cruise experience. Pro tip: fly in the day before. New Orleans has plenty to offer, and you'll board relaxed instead of rushed. A spring departure helps too: decent weather and a calmer feel at each port. Good route, good ship, good timing. It all lines up.