Lush Labyrinth – Merida from New Orleans

About this cruise

If you don't need a long holiday but still want to get out on the water, this is a solid pick. 5 nights from New Orleans on March 18, 2028, visiting Cozumel and Progreso (Mérida). The shape of this trip works well: open water on either side with 2 port calls clustered in the middle. Port to port, the water changes colour and the music changes too. That's the fun of it. Progreso (Mérida) alone is worth the trip, Gateway to the ancient Mayan world of Yucatán. Around 8 hours per port on average, which is generous enough to go beyond the obvious. There are 11 restaurants on Carnival Dream, so you'd need to double up a few evenings to try them all in 5 nights. New Orleans itself is worth spending some time in. Don't just treat it as a departure point. Timing-wise, spring usually means comfortable temperatures and lower prices than peak season. Worth booking. That's the short version.