Life’s a beach in San Diego, but we’ve places to go. Two laid-back days at sea, enjoying all that the ship has to offer, take us to Mexico and our first port of call, Puerto Vallarta. Here, the Sierra Madre mountains run down to golden beaches where gentle waves roll in from the Pacific. This place has all the attractions of a modern resort town while still feeling authentically Mexican – a stroll around its cobblestoned “romantic zone” is a must. More of Mexico awaits as we move on to Manzanillo, once used by trading ships as a shelter from pirates, and Zihuatenejo, where dolphins and turtles play in the waves. A day at sea takes us to Acajutla in El Salvador – be sure to try a coffee from one of the country’s famous plantations – and then tick off another Central American country, Nicaragua, at San Juan del Sur, known for its impressive surfing beaches. Costa Rica comes into view at Puntarenas, where there is seafood to dine on and nature to admire inland. A final relaxing day at sea delivers us to our destination, Fuerte Amador, gateway to Panama City.