Princess Cruises is heading back to Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan next year, on six winter sailings aboard the Sapphire Princess from Los Angeles. The ship will also call at Cabo San Lucas on the Mexican Riviera cruises. The six sailings will occur between Nov. 17, 2012, and April 20, 2013.

Citing security issues, Princess last spring canceled calls to Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan through 2011. Princess officials were not immediately available to comment on reinstating the ports to Mexican Riviera itineraries.

The decision to include Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan could be altered closer to departure, however, if the line's comfort level with the destinations changes again.

A Princess spokeswoman said that as the season approaches, the line "will be monitoring the situation and will make any adjustments if necessary."

"We would very much like to have Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan back on our Mexico itineraries," she said, noting that Puerto Vallarta calls also are scheduled on some spring 2012 itineraries.

Other changes in the line’s 2012-13 program include a California cruise. Sailing roundtrip from Los Angeles on seven-day cruises, the Sapphire Princess will overnight in San Francisco and call in Santa Barbara, Catalina, San Diego and Ensenada, Mexico.

Sailings depart in October 2012 and in March, April and May 2013.

"Coastal cruises have become increasingly popular with our passengers," said Jan Swartz, Princess' executive vice president.