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5-Day Mexican Riviera

Fun with a capital F is what you can expect on a Carnival Cruise. With the largest fleet at sea Carnival offers sailings perfect for the whole family.

Cruise to Mexico, and discover a culturally rich region with everything from dune buggies to soothing string music.

A beautiful, trendy city in coastal Southern California, Long Beach is the ultimate playground perched on the Pacific Ocean. Cruise to or from Long Beach and enjoy its rich history and adventurous excursions.

• Carnival Firenze - Passenger Capacity: 4,126 (double occupancy) Year Built: 2015 Last Refurbished: 2024

Take advantage of limited-time offers and special deals

Cruise Line

Cruise Ship

Carnival Firenze

Departing From

Long Beach, California

Destination

Mexican Riviera

Ports of Call

Long Beach, California , Cabo San Lucas, Mexico , Ensenada, Mexico

• Itinerary & Pricing

5-Day Mexican Riviera sailing on the Carnival Firenze

Departure dates: may 2024 - apr 2026, stateroom prices for may. 21, 2024.

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Based on Oceanview cabin prices

Based on Balcony cabin prices

Based on Suite cabin prices

Sailing Map

*** All itineraries are subject to change without notice. Please confirm your itinerary on the Review page before purchasing your cruise.

Carnival reserves the right to re-instate the fuel supplement for all guests at up to $9 per person per day if the NYMEX oil price exceeds $70 per barrel. Rates & offers are subject to select dates & categories, cruise only, per person, based on double occupancy, in US Dollars, & include NCCF. Government taxes & fees are additional. All rates & offers are capacity controlled, are subject to availability & confirmation, & may change without notice. Additional restrictions may apply. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed -- please confirm details at time of booking. Stateroom photos are for sample purposes only -- actual design and layout may vary.

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3 Day Baja Mexico Cruise from Long Beach with Carnival

Thinking of booking a weekend cruise from Long Beach to Ensenada in 2024? This article is everything you need to know about cruising from Long Beach to Ensenada with Carnival Cruises. It’s the perfect weekend getaway cruise from long beach to Mexico!

My husband, son, and I sailed with Carnival for this 3 Day Baja Mexico cruise from Long Beach . It is a great long weekend vacation, especially for anyone within easy driving distance of Long Beach, California.

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It is a super fun way to spend a weekend and what my husband and I found out, is we truly had a vacation. Because of the teen club, which my son loved, we found we had lots of time to relax and enjoy the cruise to Mexico as adults. 

Below you’ll find some helpful tips for cruising and some of our favorite moments on our 3-Day Baja, Mexico cruise from long beach to Ensenada.

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Cruise to Mexico on the Carnival Radiance

As vacations or weekend getaways go, a cruise is a much simpler trip compared to any other type of travel. One of my favorite things about a cruise is once you board, you have arrived at your home away from home. Simply unpack and you are done!

Unlike a road trip where you are moving from location to location — on a cruise, there is no need to constantly unpack and pack again, change hotels, or drive from place to place.

So if you’re interested in a fun cruise for a weekend getaway, and are interested in what  Carnival has to offer, this post is for you! When we sailed with Carnival we were on the Imagination ship, but the Radiance is the newest ship in their line for this weekend cruise.

Long Beach Cruise Terminal

When you cruise out of Long Beach with Carnival, you’ll depart via the Long Beach Cruise Terminal, which is the busiest port in North America with ships docking five days a week.

The 146,000-square-foot state-of-the-art Long Beach Cruise Terminal has been totally renovated and is beautiful. The palm tree-lined terminal, is huge and allows for quick and easy embarkation.

To enter the terminal, you’ll need to provide a boarding pass and a passport because it’s an international cruise.

Fun Fact: The terminal encompasses the world’s largest, free-span geodesic dome, which was originally built for  Howard Hughes’ Spruce Goose plane . I’m probably dating myself here, but the Spruce Goose was located here in Long Beach until the mid-1990’s when it was then moved to Oregon.

Our Mexico 3 Day Carnival Cruise Itinerary on Carnival

Carnival Radiance is a Fantasy-class cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line. We departed on this Mexico 3 day cruise from Long Beach and visited Ensenada, Mexico. Our cruise itinerary:

• Day 1 – depart Long Beach
• Day 2 – fun day at sea
• Day 3 – Ensenada
• Day 4 – arrive Long Beach

This is a fun itinerary for a weekend getaway, but after experiencing a 3-day cruise, we all agreed that we’d love to try a longer cruise. Between the teen club for my son and all the fun things to do onboard, there just wasn’t enough time to experience it all plus enjoy some downtime.

Boarding The Ship in Long Beach (Embarkation on Carnival) for our Cruise to Ensenada

The cruise to Ensenada sets sail at 5:30 PM and everyone must be aboard 60-minutes before sailing. Staterooms are ready at 1:30 PM, so, make your first day onboard more fun by arriving at the earliest boarding times!

Guests who are scheduled to arrive before 1:30 PM can check their bags curbside so they can be free to enjoy lunch, which will be served on Lido Deck 10 until 4:00 PM.

Tip! Bring a Carry-On Bag: When you first board your cruise ship, it can be a few hours before your luggage is delivered to your stateroom. Pack a few essentials like swimwear, sunscreen and a change of clothes in case you want to go to the pool or water slides.

Carnival Staterooms

There are three stateroom categories on the Carnival Radiance; Interior, Ocean View, and Suite. There are two types of suites; junior and grand. We had an ocean view room, which is listed as sleeping up to five people.

This would be an extremely tight fit. Our room was set up with a king-size bed and a Pullman (a bed attached to the wall — like an upper bunk– that can be pushed up for more space when it’s not being used for a bed).

We found we spent very little time in our room and used it mostly for sleeping and ‘getting ready’ for the day or dinner.

There is so much to do on the Carnival cruise and with a three-day cruise, we found we spent very little time in our room and preferred lounging at the pool to the stateroom.

Planning Your Day Onboard

Each day on the cruise you will receive a “Fun Times” itinerary that includes everything there is to do onboard. It shares sections for “top entertainment’, “food”, “drinks”, “spa”, “music”, “movies”, “casino”, “shopping”, “kids & teens” as well as a schedule for everything happening with the times and locations.

It’s your cruise ship bible and we carried it with us and constantly referred to it throughout the day and evening.

Sailing With Children or a Teenager

When we sailed on the Carnival Imagination, it offered three clubs for kids; Camp Ocean for 2–11 year-olds, Circle C for 12-14 year-olds and Club O2 for 15-17 year-olds. Our son had just turned 16 and loved the teen club.

It opened around noon daily and closed at 1 A.M. As I shared above, my husband and I found that our son wanted to hang out with the other teens and for the most part planned his days and nights around the club.

The teens in Club O2 hung out in the club room, went to onboard shows, the video arcade and met for meals. Our son had a great time and loved connecting with other teens and my husband and I found we were on our own for most of our cruise — having dinner on our own and enjoying many of the onboard shows.

I’m sure if we did a longer cruise, there would be more family time, but with just three days my son opted to hang with the other teenagers on board.

So you know: The kids and teens clubs are all included in the price of the cruise.

Food On Board the Carnival Cruise

There are lots of eating options onboard Carnival for breakfast, lunch, dinner, late-night munchies and snacks including these options incorporated in your cruise price:

• Main dining room
• Blue Iguana (Mexican Cantina)
• Guy’s Burger Joint
• Pirate Pizza (24 hours)
• Carnival Deli (24 hours)
• Lido Restaurant (Buffet)
• Soft-serve ice cream (24 hours)
• 24 Hour Room Service

The most notable of the restaurants is best-selling author, restaurateur and Food Network personality Guy Fieri’s Burger Joint which strives to bring all the authentic appeal of a roadside burger shack as the cool poolside spot for hot burgers and hand-cut fries.

The busiest spots for lunch seemed to be the Burger Joint and Blue Iguana Mexican Cafe, both located on the Lido Deck. These two are quick and easy and located near the pool.

You can also head inside on the same deck to check out made to order pizza and deli sandwiches as well as the Lido Deck buffet.

Dinner has many options as well, but we opted for the dining room each evening, which includes a three-course meal. You have a choice of two seatings– 6pm or 8:15pm.

If there’s one thing about cruises, it’s that you have lots and lots of choices and you’ll certainly never go hungry! You can eat at all these places  on the Carnival cruise.

Food Allergies: If you have dietary restrictions like I do (gluten-free) they are more than willing to accommodate you. I ordered my meal for the following evening during dinner and they would create whatever dish I wanted gluten-free.

Pool & Outdoor Bars

There is one resort-style pool on the Carnival cruise to Mexico and it is located on the Lido Deck. On either side of the pool, you’ll also find a Jacuzzi.

The main pool area is one of the most popular spots on the cruise during the day. There are lots of spots in both sun and shade to relax and enjoy the views of the Pacific ocean.

You’ll also find lots of fun activities happening on the Lido Deck — we caught a hairy chest contest that was fun and funny to watch.

Also on the Lido Deck, you’ll find the Red Frog Rum Bar and Blue Iguana Tequila Bar.

There is also an adults-only (21 years+)  outdoor space on the Promenade level called Serenity with a large hot tub and lounge area with chaise recliners.

WATER WORKS

Carnival has a waterpark called WaterWorks and it includes a twister waterslide, a double straight slide, two mini slides and a spray park. We traveled in March, which can be hit or miss as far as weather.

During our cruise, we had a bit of rain on day one and it was a tad chilly for the waterslides for us.

That didn’t stop loads of other cruisers from enjoying the slides. I’d love to head back during a warmer month and spend a good deal of my day here!

Evening Shows & Entertainment

The evening schedule regularly offers 20+ options of shows, art auctions, comedy, karaoke, trivia, meet & greets and so much more.  On a three day cruise, it’s really impossible to do it all, so you’ll want to choose wisely!

We really enjoyed the comedy on board and made a point to go to one of the three nightly shows in the Xanadu Lounge. They offer PG and adult versions (18+) of the comedy shows. Our son really enjoyed the comedy as well and joined us most evenings for the PG show.

We were really impressed by the comedy shows, musicians and the entertainers for the “Showtime” extravaganza shows in the Dynasty Lounge.

Onboard, you’ll also find the Mirage Piano Bar, Illusions Nightclub (18+), Shangri La Lounge, Dream Bar, Atrium Lobby Bar, Alchemy bar where they specialized in martinis and cocktails and have a casino.

Ensenada: A Day In Port

Day two of the cruise is spent docked in Ensenada. The ship arrives at approximately 8:15 am and doesn’t depart until 5:30 pm. You can spend your day onboard the ship, on an organized excursion or explore the town of Ensenada on your own.

There are more than 20 shore excursions you can book when you buy your cruise or while you are on the cruise ship. Excursion options range from nearby wine country tours of Valle de Guadalupe (Guadalupe Valley), to surfing, kayaking, food tours and lots more.

During our day in port, we chose to explore the town on our own. We’ve visited Ensenada and the wine country many times, so we enjoyed visiting a local museum, lunch at Muelle 3 and strolling through town.

Don’t Miss the Sunset

The sunrise and sunset can be spectacular sailing on the pacific coast. I caught a gorgeous sunset on night two of our cruise from Long Beach to Ensenada. Make sure to plan to be outside for sunset at least one night to truly enjoy mother nature at her best!

Planning Your Carnival Cruise to Mexico

Booking your cruise.

You can book your 3 Day Baja Mexico cruise from long beach with Carnival via our affiliate link with  Cruise Direct   for as little as $154 and you’ll never have to pay a booking fee.

They also have a “best price guarantee” to get your best Carnival Cruise deals and cruise from Long Beach deals, offer flexible payment plans, and have options for lots of Carnival Cruises to Mexico .

Buy Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is designed to cover unexpected medical emergencies and events such as trip cancellation, lost, stolen or damaged luggage by an airline or cruise line, and other related losses incurred while traveling.

I’m a fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read more about why you should always carry travel insurance .

Getting to and from Long Beach to Your Cruise

Long Beach Carnival cruise terminal is 23 miles from Los Angeles International Airport; travel time is approximately 50 minutes. It’s 12 miles from Long Beach Airport; travel time is approximately 20 minutes.

There’s a garage right next to the terminal and the daily rate is $20. You can also get dropped off by taxi or shuttle.

Taking a Carnival Cruise? Here are a few tips:

Need a hotel the night before or after your cruise? There are many places to stay in Long Beach. There is a wide range of hotels, from budget to luxury. For a luxury hotel that won’t break the bank, I recommend the  Westin Long Beach , which is currently the  #1 hotel on Tripadvisor .

For a mid-level hotel, I suggest the iconic Queen Mary .  Finally, for a budget hotel, try the Royal Inn Motel Long Beach . You can also check HotelsCombined for the best Long Beach Hotel Rates .

Hotels in Long Beach: Check Trip Advisor reviews for all Long Beach Hotels .

What to pack:  The temperatures each season vary greatly, but even in summer it can be chilly at night and very warm during the day. I visited in March and was very happy to have a light down jacket , warm socks (I love Ice Breaker ), a waterproof outer layer and rain jacke t, and some hiking boots (I love Keen ). If you are visiting in Winter, you’ll want to bring heavy-duty layers.

Best Time of Year for the Long Beach to Ensenada Cruise: My favorite months for the cruise are October and November. The weather tends to be warm, but not hot. Spring can be hit or miss. You may have summer-like weather or some rain. Early summer may bring foggy mornings, but they should burn off by about 10am.

6 Indispensable Items to Pack for a Carnival Cruise Vacation

• Get the Cruising Guide to Southern California: Golden Gate to Ensenada, Mexico .
• I always bring Bonine on a cruise. It’s for motion sickness and similar to  Dramamine but doesn’t make me drowsy.
• Bring a good quality mirrorless camera for getting those beautiful photos of the ship and Mexico. I use the Sony Alpha a6000 .
• You’ll get a lot of sun on board and it can be deceiving with the cool breeze, so make sure to bring Neutrogena Sunscreen, Broad Spectrum Spf 45
• A great cross body travel bag . Crossbody bags are great for your day in Mexico. The bag hangs across your chest to keep all your valuables safe!
• Don’t forget sunglasses for the beautiful sunny days at sea. A.J. Morgan Unisex Sunglasses are a great choice and very affordable!
• Water shoes are a great item to pack for any pool or beach vacation. They take up little room when packing and great if you end up at a beach that is rocky or with very hot sand.

Pin it for Later!

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A huge thank you to Carnival Cruise Line for their generous hospitality. We enjoyed this cruise as professional bloggers, but as always, all opinions are our own.

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Alexa Meisler is the editorial director of 52 Perfect Days. Born in Paris, France she has since lived in Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon. She currently resides in San Diego with her husband and son where they enjoy exploring California and Mexico.

Travel has always been a part of her life; traveling to such places as Morocco, Tangiers and Spain as a young child as well as taking many road trips to Mexico with her grandparents as a young girl. Since then, she has traveled abroad to locations such as Russia, Taiwan and throughout Europe.

Prior to working at 52 Perfect Days she was a freelance travel writer; focusing on family and women’s adventure experiences.

11 Comments

Ah, yes, memories. I remember when the dome was built for the Spruce Goose. Now, it’s where folks can depart for weekends or weeks! Thanks for the share about this quick trip.

It has literally been a decade since I last did a cruise, but it was with Carnival and seeing your photos certainly brought back fond memories. I was the one on the Pullman bed and the teen club kept me occupied leaving my parents with lots of free time too!

Wow I never realised you could book such a short cruise (never thought of it actually). It might be the perfect trial for me as I am not sure if a cruise would be my thing but I could probably do three days to check it out 😀 How does it work with passport control on the cruise if you’re going to Mexico?

Gorgeous sunset! I’m impressed that they have a club for teens that’s obviously interesting enough for them that they prefer it.

I lived in Southern California for a while and had quite a few friends who went on this cruise. They all loved it and reading this now makes me understand why! It sounds like a great break from things. And I have been to Ensenada which is a good place to spend the day!

We have friends who have done this cruise but we never have tried one. I think a short one like this would be a good introduction. Not having to continually pack and unpack as you move from place to place sounds inviting, and so many dining and entertainment options. Hmmm…..

It always blows my mind how much can get packed into these ships! They truly are entertainment destinations on the move! Awesome guide for the Carnival cruises.

I absolutely love the sunsets one can capture from a cruise! The Carnival Imagination cruise looks pretty awesome and it is nice that they had a teen’s club – that kept your teenager entertained! I love cruises – especially the pools, the dining options and the activities on board. Good that you also went to explore the city when the cruise was docked on port even though you had visited Ensenada earlier – many people do not explore the city and choose to stay on board!

A short cruise is just what I may need to get over my cruise hangup. Somehow I have a feeling it would be too ‘tied-down’ as compared to a land trip. So much food on board!

I have been wanting to take these short cruise. We love cruising and it is such an easy and affordable way to getaway for the week. I’d actually like to do the one that stops at Catalina as well.

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For the most recent version of this page, visit:

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• / Carnival New West Coast Sailings from Long Beach

Carnival New West Coast Sailings from Long Beach

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If you’ve ever dreamt of setting sail into the stunning vistas of the Mexican Riviera and Baja Mexico from the iconic shores of Long Beach, California , your dreams are about to come true. Carnival Cruise Line is offering travellers an enticing array of new deployment options from the picturesque shores of Long Beach, California. Future sailings are now officially open for sale, with exciting itineraries aboard Carnival Panorama , Carnival Radiance , and the soon-to-debut Carnival Firenze .

What you need to know :

Carnival Cruise Line unveils new cruise options from Long Beach, California . Sailings on Carnival Panorama , Carnival Radiance , and the upcoming Carnival Firenze are now open for sale. Destinations include Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, La Paz, and Ensenada . Carnival Firenze, named after Florence, Italy, introduces the “Carnival Fun Italian Style” experience. Carnival Panorama’s alternating itineraries offers six- and eight-day journeys to Mexican Riviera destinations from May 2025 to April 2026. Carnival Radiance offers nearly 50 getaways to Ensenada, Mexico, with three- and four-night options.

Cruising Diversity: Carnival Panorama’s Six- and Eighth-Day Itineraries

Carnival Panorama , renowned for its seven-day sailings, is ushering in a new era of cruising by introducing alternating six- and eight-day itineraries. Departing on both Saturdays and Sundays, these journeys will be available from spring 2025 through to spring 2026. The six-day itineraries will transport passengers to the enchanting locales of Ensenada and the mesmerizing Cabo San Lucas , offering two full days to explore this Mexican gem. Meanwhile, the eight-day cruises promise an immersive experience, with stops in Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta.

Carnival Firenze: An Italian Touch on the High Seas

For those seeking a taste of Italian charm on the ocean waves, Carnival Firenze is your answer. Named after the iconic city of Florence, Italy, this vessel is scheduled to dock in Long Beach in May 2024. It will be the second Carnival ship to bring the “Carnival Fun Italian Style” experience to life, following the successful launch of Carnival Venezia from New York earlier this year. Expect the same Carnival-friendly crew and beloved venues, alongside new, creative concepts, Italian-themed restaurants, bars, and entertainment options. The ship’s unique architectural design beautifully mirrors its namesake, offering travellers a slice of Italy in the heart of the Pacific.

Carnival Radiance: Ensenada Beckons

Carnival Radiance is set to provide nearly 50 new getaways to the coastal haven of Ensenada, Mexico, from spring to fall in 2025. This vessel offers alternating three- and four-night cruises, catering to travellers seeking flexibility. Three-day weekend cruises, departing on Fridays, offer a quick escape to Ensenada, while the four-day cruises add an additional stopover in the picturesque Catalina Island, adding a dash of variety to your voyage.

Exploring the Mexican Riviera and Baja Mexico

The new sailings from Carnival Cruise Line provide a plethora of possibilities for travellers. Whether you’re in search of thrilling adventures or serene moments, the Mexican Riviera and Baja Mexico offer something for everyone. Imagine soaring above the Sierra Madre foothills of a zipline adventure or embarking on an ATV ride through the breathtaking Guadalupe Valley, with its rolling countryside, vineyards, and olive trees.

Carnival Cruise Line’s expansion of offerings from Long Beach is set to offer travellers an incredible range of choices for experiencing the vibrant culture, natural beauty, and diverse attractions along the West Coast .

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Ensenada (Baja California Mexico)

Cruise port schedule, live map, terminals, news.

Region Hawaii - Mexico - Panama Canal

Local Time 2024-05-18 01:26

Port Ensenada cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Ensenada, Baja California Mexico. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.

Ensenada is a port city in Baja Mexico, ranked 3rd-largest in the Mexican state Baja California Sur. The city covers a total area of 61 km2 (24 mi2) and has population around 0,52 million. It is located approx 125 km (78 mi) south of San Diego (CA USA) .

Ensenada is one of the first settlements established in the Californias. It has emerged as an aerospace center and later was developed as premier cruise ship travel destination. There is a nearby area (to the north-east) where wine grapes are grown. In 1703 were planted the first vineyards in the region (at San Ignacio Mission).

The municipality's main agricultural zones are three - Guadalupe-Calafia (to the north), Ojos Negros (to the east) and San Quintin (to the south). The region's main crops are grapes, olives, wheat, alfalfa, tomato, asparagus, green onions, broccoli.

In 2023, for the first time, Ensenada Port surpassed the 1 millionth cruise tourist mark.

Port Ensenada

Port Ensenada (locode MXESE) is on the coastline of Bahia de Todos Santos (inlet of the Pacific Ocean, on the peninsula's Gold Coast).

Ensenada is an important fishing, tourist and commercial (cargo/ containership ) port. It is also home to a Mexican navy base (serving the country's Pacific Naval Force / RN-2 region), Airport, military airfield (doubling as airport for entry into Mexico).

Port Ensenada has a major influence on the region's economy as it is Baja California's (and the Peninsula's) only deep-water port. The port is directly linked to several marine shipping routes connecting Baja California with La Paz , Manzanillo , Mazatlan , Acapulco , Lazaro Cardenas (Mexico's largest seaport), San Diego , Long Beach and Los Angeles , Puerto Quetzal , Valparaiso-Santiago , Yokohama Japan , Hong Kong China .

The Port's largest revenues are from cruise shipping/dockings, followed by commercial fishing. The most economically important fisheries are tuna, shrimp, lobster, abalone, sea urchin, sardine, mackerel, seaweed. Most of the catches are exported to East Asia (Japan and China). The local tuna farming industry exports the meat almost exclusively to Japan.

The Port has commercial, industrial and passenger (ferry and cruise) terminals. The Bahia de Todos Santos coast has numerous boat and yacht marinas. Smaller cruise vessels (including superyachts and pleasure craft) may also dock at the marinas Baja Fiesta, Cruiseport Village, Coral and Baja Naval. There also dock commercial and sportfishing boats.

Ensenada is often included in USA-based cruise itineraries (including to Hawaii) as nearest to USA foreign port. This is done in order the ships to comply with the US cabotage laws (restricting coastwise trade and passengers / goods transportation within the USA).

A "shore excursion" option from Ensenada is the bus tour to Valle de Guadalupe (approx 20 km / 12 mi north of the city). Valle de Guadalupe is increasingly popular among tourists for its wines and Baja Med (fusion) cuisine that combines traditional Mexican-Mediterranean-Asian food specialties.

Ensenada cruise terminal

Cruise ships to Ensenada dock at the Naval cruise terminal, located in the port's industrial area. The pier is located near the Malecon boardwalk avenue - famous with its enormous Mexican flag. On the terminal, there is a market with numerous shops (including for hand-made souvenirs, conveniencies, pharmacy, store for tobaccos and liquors). There is a taxi rank and a small parking area (also used by tour buses). Shuttle bus service between the terminal and the city is at extra charge.

The cruise ship terminal is located near Avenida Lopez Mateos (Ensenada's tourist area) with its numerous shops, bars and dining venues.

New Carnival cruise terminal

On February 10, 2018, Carnival Cruise Line revealed the company's multi-million-dollar Ensenada port development project. The news was announced at the re-opening ceremony for the Long Beach Cruise Terminal (Los Angeles). Currently, Ensenada is visited mainly on Carnival's short cruises (3-day and 4-day itineraries) leaving roundtrip from Long Beach.

The new port project will provide Carnival cruise passengers with unique dining and retail shopping experiences and attractions. Details on the port development are yet to be revealed.

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Ensenada - user reviews and comments

Ensenada, Mexico

This fishing town, just south of the border on the Baja California Peninsula, has become a primary port of call for three- and four-day cruises to Mexico. Considered to be the country's wine capital, Ensenada has more than 25,000 acres of vineyards and is responsible for 90% of Mexico's wine production. Tours often set out to sample sips from the regions many wineries, and other popular excursions include horseback rides in the mountains or along the beach, deep-sea fishing, zipline adventures and trips to see La Bufadora, the world's second-largest marine geyser famed for launching streams of water nearly 100 feet into the air.

Driving Directions and Parking Information Port of Ensenada Blvd. Teniente Azueta No. 224, Recinto Portuario C.P. 22800 Ensenada, Baja California The Port of Ensenada is located on the Baja Peninsula, approximately 80 miles south of San Diego, California. Most cruise lines operate motorcoach transfers from the San Diego airport to Ensenada. Ask your Vacations To Go cruise counselor for more details. Traveling From the North - Take Interstate 1 (I-1) Southbound. Continue on I-1 until you reach the town of Ensenada. You will be able to see the port and the cruise ship from the interstate. Traveling From the South - Take Interstate 1 Northbound. Continue on I-1 until you reach the town of Ensenada. You will be able to see the port and the cruise ship from the interstate.

THE RAMBLING RACCOON

Hiking | lifestyle | travel, catalina & ensenada, mexico carnival cruise.

Chances are, you either know someone who has been on this cruise, you’ve done it yourself, or you want to.

The Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico Carnival Cruise is one of the most affordable cruises and vacation options out there! When I say affordable, I mean VERY VERY affordable.

We drove from Utah to California, hopped on an all-inclusive cruise ship for 4 days, and came out under $1,000 total for the BOTH of us! (That includes gratuities, excursions, AND spending money!)

My (now) husband and I had only been dating for a few short months when I bought him this cruise as a surprise for his birthday. <br><br>

…..Either I saw a future with him, or I was crazy. Either way, you’re welcome.

Cruise Itinerary – Day 1: board the ship

The cruise ship departs at 5:30 P.M. from Long Beach, California. Expect to wait in line to board and also in-port as other people are loading.

Good news! Everything is included in your trip. (Unlimited drinks included for an additional fee. Click here for details) So feel free to relax, grab some food and explore the ship. You won’t be able to check into your room until later.

I love that they make these cute towel animals in your cabin!

Fun fact: we end up getting sunburned and had to buy the only lotion we could find onboard. The lotion was from the spa and cost us $80 for one bottle. EIGHTY-DOLLARS. Hence the photoshoot. I laughed uncontrollably when I took this, so if you don’t laugh, I can’t help you.

Cruise Itinerary – Day 2: Catalina Island

You’ll cruise through the night and arrive at Catalina Island at 7:30 A.M. and depart off the island by 4:30 P.M. You’ll take a small boat from the cruise ship to the island shore.

There is so much to do in Catalina. Even if you just decide to walk around the cute little island, there’s beautiful beach views, tons of shopping, and amazing places to eat!

They have some adorable shops with hand-made items! We bought a bunch of real starfish for a bathroom renovation that we planned to do (but never did, now that I think about it.)

Aaaaaand….my favorite part of our experience……

Parasailing in catalina

Full disclosure here: I’m absolutely terrified of heights. Considering my fear, I’m pretty damn proud of all the height-related activities I’ve done in my life (like climbing sketchy mountains, for instance) and this one is one of those proud moments.

There are a lot of excursion options! Like going in a submarine, glass-bottom boat rides, and even an island scavenger hunt! Click here to see all the options!

cruise Itinerary – Day 3: Ensenada, Mexico

You’ll cruise through the night, arrive at Ensenada, Mexico at 8:00 A.M., and depart Mexico at 6:00 P.M.

You’ll take another small boat from the cruise ship to the shoreline of Ensenada.

You have so many options to explore here! ATV rides, wine tours, horseback rides, and more! Click here for a full list of activities to choose from!

La Bufadora Blowhole

We chose to do the La Bufadora Tour . This tour includes a 4-hour guided tour of La Bufadora from Ensenada, a chance to see the sea geyser of La Bufadora, shop for the perfect gifts at a large crafts sidewalk market, and taste food and drinks of the Baja California region (at your own expense).

Warning: I don’t know if I’d trust drinking any of those drink samples. The people at the flea market shots will also try to get you to do shots of Tequila with you. I wouldn’t recommend that either, but who am I to say. You do you, boo. Just don’t blame me if you end up puking your guts out later. It’s about as safe as drinking Mexico tap water.

Their Piña Coladas and churros are AMAZING!! Buy one of each. Or multiple.

Right past the flea market, you’ll get an amazing, 360- view of the ocean!

Not only will you see picturesque views, but there’s also plenty of photo-ops along the way! Like this super cliche, and super amazing gem:

La Bufadora Blow Hole

This blowhole is an amazing natural marine geyser that is capable of shooting water well over 60 feet in the air. La Bufadora is considered to be the second-largest marine geyser in the world.

This marine geyser phenomenon is caused by ocean waves being forced into a partially submerged sea cavern, causing large amounts of air and water pressure to build. The air and ocean water is expelled through the only exit, launching it several stories into the air.

Cruise Itinerary – Day 4: Day at Sea

There are tons of on-board activities for everyone! Shows and entertainment, bars, lots of yummy food, an entire water park, an amazing spa, and even a game show!

What our relationship is really like…

Since I did book this cruise as a birthday gift, there was plenty of birthday festivities. I also planned ahead when I did the booking and had them decorate our cabin, including a birthday cake!

Formal night

All cruise lines also offer at least one formal night . You get to dress up and go to dinner!

We keep it real classy.

cruise itinerary – Day 5: Back to port in LA

No matter what you decide to do on your excursions, this cruise is sure to be a great time. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to do this budget-friendly cruise! You won’t regret it!

Have you done the Ensenada/Catalina cruise? What did you do at each port?

2 Responses

It is a really good post. I love how you included images to show exactly what you were doing. I’m Mexican and I can proudly say that most of our beaches are gorgeous. I’m so glad that you enjoyed your cruise in companion with your husband. I bet it was a very enriching experience. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Thank you so much for the compliments! Mexico is a beautiful place! Thanks so much for reading ❤️

© 2021 – The Rambling Raccoon. All Rights Reserved. Designed & Developed by The Rambling Raccoon.

DISCLOSURE & TERMS OF USE . 

4 - Day Baja Mexico from Los Angeles, CA

Cruise itinerary.

Day 1: Long Beach (Los Angeles)

Day 2: catalina island, day 3: ensenada.

Day 4: Fun Day at Sea

Day 5: long beach (los angeles).

Get to Know Carnival Radiance

The warmth of being together — it's just so nice, right? It fact, it inspired us to create Carnival Radiance, to delight folks like you and your closest travel buds. And wouldn't you believe it, Carnival Radiance makes it all happen with a little help from some friends… For starters, can we just say how excited we are to be tipping things off with the culinary influence of Shaq? This man knows his fried chicken, and in case you have any doubt, every meal we serve at Big Chicken puts the proof on your plate. Still on the taste tip, there's two delicious spots on Carnival Radiance from Mr. Fieri himself: Guy's Burger Joint and Guy's Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse. We're not going to apologize for all the bragging about our famous friends. Not when there's so much onboard fun for kids courtesy of Dr. Seuss ® favorites like The Cat in the Hat… who you'll meet! And with all the flavor from our own homegrown RedFrog and BlueIguana spots — like tacos, pub grub and great drinks — you'll be thrilled to get acquainted with such colorful creatures. (And the cuddly ones at Build-A-Bear Workshop ® At Sea!) Big names aren't all there is to know about Carnival Radiance. There's amazing entertainment up on stage at Playlist Productions ™ , so many chances to be a champion at SportSquare ™ featuring our Ropes Course, and potentially unlimited relaxation potential for grown-ups at Serenity ™ Adult-Only Retreat. Plus the adults have plenty of spots for a drink, like the fan-favorite Alchemy Bar ™ and Heroes Tribute ™ Bar, which refreshes everyone while paying tribute to men and women of the military. For the kids, don't worry — there's three youth spaces where you can hang out with others your age, plus we've got real Zumbini ™ classes for the even-littler ones. But since we're talking together-time, your whole bunch will never run out of stuff to do on Carnival Radiance! Let's highlight some of the togetherest: Dive-In Movies ™ screens flicks everybody loves poolside, while at mini-golf you're always guaranteed to sink a hole-in-some… and really, who doesn't love select family-friendly comedy shows at Punchliner ™ Comedy Club? We're so excited about Carnival Radiance bringing all this fun together… emphasis on the “together.” (And the fun!) So come join us!

Onboard Activities

Onboard Dining

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Cruise to Ensenada, Mexico

Ensenada shore excursions, amazing experiences coming soon., sorry, there are no excursions for this port at this moment., things to do in ensenada, mexico.

Hit the Beach

Mexico Ensenada Beach Baja California

Ensenada is home to many incredible beaches, both within and slightly outside the city. Choose public beaches such as San Miguel or El Punto to enjoy a beer or margarita with plenty of friendly locals, or pay a small fee to enter private resort beaches, where you can rent comfy beach chairs or swim in pristine pools.

Hike Up to Wine Down

Mexico Ensenada Vineyard Valley

Hike the six-mile Canon de Doña Petra trail that takes you through rugged desert or into El Salto Canyon, where you can reward yourself with a dip in a waterfall — or later, with a glass of wine. Ensenada is in the heart of Baja California's wine region, which you can experience with tasting and pairing sessions at wineries such as Bodega de Santo Tomás.

Enjoy Magical Marine Ecotourism

You might've just gotten off a ship, but the sea is a sizable source of enchantment in Ensenada. Book a whale watching trip to ride out into the Pacific, where whales migrate down the coast to Baja California during certain months of the year. Or, for a less season-dependent ocean tourism experience, watch La Bufadora blowhole shoot water high into the sky.

Local Cuisine

If you love fish tacos, Ensenada (the dish's birthplace) is the place for you to be — try the spate of stalls near the pier where your cruise ship arrives. You can also enjoy food from all around Mexico, from more traditional varieties of tacos and burritos, to tangy ceviche made with locally caught fish.

Shops near Ensenada's port will sell traditional souvenirs like postcards and key chains. For a more unique experience, head to Avenida Lopez Mateos, which locals refer to as "Calle 1." The artist studios and shops that line this street spotlight locally made art, from Dia de los Muertos souvenirs to photographed and painted landscapes of local scenery.

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