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You'll find great food all over the place, from the casual fare of Horatio's to the artful eats of the Bacchus and Ariadne dining rooms... Not to mention the world-class cuts at Nick & Nora's Steakhouse. If there’s one thing about cruises, it’s that you have lots and lots of choices and you’ll certainly never go hungry!
Best Cruises to Mexico
You can learn about the evolution of Mexican wine country and taste the often riper and darker fruit flavor of Mexican wine. From wildlife viewing, to nature and history excursions, to food and drink stops, you’ll wish you had more time at this cruise port. During our day in port, we chose to explore the town on our own.
Planning Your Day Onboard
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. Science lovers will enjoy visiting this unique natural history museum in the shape of a ship located at the harbor. Most of the exhibits are in Spanish but tour guides are great at offering English explanations and hands-on learning opportunities.
cruise itinerary – Day 5: Back to port in LA
If you're a wine lover, don't miss the chance to visit Bodegas de Santo Tomás, the oldest operating winery in Baja California. It was originally founded in 1888 by Miguel Ormat and Francisco Andonaeguí using vineyards that were first established by missionaries. The bar serves large bags of peanuts to patrons, resulting in a unique peanut shell floor.
He place to shop in Ensenada is along Avenida Lopez Mateos, an avenue lined with a variety of shops and restaurants. It’s a great place to find a souvenir to remember your Ensenada cruise port of call by. For a memorable piece of jewelry, go the Opal Mine, which is set up to look like an actual opal mine. Opal is the national stone of Mexico, and this unique jewelry store is a great place to get a ring, necklace, or other piece of jewelry featuring the stone. From the Malecon, hop on a boat for a tour of the Ensenada harbor. Along the way, you’ll see a different angle of the boardwalk and get panoramic views of this part of the Baja Peninsula coastline.
If the beach is on your priority list, one of the closest options to port is Malecon de Playa Hermosa. A short 9 minute taxi ride away, you’ll have a great time here snorkeling, learning how to surf, or just relaxing in the sun. Many Ensenada attractions including excellent souvenir shopping, food and museums are within comfortable walking distance of the cruise ship terminal. The Ensenada, Mexico cruise port is conveniently located close to the city center, making it easy to see top sights, do some shopping, and get a bite to eat or drink shortly after getting off your ship. You’ll also find a market selling souvenirs right by the cruise pier, along with a liquor store and pharmacy. If you’re looking for a beach experience during your time in Ensenada, Rosarito Beach is a great one to visit.
Shopping Near the Ensenada Cruise Port
Cruise to Baja Mexico and enjoy Ensenada’s beaches before hitting the fashionable shops of Avenida Primera for new jewelry… duty-free, of course. Ensenada is one of the best places to get a glimpse of the beautiful Mexican culture as well as eat tasty seafood tacos, drink refreshing margaritas and experience exciting excursions. The market has multiple restaurants and street vendors serving up delicious mariscos including shrimp and fish tacos, ceviche, tostadas, whole fried fish and shrimp or mixed seafood cocktails. There are several different packages for animal experiences, so be sure you purchase the correct ticket for the animal experience you want to have.
Best Deals to Ensenada, Mexico
For a luxury hotel that won’t break the bank, I recommend the Westin Long Beach, which is currently the #1 hotel on Tripadvisor. During our cruise, we had a bit of rain on day one and it was a tad chilly for the waterslides for us. 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.
This excursion has amazing reviews and is located a short 20 minute ride from the cruise port. During your Ensenada cruise port of call, don’t miss tasting local wine from the Guadalupe Valley. For one of the best margaritas in town, head to Hussong’s Cantina, a landmark bar that serves up potent margaritas. Experience the culture of Ensenada on a visit to the Riviera Center, which is located in a former hotel and casino. The building features stunning architecture with ornate detailing on its impressive woodwork and beautiful tiles. Here, you’ll find the Museum of History, which houses a number of significant artwork and artifacts.
Pai Pai offers 40 activities built around ecological and sustainable tourism. The biggest attractions here are wild animal feeding and interactions, but you can also participate in zip lining, tequila tasting, off-road Rzr driving, and Go-Kart Racing. Follow our social media and blog for the latest cruise and travel news, including our best vacation deals. 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.
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. 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. There is no shortage of meaningful things to do on a getaway cruise to Ensenada, Mexico.
Your 1.5 hour long horseback ride will give you lovely views of the ocean and the rugged beauty of Baja, California. The guides are kind and informative, the horses are well cared for and helmets are included. Plus, this shorter excursion means you’ll have time to shop or sightsee before or after your horseback ride.
Carnival unveils new Long Beach cruise program - TravelMole
Carnival unveils new Long Beach cruise program.
Posted: Fri, 06 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Cruise to Baja Mexico for some south-of-the-border flavor with a coastal twist. Don’t be confused — the Baja California peninsula is actually in Mexico, and cruises to Mexico are a great way to explore this area. Getting there’s a snap, because it’s just south of California (California, USA, that is) and it’s all just a short trip when you cruise from Los Angeles. While the region features a geography not unlike SoCal, it’s a different world… one that attracts American expats, and especially retirees, who call coastal resort towns like Ensenada their home.
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. Mexico might be right down there, but it exists in another world entirely. Experience a whole enchilada’s worth of rich culture and fun on a cruise to Mexico. Each port — including favorites Cozumel, Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta — contributes its own distinct local flavor to the mix. Today, a tour of Riviera del Pacífico will give you a glimpse into this famed piece of Ensenada's history.
Plus, our experienced travel consultants have access to exclusive vacation deals to make sure you get the best value for your time and money. Enjoying the streets of downtown Ensenada is a great way to spend time in this port. You can enjoy the atmosphere and spend as many (or few!) pesos as you’d like.
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. This blowhole is an amazing natural marine geyser that is capable of shooting water well over 60 feet in the air.
