Shorter cruises from west coast?

[mrsgthatsme]

Can anyone tell me more about the West Coast cruises? It looks like they almost all go to Ensenada as a port, which I have heard not so great feedback on... are there any itineraries that you have taken (5 days or less) that you would recommend? I would also like to hear about what activities you participated in while on a West Coast cruise. Thank you!!

[san diego sue]

From Los Angeles, all the 3 and 4 day cruises must stop in

Ensenada (a foreign port requirement). The four day cruises stop also in either Santa Barbara or San Diego and sometimes Catalina(as well as Ensenada).It is a nice little getaway for those living within driving distance of port. Or one can take the shorter cruise and combine it with a longer one(Mexican Riviera, or Hawaii) a Back to Back.

Edited May 8, 2015 by san diego sue

[timetravler]

Short California cruise MUST stop in Ensenada because of the Jones act. Now I just did a 7 day California coastal and had a great time in Ensenada. I found a great tour guide that took us to La Bufadora( a blow hole) for $15. Found him right where the shuttle drops you off. We had a about 1 &1/2 hours to shop at La Bufadora. I had a fantastic fish taco for $1.50 each. The whole tour was great. In the past I went on the Princess tour to wineries and enjoyed that very much. Also another thing you can do is buy some over the counter drugs such as cortisone cream to take home. Many people do this and yes it is perfectly legal.

Ensenada may be poor but I actually enjoy it there.

[Cruz-OR]

Stopping in Ensenada satisfies the requirement to visit a foreign port before returning to the US. In this case the ship must return to the same port as it departed from because Ensenada is not a distant foreign port which would allow the ship to return to the US at a different port.

[Colo Cruiser]

What's wrong with Ensenada? Get out of town its not that bad. :cool:

[cr8tiv1]

Short California cruise MUST stop in Ensenada because of the Jones act. Now I just did a 7 day California coastal and had a great time in Ensenada. I found a great tour guide that took us to La Bufadora( a blow hole) for $15. Found him right where the shuttle drops you off. We had a about 1 &1/2 hours to shop at La Bufadora. I had a fantastic fish taco for $1.50 each. The whole tour was great. In the past I went on the Princess tour to wineries and enjoyed that very much. Also another thing you can do is buy some over the counter drugs such as cortisone cream to take home. Many people do this and yes it is perfectly legal.

Ensenada may be poor but I actually enjoy it there.

 

A slight correction: Jones Act is for cargo/freight, Passenger Vessel Services Act is for Passengers.

 

http://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/documents/pvsa_icp_3.pdf

 

I've done the 2 winery tour with Princess and it is a nice drive out of the city with a free bottle of wine and lots of tasty morsels to sample.

 

I loved these short cruises out of LA but do keep in mind that it is very hard/stressing on the crew.

[SadieN]

People don't like Ensenada because it's not built to American tourist standards, like Cabo.

[SadieN]

 

 

 

I loved these short cruises out of LA but do keep in mind that it is very hard/stressing on the crew.

 

 

No doubt that it's hard on the crew.

 

We've taken many of the 3 & 4 day cruises on Carnival out of Long Beach. There are many crew that we see year to year on these.

The difference is probably in what they're used to.

Edited May 8, 2015 by SadieN

[Pam in CA]

I just stay on the ship when in Ensenada.

 

Princess has really cut back on the number of West Coast 3-4 day cruises in 2016-17. There are only a very few. Not surprised since they couldn't give them away.

[jasbo49]

I think Ensenada has its virtues. It's certainly not exciting or glamorous, and it's not an area of great beaches. But it is an honest Mexican working town, where you'll find prices lower than the resort type areas of Mexico. Visiting the blow hole or wineries is worthwhile. I suppose there's even time to make a trip north to Rosarito Beach if you're inclined.

 

You can get an authentic Mexican lunch for very little money. And, it's certainly better than that made-up stop called Costa Maya on the Yucatan, in my opinion.

 

I wouldn't go on one of the three-day cruises out of L.A. again. Three days is just too short (unless you live there), and the addition of another port for the four-day getaways makes a lot of difference.

 

If you're interested in something else, though. Princess has a couple of 5-day cruises in November that spend two days in Cabo San Lucas. A lot of people like Cabo. Personally, as soon as I get to Cabo, I want to journey 20 miles north (it's about a $2 bus ride) to San Jose del Cabo. Now there's a nice little Mexican town.

 

Jim

Edited May 8, 2015 by jasbo49

[gbldcl]

Best day I had on the ship was when everybody else got off to go into Ensenada. All of the open deck areas, pools, etc., were empty and quiet. Very relaxing and peaceful.

[shredie]

Best day I had on the ship was when everybody else got off to go into Ensenada. All of the open deck areas, pools, etc., were empty and quiet. Very relaxing and peaceful.

 

 

Yes! I stay on the ship and relax.

[sassyredhat]

I love the short cruises. I'm waiting until May 21 when PCL releases the 2016-17 so I can book a couple of them.

 

Patti

[goofy559]

What's wrong with Ensenada? Get out of town its not that bad. :cool:

 

Finally! Somebody else who doesn't think its terrible! We walked through the touristy part and found a lovely quaint town with friendly people, nice shops and lots of character.

 

We were pleasantly surprised!

[Coveguy4]

I have done Ensenada a few times and always managed to enjoy myself. Winery tour was great, staying onboard to an almost empty ship very relaxing, going for lunch or drinks at Papa's and Beer is fun. Taking the Blow Hole and shopping Ok. The point is you can choose to have a good time, no matter what you decide on doing!

[JF - retired RRT]

Pam is right. The short cruises don't sell very well. We did a 3 day in January and paid $99pp !!! for an inside cabin (our OBC was $130). Stayed on the ship while everyone else was OFF:D. Very nice.

 

The overnight in Cabo sounded good to us (never been there), so a couple of days ago we booked an inside for $304 and our TA (one recommended by Pam - thanks Pam!) gave us $49 off of that. Total cost to us is $730 with $180 OBC. So we'll see how it is when we go in November.;)

[critterchick]

The weekend short cruises sell out and generate a lot of revenue, from what we've observed on our half-dozen or sailings (we live hear the port:D). The problem is likely with the mid-week cruises, which don't attract as many working age passengers, because who wants to take a week off from work to do a 4-night cruise? Princess would be well-advised to consider a 3/4 night itinerary that has Friday and Monday departures, if they are going to stay in the market and attract first-time cruisers and celebratory groups.

 

All cruises are hard on the crew, but I think that the short ones affect housekeeping more than anybody else. A drink is a drink and a meal is a meal, so I only see more paperwork for the F&B side of the operation.

 

And we greatly enjoy Ensenada - we have found a great day spa for excellent massages, there are plenty of restaurants ranging from seafood by the harbor to more varied fare in town. There are lots of junky stores, but also quite a few nice ones that actually sell items made in Mexico. Our usual routine is a late morning massage followed by lunch and a stroll back to the ship.

[welldone60]

The weekend short cruises sell out and generate a lot of revenue, from what we've observed on our half-dozen or sailings (we live hear the port:D). The problem is likely with the mid-week cruises, which don't attract as many working age passengers, because who wants to take a week off from work to do a 4-night cruise? Princess would be well-advised to consider a 3/4 night itinerary that has Friday and Monday departures, if they are going to stay in the market and attract first-time cruisers and celebratory groups.

 

All cruises are hard on the crew, but I think that the short ones affect housekeeping more than anybody else. A drink is a drink and a meal is a meal, so I only see more paperwork for the F&B side of the operation.

 

And we greatly enjoy Ensenada - we have found a great day spa for excellent massages, there are plenty of restaurants ranging from seafood by the harbor to more varied fare in town. There are lots of junky stores, but also quite a few nice ones that actually sell items made in Mexico. Our usual routine is a late morning massage followed by lunch and a stroll back to the ship.

 

Would you let me know the name and location, my wife loves to get massages.

[senior lady]

I loved Ensenada. Took the wine tour and really enjoyed it.

I actually like those short cruises.

Unfortunately by the time I add air from Vancouver it's not such a bargain:(

[Cruisin' Chick]

Add me to the list of people who prefer to stay on board in Ensenada. In fact, on our last three cruises, the round trip Hawaiian cruises, there was the PVSA-mandated stop there. I can be safe in saying that all three times, the majority (maybe over 80 per cent) of the passengers stayed on board. Probably because many of us have been there, done that too many times. One time we did the city tour, but other than that, this is one town that I don't enjoy walking around in.

[SoCal Cruiser78]

...Princess has really cut back on the number of West Coast 3-4 day cruises in 2016-17. There are only a very few. Not surprised since they couldn't give them away.

 

They have cut way back, and prices have gone up. I am paying more this year for an inside than I paid last year for a balcony for the same itinerary, same time of year.

 

There are a couple of "one-off" 5-nighters on Princess this fall from L.A. that overnight in Cabo, as another poster mentioned, and skip Ensenada entirely.

Edited May 8, 2015 by SoCal Cruiser78

[VibeGuy]

I like Ensenada just fine. It's usually breezy and pleasant, cabs are cheap and plentiful, the pharmacy at the Costco meets U.S. standards with Mexican pricing and it's a surprisingly smart college town - more PhDs per capita than anywhere else in Latin America. As legally mandated ports go, it's no Victoria, BC, but it's perfectly fine for a sun day.

[icat2000]

I just stay on the ship when in Ensenada.

 

Princess has really cut back on the number of West Coast 3-4 day cruises in 2016-17. There are only a very few. Not surprised since they couldn't give them away.

Not surprised at all. I wonder if they were operating at a loss on those cruises.

[icat2000]

They have cut way back, and prices have gone up. I am paying more this year for an inside than I paid last year for a balcony for the same itinerary, same time of year.

 

There are a couple of "one-off" 5-nighters on Princess this fall from L.A. that overnight in Cabo, as another poster mentioned, and skip Ensenada entirely.

Well they figure if there is less cruises they can charge more because there are always going to be people who will book them because its either a) close to home b) don't want to fly c) don't have much leave available or they only need to day 1 day leave or such. Less is more.

[SoCal Cruiser78]

Not surprised at all. I wonder if they were operating at a loss on those cruises.

 

Not sure, but I do know that many cabins were given out free to past casino players, so they may have made up the lost cabin revenue with an increased casino take.

Edited May 9, 2015 by SoCal Cruiser78