shore tours in ensenada & catalina

[diggerhawk]

I need advice from someone who has been on the Paradise out of Long Beach. I would like some suggestions on the best shore tours for Ensenada and Catalina. Any info would be great.

 

Wendy

[serene56]

Have you looked on the Port of calls boards.. tons of information for you so you can pick what your interests are.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=5

[FrogLover215]

It really depends on what you want to do. In Avalon (Catalina), tour operators have booths on the Green Pier (this is where you are tendered to, usually) and you can usually walk up to the booth and book something right there. There may be deep discounts if you take two or more tours. We've done the Interior Adventure, the glass-bottom boat, and the semi-sub. The semi-sub costs a lot more but is 10x better than the glass-bottom boat. Both will try to sell you "food torpedoes" to shoot out at the fish, and this really is fun for the kids so make sure to take another $10 or so for this. The Interior Adventure is just a bus ride, but it takes you to portions of the island that are otherwise inaccessible, and you might see bison (which is a thrill for the kids). Avalon is easy to walk around. You can also rent a golf cart and scoot around town that way.

 

The only tour I've done in Ensenada is the La Bufadora (Blowhole) tour. We don't reserve this through the ship. Rather, the company running the shuttle to town will offer you discount tickets to do their version of the tour. This runs about $12 and usually includes a margarita or sometimes a lunch. Of course, not everyone wants to travel in Mexico with an independent tour operator, but we have done this 4-5 times and have never had a problem.

[Lakeman953]

I have been to Catalina Island a couple of times, I did the Glass bottom boat and it wasn't exciting, I would suggest the semi sub as an alternate.

You can also Rent a Golf cart there on Catalina it you drive it yourself on a self guided tour and Me and Family really enjoyed that, You can even get some great pictures over looking all of Catalina almost So I recommend this and You don't book it with Carnival You can just go right to there shop and Rent it direct as they have alot of Golf carts:D

 

As for Mexico, I did the Horseback ride and if you have rode a horse before it won't be very exciting as you just sit on the horse and you walk in a straight line with about 20 to 30 other horses and you look and weeds and brush. For first time riders it may be fun.

[Scorpiorose]

We did this cruise, in Ensenada we just shopped, (the shopping is better there than in the carribean - it's just not as well known so it's not over the top yet) - we had a great meal and shopped. In San Diago we did the zoo if you are going there, especially with kids that's great and Cat. Island, we didn't do anything but I heard the gold carts were fun!

[cruzegirl]

I was on this cruise in March... In Catalina I did the Whale Watching but I don't think that's offered now as it's over.. But we didn't see any whales anyways....And it was cold.... I have heard the Glass Bottom boat is good... And if your a diver, they have diving/snorkeling at Casino Point on Catalina. Just be prepared, the water is still cold for snorkeling....

In Ensenada I did the Fox Studios Tour.... Absolutely LOVED it... Well worth the money.... I thought the shopping stunk to be honest... The Caribbean was much better.... The stuff in Ensenada is cheap mexican stuff.... I wasn't impressed at all.... Bought one magnet for the collection..... I know of several people that have done the Blowhole tour and really enjoyed it... Hope this helps.......

[Curt Jerome Wild]

In Ensenada I did the Fox Studios Tour.... Absolutely LOVED it... Well worth the money.... I thought the shopping stunk to be honest... The Caribbean was much better.... The stuff in Ensenada is cheap mexican stuff.... I wasn't impressed at all.... Bought one magnet for the collection.....

Hey cruzegirl!

First of all shoutout to Santa Clarita, I have family in AV, so I pass by Sand Canyon and Via Princessa almost every weekend!

Secondly questions:

#1 You're close enough to Hollywood/LA that you may have gone on studio tours there, such as Universal, CBS, NBC, FOX, etc. If you've done that, then why was the Fox Studio Tour in Ensenada so great? Just go with my thinking here, I can do the real studio tours at any point, or for those reading this, staying in LA before or after a cruise, why would I want to do a Studio Tour in Ensenada? You've intrigued me in the fact that I may want to, but why is this better or different than a big studio in Hollywood? Otherwise, if it's not better or different, I may want to do the "Blowhole", etc.

#2 Shopping what were you looking for in Ensenada?

Just my experience, (I was with my girlfriend), I got the BEST EVER surfer Black Mexican shirt (they are like the ones you can get in California surf towns, but I've never seen them in black) for about $10. I've had more compliments on this from women, that seriously I may book another cruise, just to get more for back up. And I got the best men's bathing suit/surfer shorts ever (again, my girlfriend picked it, but never seen another one like it).

So, just my opinion on shopping, but what were you looking for that didn't match up to par with Caribbean? (I know Caribbean shopping well, but just curious to know what was good better shopping wise there as opposed to Ensenada)?

(Again, this may help the hard core female shoppers on this board).

I'm curious for myself, but as we love these CC boards, any answers you have for me, may help some shoppers in the future.:D

CJW

PS I'm no shopping expert, just saying that my girlfriend was really happy with the clothes she found for me and her in Ensenada, as well as other ports in Mexico.

[Lakeman953]

LOL, I also live in Santa Clarita Valley.

I also worked for the Studios for 8 years and as I didn't do that tour I would do it just to see what they show.

And for your info studio tours don't really show you how things are really done.

[Curt Jerome Wild]

LOL, I also live in Santa Clarita Valley.

I also worked for the Studios for 8 years and as I didn't do that tour I would do it just to see what they show.

And for your info studio tours don't really show you how things are really done.

LOL back to you, and again shout out to Santa Clarita!:D

Totally know that the studio tours don't show you how things are done (as I think we're on the same page here), henceforth, why I'm now really curious about what the Fox Studio in Ensenada is all about, and how it's any different/better than the ones in Hollywood/LA.

Waiting to hear back from cruzegirl!:)

CJW

[cruzegirl]

Hey CJW,

Another shoutout to Santa Clarita.... lol....You pass by me alot of time if you go up the 14... very cool more Santa Clarita folks on the board....

Ah, I have your curiosity piqued huh?? Honestly now.... I have been obsessed since I was a child with Titanic.... Don't ask me why, I just have.... Can't explain the connection.....So, because Titanic was filmed there, it held a special place there for me.... And the filming... I found it totally amazing watching the film with James Cameron's filming.... So I got to see where they did that.... And alot of underwater movies and such are filmed there.... It's a small behind the scenes studio.... No rides, no gimmicks.... And some of "this is how they did it" stuff...... We had a whole bus full of people and everyone was amazed and enjoyed it.... They were all talking...... It's not better than Universal or Warner Bros. but different and quite enjoyable.... I just wasn't brave enough to drive across the border to go see it....:rolleyes:

I'm not sure what I expected of the shopping... I just thought alot of the things I saw were cheaply made.... I didn't want a Sombrero or Mexican things so I guess that's why I was disappointed.... I wanted a token shirt and magnet as I collect from vacation spots...I just wasn't impressed.... And the kids begging bothered me... But you can have that wherever you go I suppose... I thought in the Caribbean there were more collectable type things... ;)

Have a great day all.....It's beautiful out here......:p