Short Cruises from San Diego to Cabo

[cruisenshopper]

Does anyone know why Carnival is eliminating the 3 day cruises from San Diego that went only to Cabo San Lucas? Cabo is a far more desirable port than Ensenada, in our opinion, and I know that cruise was popular with California residents. I guess we should have acted sooner, but I had been hoping to take DH on that one for his birthday in late Feb.

[Kurbanfan]

They never had a 3 day cruise to Cabo......only 4 day to Cabo and a 5 day to Ensenada and Cabo.

Now the Elation will have the same itinerary as the Paradise. 3 & 4 dayers going to Ensenada and Catalina.

Nobody knows why they changed it. Rumor has it their goldmine is in the 3 day party ship........

I hope it fails miserably........

 

You might want to look into Royal Caribbean the Radiance will be sailing to Cabo out of San Diego I believe starting in Sept.........

[cathyz]

I think it was because of the high fuel prices a while back, but that's just my opinion.

[Kurbanfan]

I think it was because of the high fuel prices a while back, but that's just my opinion.

 

With the money they save on the Paradise route........it should over compensate for the Elation lol!

[yogi2929]

Not quite the same route. Elation does sail out of San Diego.:p

 

The one thing I do like is that I now have a choice of what day of the week I want to leave. Thursday or Friday, Sunday or Monday. Having a girls weekend the end of March during spring break on the Elation for much less than we could on the Paradise.

 

Don't know if Carnival is still doing it but they were offering the free berth on five bookings instead of eight for the Elation.

 

In December the reasoning from the Elation crew was that the port fees are being raised in Cabo. All I know is that we got a small refund on them.

[Kurbanfan]

Not quite the same route. Elation does sail out of San Diego.:p

 

The one thing I do like is that I now have a choice of what day of the week I want to leave. Thursday or Friday, Sunday or Monday. Having a girls weekend the end of March during spring break on the Elation for much less than we could on the Paradise.

 

Don't know if Carnival is still doing it but they were offering the free berth on five bookings instead of eight for the Elation.

 

In December the reasoning from the Elation crew was that the port fees are being raised in Cabo. All I know is that we got a small refund on them.

 

Both those cruises are dirt cheap..........I give the Elation maybe 6 months before it bombs.....

 

If they were smart they would do a 5 & 6 day cruise from San Diego to Cabo and La Paz.........

[brilliantseas]

Cruise ships cost hundreds of dollars per mile in fuel, so the difference in distance adds up to tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars in fuel costs every cruise.

 

Remember that shorter cruises may actually yield more revenue from onboard spending than they do from the cruise fare itself. Carnival offers $149-199 fares regularly on the shorter sailings to ensure that the ship sails at 100%+ double occupancy capacity because they make up the revenue in onboard spending. At those low prices, people don't care where they go, they just care that they are on vacation, but Carnival likely makes more profit on a 4 day Ensenada and Catalina cruise at $149 than they would on a 4 day Cabo cruise at $249 simply because of fuel costs.

[Debster2Cruz]

I would much rather go to Cabo then to Ensenada. I was hoping to take the cruise to Cabo with my grown children for a fun cheap cruise. I would rather not even go if it is only to Catalina and Ensenada. Urrrgggg!

[brilliantseas]

I would much rather go to Cabo then to Ensenada. I was hoping to take the cruise to Cabo with my grown children for a fun cheap cruise. I would rather not even go if it is only to Catalina and Ensenada. Urrrgggg!

 

I agree. I have been to Cabo before and it is probably my favorite vacation destination. Unfortunately Carnival is known to run virtually the same itinerary on several ships, sometimes even out of the same home port rather than offering more diverse itineraries. Florida is even worse with this, with every 3 day going to Nassau and 4 days sailing almost exclusively on either a Nassau/Freeport or Cozumel itinerary. Why not mix it up a little and offer some 3 day cruises to Half Moon Key or Key West and some 4 day cruises to Grand Cayman, Jamaica, or Grand Turk. The sailing distance is about the same, but I think Carnival tries to use 3 and 4 day cruises to offer common first-timer itineraries in hopes that they hook people and then get them back for a 7-day sailing when they want to try new ports. I think that in the case of Cabo, they figure that it is a more upscale destination and those who really want to go are willing to upgrade to the 7-day sailings.

[Kurbanfan]

I would much rather go to Cabo then to Ensenada. I was hoping to take the cruise to Cabo with my grown children for a fun cheap cruise. I would rather not even go if it is only to Catalina and Ensenada. Urrrgggg!

 

I agree! And I believe alot of So Cal peeps feel the same........that is why I think the Elation will fail......

The 7 day cruises attract people from all over.......these same people are not attracted to the 3 & 4 day ensenada and catalina cruises.......

 

Now Royal Caribbean on the other hand pulled out of their 3 & 4 day cruises and are now focusing on the Cabo itinerary. Smart move on their part IMO....

[dobiemom]

For some reason I though short cruises (on all lines) went to Ensenada and Catalina and just last year found out that Carnival goes to Cabo. (DUH!) I was very pleased but was only able to book this month, and now I find out that this is one of the last cruises to Cabo. :o

 

If they were smart they would do a 5 & 6 day cruise from San Diego to Cabo and La Paz.........

 

Great idea! Carnival, are you listening?

[larsenbiz]

My husband and I did the 4 day Elation San Diego-Cabo last year. We are booked for the 4 day Elation San Diego - Ensenada in a few months. For me, personally, for such a short trip, I don't really care where the ship goes. It is just the getting away part that is important to me.

I don't love Cabo, but I'm not into snorkling or fishing. I think it is a prettier destination that Ensenada.

That being said, my husband and I enjoy wine and are planning on visiting some botique wineries just outside of Ensenada this time, instead of themass produced wineries that the cruise ship excursions take you to. And for Catalina...We'll be spending 1/2 the day in a spa. How bad can that be? That's my 2 cents.

I am looking forward to the changes on Elation after dry-dock.

[kaylahszoo]

We have been on the CCL & RCCL 3-4 day cruises many times. We are from Phoenix, so it is not too far to fly. It is great when we just want to get away for a few days. I would have liked to go to Cabo, but Ensenada & Catalina suit us just fine. The last cruise we went on, this summer, was a 3-day. It is not called the 'Booze Cruise' for nothing. Half the ship was partying the whole time. We actually had a blast, just watching the goings on. I can see why Carnival likes these sailings. People were spending a ton on liquor and in the casino. They do fill a need, because everyone I have ever been on has been full. Almost all with locals.

[maxamuus]

We have been on the CCL & RCCL 3-4 day cruises many times.

 

Anyone know why RCCL pulled the Monarch of the Seas out of LA?

[Kurbanfan]

Anyone know why RCCL pulled the Monarch of the Seas out of LA?

 

Prolly cause the itinerary sucked;) So they decided to bring the Radiance to San Diego for a better itinerary.......

[cruisenshopper]

Thanks for all of your insights about the fuel cost---I guess I was looking at it from our point of view and having been to Ensenada three times it would be a total waste of our time to go there again. The shopping was for cheap trinkets, and the wine was really not very good when we tried the winery tour---although the setting was pretty and I have some good photos. The boutique winery sounds interesting, though.

 

Thanks for letting me know about Royal Caribbean picking up this itinerary starting next fall, too. We'll have to try it. (And hope for a Johnny Rockets on board!)

[cascole]

Wow - I didn't realize Radiance was coming to SD & doing a Cabo run... hmmm, might just have to give RCI another try & vote for the itinerary with my $.

[horsemen]

ya they say the Catalina island and Ensenada is for the so cal peeps but its alot cheaper to take the catalina exress out to the island.

 

last yr i took the elation trip over Paradise because i was not paying the money they wanted to go to Catalina.

 

 

if you dont live in So Cal and want to see Catalina just come a day early and that the Catalina Express out they have ports right by the Ships or with in 5 miles.and its only 50 round trip. catch the first boat and stay as long as you want. or get a room or go camping and catch a boat back the next day.

[wrp96]

Thanks for letting me know about Royal Caribbean picking up this itinerary starting next fall, too. We'll have to try it. (And hope for a Johnny Rockets on board!)

 

The Radiance doesn't have a Johnny Rockets onboard, instead she has the Seaview Cafe which is no charge.

 

Be aware that Radiance is only doing the short Cabo itineraries this Fall. In late November she switches to doing longer Mexican Riviera sailings.

[ab858]

Whats going to suck about the Elation is the weather in winter. It gets cold. At least going to Cabo 1 day will be hot. Ensanada and Catalina can be chilly

[CWcruisers]

The Radiance is staying longer in San Diego than orginally planned because they have pulled it out of Europe as Carnival has also done pulling out of Europe due to expense and having a difficult time filling the ships.

 

I assumed since the Mariner is coming they moved the Monarch to compete with the Splendor which is replacing the Pride.

 

I send Carnival monthly letters on my platinum stationary telling them they have made a mistake with the Elation. I hope others who have that pretty platinum stationary will do the same.

[Martini Mom]

Whats going to suck about the Elation is the weather in winter. It gets cold. At least going to Cabo 1 day will be hot. Ensanada and Catalina can be chilly

 

I totally agree. It's great to go "deeper" into Mexico to a nicer and warmer port. Ensenada is cold this time of year. I will be heading there this weekend, but at least I can warm up when we get to Cabo. I live between the Long Beach and San Diego ports. I can easily go to Catalina (and I have) or drive across the border to Tijuana (similar to Ensenada). Cabo makes it more "exotic" to me.

[yogi2929]

I totally agree. It's great to go "deeper" into Mexico to a nicer and warmer port. Ensenada is cold this time of year. quote]

 

Just off the Paradise. It was beautiful in Ensenada this weekend. Short and shirtsleeve weather.

[Martini Mom]

According to the weather report, it's supposed to be raining in Ensenada when we are there next week. I do know that weather around here can change at the drop of a hat though.

[CruisnMom007]

I am going to miss the shorter cabo trips, I hope CCL changes the Elation Itin back to a Cabo stop. I don't even bother getting off the ship in Ensenada any more.