Itinerary Change - 9/20/17 - Regatta

Just a little venting here - we are booked on the 9/20/17 Panama Canal cruise on the Regatta (San Francisco to Miami). We have been on many cruises but in all our travels, we have never been to Catalina Island. We were so looking forward to this stop - and now Oceania has changed this to a stop in Ensenada, Mexico! They told my travel agent it was because there were no excursions in Catalina (but they had several on their web site that they had been selling for weeks). I'm sure it is another reason. (And I know they have the right to change the itinerary . . . )

I've been to Ensenada. Not much there - in the past the ships have stopped there when they needed to fulfill that "foreign" port requirement on the cruises from California to Hawaii. I'm wondering if there is a way to find out the REAL reason for the change. :(

Mary Lou

I'm wondering if there is a way to find out the REAL reason for the change. :(

It's cheaper to offload garbage in Ensenada.

Just a little venting here - we are booked on the 9/20/17 Panama Canal cruise on the Regatta (San Francisco to Miami). We have been on many cruises but in all our travels, we have never been to Catalina Island. We were so looking forward to this stop - and now Oceania has changed this to a stop in Ensenada, Mexico! They told my travel agent it was because there were no excursions in Catalina (but they had several on their web site that they had been selling for weeks). I'm sure it is another reason. (And I know they have the right to change the itinerary . . . )

 

I've been to Ensenada. Not much there - in the past the ships have stopped there when they needed to fulfill that "foreign" port requirement on the cruises from California to Hawaii. I'm wondering if there is a way to find out the REAL reason for the change. :(

 

Mary Lou

I would be disappointed in that substitution too. Substitutions do happen, as can missed stops, but that does not remove the disappointment.

I doubt if you'll know the real reason. Perhaps search to see what other ships are in Catalina on that day - maybe crowded, maybe some event, maybe too many ships.

Hmmm, is your cruise (still) stopping in Cartegna (which is common or other South America country)? If not, then the PVSA might be why Ensenada has been added.

I am not sure how often the change happens but this is NOT the first time O has changed this itinerary. Actually I would like to know how often they hVe actually stopped in Catalina?

I am not sure how often the change happens but this is NOT the first time O has changed this itinerary. Actually I would like to know how often they hVe actually stopped in Catalina?

We did a Mexican Riviera cruise out of LA on Sirena in Dec 16 and we did stop in Catalina. I was quite pleased about that as it was my first time there.

We did a Mexican Riviera cruise out of LA on Sirena in Dec 16 and we did stop in Catalina. I was quite pleased about that as it was my first time there.

That 's good to know Paul. Glad you got to see it. Miss you guys. Hope to see you soon

Catalina is a arid, crowded island 26 miles from LA,, It has no beaches only cobble stone shingles with a smattering of sand. The water is cold. The town as such, is a packed assembly of fast food, Dive-bars and curios of little taste, There is one sort of beach that charges you to pretend your in a island paradise if you have enough to drink.

The town attracts a lot of low-lifes and questionable folks from San Pedro (" pedro" as its known) and Long Beach, Santa Ana, and Compton, ( for Paul that's the So Calif version of Hunters point and Richmond). Drinking and fighting are popular activities as are showing your " gang colors" Petty crime is always popular too;p

The port created by the Wrigley empire in the 20"s with a old run down casino to stare at, It was fine till the 50's.......:rolleyes:

Sadly its decline has been steady over the last 80 years,, Excursions? They had a Bison heard you might see, a Parrot zoo and poor glass bottom boat. Carnival stops there...because it fits right in with their demographics. Missing Catalina is something to be savored... Ensenada is Honolulu in comparison:')

Catalina is however popular with the Yacht set who like to sail over and anchor without actually having to set foot on shore....( for reasons I have described, and which the visitor all too soon discovers):confused:

Really want to go? There are fast ferries from Long Beach and Dana Point a rt is 4 hours, and give you enough time to mingle with the homeboys from LA get a Tattoo and do some Tequila Shooters. It still is popular place for someone to take someone else's wife as well...

good bye...and good luck:rolleyes: and as the late great Walter Cronkite used to say" And that's the way it is, Saturday August 5, 2017"

Enchanting, Hawaii Dan; almost makes me wanna go; is the information on taking someone else's wife based on personal research?

Enchanting, Hawaii Dan; almost makes me wanna go; is the information on taking someone else's wife based on personal research?

Its enchanting to the same extent as Dante's inferno is, as far as the philandering aspect, No, personal experience but plenty of observation....

Its the sort of place you can get hotel rooms by the hour, tight lipped bartenders and front desk clerks, and the overriding premise that the likely hood of either of the parties ever running into any one that even remotely knew them...( Unless you were recently in a Police line up), is as good as it gets..!:cool:

Most folks who live in So calif, would never admit in casual conversation that they had been recently or desired to go in the future to Catalina..

If you do go, you can get a Tee shirt commemorating the drowning death of Natalie Wood in the harbor ,

:D:confused: " WHAT KIND OF WOOD , DON'T FLOAT " ............... Yes its a special sort of place.....

I'm no expert. But we stopped in Catalina. We walked through town up to the Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Garden. Beautiful sunny day, cool temperature. Quite scenic.

And on the other hand, the ORIGINAL port for this cruise was not Catalina Island. It was San Diego

And on the other hand, the ORIGINAL port for this cruise was not Catalina Island. It was San Diego

It looks like it went progressively downhill from there :D

Although, despite what Dan posted, I enjoyed our visit to Catalina. I am not contemplating moving there nor am I taking a week's vacation there but the stop was just fine.

RT from Long Beach to Avalon is about $75. I guessing that many "low-lifes and questionable folks" or homeys from LA aren't going to pay that when there are plenty of places in LA to "get a Tattoo and do some Tequila Shooters". I'm sure there are seedy places there, but lord knows, when it comes to seedy places you don't want to go to, LA county has way more than their fair share. I don't live in LA (goes without saying maybe), but my wife and I have been to Avalon twice for day trips and both were pleasant experiences. Hawaiiguy must of had some really strange experience in Avalon.

The first flight I ever took was to Catalina from LAX. Not exactly a long flight but probably a good introduction to the experience. I remember the flight but nothing at all about Catalina. Obviously, since I was probably under 10 years old, this was A LONG TIME AGO!

Ensenada, on the other hand, I visited often. My family would go down for two week visits twice a year. We stayed outside of the city itself, however. Papagayo still exists -- I checked a while ago -- but I don't know how it would compare to my memory. We loved it. There were motel rooms but all private cottages, which is where we always stayed. Right on the beach but we could retreat to the pool if we wished.

We loved it.

On one of our favorite stories about Ensenada was going into a hotel in town to inquire about friends of ours who were due to be staying there. My Dad askeda t the desk, "Do you have any Friebergs here?"

The clerk immediately said yes. Then a few minutes he came back and said, "What's a Freiberg?"

True story!

Anyway we loved Ensenada back in the '50s and '60s but I haven't been there since. No doubt it has changed!

I remember that San Diego was the original port in this saga. Were I a passenger, I would be disappointed with anything but San Diego, although I wouldn't object to Ensenada ... just to see it today as opposed to 50 years ago.

Mura

Have been friends for years with some Freibergs. Love your memory!

Mura - loved your funny Freibergs story.

RT from Long Beach to Avalon is about $75. I guessing that many "low-lifes and questionable folks" or homeys from LA aren't going to pay that when there are plenty of places in LA to "get a Tattoo and do some Tequila Shooters". I'm sure there are seedy places there, but lord knows, when it comes to seedy places you don't want to go to, LA county has way more than their fair share. I don't live in LA (goes without saying maybe), but my wife and I have been to Avalon twice for day trips and both were pleasant experiences. Hawaiiguy must of had some really strange experience in Avalon.

the homiies load up 16 to 21 ft skiffs 4 to 6 with booze and you name it Head to Catalina to party hard every weekend...pretty bad.

I used to take my sail boat there but was wise enough to keep on board. Been there a dozen times, each time worse than the last.... anything is possible but my experiences have all been negative.

Ever since the pangas from Mexico started dropping off drugs their its become a mini barrio... As for SD county is no garden of eden either you got ChulaJuanna, Otay, and Oceanside Etc ( I used t live in Carlsbad). Enjoy but take off the rose colored glasses some time....... over and out

Must be Happy Hour...

Cleary Hawaiidan is not a member of the Catalina Visitors Bureau :)

(edited after seeing there was a page 2 and more comments)

May we now also have your no-holds-barred info on the substitute port, Ensenada. How does it compare to a tourist stop in Catalina?

the homiies load up 16 to 21 ft skiffs 4 to 6 with booze and you name it Head to Catalina to party hard every weekend...pretty bad.

 

I used to take my sail boat there but was wise enough to keep on board. Been there a dozen times, each time worse than the last.... anything is possible but my experiences have all been negative.

Ever since the pangas from Mexico started dropping off drugs their its become a mini barrio... As for SD county is no garden of eden either you got ChulaJuanna, Otay, and Oceanside Etc ( I used t live in Carlsbad). Enjoy but take off the rose colored glasses some time....... over and out

Enjoyed the detail; haven't been to San Diego in a while but my fondest memory was the Turtle Mulligan at Lubach's back in 1970. Haven't found its like since.