Imagination- Catalina & Ensenada- What to do?

Hello,

I was browsing for a cruise when I ran into the issue many Eastern cruisers face: take an old/ past-traveled ship to new places, or, take a new/ not-traveled ship to places youv'e been many times before. So then I came across the Imagination 4-night cruise visting Catalina and Ensenada, on the Fantasy-class, a class I woild like to travel on before they go away.

What is there to do in Catalina and Ensenada? I do plan on 3-4 days in LA before/after, but in the ports, what can I do? Or should I save my money?

Also, how is the ship? Is it nice, is it worth it? What's there onboard? We'll have an incoming HS Freshmen with us, but as long as there is the kid's group and a slide or two, he should be fine.

Thanks to anyone who can help!! Really looking to see where this goes!!

Also, any reviews you have written or stumbled across would be great! I'm not picky, so if you find a good Inspiration reivew, please add that too. Thanks and Happy Cruising!

A great way to spend the day in Ensenada is with a blowhole/bufadora tour. It is very inexpensive. Just fifteen dollars per person. Just get on the shuttle bus to town. While you are on the bus they will give you a speech about the tours they offer. There are several tours but the blowhole is our favorite. The blowhole itself is an amazing natural phenomena. There are only three in the world. The ocean setting around it is beautiful. Last time there we saw whales offshore. On the street to the blowhole there are many shops selling everything imaginable. Don't forget to bargain. Also a highlight for us is the stand where the ladies are making fresh fish tacos. They make them on handmade corn tortillas right before your eyes. They are delicious and a Baja tradition. Wash them down with an ice cold cerveza and you are good to go. Bon voyage.

We just did the 4 nighter but on Princess. Our ship stopped in Ensenada but we went to Santa Barbara instead of Catalina. Feel free to look at my review below for a detailed description of what we did in Ensenada, including photos.

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A great way to spend the day in Ensenada is with a blowhole/bufadora tour. It is very inexpensive. Just fifteen dollars per person. Just get on the shuttle bus to town. While you are on the bus they will give you a speech about the tours they offer. There are several tours but the blowhole is our favorite. The blowhole itself is an amazing natural phenomena. There are only three in the world. The ocean setting around it is beautiful. Last time there we saw whales offshore. On the street to the blowhole there are many shops selling everything imaginable. Don't forget to bargain. Also a highlight for us is the stand where the ladies are making fresh fish tacos. They make them on handmade corn tortillas right before your eyes. They are delicious and a Baja tradition. Wash them down with an ice cold cerveza and you are good to go. Bon voyage.

Sounds like a fun day to me! Thanks :D

We just did the 4 nighter but on Princess. Our ship stopped in Ensenada but we went to Santa Barbara instead of Catalina. Feel free to look at my review below for a detailed description of what we did in Ensenada, including photos.

 

 

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I will, you're one of my favorite review writers. Thank you!

I have done the three and four day a few times. I never book with the cruise line since I prefer to book privately so I am not any help with cruise tours. The blowhole is a nice trip with plenty of stalls for shopping (really bargain as the prices are high), a few places to have fish tacos.

Downtown Ensenada has plenty of shopping and you can always walk back to the ship and pick up a few items. The DD and I like to eat lunch at one of the local taco/bar places off the beaten track or further down the main road towards the hotels and the ice cream shop.

Catalina is fun. You can snorkel or relax at the beach. Some rent the golf carts.

My daughter wrote a short post about our trip

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2074770

We are going on the Inspiration next year on a 4-day.

Ensenada take the two winery tour. It's amazing. You can purchase some great wine at cheap prices along with olive oil, jams and other things. Only like $35.00 pp or so for the tour.

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Carnival Pride 7 day Mexican Riviera: September 2008

Carnival Inspiration 4 day Mexican Riviera: September 2013

Carnival Miracle 15 day Hawaii: coming October 2015

I will, you're one of my favorite review writers. Thank you!

Thanks! I appreciate the compliment! For west coast people, Ensenada is what Nassau is for us east coast people, but for us, the experience was new and refreshing. Enjoy!

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We love Ensenada. We usually buy shrimp cocktails in the fish market, drink several beers at Hussongs, and eat tacos from a street vendor.

We love Ensenada. We usually buy shrimp cocktails in the fish market, drink several beers at Hussongs, and eat tacos from a street vendor.

Same here...the DD and I love just sitting and chatting while enjoying fish tacos and cold Tecates.

We will be sailing this itin on Princess on Nov 10th.

We have been there many times, and have also sailed on Inspiration.

I really like that ship. :)

This time, on Catalina, we booked a private tour with the island tour company in their Yellow Bus tours. It takes you inland, back in the hills, and on up to the airport. Lots to see.

We have also rented golf carts and taken our own tour.

We have taken that 2 winery ships tour in Ensenada, and it's a very enjoyable tour.

I like these 4 dayers.

Pat

We love Ensenada. We usually buy shrimp cocktails in the fish market, drink several beers at Hussongs, and eat tacos from a street vendor.

We walked through the fish market, saw a LOT of fish, but didn't see any shrimp cocktails.

We love Ensenada. We usually buy shrimp cocktails in the fish market, drink several beers at Hussongs, and eat tacos from a street vendor.

We're others that also like Ensenada. Just dragged 12 people off the Miracle Saturday night for a tacos, paletas, pharmacy and supermarket tour.

Lots of fun. Saw a Dia de los Muertos dog parade. The town was hopping!

We're others that also like Ensenada. Just dragged 12 people off the Miracle Saturday night for a tacos, paletas, pharmacy and supermarket tour.

Lots of fun. Saw a Dia de los Muertos dog parade. The town was hopping!

I am sooo sorry I missed the parade. Last time in Ensenada my DD had to run to the local market when the place we ate at ran out of crema for tacos. Ensenada is what you make of the time spent there.

I did this same itinerary on the Golden Princess. Catalina is one of the prettiest places in California. Some of my favorite things are going kayaking (you see lots of wildlife), a tour of the old casino, and renting a golf cart to tour the town on your own (swing by the old Wrigley estate which is now a hotel- great views of the island from its perch on the hill).

In Ensenada, you can walk to the town, the Cathedral, and the Rivera del Pacifico which is an old casino that Al Capone supposedly once owned and is now used for local events. You can take a tour through it. The blowhole is also fun.