Baja Mexico Christmas Cruise

Baja - Mexico Travelogue:

With our YTB credentials, I was able to book inside cabins for $140.00/pp with Carnival Paradise for this 5 days 4 night cruise, bear in mind, this rate does not include, port fees, taxes and fuel surcharges, total booking came out to $289/pp.

December 15th – Monday – 2008:

Day 1 - Queen Mary - Long Beach Harbor: We embarked on our Christmas Cruise to Baja Mexico with our dear and close friends Long Espinas and Sarah Stuart-Tongco. Long Espinas, as a formal introduction for those who may not know it, was a professional Singer and Recording Star for Villar Records in the Philippines. The best thing about this cruise is that Sarah and I got to work half of the day before we had to board Carnival Paradise.

Sandy & I left Riverside at around 12:30 PM, went to pick up Long in Corona, and Sarah in Claremont. For a Monday afternoon, traffic on the 10 FWY I thought would be light, instead we got into a parking lot traffic around Azusa Avenue, we took the surface street and headed southbound to the 60 FWY, traffic was not as heavy, with pockets of congestions around the 60/605 junctions.

We arrived in Long Beach around 2:45 PM, we unloaded our suitcases with one of the porters, I parked the car in the parking lot for $10/day rate.

Prior to us boarding, we have already pre-registered online with Carnival Fun Pass. The check-in time took approximately 1.5 hours, as soon as it was our turn to get our boarding cards, it took less than 10 minutes to check in.

With Passports and Boarding Cards on hand, we were all excited and lined up for our Boarding Photo shoot. (A note to a first time cruiser, just take as many pictures as you have an opportunity to create a photo journal of your trip; be aware that these pictures are not cheap). We stopped and posed for the photos and somehow between the photo shoot, escalator and INS check in, Sarah misplaced her boarding card which caused a slight delay on our boarding process. INS officer actually went all the way down to check if the card fell and someone have turned it in, but to all our dismay, it was nowhere to be found.

INS officer instructed Sarah to proceed to the Courtesy Booth on the Promenade and have a new card re-issued and void the lost one. We did, this process took about 15 minutes to complete, all in all, it was a very effortless & pleasant check-in.

One hour after we boarded, the announcement came to proceed to the Queen Mary Lounge on the 8th floor for the required emergency evacuation drill. As in any cruise, there is no way around this drill, it is required, so we had as much fun with every new passenger we met during this exercise. I happen to sit right next to couple from Alberta, Canada and we were all having a ball during this drill. A word to the wise, a few inconvenienced passengers were not happy with this, unfortunately we all had to go through with it so you might as well have a blast.

Sarah, Long, Sandy & I went up to the Lido Deck to grab a light snack before dinner, our assigned late dining is at 8:15 PM. We toured the Promenade, the shops and get familiar with the lounges, casino and clubs. We were lucky to find a Filipino Band booked at the Leonardo Lounge, with that, we requested our dear friend Long to sing a song for us and jammed with the live band until it was time for us to leave to have dinner.

Our dining room was the Destiny Dining Room, I would advise for anyone to start showing up at 8:30 pm instead of waiting in a really crowded line to get the tables you’re already assigned to. There were approximately 2000+ guest for this cruise, due to the time and length of food service the two main dining rooms are Elation & Destiny, early seating starts at 6:15PM, late starts at 8:15PM, again, it is always advisable to go to dinner 15 minutes later in order to avoid the rush.

Our head waiter, was Arvin from the Philippines and assistant waiter, Aravelo from Hungary. Both very pleasant and eager to please us every which way they can. Being served and pampered during dinner is just what everyone expects for any cruise, the menu are all gourmet and preferred specially for the guest by the Head Chef.

Joining us for our dining company were Dorothy & Igal from South Bay, and Sharlene & Tony from Culver City. Both couples are just a delight to become friends with and genuinely FUN to have dinner conversation with. (I will have a special BLOG for these two wonderful couple later).

After finishing our scrumptious dinner and to die for “Melting Chocolate Cake”, we proceeded to the Normandy Theater the Opening extravaganza. The theater was packed by the time we got there and we had to be separated for better viewing. When the show ended, Long and Sarah retired early and Sandy & I followed along for tomorrow will be a long day.

Day 2 - Catalina Island:

Tony & Sharlene London of Culver City...

December 16th – Tuesday

Day 2 – Santa Catalina Island:

Commonly referred to as Catalina Island is a beautiful rocky island off the southwest coast of Los Angeles in California. The main City is Avalon and the other less populated city is Two Harbors to the north side of the island with less than 300 population.

The island’s main industry has always been tourism, although there are 2 very large ranches located in the interiors of the island raising horses, cattle’s and bison’s known as the Middle Ranch and Rancho Escondido, most of the island is owned by the Catalina Island Conservancy bought in 1927 by the magnate William Wrigley Jr., founder of the Wrigley’s Gum. Prior to the Wrigley’s, it was the Banning Brothers who brought the first influx of tourist into the island by renting “Tent Lots”, later on sold for $5,000 a piece in 1891 – 1991.

Between 1927 & 1937, Spanish tiles were made on the island by the Wrigley’s Catalina Clay Products. These items are now considered collectibles and rears large sums of money for each antique tile. The Chicago Cubs also owned by the Wrigley’s used the island as their training camp between 1921 – 1951.

Avalon, was home to such renowned citizens as the Holly’s and the Swanson’s, their mansions still standing and preserved as local landmarks. As well as the other historical landmarks as the Casino Building (not for Gaming) mostly used for concerts, live bands and shows also house the Catalina Island Museum. The building and the museum is a must see destination for Catalina revelers.

Carnival is anchored in the middle of the bay and each passengers who wants to take tour excursion in the island are shuttled by boat tenders every 15 minutes. We landed in 8AM, and the passengers started their tours, we woke up later and decided to have a late lunch and got off the ship to explore around 11AM. While we were in tender waiting to depart, a seal was eagerly performing and swimming alongside our boat, of course we all applauded and encouraged the seal to do more tricks and got the wiser and quickly disappeared.

We went around the different tourist shops and looked for any souvenirs to take to home to our grand kids. Sharlene and Tony later on joined us at the boardwalk, then recommended we take the Trolley (cost is $2/pp RT) and the entire trip is about 1 hour. We joined, Sharlynn and Tony, they wanted to visit the Botanical Garden and take a walking tour. Sandy and I have already taken the tour and feeling lazy for a walking tour and decided not to repeat it, but for those who are plant and green aficionados, I highly recommend visiting the park and see about 1500 indigenous plant varieties in the island, mostly in the cacti family.

As the Trolley made its rounds, the tour driver shared that the best deals for the island is during the low seasons before Christmas, hotel rates down to $45/night from $169 during peak season and some rentals are available for week rates that are unheard of, this gave us the idea that maybe next year, we can rent a summer home in Avalon and bring our family members to experience the island as a Christmas celebration.

Our friends, Sarah and Long are both devout Catholics and when they found out that St. Catherine Catholic Church was a walking distance from the Trolley stop, we all decided to take a short visit, much to our surprise, we got there just minutes from the next service, in the spirit of the holidays, we decided to attend the hour long service, and Long sang a beautiful inspirational song even the priest got choked up saying the closing message.

We also met, 3 Carnival workers who informed us that they have requested on every Tuesday at 1PM a service is offered for them, we considered ourselves very lucky to have the opportune time to offer our prayer for the holidays.

We boarded the tenders back to the ship around 3PM, and we headed straight for the Lido Deck where we again ate our light snack to tie us over for dinner. It was Formal Dinner Night, Sandy and I decided not to join Long and Sarah for the mixers and agreed to meet them for dinner. The ship sailed at 5:30PM, while we were having our snacks.

We missed Dorothy, Igal, Sharlene and Tony during dinner because they decided to change their dinging time to the first seating, so we dined with just our friends. The menu for the evening is all you can eat lobster and shrimp trio, I ate 3 lobster tails, and again indulged in the Melting Chocolate Cake for dessert.

After dinner, we made our way early to the Normandy Theater to watch the Hollywood musical show that evening. Again, the show alone is worth the price, along with the endless selection of gourmet dinners, cruising truly is the best bargain for the money.

After, the show, we again went to visit and hear the Filipino Band play, this time Long again was requested to sing with the band and wowed the crowd, everyone was dancing and just having a great time.

Ensenada, Mexico

December 17th - Wednesday

Day 3 – Ensenada, Baja California:

We docked on the port around 8AM, the day was very wet with rain, steady down pour from the time we had late breakfast at the Lido Deck. All through the morning, the announcement from the bridge announced all kinds of drills and procedures for the personnel, the alrms were constantly going. The ship captain referred to the rain as “Liquid Sunshine”, it poured and kept pouring, luckily right on the pier is a shopping, although the prices are inflated from the downtown shopping area.
Sandy & I went down to the Courtesy Desk and inquired about the available tours, we booked the city tour which included the Santo Tomas Winery wine tasting tour, the Civic Center and downtown Primera Avenida (1st Avenue) shopping center.

The rain was light when we reached the winery, there were 2 other tour buses with the wine tasting, the host explained the history of the winery, 2nd oldest in Mexico with locally grown grapes, we sampled the white wine and red wine, others tasted the Sangria and Chardonnay. Being a wine illiterate person as I am, I thought the best tasting was the red wine, more sweeter in taste and not to harsh.

When we finished wine tasting, we hurried back into the tour bus, still pouring rain and traveled next to the Ensenada Civic Center, here the square is normally lined with several vendors, but due to the rain, all the vendors are indoors and not as many retailers.

Our guide, named Esther explained the history of the Civic Center being a 6 block hotel resort named Riviera Pacifico del Ensenada, a gaming and tourist seaside resort, later demolished and only the main entrance to the hotel remains and now being used for banquets and celebrations. We also sampled the beer, Tecate and Tequila.

After our trip to the Civic Center, our tour proceeded to Avenida Primera or First Avenue, consist of 4 blocks of shopping stores, restaurants, bars and tattoo parlors. We basically went for the small knick knacks that we can carry, we did not purchase heavy items. I would like to caution shoppers in Ensenada that the vendors will not tell you, for items they sell you and will not be able to take onboard the ship.

Here’s a few of these items:
1) Leather Whip or Latigo,
2) Hard Drug paraphernalia’s (vials, pipes, etc.),
3) Knives or any sharp objects made of metal or wood,
4) Wooden Sling shots, this is considered a weapon,
5) Firearms’ to name a few.

If ever in-doubt, any form of souvenir used or can be used as a weapon will be confiscated as you check in the port security. If you buy these items, the port officers will not reimburse or mail these items to you, so be forewarned.

We boarded the ship back around 5PM, we ate (again) for a light snack before dinner. Sandy & I retired to take a short nap, later on we met with Sarah and Long at the Dining room around 8:30PM, after consuming our meals, we headed down to the Casino Boulevard to hear Long sing again with the Filipino Band. The ship sailed at 9:30PM, Dorothy & Igal stayed with us to hear the dancing and singing with Long which lasted till about midnight.

This Evening we spent the entire night with Dorothy and Igal at the Lido Deck after the dancing just talking and having them listen to our life story. To some this may sound really dull, but it turned out to be a riot, Dorothy had a laughed that would infect even the dullest person, Sandy told our birthing story which most our friends find hilariously funny. We turned in around 2:30 AM.