Sunday, March 31, 2024

Carnival Mexican Riviera Cruise Reviews 2024 UPDATED: Ratings of Carnival Cruises to Mexican Riviera

carnival cruise baja mexico

We felt like we had to push to get the most done to get the value for the price we paid. Now we realize that for us the value is in relaxing, having meals taken care of, having time together without the interruptions that happen on land. One thing we have realized is how differently we cruise now compared to when we started 12 years ago. 25+ cruises later we are much more focused on relaxing and savoring the small moments versus running around all over trying to do it all.

carnival cruise baja mexico

Day Baja Mexico Cruise sailing on the Carnival Radiance

You'll find great food all over the place, from the casual fare of Horatio's to the artful eats of the Bacchus and Ariadne dining rooms... Not to mention the world-class cuts at Nick & Nora's Steakhouse. Born in Paris, France she has since lived in Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon. She currently resides in San Diego with her husband and son where they enjoy exploring California and Mexico. A huge thank you to Carnival Cruise Line for their generous hospitality.

Planning Your Day Onboard

Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Rates are in USD and valid for US and Canadian residents only. When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S. Couples, solo cruisers, families and friends could be found throughout the ship. Radiance is perfectly set up to appeal to partiers, sun bathers, day drinkers, night owls and quiet folks, all just looking for an easy and fun escape. The main pool area is one of the most popular spots on the cruise during the day.

Pool & Outdoor Bars

This is a fun itinerary for a weekend getaway, but after experiencing a 3-day cruise, we all agreed that we’d love to try a longer cruise. Between the teen club for my son and all the fun things to do onboard, there just wasn’t enough time to experience it all plus enjoy some downtime. It is a super fun way to spend a weekend and what my husband and I found out, is we truly had a vacation.

During our cruise, we had a bit of rain on day one and it was a tad chilly for the waterslides for us. You’ll also find lots of fun activities happening on the Lido Deck — we caught a hairy chest contest that was fun and funny to watch. The busiest spots for lunch seemed to be the Burger Joint and Blue Iguana Mexican Cafe, both located on the Lido Deck. The 146,000-square-foot state-of-the-art Long Beach Cruise Terminal has been totally renovated and is beautiful. The palm tree-lined terminal, is huge and allows for quick and easy embarkation. Below you’ll find some helpful tips for cruising and some of our favorite moments on our 3-Day Baja, Mexico cruise from long beach to Ensenada.

Balcony

Excursion options range from nearby wine country tours of Valle de Guadalupe (Guadalupe Valley), to surfing, kayaking, food tours and lots more. Each day on the cruise you will receive a “Fun Times” itinerary that includes everything there is to do onboard. My husband, son, and I sailed with Carnival for this 3 Day Baja Mexico cruise from Long Beach. It is a great long weekend vacation, especially for anyone within easy driving distance of Long Beach, California. For any cruises listed, Cruise Critic does not guarantee any specific rates or prices.

If you’re out to find new legends, flip directly to the RedFrog Pub®, featuring not only a mythical mascot, but actual drinks — plus Caribbean atmosphere by the gallon. Your heroic journey down the Green Thunder waterslide is a saga you’ll recount for ages. Bonsai Sushi™ proves that you needn’t teach a man to fish for him to enjoy delicacies from the sea. And once you’ve had a look — not to mention a taste — at the certifiable cocktail magic of Alchemy Bar®, you still may not believe your eyes. And over time, this ship has become even more deserving of its nameplate. The trade-off for having the best that Carnival has to offer at your fingertips is that some indoor venues come off being tight on space.

Carnival Cruises to Mexico

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There was a couple of people in front of us waiting to scan their cruise card one more time and then we walked down to Customs. John told me he would happily stay onboard for the next few weeks to enjoy these views. The sun is shining so we ended up spending a couple of hours on our balcony watching the world go by. While it is barely 60 degrees it feels like heaven compared to the icy temperatures at home. Seeing the prices for some of the liquor makes me think about booking another cruise when I am running low on things just to stock up again. I have to tell you that sea day brunch on the Carnival Radiance was the best we have had on any Carnival ship.

Day 2- Catalina Island

carnival cruise baja mexico

The Pasta Bella Pasta Bar at Cucina del Capitano allows you to customize your lunch order. You can pick the pasta, sauce, and added ingredients you want including grilled chicken, shrimp, Italian sausage, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, and more. Since rooms were not quite ready we headed up to the Lido deck to check out Shaqs Big Chicken for the 1st time.

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Carnival Panorama Resumes Service After Emergency Repairs.

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When we sailed with Carnival we were on the Imagination ship, but the Radiance is the newest ship in their line for this weekend cruise. Between the buffet, main dining room, three specialty restaurants and six eateries, there's no shortage of places to eat on Carnival Radiance. And we love that, in typical Carnival fashion, the majority of the onboard eateries are included in the price of the cruise. That said, expect long lines during peak times for popular spots such as Guy's Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina, Pizzeria del Capitano, and Big Chicken. Spa Cloud 9 rooms are located at the forward of the ship, on Deck 10 (Panorama Deck) and Deck 11 (Spa Deck), giving guests close access to the gym, spa and thermal suites. One downside to the otherwise clutch location of these rooms is that port side Cloud 9 Spa rooms on Deck 11 are located directly below the ship's Camp Ocean kids club.

There are lots of spots in both sun and shade to relax and enjoy the views of the Pacific ocean. If there’s one thing about cruises, it’s that you have lots and lots of choices and you’ll certainly never go hungry! I’m sure if we did a longer cruise, there would be more family time, but with just three days my son opted to hang with the other teenagers on board. As I shared above, my husband and I found that our son wanted to hang out with the other teens and for the most part planned his days and nights around the club. To enter the terminal, you’ll need to provide a boarding pass and a passport because it’s an international cruise. So if you’re interested in a fun cruise for a weekend getaway, and are interested in what Carnival has to offer, this post is for you!

We decided to enjoy one more breakfast in the main dining room before disembarking. After breakfast, it was time to visit the Fun Shops and see what new things Carnival has brought onboard. There are so many fun items in the shops it is hard not to shop and shop and shop. We had breakfast at Big Chicken to check out their biscuits and chicken. It was not the best breakfast which I am hoping is because we were later in the day and the biscuits had sat out for a while. Cruise to Baja Mexico for some south-of-the-border flavor with a coastal twist.

Carnival Radiance Cruise Ship Review First-hand Expert Review

carnival cruise baja mexico

For cruisers who had the opportunity to sail on Carnival Victory (or any other Carnival Triumph-class ship), the bones of the 2022 Destiny-class Carnival Radiance will feel faintly familiar. Completely reimagined spaces and noticeable modifications of Carnival Radiance's deck plans make it look and feel like a completely different ship. The sun was coming up on the horizon as we pulled into the port.

THE 24 BEST Carnival Cruises to the Mexican Riviera (with Prices) 2024 & 2025 on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic

THE 24 BEST Carnival Cruises to the Mexican Riviera (with Prices) 2024 & 2025 on Cruise Critic.

Posted: Tue, 24 Oct 2023 03:17:48 GMT [source]

Stateroom prices for Apr. 22, 2024

For lunch, we headed back to Cucina Del Capitano and it was so dang delicious. Even though we have been to Ensenada a few times I am always amazed at just how big this port city is. We woke up to the sun streaming in the cabin windows as we pulled into Ensenada. I hopped out on the balcony to get some video and photos and had to laugh with sheer delight at all of the sea lions making noises greeting us into port. You can also order pizza delivered to where ever you are relaxing on the ship for a small charge.

Carnival Radiance 4 Day Baja Mexico Cruise

From there we walked right up to verifying our cruise documents and getting everything set for the cruise. We had an early embarkation appointment so the ship wasn't quite ready. During our Navigator of the Seas cruise a few months ago we didn't get our tests back from our health clinic until after midnight on the day of the cruise. We also filled out a health assessment 2 days prior to the cruise and took a covid test.

Land Vacations

At Alchemy Bar® we make drinks into art, while the laid-back RedFrog Pub™ has "Caribbean cool" down to a science. And up in SkyBox™ Sports Bar, we've combined luxury-box comfort with the up-close view from the 50-yard line. When we say that Carnival Miracle takes you to another world, we mean that in every sense. Not only does this ship visit stunning destinations, but features incredible onboard spaces inspired by elements of fantasy. Escape from reality as you take in a show at the Phantom Lounge or a dance at Dr. Frankenstein's Lab. To lose yourself in a song, find your way to Sam's Piano Bar.

Cruise to Mexico on the Carnival Radiance

It took less than 3 minutes to watch how to put on a life jacket and have our names checked for attending the safety drill. If you are not in the best of shape be prepared to take your time. It is not a long walk but the incline makes it a little more fun.

carnival cruise baja mexico

Experience a whole enchilada’s worth of rich culture and fun on a cruise to Mexico. Each port — including favorites Cozumel, Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta — contributes its own distinct local flavor to the mix. There are more than 20 shore excursions you can book when you buy your cruise or while you are on the cruise ship.

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Carnival Legend to Sail from San Francisco in 2025.

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Night Mexican Riviera CruiseDetails

I can't wait to make a creamsicle cocktail, The Twilight Zone Cocktail, and a Sunburn Cocktail when we get home. Since we have been to Catalina Island before and are trying to enjoy as much ship time as possible we decided to spend the day relaxing on the ship. We are so excited to check out the updates to this ship and enjoy spending 4 days away from the ice and snow we have had in Spokane. Mexico might be right down there, but it exists in another world entirely.

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Don’t be confused — the Baja California peninsula is actually in Mexico, and cruises to Mexico are a great way to explore this area. Getting there’s a snap, because it’s just south of California (California, USA, that is) and it’s all just a short trip when you cruise from Los Angeles. While the region features a geography not unlike SoCal, it’s a different world… one that attracts American expats, and especially retirees, who call coastal resort towns like Ensenada their home. Cruise to Baja Mexico and enjoy Ensenada’s beaches before hitting the fashionable shops of Avenida Primera for new jewelry… duty-free, of course.

Expect to hear running and stomping nightly until the kids club closes late into the night. Follow our social media and blog for the latest cruise and travel news, including our best vacation deals. We managed to pack everything just in time to enjoy an epic sunset from the balcony. I have to tell you we are madly deeply in love with the Premium Vista Balcony Stateroom we booked. Since we were near the aft pool bar we ended up relaxing with some epic tropical cocktails.

Carnival Miracle Extended Balcony Stateroom - Check out a room tour of an extended balcony stateroom on the Carnival Miracle. I can't say enough about the service in the main dining room of the Carnival Radiance. He had been eye-balling the barbecue menu the past few days and knew just what he wanted. I need to work on making baked beans similar to what they had they looked so good. I am not sure how many Carnival Cruise Ships we have been on but this breakfast was epic!

One of the great things about the Carnival Hub App is you can sign in anytime and see which restaurants and bars are currently open. After exploring the ship we ended up stopping by the Java Blue Café for a chai tea and blended coffee. One of the things I love about the Carnival Drink Package is it includes the Java Blue Café. We woke up to the sun streaming into our stateroom and a seagull sitting on the balcony railing looking in on us. Once on the ship, we were able to head directly to our muster station.

During our day in port, we chose to explore the town on our own. We’ve visited Ensenada and the wine country many times, so we enjoyed visiting a local museum, lunch at Muelle 3 and strolling through town. There is so much to do on the Carnival cruise and with a three-day cruise, we found we spent very little time in our room and preferred lounging at the pool to the stateroom. When you cruise out of Long Beach with Carnival, you’ll depart via the Long Beach Cruise Terminal, which is the busiest port in North America with ships docking five days a week.

Rates & offers are subject to select dates & categories, cruise only, per person, based on double occupancy, in US Dollars, & include NCCF. All rates & offers are capacity controlled, are subject to availability & confirmation, & may change without notice. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed -- please confirm details at time of booking. Stateroom photos are for sample purposes only -- actual design and layout may vary. The teens in Club O2 hung out in the club room, went to onboard shows, the video arcade and met for meals. Passengers looking to balance out their Fun Ship cruise with a little R&R might want to consider upgrading their interior or balcony room to one of the ship's new Cloud 9 Spa rooms.

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