Ensenada, Mexico

[Twin45]

Placed a hold on a 3 day cruise leaving out of San Diego and stopping a Ensenada in May 2015. However I am not finding much information on this port. Does anyone have first hand knowledge about this port ?

 

[Twin45]

Placed a hold on a 3 day cruise leaving out of San Diego and stopping a Ensenada in May 2016. However I am not finding much information on this port. Does anyone have first hand knowledge about this port

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Placed a hold on a 3 day cruise leaving out of San Diego and stopping a Ensenada in May 2015. However I am not finding much information on this port. Does anyone have first hand knowledge about this port ?

Ensenada is basically an obligatory port stop (required foreign port), there's not a lot there. We've stopped at Ensenada twice. Only once got off the ship and just walked a little in the port area.

 

[dsnydaddy]

Hated it. I was thinking about taking that particular cruise. And if I did, I would just stay on ship there. The actual port is dumpy and the excursions are nominal. The city itself is rundown.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Agree with others. Mexico is not a favorite country of mine to tour. However, as stated, it is an obligatory foreign port. We got off of the ship so I could try to get a picture Donald and his nephews on the aft of The Wonder. Unfortunately, it was on the other side. Other than that., I participated in a Worldwide Photography Walk onboard the Wonder while it was at Ensenada.

 

[ImDMous]

We stopped there during one of the Pixar Cali Coast cruises. We went on a wine tasting excursion to Guadalupe Valley and had a great time. It was the same day as the Tecate to Ensenada bicycle ride so the town was really crowded.

 

[3Down1Up]

Totally agree with the PPs. Definitely not the best (or second best or third best . . . ) of the ports on the Pacific side of Mexico. If I were on this cruise I wouldn't get off the ship, and I've been on a cruise with a stop in Ensenada in the past and didn't get off then and from what I heard, I didn't miss much.

That being said, if you do book the cruise and want to get off, I would suggest an excursion that takes you away from the port and the city center. I'm thinking of a 4x4 excursion that would take you into the area around the city, to get great views. Or some sort of "experience" excursion - like one of the cooking ones they sometimes do. The port and area around it are truly not exciting, and somewhat depressing, IMO.

 

[ludari]

Another vote for not liking Ensenada. I visited Ensenada several times in my younger days when I was stationed in San Diego and really didn't care for it much (I just went along with friends). Two years ago on a Disney Pixar Cruise our ship stopped at this port and I just stayed on the ship.

 

[Twin45]

Thank you for your help. It sounds like the port area is like Nassau, but once you get away from it there might be some gems. I will keep reviewing the DCL site to see if they load any excursions and decide from there. I am not comfortable doing an outside party for an excursion as I might have to travel alone. ( Sidebar my twin might be traveling with me, but she is adamant about not visiting Mexico- I already compromised on the Jan 9 cruise that goes to CC and the Cayman Islands.)

 

[Thnlk]

Agree with the others. It was our foreign port for our Hawaii cruise. We sat on deck 4 and watch the pelicans dive for fish.

 

[DCL Repeaters]

Thank you for your help. It sounds like the port area is like Nassau, but once you get away from it there might be some gems. I will keep reviewing the DCL site to see if they load any excursions and decide from there. I am not comfortable doing an outside party for an excursion as I might have to travel alone. ( Sidebar my twin might be traveling with me, but she is adamant about not visiting Mexico- I already compromised on the Jan 9 cruise that goes to CC and the Cayman Islands.)

Believe it or not Nassau is heaven compared to Ensenada. We took a bus into town and oh my what a big mistake. This is no place for children. We quickly made friends with 2 other couples from the ship who we didn't know and the 6 of us stuck together like glue and didn't stay in town long. Take a shore excursion or stay on the ship!

 

[mybeachbabies]

Our California Coast Pixar cruise stopped there and we also stayed on the ship. I'm disappointed with the West Coast offerings for 2015. I was really hoping for a cruise or two that went to Cabo and Puerto Vallarta. We had a blast on our 2012 Mexican Riviera cruise.

 

[dolphingirl47]

I also did the wine country tour when I was in Ensenada in 2012 and loved it. It was really good value, too.

Corinna

 

[TDC Nala]

Not much there. I did an excursion where you make salsa and tacos and drink margaritas. It was in a restaurant on the main street. Food was good. Not much to do in town except dodge people trying to sell you stuff. There was a nice little shopping area right at the port and nobody bugged you there.

I wouldn't choose to go there, or pick a cruise that only stopped there.

 

[jetskigrl]

Our California Coast Pixar cruise stopped there and we also stayed on the ship. I'm disappointed with the West Coast offerings for 2015. I was really hoping for a cruise or two that went to Cabo and Puerto Vallarta. We had a blast on our 2012 Mexican Riviera cruise.

We did Pacific Coast and MR in 2012 too I would book another one of either of those cruises again.

To the OP, we also just stayed on the ship at our Ensenada stop. It was the warmest day of our Pacific Coast cruise so we enjoyed the adult pool that day. It is not a pretty port but from pool side on the ship (since we could only see the sunny, blue sky), it was great

 

[nsiordia]

I just booked the 3 day We also did the MR in 2012 - talked to a vacation club rep at DLand last weekend and he said they may be back in 2016. Fingers crossed!

I've done 2 Carnival 3 nighters to Ensenada - It is definitely not the nicest place in Mex. But you can go to the Buffadora - which is like a water spout and the view is gorgeous from there. Lots of little shops - It was cute - did it once but won't probably do it again - not because it was bad - but been there, done that.

We walked down to the fish market also - had some fish tacos, went to starbucks and that is about it. We may just get off the boat to walk around for about an hour but that is it.

I booked the 3-nighter because I loved the Disney Cruise Experience - Carnival is great - but definitely not Disney.

 

[CowboyKell]

It all matters on what you like. I travel to Ensenada and the surrounding area a couple times a year. I like it.

The wine country there is supposedly the best in Mexico. Meh. Not my favorite but then I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to wine.

The street food, atmosphere, fish tacos and cold beer are great. There are also lots of little restaurants around on the side streets and such. Some are pretty good.

I go once a year for the Newport-Ensenada international yacht race. That is always a great time! But, the town is filled with racing sailors who know how to party no matter where in the world we are.

I also go several times to surf. We usually don't get all the way to Ensenada, preferring the K 38 area, but we sometimes go to "town" on a big south swell.

So, again it is what you like. I like the rustic Baja feel of Ensenada. I know most don't.

 

[Rizzo1]

I know that everyone has probably heard that walking around in Mexico is not the safest thing to do. Does this hold true for Ensenada? I was thinking about getting off the ship and just walk around the town (not by myself, but with our small group).
All opinions and experiences are welcome!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Where the ship docks, it is necessary to take a shuttle to the actual town center. Ensenada relies heavily on tourism. I suppose it is as safe as any other town. When we docked there, we just got off the ship to take a picture of the ship in port and visit the small souvenir stalls at the port entry. We did not venture in to town. We treated Ensenada like a Sea day on ship.

 

[dolphingirl47]

When we went to Ensenada in 2012, I did the wine country tour through DCL and thoroughly enjoyed it. DH did a have wander around town and felt perfectly safe.

Corinna