Ensenada Port

[pepe3penelope]

What has been your experience at the Ensenada port? Do you stay on board or get off the ship? What kind of shopping do you find? How safe is it? How far of a walk is it from the port to get to town? I heard there is shopping immediately to the port. If this is true, what can you find?

We are doing the 3 day San Diego to Ensenada in May 2015. TIA!

 

[Empress Room]

We found that the Ensenada Port was surpisingly pleasant. We went there as part of the first Hawaii cruises on the way back to L.A. and figured that it was a "throwaway" port just so the ship could dock at a required foreign port. We ended up signing up for a $35 "wine country" tour, which he all thought was going to be laughably bad.

As I recall, the trip through the areas around the port were nothing spectacular (not much shopping), but about 20 minutes out, we rounded a corner and came upon lush hills and valleys with numerous wineries. It looked and rivaled Napa! Beautiful landscapes and a great tour. Home made Mexican food and very tasty, free-flowing wine. There were a couple of people on the tour who, even though they don't drink wine, loved the beauty of the tour and the food they got to experience.

 

[twindaddy]

What has been your experience at the Ensenada port? Do you stay on board or get off the ship? What kind of shopping do you find? How safe is it? How far of a walk is it from the port to get to town? I heard there is shopping immediately to the port. If this is true, what can you find?

We are doing the 3 day San Diego to Ensenada in May 2015. TIA!

I was there on the Sapphire Princess about 3 weeks ago (great ship, great cruise BTW). It would be about a 30 minute walk each way to town, I would not suggest that.

There is decent size building at the port, about the size of a Walgreens, with various souvenirs, all about double what you pay in town, but it is right there and you do not have to go through security or anything (other than on the ship).

They have shuttles right there, they take you to town for 3 bucks per person, and bring you back for one dollar. It drops you off right in the middle of town, by the town square and some pretty decent shopping. I actually found the shopping better than Cabo, which was WAY overpriced. It gives you a taste of Mexico.

I too thought it would be a throw away dump, but it wasnt that bad. There are winery tours, and the blowhole (tourist trap).

Right at the port, there is your standard variety of mexican souvenirs. Here is a great video, you can see exactly what there is. The nice things about the port shopping is no beggar or children pushing candy

This video gives you a decent idea. The building at the port has just about any typical souvenirs, there is just much more choice and cheaper prices in town. Is there something in particular you are looking for?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRCuq8zVFLc

 

[pepe3penelope]

I was there on the Sapphire Princess about 3 weeks ago (great ship, great cruise BTW). It would be about a 30 minute walk each way to town, I would not suggest that. There is decent size building at the port, about the size of a Walgreens, with various souvenirs, all about double what you pay in town, but it is right there and you do not have to go through security or anything (other than on the ship). They have shuttles right there, they take you to town for 3 bucks per person, and bring you back for one dollar. It drops you off right in the middle of town, by the town square and some pretty decent shopping. I actually found the shopping better than Cabo, which was WAY overpriced. It gives you a taste of Mexico. I too thought it would be a throw away dump, but it wasnt that bad. There are winery tours, and the blowhole (tourist trap). Right at the port, there is your standard variety of mexican souvenirs. Here is a great video, you can see exactly what there is. The nice things about the port shopping is no beggar or children pushing candy This video gives you a decent idea. The building at the port has just about any typical souvenirs, there is just much more choice and cheaper prices in town. Is there something in particular you are looking for? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRCuq8zVFLc

Thank you for the video. We have a short time on the cruise & want to enjoy Disney Wonder as much as possible. I wanted to just get a couple souvenirs, nothing specific. Like the idea of just going to the port shops then get back on board. Thanks again!