About the cruise…

So you are probably wondering what am I talking about? Well a lot of people refer to the quick 3 and 4 day cruises out of San Diego Or Long Beach Ca. as “Booze cruises”. Of course they are fun and great getaways for a girls trips, or a gathering of friends but its also a great opportunity to have fun with your family! It definitely is a family friendly trip!

If you live in Southern California or with a few hours, it is nice because you can drive to the Port. No need to spend money on airfare.

During the Winter months, the cruise is very affordable! Prices peak around Holidays or Summer break.

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What does a cruise include? Most cruise lines include all the food you can eat at their buffets 24/7, Daily sit down dinner, drinks-water, lemonade, tea and coffee. Most activities on board like game night, pool access, shows and live entertainment. There is a kids club on most ships that offer programs for little kids as well as teenagers. There are a few things that are not included in your “Cruise price”. Spending money at casinos, alcoholic drinks and soda. On shore excursions,Late night baby sitting, spa services and photos. So I suggest that you bring spending money for these items.

Some cruise lines offer a “soda card” or alcohol pass. You pre-purchase these items to use during your stay. I personally am okay without the soda. It also can save you some money if you opt out for this. Enjoy the ice tea and lemonade for a few days!

Rooms- Oceanview cabins are nice but if you plan to not be in your room much, save money and book an “inside” cabin. The price difference can be a huge savings!

On top of your “cruise price” there is a gratuity that is added to your check out bill. The fee covers tips and taxes for staff members. Most of the staff members work very hard at their job and relay on this income not just to support themselves but most send money back to their families in their Country. Please remember, if you would like to personally give a cash tip to someone special or adjust your ‘gratuity’ you can visit customer service the day of check out and change things on your bill. Many people don’t know about this. We have been on a handful of Cruises and the first time that we went on a Cruise, this was new to me! So I like to share this helpful tip with everyone.

We booked our cruise to celebrate our oldest Sons 18th birthday. It was last minute. (He didn’t want to do anything, but hey… It was a big deal!!! The BIG 1-8!) The cruise was in February, So we saved a little bit of money because it wasn’t high season. Depending on where we are cruising too and how long we will be on the ship depends on the room I select. I normally pick “Oceanview” but this time I tried out the “inside cabin” rooms.

The 4 of us, my husband, myself and our 2 boys all shared one cabin. Each cabin comes with your own bathroom that includes, toilet, shower, sink and mirror. Beware..it is TINY! The room is also very small. Just enough room for the beds and to maybe move around a little bit. Not room for social gatherings! This isn’t bad though, because who’s in their room on a cruise? Their is food and entertainment 24/7! Nobody sleeps! ha ha

 

If your celebrating a special occasion bring items to decorate the room! They even will let you decorate your cabin door! I made funny t-shirts for us to wear the day of his birthday. Something to fit each of our personalties!

 

Don’t forget!

This is one time that, Packing is fun! No need to stress about only bringing one small bag. Unless you’re flying to the cruise port destination (airline guidelines). There are so many activities on board that you need to pack accordingly! Bathing suits, formal wear, nightclub, lounge clothes, gym clothes, outfits for the days you are visiting the fun port of calls. It’s a girls dream! Outfits galore!!! Make note-There is an iron available as well as laundry service.

I would suggest bringing something for motion sickness in case there are rough Seas. Wrist bands, essential oils, acupuncture ear tabs and Dramamine or a natural remedy. Also anti-diarrhea medicine and my favorite… activated charcoal. This is a travel must and something that I keep stocked in my medicine cabinet at home. It is great for indigestion, stomach pains, nausea, diarrhea, over indulgence in food and alcohol! You can buy activated charcoal at health food stores, Target or Walmart or on amazon https://www.amazon.com/Natures-Way-Activated-Charcoal-Capsules/dp/B0006LCQ4Q/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=activated+charcoal+tabs&qid=1559793238&s=gateway&sr=8-3

The day of…

When you arrive at the cruise terminal you will check in, drop off your bags and go through the boarding process line prior to entering the ship. They give you your wristband and key card for your room. As you walk onto the ship they take a Welcome Photo.

Once aboard the ship you can roam and explore until your room is ready. Once your room is ready you can head over to your “cabin” and check it out. My favorite thing is to see what “towel animal” creation will be waiting for us! There will also be a daily itinerary with the schedule and times for events throughout the day. Each day you will receive a new itinerary. I highly recommend you schedule out your activities and try to check out a few of the events and shows.

Note- your bags will be delivered hours after you board. Make sure you have your items locked and a name tag on them. They are delivered and left outside your cabin door.

 

What to expect…

After you get settled in. Roam the ship and EXPLORE! There is so much to see and do AND of course, so much to EAT!!!!! Prepare yourself to gain 5 lbs during your cruise! We love that you can grab a bite to eat WHENEVER you want! The main dining rooms do have a set time, as well as the buffet has more options during most of the day but at night there is “Late night” snacks available 24/7. Pizza, sandwiches, burgers, etc.

My boys have always enjoyed the kids club that the cruise ship offers. When we went on our first cruise, my oldest son was only 4 years old. I will share with you that I was a VERY overprotective Mom with my first Son. I must of asked 101 questions about the kids club. Yes they are certified, yes they have experience with kids, yes they are familiar with food allergies and YES they are very cautious about your Childs safety. I was a Teacher for years so my standards were a little high! Our experience on numerous ships has been excellent!

 

 

 

This particular cruise had a kids club for younger kids and teen center for the older kids/young adults. The activities are age appropriate and both my boys really enjoyed it. Please make note that there are specific hours that they are open! The ship also offers family days and one evening there was “game night”. My younger Son was chosen to participate and even won a prize!

When it was just my hubby and I we made the best of it and enjoyed the pool, casino, nightclub, bar and lounge. Comedy night and the live music. It was nice to have so many options and to enjoy some time by ourselves.

 

It is also nice to feel “Fancy”. Getting dressed up is fun! The have a formal night and you can take photos. You have the option to dress up for dinner at night or stay causal. Its your choice! At the reserved nightly dinner, they do serve one entree but remember..you can always ask for more! Enjoy yourself!

 

Food allergies, diet restrictions and vegan lifestyle. Please let them know when you make the reservation, as well as when you check in. Make sure to go see the food and beverage manager as well. They will try to accommodate you as much as possible. I have food sensitivities and my younger son has a life threatening tree nut allergy, so we are always on alert and appreciate when the Staff is trained and educated on this.

One of the funny things on this trip was that we ran into one of our friends on the cruise! They were there celebrating a birthday as well! It was really cool because the kids hung out and we also had a chance to grab a few drinks and a couple of shows with them. The kids got to swim together, go on the water slide and so much more.

 

One of the activities was a Dr.Suess Breakfast. There is an extra charge for this and you need to preregister. It was a lot of fun and great for younger kids.

 

 

We also enjoyed game night and my son participated in the Live game. We went swimming, played golf and entered the dance off contest. On this cruise ship they also had a few themed cafes. The one that was poolside was “Guy Fieri’s” hamburger stand.

 

Ports of call

Ports of call- Most of the time we choose a cruise because of the ports of call. With this particular cruise, it was because of the location. Being close to home and not needing to fly to the City we were embarking from. If you are visiting somewhere that has amazing activities I defiantly say take full advantage of them. The cruise ship does have licensed vendors they work with but some people are adventurous and go off on their own. We have been on a few excursions that we booked through the cruise ship, but prefer to do our own thing at most ports. For most people, booking excursions on board are a good way to go.

The Ports of call on this cruise were Catalina Island and Ensenada. If you are going on this particular cruise, here are a few suggestions for you. Remember the cruise ship does have specific activities you can purchase for your excursions. We did our own thing on this trip.

Catalina

First Port of call was Catalina. I have been wanting to visit the island for years. So this was a good opportunity. The day we were in Port was an overcast day with light rain. We made the best of it though! After we got off the ship, we headed to the park to play for a bit, then the waterfront. Lots of cool shops to check out and the main “drag” aka Town was very close and within walking distance. There really is no need for transportation. The town had blocks of boutique shops, “tourist” geared stores and restaurants. WE walked and checked out a few museums, town center and walked across the island to a theatre. Because it was chilly we decided to not do any of the activities, just sightsee. We grabbed a bite to eat and of course had to stop at the local brewery! I enjoy my cocktails and wine but I am also a craft beer snob! We found a small brewery called Catalina Island Brew House. I highly recommend this place and you MUST stop in there! Why? Because the beer is BOMB! My hubby likes IPA’s and he enjoyed his while I savored the Mexican Chocolate stout! Yup…YUM!!! They also have small food items available and did I mention that they have the BEST homemade pretzel buns?!! Oh my! I won’t tell you anymore just go there!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ensenada

Let me tell you, many people think that this is how all of Mexico is, but I have traveled all over the World and to many places in Mexico and they are all different! Ensenada is a small fishing village in Baja. People go down there to eat fish tacos, drink a few beers and enjoy a Sunday drive. Please don’t think that this is what Mexico is all about! Please explore more of beautiful Mexico!

When in Ensenada you can do a wine tour, culinary experience or walk the town and check things out. I recommend to visit one of the “famous” bars like Hussong’s. Maybe buy a few Mexican souvenirs and defiantly have a taco or two and a beer or margarita. There are a few good taco places and yes you can eat at the smaller restaurants without getting sick! Make sure they are busy, they are clean and have refrigeration. If they are busy, that’s always a good sign. I do recommend to not drink the water, always ask for bottled water. There is a tequila tour close to the terminal and also a fish market. Ensenada relies on tourism so take a peak while you are there, but remember… Not much going on in this fishing town.

There are a couple great photo-ops though! I can’t wait till he is older and realizes exactly what Viagra is! Hey Son,Great photo with “Viagra Man”! There are many “Farmacias” in Ensenada. Pharmacies on every corner.

 

 

 

 

 

We enjoyed our quick 4 day cruise. Lots of food, fun and family time. There are a few cruise lines out of both San Diego and Long Beach. Need a quick getaway… want to do an easy cruise or maybe just chill with some friends, soak in the sun and enjoy some cocktails? This cruise may be a good match for you!

Stay tuned for more reviews of other cruise lines and ports of call!

XO Christy