Carnival Cruise line devotes two ships to short sailings in Mexico. The Paradise is devoted to this area year-round and alternates three- and four-day sailings from Long Beach, California. Both itineraries include a visit to Ensenada, Mexico, and the four-day trip adds a port stop on Catalina Island, California. Carnival offers shore excursions in Ensenada ranging from city tours and cooking classes to jeep adventures.
The Paradise was built in 1998 and last updated in 2008. Decorated in an art deco style, it holds over 2,600 passengers. The kids will love the Twist and Shout water slide while the adults enjoy the private "Serenity" area of the ship.
Carnival Cruises
3655 NW 87th Ave.
Miami, FL 33178-2428
888-227-6482
carnival.com
The second ship in the Carnival fleet visiting Mexico is the Spirit. This ship spends October through March sailing mostly five-day trips from San Diego, California. Port stops in Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada, Mexico, are included. Cabo offers vacationers water sports and fishing, shopping opportunities from upscale retail to flea markets, and authentic restaurants and popular bars. Vendors fill the streets of this harbor city full of life. Princess offers over 40 shore excursions, from horseback and ATV riding to scuba and sailing.
The Carnival Spirit, built in 2001, was redesigned and updated in 2009. The ship's passenger capacity is about 2,650 and over 80 percent of the staterooms have an ocean view. The ship has a large casino, the Nouveau supper club and Las Vegas-style entertainment in the theater.
Carnival Cruises
3655 NW 87th Ave.
Miami, FL 33178-2428
888-227-6482
carnival.com
The Sapphire Princess usually offers a standard seven-day trip, but a few times a year during the winter, it offers four-day sailings round trip from Los Angeles. The trip includes port stops in Santa Barbara, California, and Ensenada, Mexico. It's an ideal getaway for couples who enjoy wine tasting. Visitors to Santa Barbara can sample wine from the area's developing wine country or spend a day on the beach. In Ensenada, Princess offers shore excursion tours of the city or a visit to the Casa Pedro Domecq and La Cetto wineries in the Calafia Valley.
The Sapphire Princess was built in 2004 and completely updated in 2006. The ship is of medium size, with a total passenger capacity of 2,600. Dining options include four main dining rooms, a 24-hour buffet, the poolside grill, a pizzeria, upscale Italian and a steakhouse. The Internet cafe is one of the largest available aboard a cruise ship, with 29 stations. Golfers can try the simulators or a nine-hole putting course on deck.
Princess Cruises
24844 Avenue Rockefeller
Santa Clarita, CA 91355
800-744-6237
princess.com
