Ecstasy At Sea Carnival Cruise to Ensenada, Mexico

Ecstasy At Sea Carnival Cruise to Ensenada, Mexico

Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com
http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/cruise02/carnival/ectasy/ectasy.html

"Carnival has the fun" reads the exterior banner stretching across the side of Carnival's cruise ship Ecstasy. It's the first week-end in December, when one would think most folks are home preparing for the holidays, but this half-a-cruise down the Mexican Riviera from Long Beach, California to Ensenada, Mexico, is sold out.

At the Queen Mary pier in Long Beach, we board the ship on a crisp, foggy Friday afternoon. Carnival handles all the formalities of boarding inside the huge dome previously housing the Spruce Goose. On a colorful Mexican set we pause for boarding souvenir photos. Soon settled into a cabin on the Riviera deck, we check out the activity sheet for things to do.

For the first-time cruiser, Carnival's Ecstasy provides a full-scale introduction to the cruise vacation lifestyle so popular with travelers. From quizzes, game shows, bingo, casino gambling, musical dance shows, art auctions, ship tours, slot tournaments, spa services, fitness classes, disco dancing, karaoke, pub crawl and other events, there's non-stop entertainment. I decide I want a massage on Sunday, our day at sea. Good thing I checked it out before the ship sailed; Sunday massage time is nearly sold out, so I book for 8 a.m. Sunday morning.

Ecstasy sails promptly at 5:30 p.m., after which all passengers gather in blocky orange life vests at our respective "muster stations" for mandatory life boat drill. This is a serious, U.S. Coast Guard-managed event, at the conclusion of which Cruise Director Dana Hodson announces, "You are now officially on vacation."

Midship two glass elevators carry guests from the Empress deck skyward, where this beautiful open area is capped by an enormous glass dome. (Opening photo.) Exploring the deck levels, we check out the spa and gymnasium, so we'll know where to go to when we're ready to work out. Meanwhile we miss the shore excursion talk but not to worryit's broadcast later in our cabin on ship TV. Our shore excursion choices are horseback riding, a visit to La Bufadora (one of three blow-holes in the world), or a visit to Mexico's oldest winery, founded by the Dominicans in 1888.

At our late seating in the Wind Star Dining Room, we meet our tablemates, a combination of couples and singles from Southern California. After dinner we check out Casino Royale, where there is plenty of action at slot machines, video poker machines, and live table games.

The last thing we do Friday night is put out the menu hang-tag on our cabin door with our selections for room-service breakfast. Saturday morning, not wanting to be among the first crowd surging to get into Ensenada, we sleep until 8 a.m. Our in-cabin breakfast, including a pot of coffee arrives. Around ten we head into Ensenada for a day of exploring and shopping. Two men in what appears to be Mayan Indian garb are available at the foot of the gangway on the waterfront promenade for souvenir photo ops.

A shuttle bus operates every five minutes between the Ecstasy and Ensenada's fashionable shops and busy restaurants of Avenida Primera. Besides the driver, a young guitar player boards, does two songs, collects a few tips and departs. A guide boards, and uses the short travel time to sell us his company's tour to La Bufadora. We discover his tour includes an hour to shop the flea market there and a free lunch and is fifteen dollars cheaper than the one officially offered aboard Ecstasy, so we sign up.

The air-conditioned bus ride to the blowhole takes about forty-five minutes, through barren Baja countryside. The stalls at La Bufadora offer silver jewelry, clothing, leather goods, rubber snakes and bugs, pottery, hats, fish tacos, and churros, the long, deep-fried Mexican version of the doughnut. There are also plenty of opportunities to buy Coronas with lime. We don't recommend churros and Coronas together. . .

Ensenada in winter is not balmy and hot. Though the sun is out, the official high for the day is 65 degrees Fahrenheit. We are comfortable in tee shirts and shorts, but not the locals. On our way back to the ship we stop for an espresso and the pretty girl operating the machine wears a down jacket and, entwined around her neck, a wool scarf.

We're too tired from shopping to stay in Ensenada until the ship sails, so we're on the shuttle back to the waterfront promenade where there's yet one more colorful Mexican shopping opportunity. Good thing our little cabin has ample storage for our luggage and our shopping purchases, too.

At dinner we hear from our tablemates all about what we missed. Seems a lot of young people gathered at Tapas and Beer, the restaurant/bar that's replaced Husong's Cantina (still the same as it was in the sixties) as the most popular watering hole in Ensenada. One thing led to another, and later in the afternoon there were girls dancing on tables in various stages of drunkenness and undress. Making cruise memories?

To read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this link:
http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/cruise02/carnival/ectasy/ectasy.html

Carolyn Proctor, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com

About the Author

Carolyn Proctor, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent. Join the Travel Writers Network in the logo at www.jetsettersmagazine.com Leave your email next to the logo for FREE e travel newsletter.

Here Are Some Tips On Ecstasy At Sea Carnival Cruise to Ensenada, Mexico

Mexico Vacation Planning: Anything You Want

And Mexicofor so many years that you will find the people just differentenough to be interesting. But it is, surprisingly, viewed bymost Mexicans in the same way Americans view Alaska:. Besides, Mexico has some of the most beautiful beaches in theworld.

How to Start an Import Export Business with Mexico ... Lucrative Mexican Pottery, Ceramics, Talavera & Tile

This is your chance to enter a multi-million dollar market withREAL PROFIT MARGINS. So don't think you will getthe best possible prices from them. Mexican products have become big sellers in every country of theworld. It'simpossible for an intermediary to sell you at a manufacturer'slow price.

Get Mexico Car Insurance To Take That Trip Of A Lifetime

If you are only going to be in Mexico, for about six months then you can apply for short term Mexico auto insurance. If youre planning on spending any amount of time in Mexico then you are going to need special Mexico car insurance. Your general car insurance only covers you for about 25 miles inside the Mexican border, so you do need to inquire about Mexico car insurance. There is also the danger of having your car stolen while you are in Mexico, especially if you are diving through small towns.

New Mexico Real Estate - The Mystical and Mysterious State

And then there is Roswell. Outside of the city, there are locations along the Rio Grande that are very nice. There is a distinct Native American influence in the downtown area, but there isn't much else to promote in regard to the city. Albuquerque I always try to look for the positives in a city, but it is hard to do so with Albuquerque.

Mexico Import Export >> How to Make Money Buying & Selling Luxury Mexican Imports

Marketers and othermiddlemen exist to make a profit. It's not uncommon for American and European traders dealing inMexican art, paintings, silver or exotic leather to harvesthandsome profit margins that in many cases exceed a 100% markupwhen they buy from the right suppliers. The only way you are going to make BIG cash is by dealing directwith the Mexican sources. Thanks to their low cost, quality and uniqueness, most Mexicanproducts can be resold for high profits.

Counterfeit Drugs Surfacing in Mexico

Unless the web site carries the "VIPPS" logo, youtruly cannot be sure where the medication originated. West Conner is the author of the incredibly popular workbook"How To Save Money On Your Prescription Drugs" and the audio CD"Are You Spending Too Much On Your Prescriptions?" He iscurrently active in assisting clients who are having difficultyaffording their prescription drugs.

How To Travel Abroad Safely: Six Important Tips You Need To Know In An Emergency

With the SixWise.com e-newsletter, you will get holistic wisdom from the world's top experts in all six of these areas -- completely FREE with a simple sign-up (and a guaranteed no-spam policy!) at http://www.SixWise.com. The old way of thinking:. If you register your trip with the agency, it will be much easier for them to locate you.