Was a 2-Night Ensenada Cruise Worth It? Our Honest First-Time Cruise Experience

My wife and I had talked about taking a cruise for years, but there was one problem: neither of us had ever been on one. We needed a first time cruise experience to get our feet wet.

We know people who love cruising – I follow several on social media. We had watched videos, read travel articles, and listened to people talk about their favorite ships and destinations. Still, we weren’t convinced that cruise vacations were for us. Would being stuck on a large, moving hotel be fun for us and how we travel? Spending several thousand dollars on a week-long sailing seemed like a risky way to find out.

Instead, we took a different approach.

We found an affordable 2-night Ensenada cruise out of Long Beach, California, and decided it would be the perfect test. If we hated cruising, we’d only be away from home for a couple of days. If we loved it, we’d know that longer cruises were in our future.

As it turns out, those two nights completely changed how we viewed cruise vacations.

Why We Chose a Short Cruise to Ensenada

One of the biggest reasons we selected this itinerary was the price.

At around $199 per person for the cruise fare, it was one of the least expensive cruise vacations we’d found. Even after adding gratuities, parking, and a few onboard extras, the total cost was still very reasonable – though I hate how all the other “little costs” add up on almost any vacation. The time of year helped with the lower cost – early January – so flexibility with schedules helped keep the initial cost down.

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Living near Salt Lake City also gave us another advantage. Long Beach was within driving distance, requiring only one night at a hotel en route. When we compared the costs of driving versus flying, driving won easily. Between airfare, baggage fees, airport parking, and rideshares, flying would have added significantly to the overall cost.

The short itinerary also appealed to us because we weren’t trying to visit Mexico. We were trying to answer a question:

Would we actually enjoy cruising?

Looking back on our experience, we definitely found our answer.

Preparing for Our First Cruise

Like many first-time cruisers, I spent plenty of time researching before departure day.

I wanted to understand the embarkation process, what documents we needed, where to park, what time we should arrive, and how early boarding appointments worked. The more research I did, the more confident I felt.

RELATED TRAVEL ARTICLE: 7 things every first-time cruiser should know before boarding

During that research, I also stumbled across one of cruising’s more entertaining traditions: cruise duck hiding.

If you’ve ever found a small rubber duck hidden somewhere on a cruise ship, you already know what I’m talking about. Passengers hide ducks throughout the ship for others to discover. It sounds silly, but it’s surprisingly fun. After learning about it, I purchased several astronaut-style ducks and brought them onboard to hide during our cruise.

If you’re planning your own sailing, be sure to check out my article about cruise duck hiding for everything you need to know about the tradition.

Since we were only traveling for two nights, we skipped checked luggage altogether and packed everything into our eBags. Carrying our luggage onboard ourselves meant we didn’t need to wait for bags to be delivered to our cabin later.

For a short cruise, it worked perfectly.

Our Boarding Experience Was Easier Than Expected

Embarkation was one of the things that worried us most before the trip.

Cruise terminals can look intimidating in videos, especially when thousands of passengers are trying to board at roughly the same time. Fortunately, our experience turned out to be remarkably smooth.

We had secured one of the earlier boarding times, but when we arrived, the ship had been delayed returning from its previous sailing. Rather than strictly enforcing boarding windows, passengers were allowed onboard as the ship became ready.

Within a short amount of time, we had completed the process and were walking onto our first cruise ship. For something that had seemed complicated in online discussions and Facebook groups, it felt surprisingly simple in practice.

Why We Were Glad We Booked a Balcony Cabin

Once onboard, we dropped our bags in our stateroom. One thing we noticed right away was how much we appreciated having a balcony room.

Cruise cabins aren’t known for being spacious, but the private outdoor space made the room feel larger and more comfortable. Throughout the cruise, we found ourselves stepping outside to enjoy the fresh air, listen to the ocean, and simply relax away from the crowds.

A few months later, after experiencing an interior cabin on another cruise, I can confidently say that I prefer balcony rooms whenever the budget allows.

Are they more expensive? Absolutely.

Did we think the extra cost was worth it? Also yes. But again… budgets!

Discovering There Was More to Do Than We Expected

One of the biggest surprises of our first cruise was the sheer number of activities available onboard.

Before sailing, I assumed cruises were primarily about relaxing by the pool while traveling between destinations. While that’s certainly an option, it only scratches the surface of what is available.

After grabbing our Royal Caribbean tumblers (as part of the basic drink package we purchased) and filling mine with Cherry Vanilla Coke (yummy), we began exploring the ship. Everywhere we turned, there seemed to be another activity, store, venue, or attraction.

There were pools, theaters, lounges, shops, trivia contests, organized games, live entertainment, and specialty attractions. Later in the cruise, we even spent time watching guests tackle the FlowRider surf simulator or the climbing wall near the back of the ship.

It didn’t take long to understand why some cruisers never leave the ship when they reach port.

For many people, the ship is the destination.

The Moment We Realized the Ship Had Left Port

One of my most memorable – though not in a good way – from the trip happened during our first dinner onboard.

As we sat eating, both of us noticed something felt a little strange. We weren’t sick, but something definitely felt different. My inner ears were screaming at me that something was “off”. For a few moments, neither of us could figure out why.

Then it hit us.

The ship was departing Long Beach. Since we were in the interior of the ship, we couldn’t see the movement, and it was slow enough we couldn’t necessarily feel it. But our inner ears did and the vertigo was a little unsettling.

For first-time cruisers, that sensation can catch you off guard. Fortunately, any concerns about seasickness disappeared quickly. Neither of us became seasick during the cruise, though we both experienced that brief adjustment period while our brains figured out that we were moving.

If you’re nervous about cruise motion, our experience was far less dramatic than we expected. We recommend having some Dramamine with you, just in case.

A Surprisingly Romantic Evening at Sea

After dinner, we explored the exterior decks and spent time taking in our surroundings.

It was already dark outside, so there wasn’t much scenery to admire, but there was something relaxing about being out on deck with the cool ocean air.

Later that evening, we returned to our cabin and opened the sliding balcony door. As we settled into bed, we listened to the waves rolling past the ship while a cool breeze drifted through the room.

That simple moment became one of the highlights of the cruise. Definitely relaxing!

Cruise advertisements tend to focus on pools, restaurants, and entertainment, but some of my favorite cruise memories involve nothing more than listening to the ocean at night. Again, an interior room doesn’t allow for that, so maybe the extra cost for a balcony room is worth it.

Waking Up in Ensenada

The next morning, I woke up early and headed outside as the ship approached Ensenada.

Watching the sunrise over the harbor while the ship slowly entered port was a fantastic way to start the day. The city gradually came into view, fishing boats moved through the water, and a few passengers gathered along the rails to watch our arrival.

After docking, we finished getting ready and headed off the ship for our excursion.

Our Excursion to La Bufadora

For our day in Ensenada, we booked a guided excursion to La Bufadora.

Visitors have plenty of options when arriving in Ensenada. Many excursions can be booked through the cruise line, while others can be arranged independently. Of course, you can also skip organized tours altogether and simply spend the day exploring town. On a later cruise with our children, that’s exactly what we did.

For this trip, however, the guided excursion proved to be a good choice.

The drive itself was enjoyable because our guide shared local history, interesting facts about the region, and details about life in Ensenada. It transformed what could have been a simple bus ride into an educational experience.

When we arrived at La Bufadora, we spent time exploring the many shops that line the pathway to the famous blowhole. We picked up several souvenirs and brought home a colorful ceramic serving platter that still reminds us of the trip.

As for La Bufadora itself, I thought it was interesting but not quite as dramatic as I had imagined.

The water was certainly blowing, but the plumes weren’t as impressive as I expected based on some of the photographs I’d seen beforehand. Tide conditions may have played a role, though that’s impossible to know for certain.

Even so, we enjoyed the overall experience, but likely wouldn’t book it again. One and done.

The Best Meal We Ate in Ensenada

One mistake we made during our excursion was spending too much time shopping and not enough time looking for local food.

Fortunately, things worked out anyway.

On the return trip, our guide dropped us off near a taco restaurant not far from the cruise terminal – Lidias Tacos Grill. Hungry from a full morning of sightseeing, we stopped for a late lunch.

Those authentic fish tacos ended up being one of my favorite meals of the trip. Sometimes the unplanned discoveries become the best travel memories.

Enjoying a Digital Break

Back onboard, we settled into a slower pace.

My wife purchased internet service for her phone because we wanted a way to stay connected with our teenage son back home if necessary. I skipped the Wi-Fi package entirely.

Aside from taking photos and videos for the travel blog, I spent very little time looking at my phone.

That digital break was refreshing. I even brought a book to read and got a few chapters under my belt during the cruise.

Without constant notifications, it became easier to enjoy the simple parts of the cruise. We played cards in our stateroom, people-watched from lounge chairs, enjoyed a few sodas (okay, more than a few, because our package was for unlimited sodas), and wandered the ship with no particular destination in mind.

Sometimes vacation doesn’t need an agenda. And that’s coming from someone who usually packs in a non-stop itinerary.

The Ring We Didn’t Buy

One of the funniest moments of the cruise took place in an onboard jewelry store. My wife found a stunning ring that immediately caught her eye. The problem wasn’t whether she liked it.

The problem was the price.

A very enthusiastic salesperson tried his best to convince us that beautiful jewelry would preserve the memories of our vacation forever. According to his sales pitch, you couldn’t really put a price on those memories. I knew common sense and my wallet disagreed.

Despite his best efforts, we managed to leave without purchasing the ring and lived to tell the tale. We did, however, take advantage of a free bracelet another jewelry store was giving away, and ended up spending some money on the charms for the bracelet. That was a fun little purchase, and it was definitely not thousands of dollars.

Game Shows, Great Food, and an Incredible Production

That evening, we chose the buffet instead of the main dining room.

For us, it was the right decision.

My wife especially appreciated the flexibility. Rather than committing to a set menu, she could simply choose whatever looked good. Since she isn’t a seafood fan, while I very much am, the buffet allowed both of us to find foods we enjoyed without any difficulty.

After dinner, we participated in one of the evening game shows: Royal Friendly Feud.

Not only did we volunteer compete, but our team actually won. Watching the games throughout the cruise had been entertaining, but stepping onto the stage and participating ourselves was even more fun.

The night’s biggest highlight, however, came later.

We attended Sonic Odyssey, a large-scale theater production featuring music, percussion, dance, and creative visual performances. The show blended artistry and energy in ways we weren’t expecting, and both of us absolutely loved it.

If I had to list my wife’s favorite memories from the cruise, Royal Friendly Feud and Sonic Odyssey would be near the top of the list.

Was a 2-Night Cruise Enough?

By the final morning, we packed our bags, disembarked the ship, and began the long drive back to Utah.

As we talked about the trip during the drive home, something became clear. The cruise had done exactly what we hoped it would do. We had figured out whether cruising was right for us.

The answer was yes.

In fact, we enjoyed it enough that we soon booked another cruise for a few months later, this time bringing our kids along. Since then, we’ve booked an Alaskan cruise in 2027 with a large group of family members that includes parents, siblings, nieces, and nephews. It’s gonna be a fun adventure, but sadly, none of our kids wanted to come even when we offered to pay for their trip.

Final Thoughts: Should First-Time Cruisers Book a Short Ensenada Cruise?

If you’re curious about cruising but aren’t sure whether you’ll enjoy it, I think a 2-night Ensenada cruise is one of the best ways to find out.

The itinerary keeps costs relatively low, the commitment is short, and you’ll still experience many of the things that make cruising special. You’ll sample the food, enjoy the entertainment, visit an international destination, experience life at sea, and discover whether cruise vacations fit your travel style.

Would I choose a two-night cruise over a longer cruise today? Probably not.

Now that we know we enjoy cruising, I’d rather spend more time onboard and explore additional destinations. However, for first-time cruisers, couples looking for a quick getaway, or travelers hesitant to commit to a week-long sailing, a short cruise is an excellent starting point.

For us, those two nights were enough to turn a couple of cruise skeptics into cruise fans.

And that’s exactly what we hoped this trip would accomplish.

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