Ensenada, Mexico, is a town whose primary purpose seems to be port-of-call for cruise ships. And its primary draw seems to be that, as a Mexican town, the signs and people communicate, mostly, in Spanish; so it feels like a foreign country. Which it is. But is that really adequate justification for a visit? Or it is the cruise that is its own justification?

Our Next Cruise

By: Paul S Cilwa	Posted: 8/21/2007		Page Views: 3,299
Hashtags: #Cruise #MonarchOfTheSeas #RoyalCaribbean #BajaCalifornia #Ensenada
We again prepare to brave the briny deep.
Estimated reading time: 3 minute(s) (676 words)

Having had her appetite whetted by our cruise last May in the Western Caribbean, my daughter Karen has become a cruise aficionado and is already planning our follow-up cruise. As in, she's made reservations and put down a deposit.

V Minus 1

By: Paul S Cilwa	Posted: 1/2/2008		Page Views: 1,229
Hashtags: #Humor #Cruise
The vacation starts tomorrow.
Estimated reading time: 3 minute(s) (509 words)

Is one day long enough to prepare for a cruise?—But I won't even have a day. I have to work and won't be able to pack until afterwards, maybe an hour. Is that long enough? Maybe it's too long…I wouldn't want to start stressing over it. After all, it's a vacation; which is supposed to be the antithesis of stress.

Packing List

By: Paul S Cilwa	Posted: 1/2/2008 6:00:00 PM		Page Views: 1,267
Hashtags: #Humor #Cruise
What should one bring with one to a foreign country? Will the kitchen sink fit?
Estimated reading time: 2 minute(s) (318 words)

For the most rabid Paul-o-phile only, my packing list for the cruise. Having been on a cruise once already—and having noted, at the time, things we missed—here's my checklist for this cruise:

2008 Cruise, Day 1

By: Paul S Cilwa	Occurred: 1/4/2008		Page Views: 1,890
Hashtags: #Places #RoyalCaribbean #MonarchOfTheSeas
We set sail on our cruise to Ensenada, Mexico.
Estimated reading time: 10 minute(s) (2330 words)

Now that we have become accomplished cruisers (having just completed our second cruise) we find we cannot help compare the two cruise lines based on our admittedly meager experience. I also must admit that my judgment may have been colored by a couple of negative experiences on this latest vacation. Still…you are expecting a complete report and you shall have one!

Ensenada In The Rain

By: Paul S Cilwa	Occurred: 1/5/2008		Page Views: 1,994
Hashtags: #Places #RoyalCaribbean #Ensenada #Mexico #MonarchOfTheSeas
All about the day we visited Ensenada, Mexico.
Estimated reading time: 6 minute(s) (1315 words)

Zachary woke us early, but then decided to remain in bed while Michael and I went to breakfast. At 8, Zach probably spends too much time closely supervised by one or more of the five adults with whom he lives; so it was a big deal for him to be left alone even for a half hour.

Day At Sea

By: Paul S Cilwa	Occurred: 1/6/2008		Page Views: 1,973
Hashtags: #Places #RoyalCaribbean
All about the day we spent on our ship, not landing anywhere.
Estimated reading time: 4 minute(s) (824 words)

When I woke in the morning, Michael was the perfect picture of misery. Again, he hadn't slept; he had a headache and a pain in his kidney (where he'd recently had surgery) and his sinuses were killing him. It seemed like we'd have to go to the infirmary.

Debarkation

By: Paul S Cilwa	Occurred: 1/7/2008		Page Views: 2,673
Hashtags: #Cruise #Carnival #RoyalCaribbean #Travel #MonarchOfTheSeas
All about how we got off our cruise ship and extended our vacation by NOT visiting Six Flags Magic Mountain.
Estimated reading time: 9 minute(s) (2020 words)

Our ship had docked at San Pedro before we woke up. When we did wake up, it was to a shocking surprise. Michael's infirmary bill, which the nurse had told us would run $108 dollars plus a little more for any medicine administered, was just shy of $1000…and it was going to hit my bank card, which didn't have a balance anywhere near that, as soon as we got off the boat.