Hello everyone! It has been awhile since my last journey. We did an ambitious Carnival Radiance 4 Day Baja Mexico Cruise out of Long Beach, California from June 6 - 10, 2022.
We are so excited to share our cruise experience on the newly renovated Carnival Radiance.
PRE-CRUISE
Prior to the cruise, we downloaded the Carnival Hub App so we could keep up to date on all the cruise happenings. We also filled out a health assessment 2 days prior to the cruise and took a covid test.
For this cruise, we took the Real Time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR / Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) Nasopharyngeal Swab test from the travel agency in Los Angeles where we've purchased our 4 day Baja Mexico cruise. Within 12 hours we had our results printed and ready to take us for boarding.
DAY 1 - EMBARKATION, LOS ANGELES (LONG BEACH), CALIFORNIA
We stayed at the New Seoul Hotel about 26.1 miles from the Carnival Terminal in Los Angeles. This has become our go-to hotel when we visit Nan's family in LA due to plenty of free/safe parking and the restaurant within the hotel.
Since we arrived at the Carnival Terminal early, we walked around the Long Beach, CA port and took some photos of RMS Queen Mary
Before heading toward the Carnival ship, we checked in our luggage (2 large luggage weighting less than 50 lbs.) and gave tip to porter.
Our boarding time was not until 2:00 pm, so we waited in line for about 30 minutes and began our check-in process.
When our turn came, we walked up to a table to have our covid tests, vaccination status, and passports checked and confirmed. (Note: Downloading and using the VeriFLY app made this process very quick).
Once we cleared the initial health screening, we went through the security station and had our bags checked plus walked through metal detectors.
From there we walked up to the counter, verifying our cruise documents and getting our photos taken for security and facial recognition system. We were told that our stateroom keys are on our door with our names on them and was clear to embark on to the ship.
The walk up to the ship was not too bad but a bit of a walk going up 3 inches to reach ship level. If you are not in the best of shape, be prepared to take your time. It is not a long walk but the incline makes it a little more fun.
Once on the ship, we were able to head directly to our muster station. It took less than 3 minutes to watch how to put on a life jacket and have our names checked for attending the safety drill.
We felt that as soon as the muster drill was one our cruise vacation started! Once we approached our stateroom, our luggages was outside and we unpacked our luggage. It was late afternoon and we haven't had any lunch so we decided to head up to Lido deck (deck 9) to check out Guy's Burger for the first time. The burger was one of the best burgers I've eaten and will have to come back before the cruise ends.
Guy's Burger
We booked a Balcony Stateroom and it is beyond epic. The view out the windows from the bed. Yes! I looked at Nan and told her we are going to have to book balcony room for other cruise, God willing, in the future.
Once we were in our room, we kind of melted into the view and ended up spending the afternoon just staring out at the water and doing absolutely nothing. It was bliss!!!
For dinner, we had a late dinning (8;15 pm) on deck 4, Sunrise Restaurant. Great service and good food. We loved it so much that we decided to have our dinners in the sit down restaurant, same table with same servers. After the first dinning, we got to know our servers, Pan, Jorend, & Benmar as well as they got to know us. The food server manager was Beata, super nice and friendly.
DAY 2 - CATALINA ISLAND
We woke up to the overcast light streaming into our stateroom with a sound of seagulls. It was so relaxing seeing the calm ocean and watching Catalina Island come into view.
Santa Catalina Island is a rocky island off the coast of Southern California. The island is 22 mi long and 8 mi across at its greatest width. The island is located about 29 mi south-southwest of Long Beach, California.
We had a slow morning not moving out of the room until 7:30 am since we wanted to have a sitting down breakfast at the Sunset Restaurant. When the restaurant is open at 7:30 am, you can check-in and they will notify once your table is ready. The table is reserved for 10 minutes.
Our breakfast was peaceful and on of the best, our serves Roland and Ariel were outstanding. We were not in a hurry to depart for the Catalina Island sight-seeing until our number is called over the PA system. Since our ship anchored off Avalon on Catalina Island, they provided a water shuttle for those on excursion and anyone who wanted to depart the ship. To be on line for the water shuttle, we went down to deck 5 to receive our water shuttle tickets.
Once our departure number is called, we went down to deck 1 and got onto the water shuttle to Catalina Island. We spent about two hours just walking along the ocean toward the Catalina Casino taking photos.
For lunch, we went back aboard Carnival and had lunch buffet. One of the great things about the Carnival Hub App is you can sign in anytime and see which restaurants and bars are currently open.
There weren't many people since most of the passengers were still out on Catalina Island so we took an advantage and really enjoyed our relaxing buffet lunch. After lunch, it was time for one of the favorite cruise ship activities...a cruise ship nap!
Before leaving for cruise, we highlighted the daily schedule with all the things we wanted to fit into our schedule. We felt like we had to push to get the most done to get the value for the price we paid. What we realized after the first day on a cruise, was the value is in relaxing, having meals taken care of, having time together without the interruptions that happen on land.
The best part of being on a cruise is you get to decide what you want to do or not do. If you want to spend your entire cruise in bed watching the world go by, you can do that. If you want to spend your entire cruise fitting in aa many activities as you possibly can that is totally amazing also. Cruises are the perfect vacation to customize to your needs.
Dinner was a formal dining so we dressed up in our formal wear. Since our dinning was not until 8:15 pm, we decided to go down to deck 5 to take some beautiful photos in our formal wear.
The dining menu was exquisite with starter, entrees, from the grill, dessert, coffee and tea. You can also order from the Steakhouse selection with a surcharged of $23 to each entree or from Bonsai Sushi Ship (for 2) at $20.00.
After an hour into our dinner, the servers dressed up in Mexican clothes and put on a show for us. You can join in with them by clapping and some people got up and started to dance with them.
DAY 3 - ENSENADA, MEXICO
We woke up to the sun streaming in the cabin windows as we pulled into Ensenada. I hopped out on the balcony to get some photos and had to laugh with sheer delight at all the sea lions making noises greeting us into port.
For dinner, we headed to our assigned table at the Sunrise Restaurant and had our wonderful meal. The dining attire was causal so it was very relaxing and enjoyable. After an hour into our dinner, the show was a solo performance by singing few songs.
Once dinner was over, we walk around the ship and found a seat in the Lido deck. The name "lido" come from Italian roots referring to a public outdoor swimming pool. There we watched a movie, "The Lost City" for few minutes and turned in before the whole movie since we were cold and tired. Plus, we can always see it when it comes out on Netflix or Prime. So, we went to our stateroom and dreamed.
DAY 4 - DAY AT SEA
Sea Day is our favorite! There is no stress just relaxing! We slept in and when we got up in the morning we were rejuvenated and full of energy.
After morning routine, we headed down to sea by brunch. I have to tell you that sea day brunch on the Carnival Radiance was the best. The food from breakfast to lunch/dinner menu was great! Every single item was cooked to perfection and tasted amazing.
After breakfast, it was time to visit the Fun Shops and see what things Carnival has brought onboard. There are so many fun items in the shops it is hard not to shop and shop and shop. The prices on board compared to what you can get at home are good, plus no tax.
For lunch, we decided to try the Bonsai Sushi. Dining was amidst expertly-pruned bonsai trees enjoying sit-down service and an affordable menu of delectable sushi and sashimi...plus rolls, soups, sides, sakes and desserts. After living overseas in Japan for six years, you can't find the quality sushi like Japan but this little sushi boat lunch was satisfying.
As soon as we were done with lunch, in the Liquid Lounge hosted military appreciation. It is their special way to recognize the service of U.S. and Canadian military members and veterans. At the gathering, we were honour the courage and commitment made by the military personnel and of course, our families as well. In addition to the event, there was also a chance for veterans, and the folks who matter to them, to say few words. And of course, I can't pass the change to speak, being a chaplain/preacher.
On the lido deck, there was an ice sculpting so we went early to get a nice lounge seat and enjoy ice carving. And of course, photos ops.
At our last night dinner, we were treated very nicely by our servers as well as enjoyed getting to know them more personally and taking photos with them to remember by. Most of the cruise employees are from different nations. The servers we got to know from housekeeping to meal servers were from Thailand, Philippians, and Indonesia. They work 7 to 8 months a year and they go home for 3 to 4 months. The crew members are Italian. The total crew on board for Carnival Radiance is 1,150.
After enjoying the evening, it was time to think about packing. We managed to pack everything just in time to enjoy a nice evening view from the balcony. We really like the balcony stateroom we booked, it is so peaceful and private.
DISEMBARKATION
We pulled into Long Beach, California early which was amazing to watch.
The sun was coming up on the horizon as was pulled into the port. We decided to enjoy one more breakfast in the main dining room before disembarking.
The breakfast was great! I can't say enough about the service in the main dining room of the Carnival Radiance. The staff was so friendly and really made each meal a great time.
Sadly, it was time to disembark and start the journey home. Getting off the ship took a while since they disembark by your muster station. The disembarkation started from 7:45 am, and it seems that every 15 minutes they were announcing next muster station letter. By the time they announced our muster station letter was about 8:45 am.
We scan our cruise card one more time on the ship and then we walked down to Customs. Carnival has a photo recognition system that you smile at a screen and it pulls up all of your documentation. It took us maybe 30 seconds to clear Customs and then it was time to get into our vehicle, pay the parking fee and drive 5 hours to home.
We are already looking to see what cruise we should book next.
Safe travels, until next time CIAO!
