If you’ve been thinking about taking a cruise but keep hesitating because a full 7-day sailing feels like a big commitment, a shorter cruise can be the perfect way to test the waters.
That’s exactly why a 5-day cruise to Cabo and Ensenada ended up being such a good call for us.
This trip had a very specific mission: take the in-laws on their first cruise while they were visiting at Christmas. Keep it simple. Keep it fun. Keep it short enough that nobody feels overwhelmed.
It was also our first time sailing Royal Caribbean, after cruising Norwegian on our previous trips. So if you’re curious about how Royal compares, what a short itinerary feels like, and what’s worth upgrading, you’re in the right place.
This is an honest breakdown of:
- The full itinerary
- What we loved
- What was just okay
- What we’d skip next time
- And the small decisions that made the whole trip easier
The #1 Cruise Tip That Saves Your Whole Trip: Fly In the Day Before
If you take nothing else from this post, take this:
Fly in the day before embarkation.
Cruise ships run on a schedule, and the ship does not wait because your flight was delayed. Missing the ship can turn into a stressful, expensive mess. That’s why arriving the day before is one of the best “buy yourself peace” decisions you can make. If you’re cruising out of California, it’s easy to do. (And it’s also a great excuse to turn your cruise into a slightly longer trip without adding much effort.)
We sailed out of the World Cruise Center in San Pedro, just outside of Long Beach. Since we didn’t want embarkation day to feel rushed, we planned everything so we could stay nearby and start the trip feeling calm instead of frantic.
Why We Stayed on the Queen Mary the Night Before
Since the cruise left from San Pedro, staying nearby made sense. But we also didn’t want to land early and spend the whole day trapped in a hotel room watching cable TV and pretending we were “relaxing.”
So we made the night before part of the trip and stayed on the Queen Mary in Long Beach.
If you’ve never been, the Queen Mary is a historic retired ocean liner that sailed from 1936 to 1967 and is now permanently moored in Long Beach as a hotel and attraction. It’s also listed as a historic destination with tours and exhibits.
In other words, it’s not just a place to sleep. It’s an experience.
What you can do on the Queen Mary (and what we did)
If you stay there, plan to explore. You can:
- Walk the decks and explore the ship’s public areas
- Check out exhibits and onboard tours
- Eat onsite without needing to drive anywhere
- Join themed events when they’re running (especially around the holidays)
We had a blast wandering the ship. We walked so much that by the time we got on the cruise the next day, we’d already hit our step goal for the week.
We also grabbed lunch at the Promenade Café. Honest take: the food was meh and a bit overpriced, but it did the job. You’re paying for convenience and the setting more than anything.
Then we tried the ship’s famous clam chowder at the Chelsea Chowder House. It was good. Best ever? Not for us. But it was above average and absolutely worth trying if you’re already there.
At night, they offered a pub crawl concept that could’ve been amazing. The idea was great, the execution was… not fully polished. It felt like the staff wasn’t completely prepared and didn’t always seem to know what was happening. That said, there was a Christmas pop-up bar setup, which was fun, and a holiday cocktail on an old ship is a pretty great way to kick off a Christmas cruise.
Embarkation Day: How to Make It Feel Easy
Here’s the move that makes embarkation day feel smooth:
Book an early check-in time. It gives you time to explore the ship before it gets crowded and chaotic.
Also, pack a backpack with anything you want for the afternoon, because you typically can’t get into your cabin until after 4 PM.
Put these in your backpack:
- swimsuit (if weather allows)
- sunscreen
- meds
- phone charger
- sunglasses/hat
- anything you’d be annoyed to not have until dinner
This one decision keeps you from wandering around irritated, hungry, and waiting for your room.
Royal Caribbean vs Norwegian: First Impressions
This sailing was our first time on Royal Caribbean, and it was on an older ship that had been updated.
Was it as polished as our Norwegian experiences? Not quite. Norwegian felt more elevated overall on the ships we sailed.
But Royal had its own charm. It felt classic and comfortable, and the onboard energy was fun. If you’re cruising with family, especially first-timers, that familiarity can actually be a plus.
Dining: The One Thing We’d Change Next Time
We didn’t do upgraded dining on this cruise.
And we regretted it.
Here’s why: Royal has a main dining room with sit-down service, and if you’re newer to cruising, it can sound like you’re getting a “specialty” dining experience.
But main dining is not specialty dining.
It’s essentially the same overall food quality level as buffet-style offerings, just served by a waiter with a more limited menu. It’s edible, and you won’t starve, but it wasn’t the highlight of the cruise.
If you want dinners to feel like a true date-night moment onboard, this is where spending extra can make a real difference. Next time, we’d opt for specialty dining.
The Itinerary: Cabo (and a Surprise Ensenada Day)
This cruise was originally planned with one stop: Cabo San Lucas, with two days in port.
But close to departure, the schedule changed, and it turned into one day in Cabo and one day in Ensenada. Total curveball, but honestly, it ended up being a fun bonus stop we never would’ve added on our own.
That’s cruising for you. Have a plan, but stay flexible.
Cabo San Lucas: Camel + Mexican Outback Excursion
In Cabo, we did Royal Caribbean’s Camel and Mexican Outback excursion.
This was a highlight.
You ride camels on the beach for about 25 minutes, and the scenery is gorgeous. After that, you get a culinary experience with Mexican specialties, including beans, fresh salsas, homemade tortillas, and tequila tasting.
And here’s the honest surprise: the food was delicious.
That is not always a guarantee on excursions, so when it turns out great, it deserves credit.
If you want a Cabo day that feels organized, fun, and different from “walk around and shop,” this one is a great choice.
Ensenada: Keep It Simple (and Delicious)
Since Ensenada became a surprise stop for us, we didn’t book an excursion.
Instead, we did what we always recommend for short port stays:
- Walk the town
- Find something local to eat
- Enjoy one solid meal or drink
- Don’t over-plan
We grabbed ceviche, fresh oysters, and a cocktail, and then kept moving. The port stop was short, so it felt more like a “taste” of Ensenada than a deep dive.
If you have more notice than we did, you could absolutely book something more structured. But even without an excursion, it was a fun little add-on day.
Sea Days: The Part You’ll Appreciate More Than You Think
If you’re new to cruising, it’s easy to think the port days are the point.
And yes, ports are fun.
But sea days are where you actually unwind.
You’ve got:
- Shows every night
- Plenty of onboard activities
- A casino onboard
- Food whenever you want
- And no logistics to manage
If you’re bored on a cruise ship, it’s because you’re committed to boredom.
We didn’t spend much time poolside because it was December and a bit chilly for us Arizona people, but we still enjoyed wandering the ship, catching entertainment, and leaning into the slower pace.
What We’d Do Again
If you’re planning a similar trip, these are the “yes, do this” choices:
- Stay near the port the night before.
- Make the night-before stay an experience (the Queen Mary is a great option).
- Book the earliest available check-in on embarkation day.
- Pack a backpack for the first day because cabins usually open later.
- Do at least one structured excursion in Cabo, like the Camel and Mexican Outback. We probably would have booked snorkling but because it was winter (the weather was still 80 degrees) we wen’t sure if the water would be too cold – it wasn’t. Regardless, the Camel and Mexican Outback was a solid choice.
What We’d Do Differently Next Time
And here’s the “learn from our choices” list:
- Upgrade dining.
- If an itinerary change happens close to departure, decide quickly whether you want to book an excursion or keep it flexible. Either is fine, but making a choice early helps you enjoy the port day more.
- Don’t schedule extra days after the cruise unless you truly love extending travel. Sometimes you’re just ready to go home.
Who This Cruise Is Perfect For
This kind of 5-day Cabo + Ensenada cruise is perfect if:
- You want a short bucket-list style trip without a full week away
- You’re cruising with first-timers (parents, in-laws, friends)
- You want a warm-ish winter escape
- You like the idea of a structured vacation where you unpack once
Final Take
If you want a cruise that feels like a real vacation but doesn’t require a full week, this itinerary is a great pick.
You get:
- A simple departure setup 30 minutes from LA airport
- A fun Cabo excursion option
- A bonus taste of Ensenada
- And enough ship time to relax, see shows, and enjoy the slower pace
And if you’re taking first-time cruisers with you, this is exactly the kind of trip that turns skeptics into “so when are we doing the next one?”
