(some pictures and videos courtesy of the other girls)
The girls were itching to go on a cruise, since it had been years since the last one and the pandemic put a damper on plans. We were able to align four of us to go on a mid-December short cruise to Catalina Island and Ensenada on the recently-"amplified" Navigator of the Seas, departing from Los Angeles' World Cruise Center (San Pedro).
FLIGHTS
I used Southwest points to purchase my airfare. To fit our cruise schedule, we ended up flying into LAX and flying out of Long Beach (LGB). We planned to arrive the night before the cruise to be safe from airline delays or other unforeseen events.
TRANSPORTATION
We would take the complimentary hotel shuttle from LAX upon arrival, then take an Uber from the hotel to the port the next morning. After disembarkation, we would call an Uber to LGB. Uber rides would be covered by both the American Express Platinum Uber cash as well as Real-Time Rewards from the U.S. Bank Altitude credit card.
LODGING
Due to the pandemic, I had accumulated Marriott free night certificates (from the Marriott Bonvoy Premier Plus Business credit card) that needed to be used by the end of the year. I redeemed them for 2 studio suites at the Residence Inn Los Angeles LAX/Century Boulevard, each costing $215/night; not bad for a $99/yr annual fee. Residence Inns include free breakfast for all guests.
CRUISE
We booked connecting oceanview staterooms using my travel agency's discounted group rate, which also included a $50 on-board credit per cabin. I was able to apply Future Cruise Credits from canceled cruises in 2020. I also saved money by redeeming the "spend $1000, get $350 back" Royal Caribbean offer with final payment using my American Express Platinum card.
Now on with the vacation...
Rachel, Sandy and I got to the airport early, so we went to the Escape Lounge for some drinks and snacks. Admission was complimentary for American Express Platinum cardholders and 2 guests. Dana met us later at the gate.
Our flight was uneventful. It took a little while to find the airport shuttle stop and wait for a ride.
The Residence Inn was in a high-rise building near the airport. Our rooms were available for occupancy. The studio was spacious and had a full kitchen.
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We went to the attached zpizza restaurant for dinner, then chatted a bit before heading to bed.
At this time, cruise passengers needed to be fully vaccinated and also show negative Covid test results obtained at most 2 days before embarkation. The four of us did PCR tests 2 days before through a hospital or pharmacy, with the results expected within 36 hours. In case some of us didn't get it in time, I brought along four online-proctored BinaxNow AG tests to administer in the hotel room. Dana, Rachel and I ended up getting our PCR results back that night. Sandy's still hadn't come in, so we planned for her to take a BinaxNow test if she didn't get anything before 10am the next day.
The next morning unfolded in a peculiar fashion. I awoke to the sound of water sloshing around in a container, coming from the bathroom. It turned out that the water to the hotel had been shut off, and Sandy had been filling a wastebasket with whatever remaining water was left in the pipes to flush the toilet. I called the front desk and they said that a water main burst and it wouldn't be fixed for another couple of hours, but in the meantime, they would send up some bottled water. The phone rang a short while later, with an automated message saying to go to the door for delivery. Surprised by this, I opened the front door and found "Wally" the robot butler there with instructions to open the lid. There were a couple of large Aquafina bottles inside. Once I retrieved the water, I pushed a button to send him back; Wally navigated automatically to the elevators. Due to user error, I was unable to get video of this interaction.
The included breakfast was still being served, but there weren't any hot items due to lack of water. It didn't matter anyway because we soon would be eating a ton on the boat.
Sandy still hadn't received her PCR results yet, so she got online to do the BinaxNOW AG test. It was straightforward, and the negative results were emailed immediately after completion. Per Murphy's Law, a few minutes later, Sandy's hospital emailed her negative results! At least we became familiar with the BinaxNOW AG tests, as we would end up using them on future trips.
We took Uber to the World Cruise Center, arriving at our pre-selected 12pm boarding time. The lines to check negative test results was super short, as well as check-in, so we were on board quick!
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| in hotel lobby, waiting for our Uber |
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| hardly any lines |
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| embarkation photo |
Our rooms were not ready yet, so we went to the Windjammer buffet for lunch. It was surprising to find many seafood selections, exotic fruits, plus a chocolate fountain, compared to the last time I sailed with Royal Caribbean. I figured it was because Navigator had recently started sailing from Los Angeles and the cruise line was trying to make a good impression.
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Once our rooms were ready, we dropped off our luggage and explored the ship. It was nice having connecting rooms so we could hang out.
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We were happy to find that our dining table was spaced well from others. QR code was scanned for the menu. (there were printed ones if you preferred) Our multi-course dinner was delicious.
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After dinner, we saw the ice skating show and the theater show. I am always amazed at what the ice skaters can do in such a small rink.
22-second clip of ice skating show:
Friday morning, we tendered into the quaint town of Avalon on Catalina Island. There were a lot of cute shops. We walked along the coastline to the landmark casino, but we didn't go inside as there was a private function going on.
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It was sunny but a bit chilly, though that didn't stop us from visiting the ice cream shop!
If we had more time on Catalina Island, I would have considered a hike on the Garden to Sky Trail.
When we returned to the ship, we got some afternoon snacks at Cafe Promenade.
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| display at Cafe Promenade |
Dressed to impress, we descended upon the dining room and ordered almost every appetizer and entree on tonight's menu to share. Afterward, we watched the show in the theater.
Saturday was a sea day; I personally love having free time and nowhere in particular to go.
So every morning we went into the buffet, there would be a very enthusiastic crew member inviting us to wash our hands at the sinks near the entrance:
17-second clip of "washy washy":
While Sandy was getting pampered in the spa, the rest of us decided to try Zumba on the sports deck. It was really fun and energetic. Here's a 10-second clip:
We also tried the rock climbing wall. It was pretty challenging, including the part where you had to let go and have faith in the auto belay device to bring you back down to the ground.
Open skate was available at Studio B ice rink. There was a long line, even though we got there 15 minutes early. We were lucky to get the last three spots, though they were at three different times. I would suggest getting in line at least 30 minutes before. Long pants and socks were required to skate.
Watch Dana have fun on the ice (57-second clip):
In the late afternoon, I elected to relax in the room while Rachel and Dana went on the water slides. Since the weather wasn't super hot, they reported that there were hardly any lines and they got to go as many times as they wanted.
Tonight's dinner was also delicious - we again ordered a ton of appetizers, entrees and desserts to share.
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On Sunday, we arrived in Ensenada, Mexico. Dana and I got off the ship while Rachel and Sandy stayed on board. The two of us visited nearby souvenir shops and stands, and also stopped by a convenience store to pick up my favorite Ruffles Queso chips made by Sabritas in Mexico. The ones made in the USA are good, but aren't the same.
10-second clip of sea lions lounging near our ship:
When Dana and I returned to our cabins, we changed into our swimsuits and went with Rachel to the water slides. It was super fun! I enjoyed the two-person Blaster aqua coaster, as well as the head-first Riptide slide.
Tonight, we decided to order multiple selections for ourselves instead of sharing. It was probably good for our waistlines that this was our last dinner!
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The next day, we disembarked the ship with no problems, though it took a while for an Uber to pick us up from the port. Our flight home was uneventful.
And that's the end of our girls' cruise to Mexico! It was great spending quality time together, having deep conversations, eating yummy food, and having fun. (what happens on the cruise stays on the cruise) Cruises are perfect for group travel - we didn't have to do everything together. Some could relax in the cabin while others went to the spa or danced in the silent disco.
Our ship was about 50-60% full so there were less crowds. (except in the elevators - we opted to take the stairs most of the time) We wore masks and distanced ourselves from others as much as possible, and none of us got Covid. It was a successful small step towards being more comfortable traveling in the wake of the pandemic.
Where to next? Kaleb and I head to Pennsylvania for Christmas, followed by New Year's in Miami, then three cruises back-to-back...time for some "revenge travel"!
(Missed reading about our Thanksgiving trip to Legoland? Click here! Don't miss a single update! Click here to subscribe and have the latest delivered straight into your inbox...opt out anytime.)
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Getting excited reading about these trips and want to go? Contact me at kat (at) yellowdogtravel (d0t) com with your ideas and I can help you plan it! Or if you've already put a deposit on a cruise through the cruise line, contact me to get more information on transferring the reservation to me to get bonuses like extra onboard credit or gifts. I have lots of happy repeat clients - references always available.
Another disclaimer: The intention of this blog was to remind Future Me in full detail about where I went and what I did. I could have made it private, but I frequently get questions from family, friends and internet folks about how I planned things, got deals, etc., so instead of repeating the story over and over, I direct them here. If you are offended by anything I say or do, save yourself the discomfort and kindly click away from my blog. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day!
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