Waving hello to you Sasha!
Thanks for bringing your questions to planDisney. I'd be happy to help you make the most of your time while exploring
Catalina Island, California, and
Ensenada, Mexico.
I just did a quick search and see that both
Disney Wonder and
Disney Magic are currently sailing to these two beautiful locations from San Diego, California. While Disney Magic features festive holiday fun like
Halloween on the High Seas and
Very Merrytime Cruises on its Baja itineraries, you'll be in for a magical vacation no matter which vessel you choose.
When sailing with
Disney Cruise Line you have the option to stay onboard and enjoy the ship or disembark and enjoy the activities available at these ports of call. Sometimes we prefer to take advantage of lower crowds on the ship while everyone is off exploring, and other times we're first in line to debark and discover the destination. Your vacation is really up to you!
Catalina Island requires larger ships to tender and
transport guests to the island via smaller boats. You'll be transported to Avalon, near the center of town and from there you can choose to explore on your own or as part of a Disney Cruise Line
Port Adventure. If you've signed up for a Port Adventure you'll receive specific instructions and timing details for disembarkation. If you choose to explore at your leisure, you'll be able to head off the ship anytime during the designated Ashore hours. Tender ships run continuously throughout the day so you aren't required to leave the ship as soon as it anchors or even stay ashore the entire day. Avalon's main sights are accessible by walking but bus, shuttle, bicycle, and taxi options are also available to other destinations on the island. Just be sure to leave enough time to travel back to Avalon if you're exploring other areas, and allow time to tender back to the ship before it departs for the day.
Ensenada does not require tendering so you'll be able to step on and off the ship at Ensenada Cruise Port Village throughout the day. The downtown area is about a 10-minute walk from the dock and offers plenty of shopping and restaurant options within a 6-block radius. Again, you can choose to explore anytime during the designated hours and even return early for a dip in
Goofy's Pool if you want to cool off.
When disembarking the ship at any Port of Call always be sure to bring your Key to the World Card. Guests over the age of 18 should also bring a photo ID.
Sasha, I hope this helps you plan a most magical Baja getaway. Sail on back and bring us any more planning questions you might have.
"Sea" you real soon,
Amy