Our $20 Carnival Radiance Cruise from Long Beach to Ensenada
In February 2022, Amanda and I boarded Carnival Radiance for a three-night cruise from Long Beach to Ensenada. It was our first cruise from the Los Angeles area, which is currently where we live, but the unusual price was what initially convinced us to book it: Carnival offered us a balcony cabin for a base cruise fare of only $20 per person, plus taxes and fees.
It was the kind of post-pandemic promotion that was difficult to ignore. Cruise lines were still encouraging travelers to return, and this offer gave us an inexpensive way to try a short sailing from our own backyard.
The low fare got us aboard, but the convenience of cruising from home became the more lasting discovery.
A three-night cruise from Long Beach
Our itinerary was simple:
• Friday, February 4: Depart Long Beach at 5:00 p.m.
• Saturday: Day at sea
• Sunday: Ensenada from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Monday, February 7: Return to Long Beach at 7:00 a.m.
There were no flights to coordinate, airport transfers to arrange or hotel nights required before the cruise. We could drive to the port, board the ship and begin the weekend. On Monday morning, we returned to the same port and drove home in time to start work.
That simplicity changed the way we thought about short cruises. A three-night sailing would not replace a longer vacation, but it offered an easy escape without consuming additional travel days on either side.
Our balcony cabin on Carnival Radiance
We almost always choose a balcony when we cruise. Even when we do not spend hours sitting outside, it is valuable to have a private place to step into the fresh air without sharing the space with a crowded pool deck.
For this sailing, the promotional balcony fare made the decision particularly easy. The advertised $20-per-person price was the base cruise fare rather than the complete cost of the trip; taxes, port fees, gratuities, drinks, parking and other purchases still applied. Even with those additional expenses, it was an unusually affordable opportunity to get away for the weekend.
What the cruise felt like in early 2022
We sailed at a point when travel was beginning to feel normal again but some pandemic-era procedures remained. Once aboard, the overall atmosphere was not dramatically different from our cruises before the pandemic.
The most noticeable differences involved a few additional restrictions around the buffet. Otherwise, we were able to enjoy the ship, meals, entertainment and open decks without feeling as though the health protocols defined the entire vacation.
Looking back, the sailing felt like a transition: travel had not completely returned to its old routines, but the experience was once again centered on the cruise rather than the disruption that preceded it.
A day at sea aboard Carnival Radiance
Our first full day was at sea, which gave us time to explore Carnival Radiance without trying to fit activities around a port schedule.
One of the most entertaining activities for me was the ropes course above the upper deck. The elevated obstacles added just enough challenge to make it fun, especially with the ocean and ship spread out below. It was a short activity, but it was more memorable than simply spending the entire sea day beside the pool.
We also enjoyed the slower parts of the day: walking the decks, eating aboard the ship and watching the Southern California coastline disappear behind us. On a short cruise, a sea day is useful because it prevents the trip from feeling like nothing more than transportation to Ensenada.
Exploring Ensenada without an excursion
Carnival Radiance arrived in Ensenada on Sunday morning. We did not reserve a formal shore excursion. Instead, Amanda and I walked into town and spent the day exploring at our own pace.
We browsed local shops, looked through restaurant options and wandered around the waterfront and central tourist areas. Ensenada is well suited to this kind of unstructured port day because visitors can leave the ship without committing to an elaborate itinerary.
There are many possible excursions beyond town, but on this first visit we were content to become familiar with the port and see where the day led us. Not every cruise stop needs to be optimized into a checklist. Sometimes walking, eating and observing a place provides the right pace for a weekend trip.
Photographing Carnival Radiance from shore
I brought my drone into Ensenada and launched it from shore, away from the ship. From above, the scale of Carnival Radiance became much clearer. The aerial perspective also showed how the cruise terminal fits into Ensenada's harbor, marina and surrounding hills.
Those photographs became some of my favorite images from the trip. From the ground, a cruise ship dominates almost every view near the port. From the air, it becomes one part of a much larger coastal landscape.
Drone regulations, port restrictions and cruise-line policies can change, so anyone considering similar photography should verify the current rules for the ship, port and local launch location before traveling.
Was the $20 Carnival cruise worth it?
Absolutely. The headline price did not represent the entire cost, but the promotion made it easy to say yes to a spontaneous weekend cruise. We received a balcony cabin, a full day aboard the ship and a day in Ensenada without having to purchase airfare.
More importantly, this sailing introduced us to the advantages of cruising from Long Beach. We learned that a cruise could be a convenient local getaway rather than a major travel production. We could leave home, drive to the terminal and be at sea the same afternoon.
Carnival Radiance was not about an ambitious itinerary or an extreme adventure. It was an enjoyable, low-stress weekend that arrived at exactly the right price and time.
Final thoughts
Our February 2022 Carnival Radiance cruise was short, affordable and easy. The sea day gave us time to enjoy the ship, the ropes course added something playful, and Ensenada was simple to explore independently. The remaining pandemic-era buffet procedures were noticeable but did not dominate the experience.
The $20-per-person base fare may have been what caught our attention, but sailing from our home port was the part that stayed with us. It opened the door to treating cruises from Long Beach as convenient weekend escapes—an idea we would return to on later sailings.
Continue Exploring Cruise Stories
This short sailing was our first cruise from Los Angeles and introduced us to the convenience of weekend cruises close to home. Continue with these related stories and travel resources:
Read the Carnival Horizon Southern Caribbean itinerary and port guide
Read our Carnival Western Caribbean cruise review
Read about taking a Carnival cruise from San Juan, Puerto Rico
Carnival Radiance and Ensenada Photo Gallery
Looking For Photos From Carnival Radiance Or Ensenada?
The photographs in this article represent only a small selection from my collection. Additional high-resolution images from Carnival Radiance, Ensenada and the Baja California coast may be available for editorial and commercial licensing.