Day 1 – Home to San Diego, CA
Today we begin our San Diego with Catalina Island & Mexico Cruise adventure by boarding our flight to the west coast. Upon arrival, we’ll check in at our beautiful hotel property, the Embassy Suites, near San Diego’s waterfront. The Embassy’s nicely furnished suites, great services, wonderful amenities, and location on the harbor make for a relaxing and enjoyable four night stay! Plus, a complimentary nightly guest reception from 5:30-7:30 pm featuring cocktails, soft drinks, and light snacks is always available. A welcome dinner is served at The Fish Market as we get to know our fellow travelers.
Included Meals: Dinner, Guest Reception
Hotel: Embassy Suites-San Diego Bay (4 Nights)
Day 2 – San Diego
After an included full breakfast buffet, we will enjoy an all-day city tour with an experienced step-on guide who will orientate us to the lovely area. We’ll view “Unconditional Surrender,” the statue of the sailor kissing the nurse. A visit to the Coronado Ferry Landing provides us the best photo ops of the downtown skyline and harbor, especially in the morning! We’ll visit picturesque Balboa Park, which is a National Historic Landmark and is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visiting San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter with its interesting and colorful past will be a highlight! Did you know that prior to 1867, the area was jokingly known as “Rabbitville” due to the fact while they couldn’t seem to get the city built, the rabbit population was successfully creating their habitat?! Time will be given in Old Town to explore and enjoy an included lunch before departing for La Jolla, San Diego’s “Jewel by the Sea.” With a dramatic coastline boasting incredible views, being surrounded on three sides by the sea and backed by the steep slopes of Mt. Soledad, La Jolla is one of the most popular beach destinations in California. We will also stop and see the sea lions lounging in the sun! Lastly our guide will take us up Mt. Soledad for great photo ops of the spectacular view as well as a docent sharing with us at the Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial. This will be a great day getting acquainted with the amazing area. Be sure to enjoy the guest reception when we return to the hotel and have dinner on your own.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Guest Reception
Day 3 – San Diego
This morning after breakfast, our group will meet to walk to the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier/Museum. Through the self-guided audio tour of the USS Midway, the story comes to life as we explore the carrier from top to bottom. Lunch is on our own before we cross the 11,178 foot Coronado Bridge to magical Coronado Island, known for its cashmere-soft sands, lush parks, one-of-a-kind boutiques, and historic turrets. We will meet an experienced historian from the Hotel del Coronado and discover all of the incredible moments in history through an in-depth, walking tour of this grand Victorian building and gardens. Enjoy free time to explore downtown Coronado or the beautiful beach. A delightful early dinner is served at Little Frenchie Bistro.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner, Guest Reception
Day 4 – San Diego
A visit to San Diego must include the famous Zoo! The San Diego Zoo pioneered the concept of open-air, cageless exhibits that re-create natural animal habitats and it houses over 3,700 animals of more than 650 species and subspecies. We’ll start off by walking to an animal habitat area that is not accessible by the general public, but we’re privileged to gain entry! This will be followed by an exclusive 90 minute guided bus tour. Then you can continue to easily explore the zoo highlights via the Kangaroo Express Bus, the Skyfari Aerial Tram, and the regular Guided Bus Tour, all included in your pass. Grabbing lunch is also made easy with your included voucher. Don’t forget to check out the interesting animal shows! Later this afternoon we’ll return to the hotel. Beautiful Seaport Village, located within a short walking distance from the hotel, is the perfect place to enjoy some leisure shopping and dinner if you choose this evening.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Guest Reception
Day 5 – San Diego to Ship Embarkation
Enjoy our final lovely breakfast at the Embassy Suites, then it’s time to board our cruise ship, Serenade of the Seas, for a 4-night cruise to Catalina Island and then on to Ensenada, Mexico! Take time to get acquainted with the ship, settle into your stateroom with its private balcony, have your first dining experience onboard, and enjoy the views as we set sail!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Late Lunch, Dinner
Ship: Serenade of the Seas (4 Nights)
Day 6 – At Sea
There are so many options of fun activities and delicious food to enjoy today as we cruise along. Feeling active? Grab your tennis shoes for pickleball, table tennis, dance lessons or mini-golf. Feeling crafty? Try the cupcake class or scrapbooking. Feeling adventurous? Watch a “dive-in” movie at night from a pool lounger, play a game of pool, or book a sushi-marking class! Feeling musical? Take in the live bands or remarkable shows. Feeling lucky? The arcade and game shows are waiting. Feeling relaxful? There’s ample pool deck loungers for soaking up the sun, delve into a page turner at the Library, enjoy peace in the Solarium pool with its retractable glass roof, or bask in the warmth of the whirlpools! Don’t forget about the wide range of complimentary culinary delights to choose from: Main Dining Room, Windjammer Cafe, and Park Cafe! If you’re looking for a speciality restaurant at your own expense, the Serenade boasts anything from a signature steakhouse to a sushi feast to Old World Italian.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 – Catalina Island, CA
We’ll have breakfast onboard before we explore lovely Catalina Island at our leisure. In 1919, Chicago chewing gum tycoon William Wrigley purchased the Island, immediately securing its reputation as a playground for wealthy magnates and movie stars. Buffalo, imported for a 1924 movie, roam the island’s sere uplands and offshore kelp beds shelter brightly colored Garibaldi fish, sea lions, and seals. Gray whales pass by on their annual migration and dolphins are a frequent sights. Perhaps you’ll choose to hike up to the Botanical Gardens & Wrigley Memorial, wander down the waterfront and explore the shops, or sink into the soft sand at Descanso Beach. There’s also the Island’s famous 1929 Art-Deco masterpiece: Catalina Casino. You won’t find any gambling here, but rather the world’s largest circular ballroom and movies playing in the original movie theater. You may choose to purchase shore excursions through Royal Caribbean, like setting sail on a catamaran to circle the island. What an Island – what a day!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 – Ensenada, Mexico
Located 70 miles south of the international border is Ensenada, a port city on the Pacific coast of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. At its heart is the harbor and waterfront area with the Malecón promenade. Once a casino, the Riviera de Ensenada is now a cultural center. The nearby Museum of History and the Regional Historical Museum trace the area’s people and past. Migrating gray whales visit the waters offshore. Southwest of the city is La Bufadora blowhole. Have fun if you’ve purchased a shore excursion today or you can simply relax in your stunning surroundings as this is your last day in Paradise! Some points of interest you may wish to explore the remainder of the day include: La Bufadora, largest marine geyser in the world; Riviera del Pacifico, former historic casino; several winery options available; Mexican Folkloric Show with lively Mariachi band; or Ventana al Mar, a beautiful waterfront promenade.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 – Disembark/Los Angeles to Home
We bid the Serenade of the Seas farewell and head to the airport for our flight home. Reminisce with your new traveling friends about our full, yet leisurely vacation to the Pacific Coast – what wonderful memories!
Included Meals: Breakfast
Flyaway Per Person Pricing Information
Flyaway Travel Protection Per Person
Travel Bucks
Deposit Due
Passport Needed
Tour Pace
Price Includes
Roundtrip Airfare from MSP including all baggage fees, taxes & surcharges, 20 Meals & 4 Guest Receptions, Hotels & Activities as stated in brochure, Luxury Motorcoach, 4 Night Cruise in Balcony Stateroom
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- empty onboard Library, reading, serenade of the seas, sr, radiance class, public rooms
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- Solarium with lounge chairs and whirlpools, empty, onboard, serenade of the seas, sr, radiance class, public rooms
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- Empty onboard Tropical Theatre or Theater with green curtain, Serenade of the Seas?, SR, Radiance class, public rooms
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- SR, Serenade of the Seas, aerial, ship, port side and bow view, Radiance class, Serenade, exterior,serenade of the seas, sr, radiance class, ship exteriors,
03/10/2027 03/18/2027
Tour Map
Tour Highlights
* Stay 4 Nights at beautiful Embassy Suites
* Scenic San Diego Tour with Step-On Guide including Balboa Park, Gaslamp Quarter & La Jolla
* Famous San Diego Zoo with Special Private Tour
* USS Midway Aircraft Carrier
* Tour of Historic Hotel del Coronado
* 4 Night Cruise aboard Royal Caribbean with Ports of Call at Catalina Island & Ensenada, Mexico
