7-Day Carnival Cruise to Mexico: Christmas at Sea

Trip overview

Cruise itinerary:

• Three days at sea

• Two days in Cabo San Lucas

• One night at sea

• One day in Ensenada

• One day at sea

Cruise highlights: sailing into holiday magic (with style & snacks, obviously)

Glam nights & gourmet bites

Who knew we’d be dressing to the nines on a boat? We had not one, not two, but three fabulous evenings of dressing up, clinking glasses, and enjoying multi-course dinners that could rival any fancy city restaurant—including an extra festive Christmas Eve dinner. Cue the endless photoshoots in hallways, staircases, and any mildly dramatic lighting we could find.

Sunsets

Something about being able to see miles and miles towards the horizon makes the sunsets so much better. I think these sunsets were some of the most magical I have seen in my whole life!

Sunset view from our room balcony

A room with a (sea) view

This wasn’t your typical shoe-box-sized cruise cabin—our room was surprisingly spacious, and the balcony? Game-changer. Nothing like sipping your morning coffee (or mimosa, no judgment) with a salty breeze and endless ocean views. The fresh air and privacy were a total win, especially when you needed a break from the crowd—or just wanted to pretend you were in a music video. Even with four adults in one room, it still felt like we had plenty of space to breathe.

Holiday spirit, full throttle

The cruise turned all the way up for Christmas. Think: carolers serenading the main deck, festive decor at every turn, and photo ops with Santa himself—plus a special appearance by a hilariously grumpy Grinch who truly committed to the bit. The ship may have been in the middle of the ocean, but it felt like the North Pole with better weather.

Christmas decorations all around the ship

Family time, minus the smothering

There was plenty of time to bond with the fam—shared meals, shows, and goofy moments—but also enough solo freedom to sneak off to the spa, the bar, or a quiet nap without judgment. A true holiday miracle: togetherness without cabin fever. With a group as large as ours, this was crucial for everyone to be able to have the holidays of their dreams

Top deck thrills

Up on the top deck, we discovered a rope course that was part obstacle course, part aerial adventure, and part “why did I agree to this?” It was wild fun, slightly terrifying, and totally worth it for the views (and bragging rights).

Thrilling rope course on the top deck

Buffet bliss & global bites

Sure, the buffets were glorious—hello, never-ending soft serve—but the real gem was the cluster of small marketplace-style eateries. Six of them, to be exact, offering everything from Neapolitan style pizza to BBQ to street tacos. Basically, if you went hungry, that was on you.

Fancy dinner night on the cruise

Scrumptious food on board

Towel animals: the secret revealed

Turns out, the adorable towel animals on our beds each night weren’t created by magic (though it felt like it). We joined a towel animal folding session and learned how to twist, roll, and sculpt like the pros. Was our elephant a little... abstract? Yes. Did we love every second? Also yes.

Shore excursions: Cabo

Day 1:

Our first day in Cabo was straight out of a vacation dream. We started with a boat ride to the famous Cabo arches—rocky, splashy, and full of adventure. After snapping a few must-have pics, we spent a lazy afternoon sunbathing and snorkeling at Lovers Beach, where the water was crystal clear and the vibes were immaculate. Post-beach, we wandered into town for some much-needed refueling: sizzling fajitas, freshly made guacamole (prepared right at our table!), and tacos so good we briefly considered staying forever.

Day 2:

The next day took a more nature-meets-neon-souvenir kind of turn. We joined a morning whale-watching tour and were lucky enough to spot 4–5 blue whales, catching their graceful tails and spouts just above the waves—absolutely magical. Back on shore, we dove into the buzzing street markets. Sure, the souvenir stalls can be a little chaotic, but with a bit of patience, we found the cutest handmade gifts and trinkets to bring home (and low-key to make our friends jealous). We wrapped up the day with a sweet treat from a local ice cream spot—because no perfect vacation day is complete without dessert.

Cabo Arches tour

Shore excursions: Ensenada

For our second shore excursion, we decided to take the easy route and book through the cruise line—and it totally paid off. We cruised through Ensenada in a comfy, air-conditioned coach with a hilarious tour guide who had us laughing between every landmark. Our first stop: a tequila tasting at an old, authentic cantina, where we got a crash course in sipping like a pro (and yes, we definitely “sampled” more than a few).

The highlight of the day was the famous La Bufadora blowhole—a natural wonder where waves force water through sea caves and launch it over 50 feet into the air. If you’re standing in the right spot, you will get drenched, but it’s all part of the fun. The surrounding area is a bustling little market, packed with street vendors selling everything from colorful souvenirs to drool-worthy snacks. We left with the cutest Ensenada shot glasses, some must-try churro rellenos (stuffed with caramel, chocolate, and dulce de leche... heaven), and tacos that hit the spot like only true roadside tacos can.

Ensenada may be a quick stop, but it delivered a full day of flavor, fun, and fabulous photo ops.

If you are claustrophobic, make sure to get a room with a balcony so you can always get a breath of fresh air.

Plan communication while you are on board. We each got the Carnival App texting plan, which was only $5/person and it really helped us coordinate dinners and activities with our large group

For anyone looking for the perfect holiday vacation with a large group, this is the one for you!

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Mexico page.