Key Aspects:
- Carnival Cruise Line opened sales on Carnival Radiance’s Baja Mexico voyages.
- The sailings in 2027 and 2028 will visit Ensenada and Catalina Island.
- Most cruises are 3- and 4-day getaway sailings.
Calling all Baja Mexico and California coast enthusiasts! Carnival Cruise Line has opened for booking a slew of voyages operating from Long Beach in 2027 and 2028.
The 2,764-guest Carnival Radiance, based year-round at the Southern California port, will sail a series of short cruises to Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico.
Starting with departures on May 3, 2027 through April 28, 2028, the ship will offer 3-day getaways with one port call to Ensenada and 4-day cruises calling at both destinations.
“We value our long-standing partnerships in Catalina Island and Ensenada, and appreciate the continued collaboration with these communities,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.
“We look forward to continuing to bring our guests to these treasured ports of call,” Duffy added.
Catalina Island, just 22 miles off the coast of California, is a rising star in West Coast cruising. The destination offers restaurants and bars, and a wide range of water-based and cultural activities.
Read Also: Ensenada Cruise Port – Terminals, Getting Around, and What’s Nearby
The island is home to just one city, Avalon, and a small village called Two Harbors. Carnival Cruise Line, in fact, recently signed a 15-year pact with Avalon, securing anchorage agreements.
Ensenada is equally charming, with plenty of eateries and souvenir shops along the waterfront and nearby attractions such as La Bufadora, a huge marine geyser, and the Valle de Guadalupe — Mexico’s premier wine region.
Moreover, it is possible that Carnival Corporation’s planned Ensenada Bay Village, a shoreside destination, could be open by the start of 2028, adding another experience for guests sailing on Carnival Cruise Line and her sister brands.
Special Voyages Include Christmas Sailing in 2027
Along with its short sailings from Long Beach to Baja, Carnival Radiance will offer a unique 4-day cruise featuring back-to-back visits to Ensenada on January 3, 2028, and a 5-day Christmas cruise departing on December 23, 2027. That voyage will call at Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada.
Carnival Radiance was formerly known as Carnival Victory, constructed as the last of the line’s Destiny class. The ship launched in 2000, then underwent a $200 million renovation in 2021 that transformed it into a Sunshine-class ship.
It was renamed Carnival Radiance following the upgrade. The ship is one of three vessels operating from Long Beach in 2026. In addition to Carnival Radiance, the line offers cruises on Carnival Firenze and Carnival Panorama to Baja and the Mexican Riviera. The two ships sail longer voyages, from 4 to 6 days.
In 2027 and 2028, Carnival Panorama and Carnival Legend will join Carnival Radiance in sailing the region.
While none of the itineraries specifically show Ensenada Bay Village as a port call — since opening day has not been set — it is likely that if the destination is completed by the start of 2028, all of Carnival Cruise Line’s ships sailing to Baja are likely to visit.
Ensenada Bay Village represents a $26 million investment by the cruise line and will feature recreation and relaxation areas such as wellness spaces, hot springs, family activities, and an adult-only pool.
Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy announced the planned construction of the village in December 2025, as she visited the destination onboard Carnival Panorama.
