[quote lululee]Hi,
I am going to the 4-night Mexico cruise with Royal Caribbean on the Monarch of the sea before Christmas. Can someone suggest where I should go in SD, Cataline Island and Ensenada, WITHOUT joining their excursion activities? Any public transportation around those area? How much?[/quote]
I'll try to give you my best advice here, Lee...
San Diego: It's just a big American city...There are several sites worth visiting, depending on your desires--Zoo, Sea World, Old Town, Harbor Tours, etc. Lots of "Public Transportation: buses, taxis, "trolleys"...If you want to see the sites, your best bet might be the "trolley tour" (not to be confused with the public trolleys)...You can actually buy it as an excursion from the ship OR purchase it on your own once there (I don't think the cost is any different)...it's a hop-on, hop-off style bus tour, so you are really just using it as a transportation system attuned to your tourism needs...
If you are not the "sightseeing" type, there is a FREE Shuttle that will take you to the "Gaslamp District"--San Diego's Downtown shopping/restaurant area and you can wander and shop to your heart's delight...
Catalina: The entire town of Avalon is walkable...and close to the tender pier (It's a mere one square mile)...You can rent a golf cart...or you can just wander around on your own...If you want to see the interior of the island, you will likely need to buy a shore excursion...Everything on the Island is pretty well controlled by the Catalina Island Conservancy...You'll also find that prices for things like the "glass bottom boats" and the "submarines" are the SAME if purchased through the ship or on your own...
Ensenada: You can walk straight from the ship through Downtown and back with no problem (or walk one way and get a taxi back the other, if you want). Ensenada is known for cheap shopping and rowdy bars...
BUT, I'll make one suggestion here: TAKE A SHIP's EXCURSION--the one to the Wineries in the Guadelupe Valley...It's only $29 per person...You cannot beatit on your own. A taxi will cost you much more than that...The Wineries are pretty good with very generous wine tasting sessions...At the end of the tour, let them drop you off downtown...get some fish tacos and Margaritas at Papas & Beer...then shop your way back to the ship...
