March 5 - Ensenada

Thursday, March 5, 2026

9:00 am to 5:00 pm

I wasn't sure what this day would bring. Two years ago we visited Ensenada on the Holland America Koningsdam but that was the cruise that began with my knee injury. I knew then I wouldn't be able to walk enough to even get out of the port area, let alone stroll around the city. Little did I know that two years later I would STILL be dealing with a sore knee.

Bob was certainly not back to good health yet and hadn't slept well during the night. I thought he seemed to be feeling a little better once he woke up but he admitted he didn't really want to go anywhere today. I left him in the cabin and joined J & M for breakfast and prepared to spend another day on the ship. 

J & M got off right away to explore the city of Ensenada with a goal of finding some different medications that require a prescription in the U.S. but can be bought over the counter in Mexico. I had given Jon my notes on things to see and places to eat and they were off.

Princess restaurant suggestions for Ensenada were almost the same as what I had come up with.

J & M stopped at the fish market near the ship.

Based on Michelle's expression, the market must have been a little smelly. 😄

I started looking ahead to the next cruise and took advantage of cell service to try and find a new excursion to replace the food tour that we had to cancel in Mazatlán when the itinerary changed. The seafood tour we originally booked was only available on Fridays but a taco tour was offered on Thursdays, the day we would now be stopping there. When I checked the availability, I saw that only one spot was left. I took a chance and emailed the company, Flavor Teller, and asked if there was any possibility of a second tour being added.

To get a change in scenery, I went up to Skywalkers Lounge and sat there working on the NY Times daily puzzles...Wordle, Strands, and Connections. My daily routine always begins with the puzzles at home and because Holland America has a partnership with the NY Times, I can always access the puzzles (even at sea) when I am on a HAL ship. BUT...without a Wi-Fi package on Princess I was only able to get on the NY Times app when I had cell service in a port. 

The view looking down from Skywalkers.

Bob was up and getting ready to shower when I returned to the room. He was feeling well enough that he wanted some lunch, but he didn't eat much. I had a taco but the beef was cold and it wasn't anywhere as good as what I knew I could have gotten in Ensenada.

In my research I had discovered that there was a shuttle bus that ran from the ship to downtown Ensenada but Bob wasn't crazy about exploring the city...nor did I think my knee would last long enough to see much anyway. We agreed that we would get off the ship and only go as far as the market area around the big flag pole. (Last time we visited the huge flag was flying. This time...just a pole.)

The giant flagpole...minus the flag.

The market area under the flagpole.

I took my hiking pole and we walked slow, but we made it! I browsed the different stands but as usual didn't buy anything. To me it felt like a big accomplishment but compared to the ground that J & M covered it was nothing. At the end of the day my health app showed I had gone 2.5 miles.

Before starting back to the ship we sat on a bench watching the musical fountain perform. I checked my email while we were there and saw I had already gotten a response from Flavor Teller tours saying they had indeed added a second tour for us! Score! My knee kept getting tighter and tighter as we walked back and but I enjoyed getting to see all of the flowers growing around the port area.

Back on the ship, Bob went up to the buffet and got us each some drinks...ice tea for me and hot tea for him. It had been warm while we were walking, but sitting on the shaded balcony was cool. 

Jon and Michelle ate lunch in town and when they returned we spent the rest of the afternoon on our balconies, reading, calling home and just scrolling on our phones! We also made reservations and paid for the taco tour in Mazatlán. With two other ships in port that day it will be nice to have something pre-planned.

Lokesh managed to get us through dinner and dessert in plenty of time to get seats for the evening entertainment in the theater...Dance Fever with Katia & Zenia. The two are champion ballroom dancers. Not my favorite show during the cruise, but OK. 

This was my main course. I believe it was mahi mahi...but I wasn't a fan.

Afterwards we were able to finish the last round of our card game, Hand & Foot, in the buffet. Always nice to get a cup of tea while we play! Tomorrow will be a sea day and the last full day of our first cruise. So nice to know that we won't be spending the day packing!