The Cruise Redo

After a previous cruise that didn’t quite go as planned, our family decided it was time for a proper redo. From taking the train to Los Angeles to sailing on Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas, this trip turned into one of our favorite cruise adventures yet.

After our last cruise experience, we knew one thing for sure...

We needed a redo.

So around October and November I started keeping an eye on cruise deals. In my experience, Black Friday is one of the best times of the year to find great cruise prices. If you can travel last minute you can sometimes score incredible deals, but when you’re traveling with family and coordinating schedules, that’s not always possible. Black Friday tends to be the sweet spot for planning ahead while still finding good pricing.

We wanted to cruise again soon. The family needed a vacation, and after the last trip we really felt like we deserved a proper cruise redo.

Eventually I found a great deal on Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas sailing January 21st. We booked two interior rooms for five people, and the total price came out to right around $2,000 for the entire family, which is a very solid deal.

Of course, we added the drink package.

Part of this trip wasn’t just about relaxing. We also wanted to capture content — trying different cocktails, exploring the bars, filming experiences, and documenting things we could later share on the blog and on YouTube.

This trip was about more than a vacation.
It was about capturing the experience.

Taking the Train to the Port

This time we decided to do something different.

On our previous cruise we drove, and the drive back after getting sick in Cabo was rough. I didn’t want to repeat that experience, so we decided to take Amtrak from Albuquerque to Los Angeles.

The plan was simple:

• Take the New Mexico Rail Runner from Rio Rancho to Albuquerque
• Catch the Southwest Chief from Albuquerque to Los Angeles
• Rent a car once we arrived in LA
• Stay near the port for a night
• Return the car before sailing

We had never taken the Rail Runner before, so that alone was a new experience. It’s a small commuter train, and it even makes the classic Rail Runner cartoon sound when the doors close, which was a fun little detail.

Following Amtrak’s advice, we actually checked our luggage the day before the trip, dropping it off at the Albuquerque station so we didn’t have to haul cruise bags on the commuter train.

Everything went smoothly — until we arrived at the station.

Our train was delayed about three hours due to maintenance up the line.

Fortunately Amtrak handled it really well. They brought everyone free drinks, snacks, cookies, and chips while we waited. The staff were great about it and encouraged people to grab extras for later since the delay would be a while.

Eventually we boarded around 6:45 PM instead of 3:30 PM, but once we were on board everything went smoothly.

What It’s Like Riding Amtrak to Los Angeles

The trip from Albuquerque to LA is about 17½ hours, but leaving in the evening actually worked out well.

We had dinner, grabbed a few drinks, settled into our seats, and tried to get some sleep. The seats had plenty of legroom, and one of the biggest perks compared to flying is that you can walk around, stretch, visit the viewing car, or grab snacks whenever you want.

Along the way the train makes short stops in places like Gallup and other small towns, many with beautiful old adobe-style train stations. We got a lot of photos and videos at those stops.

By early morning we were only a few hours away from Los Angeles.

Overall, the train ride didn’t really save time compared to driving, but it was a much more relaxed way to travel.

And the price?

Because we caught a New Year promotion, our round-trip tickets were only $52 per person, making the total for five of us around $270 round trip.

Compared to flying, which would have easily cost $2,000, it was an incredible deal.

Arriving in Los Angeles

Once we arrived at Union Station, Enterprise came to pick us up. We chose them because there’s an Enterprise location within walking distance of the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, which made returning the car before the cruise very easy.

We rented a minivan since there were five of us.

After signing the paperwork we spent the afternoon exploring Los Angeles, grabbing lunch, and eventually heading to the hotel near the port.

The next morning I dropped the family at the cruise terminal while my son and I returned the rental car.

The walk back from Enterprise to the port only took about 13 minutes along the waterfront, which is surprisingly convenient.

Then it was finally time.

We boarded the ship and prepared for our cruise redo.

First Day at Sea

Our first full day onboard was a classic sea day.

Before anything else, we signed our youngest up for Adventure Ocean, Royal Caribbean’s kids club. If you’ve cruised before, you know those spots can fill up quickly.

After that it was time to explore.

We filmed content, checked out different parts of the ship, relaxed in the hot tubs, and just enjoyed being onboard.

Sometimes the best cruise days are the ones where you don’t rush anything at all.

Cabo San Lucas

We arrived in Cabo around 1:30 PM, right on schedule.

One mistake we made was forgetting to pick up our tender tickets the day before, which meant waiting longer to get off the ship. If you’re cruising to Cabo, definitely grab those tickets early.

Once ashore we headed straight for Tacos Gus, a taco spot we had been wanting to try.

On the way we stumbled across a place we later called John’s Place, where drinks were incredibly cheap — about $3–$4 tequila shots — and the atmosphere was great.

Tacos Gus was fantastic.

They bring out a condiment tray and a salsa tray, with salsas ranging from mild to absolutely nuclear levels of heat. Being able to customize the tacos with different salsas and toppings really made the experience stand out.

Later that evening we returned to John’s Place for dinner, where they made fresh guacamole tableside that turned out to be the best guacamole we had on the entire trip.

Dinner and drinks for all five of us came out to about $120, which felt like a bargain compared to what that would cost back home.

A Rainy Day in Cabo

The next morning we had plans for an all-inclusive resort day at the Solmar Resort, booked through ResortForADay.

Unfortunately Cabo had other plans.

We woke up to a torrential downpour, with streets flooding and power outages across parts of the city.

By the time we arrived at the resort, they were running on a massive diesel generator.

Even with the power issues, the staff did an amazing job making the best of the situation. The breakfast buffet was excellent, and later we enjoyed sushi, tacos, and plenty of drinks.

The food at Solmar is always one of the highlights for us.

Despite the generator noise and the weather hiccup, we still had a fantastic day.

Back on the Ship

Another sea day gave us more time to explore the ship.

This time we tackled the rock climbing wall, and I actually made it all the way to the top and rang the bell.

Jadzia did too, which was a huge moment for her.

We also rode the bumper cars, caught some shows, and had lunch at Jamie’s Italian, which was excellent.

We’ll be posting full reviews of Jamie’s Italian and Chop’s Steakhouse on our YouTube channel soon.

Ensenada Adventures

Our final port was Ensenada, a place our family genuinely enjoys even though it sometimes gets mixed reviews online.

Ensenada has a laid-back fishing town vibe that we like. It’s not glamorous, but it’s authentic.

Our first stop was La Guerrerense, the famous seafood tostada stand featured by Anthony Bourdain.

The seafood tostadas were incredible.

Fresh seafood, amazing toppings, and a salsa bar ranging from mild to extremely spicy. It’s become a must-visit stop whenever we’re in Ensenada.

Later we visited Bullo’s Place for tacos and discovered what might have been the best taco of the entire trip — a marlin taco that was incredibly tender and flavorful.

We finished the afternoon exploring shops and visiting the market near the port.

One tip for travelers: always know the peso-to-dollar exchange rate, because some vendors will assume you don’t.

A quick check on your phone can save you a few extra dollars.

The Trip Home

Eventually it was time for the least fun part of any cruise: packing up and heading home.

Once back in Los Angeles we repeated the process in reverse.

I grabbed the rental car, picked everyone up from the terminal, and we returned to Union Station after dropping off our luggage early.

We explored Chinatown and Little Tokyo looking for food before finally ending up — somewhat hilariously — at Firehouse Subs.

After that it was another train ride home, an awkward night of sleep, and suddenly we were back in Albuquerque catching the Rail Runner home.

A Successful Redo

This trip accomplished exactly what we hoped it would.

No one got sick.
We captured great content.
And most importantly, we had an amazing time together as a family.

We’ve become pretty loyal to Royal Caribbean, but we’re also curious about trying other cruise lines in the future like Princess, Celebrity, or even MSC.

For now though, we’re already looking at our next adventure.

Possibly Harmony of the Seas out of Galveston — and maybe even a chance to visit the Mayan pyramids.

If this trip proved anything, it’s that sometimes a cruise redo is exactly what you need.

And hopefully there are many more adventures ahead for our family that we can share with all of you.

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