By the Caribbean Journal staff

The California cruise market is heating up — and one major player is leading the way.

Carnival Cruise Line is continuing its California expansion with plans to operate its first-ever cruises from San Francisco.

That will include a schedule of cruises to Mexico featuring the port of Ensenada in Baja California, according to the company.

The news comes as Carnival is already planning to deploy its Carnival Panorama ship at the Port of Long Beach.

“Carnival is the number one cruise operator from the West Coast, and these new programs from San Francisco and San Diego, as well as the deployment of the brand new Carnival Panorama from Long Beach, speaks volumes to our confidence in growing this important market,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.

The cruises to Mexico will launch March 19, 2020 on Carnival Miracle, with cruises to Ensenada from Thursday to Monday, and longer cruises that includes stops in Catalina Island, San Diego and Ensenada.