SoCal Cruiser78

...Have you called Princess to ask them. Seems like they should know...

And if you call Princess twice, you may get two different answers :rolleyes:.

Brooklyn - seemed to take forever to get there from JFK.

You were lucky--I had a cab driver once refuse to take me from JFK to Brooklyn. He said he only went to Manhattan. I guess he figured that he might not get a fare for the return trip. I later learned that they have to take you anywhere in the five boroughs or you can report them. Thought this was worth mentioning for any first-timers to NY.

...San Diego had the opportunity 7 years ago to build a state-of-the-art terminal at Broadway. The NIMBYs, corrupt politicians, self interest groups ruined any chance that this city could deal with these upcoming days...

It took San Francisco forever to get Pier 27 built, but it finally happened. Perhaps there is hope for San Diego to do the same one day?

And you do have a beautiful, clean city that is a joy to visit. What's more, we felt perfectly safe walking around. I love what the city has done with its waterfront area.

It is a beautiful city, and I hope that one day the port experience will be a consistently good one for our visitors by ship :)!

It's funny you mention that because that's exactly what's going on in Montreal, Quebec right now while construction is taking place at Quai Alexandra/Iberville. The drop off can be anywhere, within reason logistically,as long as they still go through scanning afterwards

Good to know. Thanks :)!

I hear what you're saying. I live 15 min away from SP and that is a much larger area to work with (as far as allowing cabs/limos in). SD has a limited central area to play with. Bring in buses, airport vans, etc. plus, like Dave said, 1,532 disembarking guests, and that area fills up quick

I realize that SP has a lot more space to work with, but SD needs to do better. We have been making the often slow drive from SD to SP and sailing Princess recently due to the issues we have experienced sailing HAL and Celebrity from SD.

Perhaps, Copper, you would know if there is any reason security-wise that there couldn't be a checked luggage drop-off point, say, a few blocks away in a lesser-used area so just pax and small carry-ons would be dropped off at the pier and things might move much more quickly there? Just a thought, anyway ;).

...under normal circumstances, are taxis allowed into the "central area" for pax/luggage drop off? I seem to recall "yes" And who makes the decision to not allow them in under "not normal' circumstances? Bob W?...

I know a limo driver here in San Diego who says this is a frequent problem for them, too. They often not allowed to drop pax and luggage, or pick them up, in a convenient area at the SD port.

It sure doesn't leave a positive impression for visitors to our city :(.

...Ruby had Sabatini's which is far above HAL's Italian Canaletto which is hit or miss; plus Ruby had Sterling Grill...

The Ruby had Sabatini's (traditional Italian) restaurant replaced recently with Curtis Stone's SHARE (contemporary "small plate" style dining) to mixed reviews. Other than that, the Ruby is generally considered to have among the best food in Princess' fleet. I have sailed on her, and tend to agree. I haven't sailed on HAL in a few years, so can't speak for the NA.

Being 1/2 hour late may not be an issue for you but it would be interesting to be able to read the minds of the waitstaff as you waltz in late. They will not tell you but I am sure that it messes up their serving rhythm.

One thing that we have done if arriving a few minutes late, is to ask the waiter or others around us where they are in their meal. If they have already ordered an appetizer, then we skip ours to get "caught up" with the flow :).

...Security screening is in one area.....when there are two ships at the pier, all must go through the same tiny area. Do your "homework". If a Princess ship is doing a visitation, avoid that sailing date. You have the choice of when to arrive...Arrival after 2:30 pm for a 5 pm sailing is my recommendation...

The security screening bottleneck has been a problem at San Diego for years. It needs to be expanded and better staffed, IMO. Passengers shouldn't have to avoid a sailing date because another ship is also scheduled :(.

HAL schedules its Mariner embarkation luncheons for noon on sailing days, so they must feel that it is reasonable for passengers to be able to board by then, not after 2:30 PM as you suggest.

I live in San Diego, so it is our first choice when sailing. The port has been slow and disorganized every time I have sailed from there. On the other hand, I have never had a problem in San Pedro (LA). I'm sure they have their bad days, too, but I have never experienced one.

San Diego is a great town. I hope that one day I can say the same about our port!

Is that the old "San Diego Wild Animal Park"? Name change?

Yes! They changed the name around 2010, hoping to clarify their respective offerings. The non-profit ownership did not change, however. Well worth a visit for those planning to be in the San Diego area for more than a day, and that have access to a car. Public transportation from the port area would be difficult, however.

...the zoo probably doesn't open until 9am. You could walk off at 8:30, catch a cab, and be twiddling your thumbs outside the gates at 8:45...

Yes, the zoo hours are 9A-9P, and it is well worth a visit!

One thing I want to point out, for those unfamiliar with San Diego and its zoo, it that it is the main "San Diego Zoo" that is being discussed here, in Balboa Park, just a few miles from the port.

There is also the "San Diego Zoo Safari Park", which is about 35-40 miles north of the main zoo near the city of Escondido. Some tourists confuse them.

The difference is that the main zoo has its animals, like many zoos, in (good-sized) enclosures. The Safari Park has its animals in a more natural savannah-like setting. I'm not sure if any ships do shorex to the Safari Park, but I wouldn't recommend it with one day in port. You'd probably need to get a rental car, and drive I-15, which is bumper-to-bumper at peak hours.

...The cruise where a senior officer said to me, "Oh no, you're not one of THEM, are you?" was the cruise when I was no longer sure I wanted to be one of 'them'...

I was on a Celebrity cruise once, and I casually mentioned to the CD that I was a Cruise Critic member. His eyes got wider, and he then asked what my screen name was. My guess is that he wanted to check to see if I was doing a "live from" review, but who knows.

I've never mentioned CC on a cruise after that.

...I don't want to be confronted by any charitable causes while on a cruise. I give generously at home but look forward to a cruise as a time of total escape.

I agree! I feel it is intrusive and inappropriate.

Duplicate post.

...I was expecting to learn of overturned tables and chairs, waitstaff hobbling around with hair a mess, a torn jacket on the Maitre 'D, food all over the floor scattered with broken plates...

That sounds like the one (and only) Carnival cruise I did :).

Deleted post.

I'm not planning on being late. I'm just asking a what if question. You guys are assuming I'm going to be late on purpose...not so. I'm asking how long will they hold my table if I'm unavoidably detained, i.e., late.

Again, there won't be anybody else at the table. It will be a table for two.

Yes, I know it will hold up others who are waiting on "my table" but it's not my intention to be rude. Sometimes people are late for many reasons.

If it is a table for two, I would either call ahead (if the DINE line answers :(), or politely ask at the front desk when I arrived late if it will be a problem for them. I would then offer to dine in the HC if that is the case. If you aren't too late, my guess is that they would seat you, as tables for two "turn" far more quickly than those with larger groups. But at least you are being considerate about it, in any case :).

I disagree the last two cruises on the Royal Princess it was very noisy in the MDR. Everyone has their own opinion and this is mine sorry.

Tony

My experience has been that when we sit at a table for two, in an area of other "two-tops", the MDR seems to be quieter. When seated with a larger group, in an area of larger tables, things seem to get noisier. So the noise factor may vary from one area of the MDR to another.

I have also noticed that when large groups are sailing, they tend to take over the MDR (and other public spaces) and things tend to get louder as they talk back-and-forth between tables, etc.

A better solution, (but I am not holding my breath), is to upgrade the HC experience on all ships to make them viable options on any given night, thus decreasing the crush in the ATD MDRs. Traditional Dining can only handle a finite number of passengers, after which the best one can do is get on the waiting list...instead of seeing the buffet return to the days of glory, I suspect that we are far more likely to see the addition of more Specialty Restaurants that would relieve some of the pressure off of the MDRs while generating revenue at the same time...

Bingo! I suspect this is all about revenue generation. The current crop of ships seem to have been built with intentionally undersized MDRs (and main showrooms).

Years ago, the buffets on some cruise lines were much nicer at dinner--on HAL sometimes it was the same menu as the MDR. The food was better, they put linen on the tables, and waiters carried your trays to your table. Dress codes were stricter then, so if you had a late shore excursion and didn't feel like "dressing" for dinner, the buffet was a pleasant option.

The last time I dined in the HC for dinner, I had to clear the table from the guests that were there last as there was no staff in sight :(.

I haven't seen any direct quotes but Boycey (55) and Davenew (56) both said the Patter said they were accepting ATD reservations yet they were unable to do it.

 

On my post (69), I noticed too late that I neglected to add "reservations" to that post "However to post that we're not paying attention & that ATD reservations are trumpeted in brochures...where?".

I just checked Princess' website, and I couldn't find anything about reservations for ATD, just the somewhat misleading statement that you can dine "when and with whom you wish anytime between 5:30 and 10:00 PM".

Most rental cars have a scan label on the side window. Hello Rental Agencies....nothing like advertising that this is a tourist car! Sometimes out of sight is safer than in the back seat, but still. Do not leave valuables in the car...

I always travel light when I am off the ship with a rental car for that reason. I bring no more than I can carry with me easily :).

...The reason rental car, rather than take a cab, is for one reason. We have a family member who is memorialized at the Punchbowl, and we want to be able to spend time there as well...

I am glad you are doing this--you won't regret it. We have a friend of the family buried there, and that is why we initially went. We didn't know what to expect, but it is a beautiful spot, and a true honor to those who have served. If you are planning to bring any mementos or flowers, be sure to check Punchbowl's website first. There are strict guidelines on what can be left at the graves, being a national cemetery.

...ATD has likely out lived its usefulness and slowly will go away. Eventually what we considered the MDR will be seperated into Traditional dining venues and and an "onboard restaurant" I would expect to even see "specialty dishes" (upcharged in other words) on the menus...

Something that I fully expect at some point is for all lower-fare passengers to have to dine in the HC, with the MDR and specialty restaurants reserved for higher-fare passengers (ie: Club Class/Suites) or as an upcharge.

...My main point was about the withdrawing of the ability to book a table for a particular time on ATD. If you haven't seen this feature advertised or referred to you haven't been paying attention. There's even a direct line on every phone on the ship - what do people imagine this is for?...

This is nothing new for Princess, unfortunately, at least on the West Coast cruises.

For several years now, we have been told on various 4-14 day cruises that ATD will have no reservations whatsoever on some cruises, and not at peak hours on others. The DINE line has often gone unanswered, and when I've gone in person to check I have been told more than once that they were "too busy" to answer it :(.