Need info on flying into San Diego for cruise

We have been on many cruises but we have always driven to the port. Hawaii is our last state on our bucket list to visit all states. Our last cruise was Zauderdam to Panama Canal. We are sold on HAL cruises and would like to go to Hawaii from San Diego. Having never done that we need some info on the process. I have seen too many posts where someone has missed a cruise due to a flight delay. So I plan to fly in day before. Any info appreciated. How is the luggage handled and is there a limit. How to get from airport to motel then to cruise port. Then return flight info.

You will get all kinds of reports for hotels -- we like the Embassy Suites. It is close to the airport, the cruise port, Seaport Village, Horton Plaza, the Midway and the Fish Market restaurant.

We use taxi's to get around. When you land you will see the cruise port. Do agree that you should fly in a day or 2 early. Many times disembarkation is a mess. People not reporting to immigration and thus missing flights since no one can get off the ship until everyone has done immigration. Several times we didn't get off the ship until 10:30 AM. We have no choice but to stay over a day as our first flight leaves very early in the morning.

As to your luggage -- just follow what your air line always you to take. There are no restrictions for the amount of luggage you take on the cruise.

San Diego is an easy port city as the airport, downtown hotels and the cruise port are right next to each other. Do fly in a day early as there is much to see and enjoy in our city.

Many will recommend the hotel right across the street from the cruise port, but I suggest that you consider all hotels within a one-mile radius as there is no shortage of cabs, shuttles, Lyft and Uber rides.

I will also suggest that you enjoy San Diego until the early afternoon on embarkation day, allowing the cruise crowd thin out before you arrive at the cruise terminal. (You will never be very far from the ship, so no worries). I suggest visiting Balboa Park.

igraf

The airport is very close to the Cruise port. There is allot of nice hotels near the cruise port, restaurants, bars, and some tourist things also. Even the famous hotel Del is minutes away. Try this website for more information. https://www.sandiego.org/plan/travel-guides-apps/vacation-planning.aspx

Get yourself a fish taco (1st made here) or a California burrito.

We have been on many cruises but we have always driven to the port. Hawaii is our last state on our bucket list to visit all states. Our last cruise was Zauderdam to Panama Canal. We are sold on HAL cruises and would like to go to Hawaii from San Diego. Having never done that we need some info on the process. I have seen too many posts where someone has missed a cruise due to a flight delay. So I plan to fly in day before. Any info appreciated. How is the luggage handled and is there a limit. How to get from airport to motel then to cruise port. Then return flight info.

Cruise lines don't have limits on luggage like airlines. You have been on many cruises. There is no difference in luggage from the cruise lines perspective if you drive in or fly in.

When you are dropped off at the cruise terminal you will hand your bags over to porters who will be standing by near the drop off area. No difference than if you drove yourself.

San Diego Airport is very close to the cruise terminal. You could even walk the 2.2 miles if you were so inclined.

Use a taxi to get to your hotel. Or use the HAL arranged transfer to their designated Hotel if you bought that package. No limits on luggage on the transfer...if you got it on the airplane, the bus will handle it.

Taxis are easy and airport is UBER/Lyft friendly. They have a designated UBER pickup point outside arrivals.

There are lots of hotel options in San Diego. You could get an airport hotel with a free shuttle, then only need one taxi to the ship the next day.

Return flight - schedule nothing before 11am. San Diego is known for occasional immigration delays causing stress for those with earlier flights.

That's the kind of info we needed. Thank you so much. Looking into the november cruise.

Great info which we can use as we cruise out of here on our next cruise.

Allan

Why not fly in a day or two early? There is so much to see! Besides Balboa Park with it's many museums, the zoo, Sea World, Old Town, Little Italy, and Gaslamp Quarter are very near.

Hotels charge a bit more, but connections via Coaster and SD Trolley lead to very nice properties from $60-80/night....just 30-50 minutes away! ... Carlsbad, Mission Valley, and Chula Vista

The Midway Museum and SD Maritime Museum are steps away from the cruise terminal and are a great way to spend 2-3 hours.

You really cannot trust even non-stop flights on the day of sailing.

San Diego has so much to offer visitors.

David

I see no reason to be that far away from the ships! Whatever is saved in hotel costs will be negated by the taxi ride (non-residents will probably not want to take the trolley), plus the anxiety of being so far away from the ship. Better to pay more and stay closer to the ship and downtown area sights.

igraf

...Hotels charge a bit more, but connections via Coaster and SD Trolley lead to very nice properties from $60-80/night....just 30-50 minutes away! ... Carlsbad, Mission Valley, and Chula Vista....

 

David

We have been on many cruises but we have always driven to the port. Hawaii is our last state on our bucket list to visit all states. Our last cruise was Zauderdam to Panama Canal. We are sold on HAL cruises and would like to go to Hawaii from San Diego. Having never done that we need some info on the process. I have seen too many posts where someone has missed a cruise due to a flight delay. So I plan to fly in day before. Any info appreciated. How is the luggage handled and is there a limit. How to get from airport to motel then to cruise port. Then return flight info.

We sailed the Panama Canal departing from San Diego on HAL in January. Definitely fly in the day before. We were meeting another couple there and we were all scheduled to arrive early afternoon. Their 7:00AM flight was delayed by fog in Little Rock :( They arrived around 8:00PM and would have missed the ship without the extra wiggle room built into the schedule. Also, San Diego is a lovely place to spend the extra time.

We took a taxi from the airport. Don't remember what costs but it was likely $20 or less including tip. It's only 2-3 miles.

Check out the SpringHill Suites San Diego Downtown/Bayfront. We stayed there for about $125/night including tax and breakfast. Very comfortable with nice restaurants within walking distance. Best part was the following morning when we pulled our roller bags across the street to the pier and handed them over to the porters. Easiest departure day we have ever had! (We each had one checked bag and one smaller carry-on.) No taxi or shuttle needed.

Since you will be sailing to Hawaii, it will be a long time before a misplaced checked bag will catch up with you. That extra day in San Diego might help but recommend several changes of clothes in your carry-on if you can swing it. Our luggage has never failed to make it, but I know others have had that problem.

A couple of years ago, we did a circle Hawaii on HAL departing from San Diego. It was an awesome trip. Know you will enjoy it!

Recommend that a 2 day prior to Cruise stay would be well worth the cost with so much to see & do in the downtown ,Balboa park areas :)

There are many hotels in the cruise port vicinity . One way to save money on hotels is to go to hotwire.com . Just be sure that you are going there because there are no refunds with hotwire ;but ,you will save a lot of money booking with hotwire.com for hotels :D

You can also self-disembark (if you can take your luggage off yourself) and you'll probably be off the ship before 8:00 a.m.--this last Friday, we were in the parking garage right across the street by 7:40 am. You can see the airport from the cruiseport, and taxis are abundant--no problem getting there once you have left the ship.

Don't count on disembarkation before 8 am. Last week the ship started before ground staff were clocked in. That won't happen again.

David

That's odd--immigration people were definitely there, and of course, we didn't need the luggage people for anything.

CBP nor the ship control safety issues in the terminal.

The longshoremen were still operating in the luggage hall with forklifts.

David

Our experience has been that early departure is a large impatient mob of passengers all trying to get off at the same time...... Seriously, we witnessed raised angry voices at the gangway in the past. This is not how we want to end our cruise.

We always enjoy a leisurely last breakfast in the MDR and are next to last off the ship. We take care of our luggage now when leaving the ship, early or not. No need to pack the night before.

igraf

You can also self-disembark (if you can take your luggage off yourself) and you'll probably be off the ship before 8:00 a.m.--this last Friday, we were in the parking garage right across the street by 7:40 am. You can see the airport from the cruiseport, and taxis are abundant--no problem getting there once you have left the ship.

I continue to be impressed with Holland's system for dealing with passengers for disembarkation and embarkation. They don't make passengers vacate their rooms at the crack of dawn as some lines do, and yet, when new passengers are boarding, the staterooms are ready. I haven't experienced that with other lines. Whatever they are doing, I like the results.

We live here and have cruised out of San Diego many times. For first time visitors, you should take advantage of the many local attractions and fly in 1-2 days early. Mostly because you can, once in a while, have your flight diverted elsewhere because of ground fog, and that would definitely impact embarkation. Renting a car makes sense, because you can pick up at the airport and return it to the airport, as the rental car shuttles will also drop you off at the SD cruiseport, much like in Ft. Lauderdale and Miami. Having a rental car give you access to a lot of potential hotel choices, so do your research. If you don't want a rental car, there are lots of close by hotels, although higher priced in the downtown and Gaslamp (Convention Center) area.

If you had to choose, the San Diego Zoo (very close by) would be our recommendation for local attractions, followed by the Safari Park (formerly Wild Animal Park), which would require a rental car.

You should have no problem getting around should you come a couple days early. San Diego is a great place to explore. Uber code GwenP1117UE and Lyft code Gwen46194 will get you a first time discount on rides.

It would be a shame to fly to San Diego for just a cruise. Go out at least a couple of days early. We were there in February for our Westerdam Hawaii cruise - stayed at Wyndham bayside - literally across the street from the cruise terminal - reasonable price with free shuttle to/from airport -and to pier if you do not want to trundle your bags.

A beautiful city with a lot to see/do - great restaurants an easy walk to Little Italy on India Street. If you are flying to the east coast, stay at least one night post cruise - which gives you no-stress time to catch an early flight home the next day, getting you there at a reasonable time.