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HeinBloed Blog from GRAND PRINCESS April 2018 California Coastal out of San Francisco


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The blog of the voyage on GRAND PRINCESS out of San Francisco, CA begins.

 

Not very more cities in the world to have a better start of a cruise but here...

 

A great city we felt very comfortable.

 

The outward journey was our first time in Premium Economy. A nice experience.

 

Here we met also Frances and Eddie again whom we went together on OCEAN PRINCESS 2015 (actually working on the translation...) and DIAMOND PRINCESS 2016 (please have patience until I have translated all chapters).

 

For 24.00 USD (plus tax and tips) we ate the most expensive Pizza Margharita and it was not better but Da Michele in Naples, Italy for 4.50 EUR (= 5.00 USD).

 

https://heinbloed-pcl.blogspot.com/2018/04/tagday-0-auf-dem-wegon-way-to-grand.html

 

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Before we went onboard of GRAND PRINCESS we had a reunion party with Christine whom we knew from NCL but who said good-bye to the life onboard.

 

San Francisco is just a great city for embarkation: it went so fast and in the best city location.

 

It was really nice to see in the morning when GRAND PRINCESS passed the Golden Gate Bridge but also when we were onboard when she was passing under.

 

The life onboard just started with a very nice lunch since we had a nice service of Hemant and Singh.

 

It was running perfectly well in Sabatini with old and new friends: Raffaele whom we knew from OCEAN PRINCESS 2010 and DIAMOND PRINCESS 2016 and who became meanwhile Assistant Maître D' and his team (Head Waiter Franco with Antonio, Eric, Wilson and Marvin) delivered a very great evening.

 

https://heinbloed-pcl.blogspot.com/2018/04/tagday-1-auf-deron-grand-princess-in.html

 

GRAND-PCL-Collage-2018-04-Day-01.jpg

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Day at Sea 2 on GRAND PRINCESS.

 

Just relaxation - but the front desk which made me really mad. Reason: The Meet & Greet of cruisecritic.com - at least we met some nice fellow-cruisers: Mark and Lisa, Sue and Steve, Greg and Ray.

 

Apart of taht we enjoyed the day and were looking forward to meet Edgar again.

 

With David, Robin and Carlos we had a chance to experience a great first gala-night.

 

And Christian took wonderful care of our cabin.

 

So we could continue that way for a few days: totally without stress.

 

https://heinbloed-pcl.blogspot.com/2018/04/seetagday-at-sea-2-auf-deron-grand.html

 

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The blog continues on GRAND PRINCESS on day 3 in Santa Barbara, CA.

 

Somehow on a little part of the Pacific Coast Highway between San Francisco, CA and Los Angeles, CA.

 

A private tour with Melissa and Totally Cali Tours as an alternative to the Whale Watching tours.

 

Olive Oil from California: Something new for us - but why not? Was yummy but also more expensive.

 

On board, we experienced great crewmembers like Peter and Egar, who fulfilled all our wishes for our breakfast.

 

And finally, someone at the front desk who helped: Mahesh - right great like Karen and Gandhi from OCEAN PRINCESS 2015!!!

 

A well-grilled pork belly and a great Motown-Show was the perfect end of the day.

 

https://heinbloed-pcl.blogspot.com/2018/05/tagday-3-auf-deron-grand-princess-in.html

 

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Day 4 of the blog on GRAND PRINCESS took us to Long Beach, CA.

 

The Cruise Terminal was run by Carnival so it was designed to their demand.

 

Just next door: QUEEN MARY which we could visit complimentary as guests of GRAND PRINCESS.

 

For lunch, we went over to San Pedro to have lunch at the Fish Market.

 

A harbor cruise must be that we had the chance to have great pictures of GRAND PRINCESS and QUEEN MARY too.

 

The night we left GRAND PRINCESS and went by car to San Diego, CA.

 

On our way, we followed the recommendation of Rebecca whom we knew from our ZAANDAM 2012 cruise and who lived here in San Diego recently: Having a taco with Lucha Libre was a must.

 

There we stayed overnight in the Holiday Inn Bayside North with direct view to GRAND PRINCESS when she would entering - so see you next morning in San Diego.

 

https://heinbloed-pcl.blogspot.com/2018/05/tagday-4-auf-deron-grand-princess-in.html

 

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The blog continues on day 5 on GRAND PRINCESS:

 

It was most beautiful: the arrival of GRAND PRINCESS in San Diego, CA. And caught on the deck: Frances! And a very special thanks to Mahesh PG for making those pictures possible.

 

Very yummy: World's Best... ok. It was not, but very good. Thanks for the recommendation Ken and Lufthansa.

 

Cabrillo National Monument was worth a visit. No buses from Princess so far.

 

Our laundry came back soft and with a very fresh nice smell.

 

And after Germany is no more in Soccer World Cup I should just skip Mexico? But they were out of the tournament as well...

 

https://heinbloed-pcl.blogspot.com/2018/05/tagday-5-auf-deron-grand-princess-in.html

 

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The blog continues on Day 6 in Ensenada, Mexico.

 

Actually, I did not want to write anymore since Germany lost against Mexico while the Soccer World Cup. But now after Mexico, Sweden and Brazil are also out of the tournament I could speak again positively of Mexico.

 

We did have Ensenada in good memories: we arrived then around 22:00 hrs and need to go immediately onboard and did not get any more any food.

 

But it was totally different: We booked a tour with Tours by Mariana and with Mariana and Alejandro: i.e. yummy food and culture and history. A very nice tour and thanks to Luis, Oswaldo, and Alfredo, which brought us many things closer.

 

In the evening the reception for us Platinum Captain's Circle members and thanks to Captain Diego Perra for the selfie.

 

And Edgar gave us later for dinner a table with music: we were looking forward to having great food but also listening Marivic, Roland and Dede singing.

 

https://heinbloed-pcl.blogspot.com/2018/05/tagday-6-auf-deron-grand-princess-in.html

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

A day at sea ahead of debarkation is always great that you could prepare with care your preparation.

 

A day at sea ahead of debarkation is always sad because you have so much time to become familiar with the idea that you need to be off ship soon.

 

Day 7 on GRAND PRINCESS on the way back to San Francisco, CA.

 

One more time enjoying the great service of Marivic, Peter, Edgar, Bela, Anne, Hector, Franco, Raffaele, Jazz.

 

https://heinbloed-pcl.blogspot.com/2018/05/seetagday-at-sea-7-auf-deron-grand.html

 

GRAND-PCL-Collage-2018-04-Day-07.jpg

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The arrival in San Francisco is so spectacular that you must wake up early in the morning to experience it... The office sleep is almost the most healthy one.

 

The blog ends now on Day 8 onboard of GRAND PRINCESS. Time to go again off the ship.

 

But we go further and few more chapters will follow:

 

It should go via Yosemite National Park, CA to Death Valley National Park, CA and Las Vegas, NV but at this time there was still impossible.

 

Staying two days with friends in Northern California was not long enough to wait for the snow melting.

 

The first friends, we meet are Judy and Jeanne whom we know from OCEAN PRINCESS 2010 and they know Franco and many others from the ship.

 

Then we head to Angela and David, one of my father's oldest school friends.

 

https://heinbloed-pcl.blogspot.com/2018/05/tagday-8-auf-deron-grand-princess-in.html

 

GRAND-PCL-Collage-2018-04-Day-08.jpg

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  • 2 weeks later...

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The blog comes to its end: in six chapters:

 

Day 09: from Vacaville, CA to Stockton, CA - Family commitments in Vacaville and meeting a real long-term friend in Stockton.

 

Day 10: as we cannot get the direct way through Yosemite National Park, we need to go via the Stanislaus National Forest and Taiyobe National Forest to Mammoth Lakes, CA in the Inyo National Forest.

 

Day 11: takes us to the edge of Death Valley National Park in Beatty, NV

 

Day 12: takes us through the Death Valley National Park to Las Vegas, NV

 

Day 13: tour to Grand Canyon National Park

 

Day 14: Farewell to France and Eddie, Farewell to Las Vegas and flying back to Frankfurt, Germany via London, England

 

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https://heinbloed-pcl.blogspot.com/2018/05/tagday-9-nach-derafter-grand-princess.html

 

GRAND-PCL-Collage-2018-04-Day-10.jpg

 

https://heinbloed-pcl.blogspot.com/2018/05/tagday-10-nach-derafter-grand-princess.html

 

GRAND-PCL-Collage-2018-04-Day-11.jpg

 

https://heinbloed-pcl.blogspot.com/2018/05/tagday-11-nach-derafter-grand-princess.html

 

GRAND-PCL-Collage-2018-04-Day-12.jpg

 

https://heinbloed-pcl.blogspot.com/2018/05/tagday-12-nach-derafter-grand-princess.html

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https://heinbloed-pcl.blogspot.com/2018/05/tagday-13-nach-derafter-grand-princess.html

 

GRAND-PCL-Collage-2018-04-Day-14.jpg

 

https://heinbloed-pcl.blogspot.com/2018/05/tagedays-14-15-nach-derafter-grand.html

 

I am back with a new blog from VENTURA late fall: having a good time until my next cruise.

 

For my English speaking friends I will start now with the translation of the blog of DIAMOND PRINCESS Asia 2016.

 

To experience Death Valley you can simply stay here in Germany.

 

But it was worth again to walk a few steps away from the port to see more than only the sea.

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