Follow Bill & Mary Ann’s Story Live On The Zaandam From Alaska To The South Pacific For 77 Days 9-4-24 To 11-20-24

[WCB]

Report # 26  Sunday  September 29, 2024  Sea Day Enroute  To San Diego, California   Overcast With Fog And Wind No Sun  Sea State: Moderate 9' Swell  Part #1 Of 1.......No Pictures----Casual Dress

 

Yesterday we got a letter regarding our stop in San Diego tomorrow.  It stated that we can leave the ship anytime from 7:30am onwards.    However, we will not be able to re-board until after 11am.   This is normal procedure except there was no mention of customs and imigrations.  Nothing to fill out since we are landing in a USA port.   This might be different for the guests who are Canadian.  Our shipboard account as well as our internet package should continue for the next cruise.  Casino money had to be cashed out since the funds are not transferrable.  Not a worry for us since we don’t gamble.  And lastly,  we might have to do the muster roll call, since our letter said it was a full passenger drill.  We did this in Vancouver but are not sure it counts in this port.  It’s so easy these days, it’s not a problem.   

 

This last day at sea was a lazy one for us.  Both of us worked on yesterday’s report and photos.  It was just as well since the skies were overcast and the temps were still rather cool.  We had expected a bit warmer weather on the way down to San Diego, but the overcast skies took care of that.  We had another reminder to secure our loose items before stepping outside, and to please bring in cushions from the verandas when we are not present.  We have noticed that the future cruise consultant has been keeping later hours on this shorter trip.  Even during our dinner time, she has customers.  Since we are already booked over a year in advance, we don’t need to add anything more.

 

Sales in all of the Shops drew the guests in for a last chance at bargains.  We didn’t bother since we may be over-weight on the luggage already.  Smart friends we know leave some room for extra stuff before leaving home.

 

Lunch was in the Lido with a ham and cheese sandwich, a salad, and 2 slices of pizza.  We think the pizza man here cooks the best pizza so far compared to other HAL ships.  The crust is allowed to rise so it’s not too thin.  He keeps it in the oven long enough to make the bottom crust well-done.  We learned that this young fellow from India will be going home tomorrow.   When we asked if he was happy to leave, he answered…oh yes, very happy.  Now we wonder how many more of the crew will be leaving.  We do know that Stephen, the food and beverage manager will be going home to Australia with his wife tomorrow. 

 

Dinner was the farewell meal of the day, with the kitchen staff, head waiters, and wait staff parading around both levels of the dining room.  They sounded way too happy as they said goodbye to a good number of guests.  We still do not know how many are staying onboard like us, but if we see a lot of unfamiliar faces tomorrow we will know the number of guests leaving was high.  Anyway our meal began with a crab cake, a Caesar salad, and bowl of piping hot chicken noodle soup.   So good on a cold day.    Mains were one pork chop with no parsnips and one ½ order of prime rib.   The parsnips were on the plate, looking like mashed potatoes, and our waiters apologized for serving it with them.   If you come from the South, parsnips are part of your diet.  For us Californians, it is not a staple we see often if at all.  Serving the bottle of L&P made up for the surprise addition on the plate.  Dessert was one coconut custard slice of cake, which we shared. 

 

We can say now that there was no singing and dancing show on this 5 day cruise….only comedians.  This evening, there was a movie, “The Boys In The Boat”  in the World Stage and another flick, Planet Ocean shown in the Wajang Theater.    Suitcases were starting to line the hallway when we got back to our room.   The room stewards will be busy this evening getting ready for tomorrow’s turn-over.

 

We plan on a nice day in San Diego…..and lunch out somewhere. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[carolyn22]

Thanks as always for your great reports!  I know how y’all like pizza, and I can highly recommend Filippi’s in the Little Italy area of San Diego. One of the best pizzas I’ve ever had! And it looks like it’s about a 20 minute walk from the pier. Although I expect y’all have been to San Diego so many times you probably already have places you like to eat. 😀

[julia]

@WCB

As an ex-San Diegan, I'd like to recommend  the most authentic pizza in all of Little Italy... Filippi's Pizza Grotto on India St.  Yes, you'll pass by all the trendy, bistro-like places, and you may miss the small store-front entrance, but you won't be disappointed. It will be quieter after 1ish, post downtown lunch crowd.

 

@carolyn22 hahahaaa... I did not see your post!  Great minds think alike!

Edited 11 hours ago by julia
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[TiogaCruiser]

2 hours ago, carolyn22 said:

Thanks as always for your great reports!  I know how y’all like pizza, and I can highly recommend Filippi’s in the Little Italy area of San Diego. One of the best pizzas I’ve ever had! And it looks like it’s about a 20 minute walk from the pier. Although I expect y’all have been to San Diego so many times you probably already have places you like to eat. 😀

 

46 minutes ago, julia said:

@WCB

As an ex-San Diegan, I'd like to recommend  the most authentic pizza in all of Little Italy... Filippi's Pizza Grotto on India St.  Yes, you'll pass by all the trendy, bistro-like places, and you may miss the small store-front entrance, but you won't be disappointed. It will be quieter after 1ish, post downtown lunch crowd.

 

@carolyn22 hahahaaa... I did not see your post!  Great minds think alike!

I was going to say the same thing 

[RobTheGob]

5 hours ago, WCB said:

This is normal procedure except there was no mention of customs and imigrations.  Nothing to fill out since we are landing in a USA port.   This might be different for the guests who are Canadian. 

No customs or immigration required for any passengers (including us Canadians!) - since we did so in Vancouver. And that was a VERY smooth process! 
 

We shared a chicken parm sandwich from Filippi’s (based on our experience last time here - 5 years ago) and it was also very good. We’ll have to have some pizza when we’re back in November!

[TiogaCruiser]

Just wondering- being this is a bit of a side topic- For those boarding in San Diego, typically can you get off the ship after dropping luggage to go to Filipi’s?*

 

We’re leaving from San Diego in December and MIGHT Amtrak instead of driving. We’d prefer not taking luggage, and normally carry on our own luggage… including cameras and other valuables we would not check through.
 

(* For the individual who normally starts his replies with “Frequently discussed here”, it’s really okay to ask because things change, and Search doesn’t always work well.😉)

 

Now back to our normal programming, and thank you to Bill and Mary Ann.

[DAllenTCY]

Yes, you certainly can....technically.... exit the ship for lunch.

 

The problem will be the single gangway with many hundreds of people going the opposite way.

 

A better idea would to drop your luggage, check-in, and then depart out of the terminal without boarding the ship.

 

When you return, you can very easily bypass the check in line (if there is one after 2 pm).

 

Amtrak is a good choice.  They've gotten a bad rap on these boards; however, I live 2 houses away from the tracks, and I can just about set my watch according to the passing trains lately.

 

Certain times of the day, the train is hourly.

 

Your return on Amtrak is another good idea since the depot is only 4 blocks from the pier.  You'll have plenty of options.....even spending the day in San Diego and then taking the train.

 

David

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Hlitner]

Thanks for the report.  A movie in the main theater and a documentary in the Wajang is par for the course of HAL and unique to this cruise line.  We have never been on any other line that counts movies as their main entertainment.  Sad to hear that HAL has not moved away from that tradition except that it is a better choice than a HAL "dark night."

 

Hank