Sailing in early this morning brought back memories of other cruises. I think it was 2012, with a transAtlantic on Vision of the Seas where the impromptu group of knitters & stitchers just made the voyage wonderful. The day before we docked in Florida, the ship’s staff held a meeting for the 200+ back-to-back cruisers without doing their homework. No, everyone staying was NOT American, in fact almist all were Brits on a package tour which included Los Vegas before flying home. Queue fast back peddling on the staff part and a lot of homework. I mention this because from there we sailed on through the Panama Canal with the cruise ending here in San Diego. Arriving fairly early, it was easy to see both the airport from the ship. We also were able to view Coronado as we sailed in with both some Navy ships in port and their separate landing strips…
Then there was Oct 2017 when I was headed on back to back through the Panama Canal with Jill & Graeme on the NCL Sun. Leaving from San Francisco even, we were able to watch the practice for the Blue Angels in advance of Fleet week. Checking my notes, I see that we missed San Diego on that loop – both in the direction of Miami and the return which ended in San Pedro. (Thought I had been to that port once before….)
And then there was the Trans-Pacific on Celebrity Solstice (yes, this ship) in Sept 2013. The check-in for the cruise was here in San Diego. The actual ship with boarding was in Ensenada to avoid that fines that come with violations of the Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886 – link here . (Remember – the Jones Act is a subsection of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 and that oft quoted prohibition actually relates to cargo. I may be a lot of things, but not cargo….). Anyway – I was lucky enough to run into Marie and Brian (friends from the above mentioned Vision Crossing) which made hanging out in the terminal and the not so fun bus ride to Ensenada bearable.
Since this was our first port in the US after visiting a foreign location (Mexico) we all had to clear Immigration. It was by numbered group. My instruction letter said Group 3 (which I think relates to priority based on status/booked tours. Shana & Lev’s assigned group was 16….) Right. The three of us went off in Group 3 (we are all together on one reservation….) We snaked through the terminal which took about 30 minutes. Four agents hard at work (and the Discovery Princess on the neighboring pier made for a lot of passengers). From there, we headed to the front gate. Shana & Lev are headed to the Zoo – I headed back to the ship.
So anyway, I am relaxing in the Solarium where there is almost no one. it is quiet. I am hot spotting my laptop off my phone. After lunch, I might just take a nap….
(bags out at 1800-2200 – I am going with the latest group as we will head directly from the terminal to the airport and can’t check in till shortly after 1100…..)
