San Pedro from a San Pedran

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...i believe satxdiver said that take-out was a $10 discount, not 10%...

OK ... just no mention of food takeout - so a bit confusing. Thanks.

A very frequent poster to this thread, Wineaux, owns Off the Vine!

Is that right?

Well, a plug for his business is certainly worth all of the advice he's given in this thread and on this board.

Staying in long beach near queen Mary but our cruise is out of San pedro port

Any idea how much a taxi might cost? Or another form of transportation?

Staying in long beach near queen Mary but our cruise is out of San pedro port

Any idea how much a taxi might cost? Or another form of transportation?

One time it was $25 plus tip, another time it was $30 plus tip from the Queen Mary.

Sorry IF this topic has been answered but we will be flying into Los Angeles two days pre-cruise to catch a bit of sight seeing. Although the rates for Doubletree are better, its gotten lousy reviews and seems far from most of anything. The Crowne looks better but about $30 more per night. Can I get reviews on both? TKS :D

HMSDingy;44529303]Sorry IF this topic has been answered but we will be flying into Los Angeles two days pre-cruise to catch a bit of sight seeing. Although the rates for Doubletree are better, its gotten lousy reviews and seems far from most of anything. The Crowne looks better but about $30 more per night. Can I get reviews on both?

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Comprehensive reviews both at Trip Advisor -and- as a CC search at this site ... tons of info.

Sorry IF this topic has been answered but we will be flying into Los Angeles two days pre-cruise to catch a bit of sight seeing. Although the rates for Doubletree are better, its gotten lousy reviews and seems far from most of anything. The Crowne looks better but about $30 more per night. Can I get reviews on both? TKS :D

Is the $30 that important?

Is the $30 that important?

You really have a nasty way of asking questions:mad: I just pointed out the difference in price because I read on another thread that the Crowne rates were lower than the Doubletree.

You really have a nasty way of asking questions:mad: I just pointed out the difference in price because I read on another thread that the Crowne rates were lower than the Doubletree.

In the other thread, I said that when I booked, the rate was lower at CP. I didn't say that one was definitively lower than the other.

This San Pedro thread has lots of info and pluses/minuses about both hotels. I would recommend skimming through it.

We took the advice from this thread and stayed at the Crowne Plaza - we are there now. Walked two blocks to Acapulco Mexican Restaurant and had a great meal overlooking the harbor. I would recommend it. We arrived early and after flying many hours with a change in DFW, we were hungry. So we went to the San Pedro Brewing Company. The food was really good but the beer was probably about the worse I ever had in a brewpub and I do love beer and brewpubs having been to many all over the country. I would recommend the food but not their beer. It was two blocks from the hotel. One block further brought us to Off The Vine where we bought several bottles of wine to take on the ship. This is a small shop that both sells wine from a small collection and serves wine in the shop. For take out they subtract $10 from the bottle price. The selection is very limited and the cost a bit high but cheaper than getting a taxi to a larger wine outlet and a lot more convenient.

 

From our hotel window we watched the Golden Princess come into port and can see it setting there now waiting for our arrival. The hotel provides shuttle service to the ship which is about one mile. Great advice. Thank you.

GAH! I am very sorry to read this. I was taking a quick look in this thread hoping for some info on what to do during our short port stop in San Pedro next year. We're there from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. I was hoping for info on things to do in the area while we're there. When I saw mention of a near by brew pub my interest was definitely piqued as my wife and I love to visit different brew pubs to try the local wares. How very disappointing to read that you were so underwhelmed by the offerings at the San Pedro Brewing Company.

How is the hotel at the Crown Plaza in San Pedro? How are the rooms and is there a safe in the room?

We've been to San Pedro several times but never thought about taking the shuttle to Catalina Island. Does anyone know if the shuttle pier is walkable from the Crown? Or will their shuttle take us there like they do for our cruise?

Once there, is it walkable? Or should I figure out renting a car once there? Looks like we can pick either side of the island to get off the shuttle. Which would you suggest?

I'm open to any and all suggestions! We'll be there first of Feb. Thanks a lot for any info! Doris

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We've been to San Pedro several times but never thought about taking the shuttle to Catalina Island. Does anyone know if the shuttle pier is walkable from the Crown? Or will their shuttle take us there like they do for our cruise?

Once there, is it walkable? Or should I figure out renting a car once there? Looks like we can pick either side of the island to get off the shuttle. Which would you suggest?

I'm open to any and all suggestions! We'll be there first of Feb. Thanks a lot for any info! Doris

The Catalina Express pier is very walkable from the World Cruise Center...Assuming the Crown will be at the same berth we were just at for the Golden, you merely exit the terminal, turn right...and, basically, walk around the ship...the ship is berthed in a small inlet off the main channel...across that inlet is the Vincent Thomas Bridge and the Catalina Express Terminal is right under the San Pedro footings of the bridge...

When you get to Catalina, you likely want to be dropped at Avalon--the only real town on Catalina...The entire town is just one square mile...and most is what is along the waterfront--so very walkable...but, you can also rent golf carts or such if you want to drive around... At Avalon, you will find the famous Casino building, semi-submersible glass bottom boat tours, tourist shops, food service, etc.

Make sure you know the boat schedule--so you make it back...

Have fun...

Oops, sorry, crown plaza hotel. Hmm sounds like a port. Just a tourist town eh?

The Catalina Express pier is very walkable from the World Cruise Center...Assuming the Crown will be at the same berth we were just at for the Golden, you merely exit the terminal, turn right...and, basically, walk around the ship...the ship is berthed in a small inlet off the main channel...across that inlet is the Vincent Thomas Bridge and the Catalina Express Terminal is right under the San Pedro footings of the bridge...

 

 

 

When you get to Catalina, you likely want to be dropped at Avalon--the only real town on Catalina...The entire town is just one square mile...and most is what is along the waterfront--so very walkable...but, you can also rent golf carts or such if you want to drive around... At Avalon, you will find the famous Casino building, semi-submersible glass bottom boat tours, tourist shops, food service, etc.

 

 

 

Make sure you know the boat schedule--so you make it back...

 

Have fun...

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Hi DMRick - I can't help with info regarding getting from the Crown Plaza to the pier for the boat to Catalina Island. Hopefully someone else can provide info on that. Since no-one else has chimed in, I thought I would give you what I remember from our time there.

On our Sapphire Princess California Coastal cruise we made a stop at Catalina Island and took a ship sponsored tour around the island. From our experience, aside from the town of Avalon, Catalina Island is mostly rough terrain and wide open spaces. We were told that bison still roam the island but we didn't see any. My impression was that there is only one other town on the island, but we didn't see that either.

Avalon itself is a nice town with lots of shops, restaurants and bars. It is easily walkable, with a picturesque harbor where we could see the Sapphire at anchor with tenders going back and forth. Our excursion only took about an hour or so and we had time to walk around Avalon and have lunch. We were glad we visited Catalina Island.

I am fairly certain the Crowne Plaza will shuttle you to the Catalina Express terminal as well...

I guess I'll explain Catalina Island a little more in depth:

The island, approximately 75 square miles was once owned, in its entirety (or nearly in its entirety), by Philip Wrigley, the chewing gum tycoon and owner of the Chicago Cubs...He left the island to a conservancy--with the exception of the approximately one-square mile that makes up the town of Avalon--which is in multiple private ownerships and located on the southern end of the island. The other "town" on the island is "Two Harbors"--located on the isthmus up near the northern end of the island...Not really much of a town...There is a Boy Scout camp, a campground and a pier with facilities for scuba and other water sports...and the town consists of about a couple of blocks of housing for the people who work at these facilities...There is also a small air strip in the mountains in the center of the island.

Everything else on the island--about 97%+ of the land area--is left in its natural state, protected by the Conservancy.

The bison that once roamed the island in great numbers were NOT native to the island...they were brought to the island back in the 1920s for the filming of a movie...Since they had no natural enemies on the island, the herd grew to a pretty large number and started to be considered an ecological hazard. So, several years back, they started thinning the herd by shipping most of them back to the mainland. As of now, the herd is down to about 150-200 animals...and the plan is to keep the herd at about those numbers. So, with all of that acreage and only less than 200 bison, the odds of actually seeing one are greatly diminished.

Thanks Bruin Steve:). We were told all that you added but with time and advancing age;), I had forgotten some of what we learned on our tour. I was hoping one of the So-Cal experts would help.

Thanks for the info. Sounds like it's a pleasant way to spend a day. The water shuttle isn't very expensive and it would be something new to do. We aren't much in the way of shoppers as in buying stuff, but we do like to look.

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Arriving in San Pedro at around 7 am from LAX the day before a cruise. Can you give me some suggestions on some laid back things to do that day or evening in the San Pedro area? Will be staying at the Crown Plaza. thanks ahead of time.

We've gotten both hotels in the past. We think the Doubletree is nicer, and they have taken us to restaurants at no cost in their van (just a tip to the driver), but there is so much within walking distance at the Crowne, that is where we are happiest. If we bid on Priceline (as we just did) and get the Doubletree, however, we are fine with it.

I'm finally starting (late I know) to look for a hotel for our February 2nd cruise. We need to stay 2 days before the cruise and 2 days after the cruise and would prefer to be able to leave the car at the hotel.

I see that both Doubletree and CP have a "park and sail" type of option but how does one get that using Priceline? Also, what is a good "bid" to place on Priceline for those hotels? The only two 3.5 star hotels I see on Priceline for San Pedro are the Doubletree and CP. I'd like one of those but, as mentioned, would also like to book for two weekends separated by the short cruise and would like to leave the car at the hotel.

Is this possible with Priceline? (I've never used this type of booking service so please bear with my ignorance.)

Note: I'm hoping to get a room with a "bid" process as my wife has decided we should visit Disneyland before our cruise and the cost of Disneyland plus the extra hotel days is looking to be more than the cost of the dang cruise!

I'm finally starting (late I know) to look for a hotel for our February 2nd cruise. We need to stay 2 days before the cruise and 2 days after the cruise and would prefer to be able to leave the car at the hotel.

 

I see that both Doubletree and CP have a "park and sail" type of option but how does one get that using Priceline? Also, what is a good "bid" to place on Priceline for those hotels? The only two 3.5 star hotels I see on Priceline for San Pedro are the Doubletree and CP. I'd like one of those but, as mentioned, would also like to book for two weekends separated by the short cruise and would like to leave the car at the hotel.

 

Is this possible with Priceline? (I've never used this type of booking service so please bear with my ignorance.)

 

Note: I'm hoping to get a room with a "bid" process as my wife has decided we should visit Disneyland before our cruise and the cost of Disneyland plus the extra hotel days is looking to be more than the cost of the dang cruise!

Priceline would not offer the stay and park rate. You would have to consider the parking you would pay plus the cost of the hotel on PL compared to getting a room directly from the Crowne or Doubletree.

Disneyland is SOOOO expensive these days. I used to go for my birthday as my parents took me when it opened for my 5th birthday--haven't been there since I turned 55.

Online the Crown Plaza was quoting me $214 per night. It was $274 per night for the "park and sail" rate.

I just booked the two weekends using Priceline's express quote - not the name your own price deal. I got the first weekend for $88 per night and the second weekend for $86 per night.

I'll contact the hotel and see about leaving the car there. They may let me do it for a nightly fee while I'm on the ship. It's only 4 days that I won't be actually staying in the hotel. Even if I have to pay somebody $20 per night I'm still waaaaaaaaaaay ahead of what they were charging directly through the hotel. :D

Online the Crown Plaza was quoting me $214 per night. It was $274 per night for the "park and sail" rate.

 

I just booked the two weekends using Priceline's express quote - not the name your own price deal. I got the first weekend for $88 per night and the second weekend for $86 per night.

 

I'll contact the hotel and see about leaving the car there. They may let me do it for a nightly fee while I'm on the ship. It's only 4 days that I won't be actually staying in the hotel. Even if I have to pay somebody $20 per night I'm still waaaaaaaaaaay ahead of what they were charging directly through the hotel. :D

Of course, you could always just stay at the CP using that Priceline bargain...and drive yourself down to the pier and park there for just $12 per night!

Of course, you could always just stay at the CP using that Priceline bargain...and drive yourself down to the pier and park there for just $12 per night!

That may well be a winner! It would avoid the cost of a taxi (and a tip of course) to the pier.