ghjcmo

Which probably explains a lot.

With the crap going on there, I would think people would have bigger things to worry about than what an out of towner might call the place. SMH

Thanks for the heads up. Usually what I run into is any kind of solo deal is for inside cabins only. And I always want a balcony. But I will look into it. Thanks!

I was responding to this statement: "Perhaps it is too much to ask that several people whom you don't know commit to dining with you at the same time and at the same table every evening for two weeks straight." I guess it's evolving because of the "My Time Dining" concept, but I don't think it's too much to ask as that's basically how it's done when you do fixed seating in the MDR.

Don't misunderstand me, as I'm not being argumentative, but I think that's an odd comment. Isn't that kind of the norm for cruising? Are people really not dining with other people? Maybe I'm out of touch but in 23 years of cruising, and most of it being solo cruising, I've ALWAYS had dining in the MDR with "several strangers" over a period of 7 days to 2 weeks or whatever. (I don't do "My Time" style dining) I mean, yeah there may always be someone you don't mesh with well, but as a solo cruiser, I've found it to be a great way to meet people.

I didn't read this whole thread and I apologize for what it is probably a repeated comment, but honestly the hardest thing for me is paying for two people when it's just me. I truly understand the economics of it from the cruise line's standpoint, but I still don't like it. My very first solo cruise was on the Carnival Legend and I don't know how in the hell it happened, but they actually sold me a balcony cabin for the price of one person. That was a number of years ago, I've sailed MANY times since, and it's NEVER happened again.

My cruise is July 24-Aug 3. I'm not terribly concerned, but It was just something I never really thought about when booking my flights.

I was on the Carnival Splendor last year in May, about this time actually, and yep it was a mess too. Well the embarkation was, I don't remember the disembarkation being that bad other than having to carry my bags all the way out to the Seattle Express transfer bus.

Yeah neither did I. I normally book much later flights in the day, but my return flight this time is like 12:30 PM. I guess I'll cross that bridge if and when I come to it. 🙂

I'm doing this one on 7/24 but we're doing Sitka instead of Icy Strait Point. I asked this question in another thread just last week and I'm kind of shocked you weren't bombarded with "Uber! Uber! Uber!" which is pretty much what I got. LOL

I didn't have a bad experience, mine went well. I used them in October 2021 when returning on the Norwegian Encore. Oddly, the next year when sailing on the Carnival Splendor, it wasn't even offered. But my experience was positive and it's VERY helpful to use this if you have a later flight, as TSA rules won't allow you check your bags more than 4 hours prior to your flight.

Yeah I think I saw that too. I haven't dug into it deep enough, but just a quick look at it, it appears they do, shuttle from SFO to pier/hotel or from pier to SFO, but don't offer a "door to door" service which I guess takes us back to Uber which nearly everybody recommends. Not a fan of the "ride share" concept but I guess I'll do what I have to do.

Currently I'm booked at the Comfort Inn by the Bay which if Google Maps is correct, is in the vicinity of Lombard and Van Ness, I'm only booked there because the friends I'm meeting up with are staying there. I'm not terribly concerned about finding a place to eat that night. And I know what you mean about flying. There was a time when I often flew the day of the cruise. Now I generally don't do that, but some preliminary research shows I could cut my flight costs in half and my "night before" hotel by about 2/3rds. (Stay in KC instead of SF the night before). But I know it's risky. If I miss my cruise, that's one thing. IF I miss my cruise and forfeit my fare, that's another. 😞

Unless you're saying the airport area is unsafe, none of that really is important to me. I've been to SF in the past, I'm not coming to SF to see SF, it's simply a means to an end, i.e. getting to the cruise ship. Regardless of where I stay, I don't intend to go anywhere once I get settled in the night before my cruise. Currently I am booked "downtown" (Not sure if that's the correct term, heaven forbid I call it wrong thing.) I MAY switch to staying out by the airport OR as I'm currently exploring options, I may roll the dice and end up flying in the morning of the cruise and just go straight from the airport to the pier.

That doesn't matter me. I just need a place to sleep before catching my cruise the next day.