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.

Why do you say that?

Yeah I figured Uber would be cheaper than a Taxi but I'm just not a big fan of the "ride share" thing but that's just me. If have to use Uber to get to the pier, I guess I'll do it. It's a shame the shuttles went out of business. On the positive side, I can get a ride from the pier to SFO through Carnival for $34.

I mentioned Seattle, along with LA, and Ft Lauderdale as an example of places that had shuttle after being told shuttles don't exist anymore. And NO I didn't say I got a shuttle from downtown Seattle. I stayed out by SeaTac. I took Seattle Express and it was about $22. That was last year, it's probably more now. Google is telling me Uber is about $35 to $45. The shuttle in Ft. Lauderdale was about half the cost of Uber. But again this has NOTHING to do with my question about SF. So if you're telling there are no shuttle services in SF, then fine, I'll figure something out.

I'm not sure what Seattle has to do with my question, but THX. EDIT TO ADD; And in the other areas I mentioned, the shuttles were cheaper b quite a bit.

Thanks I figured that would end up being the case. Not a big fan of Uber but I'll do what I have to, I assuming it's maybe because SF is not as busy of a cruise port as Seattle, but I had no issues finding a shuttle there last year, nor in LA back in October. Likewise in Ft Lauderdale in March. THX!

Hello, I've searched this forum and Google and I don't seem to have much luck finding what I need. I'm flying in July 23rd for a July 24th departure. I have my hotel booked and I've found transportation options to get to the hotel from SFO. What I'm not finding is a shuttle service that will pick me up at the hotel and take me to the pier. I find it odd I can't seem to find that kind of service. I'm wondering if anyone has any options/recommendations. Obviously I can use Uber, but was looking for a possible cheaper shuttle option.

I don't know why the cruise lines continue to split hairs like this. Some ports? Why not just bite the bullet and do what NCL did? OR in the alternative, stand your ground and keep things the same. It's a real hodgepodge now between the different cruise lines. SMH

Isn't that only for sailings out of the UK though? Your comment could be misconstrued to mean all of Princess.

Good Lord, what's the point of that? If they're going to do that, just end testing and be done with it. And where did you see this announcement?

I don't understand what is going on here at all. Carnival seems to be the only cruise line making this claim that the Bahamas require testing. Virgin Voyages and Margaritaville At Sea don't state this requirement on their website. If you go to the Bahamas website, they don't indicate a different set of rules for cruise ships. They say vaccinated traveler DO NOT have to be tested, but there is no mention that cruise passengers are to be treated differently. So I don't know what's going on. If anybody can link to a credible source, other than Carnival, that would confirm Carnival's policy I would appreciate it.