KeepCalmBearOn

47 minutes ago, julia said:

I cringe when folks say this is "walkable"

Perhaps you missed "darn near walkable".

I have walked off the airport property many times. I used to do my airport parking at the Sheraton across the street.

But that was in the days before Uber, which is so cheap, that is how I get to and from Lindbergh now. Which is why I advised the OP to use Uber (or a taxi).

10 hours ago, bajae said:

I know I will not be able to leave the ship in San Diego with fruit or plant material (flower lei), but can I bring them on the ship while in Hawaii to enjoy on the ship before we get to San Diego? 

No.

Well, maybe a lei because most floral Lei are made of products allowed to leave Hawaii.

Taxi or Uber, it is darn near walkable, a little more than 2 miles.

4 hours ago, Zippeedee said:

Viking allows you to bring anything you want, bottles of scotch? case of wine? No problem, no charge, just enjoy it. There was a small group on my last cruise that didn’t like Viking’s beer selection. They took a cab to a liquor store in Honolulu and filled a large suitcase. 

I don't know why more of the all-inclusive lines don't do that. "Drink your own stock, not ours". Seems a good deal for them.

1 minute ago, Eric from San Diego said:

I can't see that it matters very much.   San Pedro only has two berths 92 and 93 which is used by NCL, RCCL, Princess and sometimes Viking, Seabourn, Oceania.   Long Beach as only one berth owned and operated by Carnival.  

San Pedro has four berths, 92, 93, 46 and 50. We are on the Majestic in October out of Berth 50.

The point wasn't that San Diego needs more terminals, but better management and a better customer experience to keep the companies wanting to come. It is great when Disney shows up and I'd like to see MSC come in.

5 hours ago, alserrod said:

In the pools I go to in summer, the time in the paddling pool is reduced by 30 minutes in cases like this (if a small child vomits or has small feces in the water). It's a long time... but it's only 30 minutes. Enough so that the water has passed through the filters.
Pool staff check the water after 30 minutes and, if correct, let people back in.

That's why I'm surprised that it takes MSC 24 hours

Not sure where that pool is, but in California, vomit might be 30 minutes, but feces would close the pool for a day.

16 hours ago, FamilyAtSea.travel said:

To those of you following along, thank you! Please let me know if there's anything you'd like me to add to this list:

 

- Pools

- Main buffet

Would you bother with pools not in the YC? Was there anything you thought worthwhile?

Did you try the main buffet besides that first day? (I don't remember if you said you did) Was the YC poolside buffet varied enough to not have to venture to the main?

The best Chinese tends to be in Richmond, but there are several good/decent places by the Pan Pacific, including Jade Dynasty, Victoria Chinese Restaurant and Jingle Bao.

Coming in at 7:30PM, I might just stay at the Courtyard by Marriott Anchorage Airport. I love the Hotel Captain Cook, but you wouldn't have much time to enjoy it.

What is “not to be missed” in Vancouver?

Chinese food, especially dim sum.

There is a beach right where the tender drops you. You'd walk past it heading to the shops.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/UL3DG3XFxbZVSCT18

We like Captain Andy in Port Allen and if we were on a cruise and wanted to use them, we'd rent a car from Avis or Budget, who sends a shuttle to the cruise terminal.

On 7/28/2023 at 11:47 AM, Rick Hawaii said:

We’re from Hawaii and are use to a certain level of taste and preparation.

Oahu has some of the best Japanese food in the world outside of Japan. Kaiseki was highly disappointing.

1 hour ago, Dock B said:

Now, if I was in a YC lounge right now, I would order a salted caramel espresso martini to

Martinis are supposed to taste awful so you don't have too many.....

2 hours ago, Fogfog said:

Cruising is capitalism. Not socialism and not social welfare. 

 

 

 

Which is why MSC should not include YC with the bid up/free upgrade...

Cruising is capitalism so MSC gets to decide how to maximize resources and you are free to stop using MSC if it bothers you.

I like Robert's since they are a local Hawaiian company, been in business since 1941 and have a local presence on every Hawaiian island.

https://www.rhshorex.com/big-island-excursions/

I like doing business with people in the same time zone as I am in. I don't use Airbnb or Vrbo, I use local realtors and I engage local tour operators directly.

My favorite thing to do in Hilo is visit the Kuhio Grille, Home of the 1 Pound Lau Lau.

https://www.kuhiogrille.com/

3 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

I am so disgusted with Regent Cruises.

As I said before, it has been at least 10 years since my last Regent cruise and I laid out why I abandoned them, but it sounds like the line has really deteriorated since my last time and that is sad. Dang near criminal at the prices they charge.

I used to hate the idea of the exclusive areas on bigger ships (Haven, Retreat, YC, etc) because it seemed so class-est and elitist and the egalitarian in me rebelled at the thought. That was of course until I actually booked The Retreat... I was like, okay, I put aside some principles for a bit. Never looked back.

43 minutes ago, CruisingFox27 said:

That's great, thank you, and may be very useful for our other ports 🙂

Robert's Hawaii is on every island and it is a local company, started on Kauai in 1941. They are the longest lasting, most trusted tour company in the islands. My issue with "tours by locals" is that it is not local at all, but based in Vancouver BC.

On 3/21/2024 at 12:02 PM, ChiefMateJRK said:

Has anybody had problems getting an Uber/Lyft at this terminal?

YES. EVERYONE.

There are only 70 Ubers on the entire island and that is to serve the North, South and East Kauai. If you want to get someplace without a rental car, pre-arrange a driver/shuttle to get to Eleele.

And I would REALLY not plan on easily finding an Uber easily at 6PM at Port Allen/Eleele. That is way South/West on Kauai.

And I'd also say the drive is closer to 45 minutes, maybe a bit longer.

If the ship is overnighting at Nawiliwili, rent a car from Avis. They send a van to the port.

3 hours ago, CruisingFox27 said:

We have a day in Honolulu in October, our first visit to Hawaii.

Look at Robert's Circle Tour.

https://www.robertshawaii.com/oahu-tours/grand-circle-island-tour/

12 hours ago, cruisetilidrop said:

What is an appropriate tip per bag at the San Pedro cruise port? Thank you.

We tip $10-$20 total, depending on how many bags we check.

10 hours ago, cruisekitty22 said:

We love NCL  for all it offers. How does MSC compare for a balcony room,.  Do people on board speak English or is it all foreign languages 24/7?  How does the food, drinks ect compare?   Do they offer a good drink package?  How much is the cost?  How is it sailing from Brooklyn?  Sorry for so many questions.  We are used to NCL and have yet to try MSC. 

I've only sailed in the Yacht Club on MSC, so it isn't a fair comparison to the standard NCL experiences I've had. MSC feels very much like Carnival, except with much better food. I got the drink package once because it was included, but I drink so little, it wasn't an issue.

My take on MSC is, it is a MUCH better value than NCL and with much better food. The beer, wine and drinks were all reasonable. Entertainment and activities are a draw.

Ships leaving a U.S. port (Miami, Brooklyn, Port C, etc) will be mostly Americans and the food will cater more to American tastes than a cruise originating in Europe would.

2 hours ago, FamilyAtSea.travel said:

but due to the poor weather....

I assume the poor weather kept you from enjoying the JW's water park? That would be a shame. The water park is a bonus add-in on a vacation.

1 minute ago, baggal said:

Thank you.  Do you know anything about the Marriott Vacation Club Pulse?  I believe its in downtown San Diego.   

Nice place, bad location up on Cortez Hill. Not much close by and lots of walking up and down a big hill to get anyplace.

Bon Voyage.