Disembarkation - San Francisco

We're on our first Princess cruise on the Grand, doing California Coastal leaving on 30 September. Our flight from SFO isn't until 7.00pm and we plan to drop our luggage at the California Welcome Centre on Pier 39. The CWC doesn't open until 9.00am and we plan on walking from Pier 27 (unless weather is really bad).

Can you please clarify the disembarkation process on Princess please -

a) Do we have to leave luggage outside room the night before, and if so, can we disembark at anytime and just pick up our luggage on the pier ?

b) If we can keep our luggage, do we then have to keep it with us at all times after we leave the room at 8am. For example ,would have to take all our luggage with us when we go for breakfast, or is there somewhere we can store the luggage whilst we eat?

c) Any other options?

Thanks.

We're on our first Princess cruise on the Grand, doing California Coastal leaving on 30 September. Our flight from SFO isn't until 7.00pm and we plan to drop our luggage at the California Welcome Centre on Pier 39. The CWC doesn't open until 9.00am and we plan on walking from Pier 27 (unless weather is really bad).

 

Can you please clarify the disembarkation process on Princess please -

 

a) Do we have to leave luggage outside room the night before, and if so, can we disembark at anytime and just pick up our luggage on the pier ?

 

b) If we can keep our luggage, do we then have to keep it with us at all times after we leave the room at 8am. For example ,would have to take all our luggage with us when we go for breakfast, or is there somewhere we can store the luggage whilst we eat?

 

c) Any other options?

 

Thanks.

You will receive a disembarkation questionnaire in your cabin during the cruise. There are various choices. You will select independent arrangements and the approximate time you wish to disembark. Normally all passengers disembark by 10am. It questionnaire is very easy to complete and understand.

If you want to keep your luggage you can, but you are asked to be out of you cabin by 8am. If you have luggage you will have to drag it around to breakfast and to your designated waiting location. Most passengers that do not take early walk place their large luggage outside their cabin around dinner time the evening before disembarkation. They retain their carry on's for over night. When they disembark they pick up their luggage on the pier.

You may wish to investigate EZ Check. I'm not sure if it is available at SFO and what airlines would have it. If offered for your airline then for a small fee ($25) you place your luggage outside your cabin the evening before. It is picked up and delivered to the airline. You pick it up when you disembark the airline.

We're on our first Princess cruise on the Grand, doing California Coastal leaving on 30 September. Our flight from SFO isn't until 7.00pm and we plan to drop our luggage at the California Welcome Centre on Pier 39. The CWC doesn't open until 9.00am and we plan on walking from Pier 27 (unless weather is really bad).

 

Can you please clarify the disembarkation process on Princess please -

 

a) Do we have to leave luggage outside room the night before, and if so, can we disembark at anytime and just pick up our luggage on the pier ? This is one choice. You'll be assigned a disembarkation time base on the color of the tag you get.

 

b) If we can keep our luggage, do we then have to keep it with us at all times after we leave the room at 8am. For example ,would have to take all our luggage with us when we go for breakfast, or is there somewhere we can store the luggage whilst we eat?Yes you'll have to carry bags with you if you self disembark.

 

c) Any other options? You could take a ships tour that drops you off at the airport

 

Thanks.

See my comments . This pretty standard with most cruiselines.

I cannot respond intelligently about your luggage questions but my question is where do you plan on walking too? Pier 39/ Fishermen's Wharf is a good taxi drive away. Ghirardelli Square is close but on the other side of Pier 39. Check it out and have a good time but check your distances.

I cannot respond intelligently about your luggage questions but my question is where do you plan on walking too? Pier 39/ Fishermen's Wharf is a good taxi drive away.

We sail in and out of San Francisco several times a year and because of flight times go to Pier 39 post-cruise. Even take our luggage to the welcome center for storage. We always walk it and we're not in great shape.

We sail in and out of San Francisco several times a year and because of flight times go to Pier 39 post-cruise. Even take our luggage to the welcome center for storage. We always walk it and we're not in great shape.

I agree, the walk to pier 39 is not a issue if you have no mobility problems

Srpilo

I agree, the walk to pier 39 is not a issue if you have no mobility problems

 

Srpilo

+1

It would probably take you longer to get in a cab, go a few feet down the street and get out at Pier 39 ... it's that close! You should be able to walk it without any problems.

You will still want to keep your valuables with you, though.

Since it sounds like you might want to enjoy a leisurely breakfast onboard, it's probably best not to do the walk off, which will require you to keep your luggage with you throughout the time on the ship before you debark. And ... I agree, that EZ check is wonderful if it is available when flying out of SFO and would definitely check out that option. We've used it in other ports before (don't have to use it in San Francisco because it is right in our backyard), and it is wonderful.

One other option would be to look into a tour that drops you at SFO at the end of the trip. There are ones offered from the tour desk on the ship or ones you could take privately. You'll want to get to the airport around 5:00 - 5:30 PM (depending on where you are flying) so if you go this route, your tour should probably end no later than 4 PM to account for traffic. But that way, you could probably leave your carry off luggage in the tour van so you can tour without having to carry them around.

I had never heard of that California Welcome Center at Pier 39 before ... so you taught me a valuable tidbit that I may be able use in the future.

Oh ... and Sept and Oct usually are our best months weather wise. It's raining cats and dogs today but usually not in the fall.

We're on our first Princess cruise on the Grand, doing California Coastal leaving on 30 September. Our flight from SFO isn't until 7.00pm and we plan to drop our luggage at the California Welcome Centre on Pier 39. The CWC doesn't open until 9.00am and we plan on walking from Pier 27 (unless weather is really bad).

On an average Sunday, the walk from Pier 27 to Pier 39 would be easy. BUT, your cruise is scheduled to disembark on October 7, the last day of Fleet Week when the City will be packed with locals, cruisers, and other tourists crowding the Embarcadero for Fleet Week activities, especially the Blue Angels air show.

https://fleetweeksf.org/

Walking with luggage may be more difficult, and traffic to the airport more congested.

I cannot respond intelligently about your luggage questions but my question is where do you plan on walking too? Pier 39/ Fishermen's Wharf is a good taxi drive away. Ghirardelli Square is close but on the other side of Pier 39. Check it out and have a good time but check your distances.

Very wrong. 27 to 39 is an easy, flat 1/2 mile. As noted it would probably take longer in a taxi with traffic along the Embarcadero. Have walked here dozens of time, with or without luggage.

We opted for self disembark on our recent ABC cruise. We had to meet at the casino at 6:20am and we were off the ship by 6:30am! We will definitely rethink if self disembark is for us in the future, due to the early time.

I have no mobility problems except for the fact that I am too lazy to walk. enjoy the city.

We opted for self disembark on our recent ABC cruise. We had to meet at the casino at 6:20am and we were off the ship by 6:30am! We will definitely rethink if self disembark is for us in the future, due to the early time.

I was on a Pacific coastal out of San Francisco last year and my group of eight was not forced off at a particular time. We ate breakfast in the dining room and then returned to our cabins to retrieve luggage. We walked off at 8:15 or maybe a little later.

I cannot respond intelligently about your luggage questions but my question is where do you plan on walking too? Pier 39/ Fishermen's Wharf is a good taxi drive away. Ghirardelli Square is close but on the other side of Pier 39. Check it out and have a good time but check your distances.

It was an easy flat walk to the visitor's center to drop off luggage - $5 per suitcase several years ago- if you are in good health this is a good solution. No taxi needed.

It was an easy flat walk to the visitor's center to drop off luggage - $5 per suitcase several years ago- if you are in good health this is a good solution. No taxi needed.

Was this before or after the switch a year or so ago to a new pier that is further away from Pier 39 than the old pier was?

Was this before or after the switch a year or so ago to a new pier that is further away from Pier 39 than the old pier was?

Both. Flat and walkable. Just a little farther than before.

Both. Flat and walkable. Just a little farther than before.

Exactly! Pier 27 is about a 7 minute walk to Pier 39 ... all flat with a nice wide sidewalk. Done it a hundred times ... it's very close! And, since everyone gathers well within the inside of the circular driveway with their luggage when embarking and disembarking, I don't really think a lot of people with luggage will be strolling on the Embarcadero. There will be a few ... nothing like what it was like down at Pier 35.

Very wrong. 27 to 39 is an easy, flat 1/2 mile. As noted it would probably take longer in a taxi with traffic along the Embarcadero. Have walked here dozens of time, with or without luggage.

Correction: the distance is 1.6 miles.

Still easy to walk but do heed the warning about Fleet Week. Very busy weekend.

Correction: the distance is 1.6 miles.

 

Still easy to walk but do heed the warning about Fleet Week. Very busy weekend.

Correct the correction: 1/2 mile between pier 27 and pier 39 in San Francisco, CA USA

Correct the correction: 1/2 mile between pier 27 and pier 39 in San Francisco, CA USA

From Mapquest - showing from Pier 39 to Pier 27 the NEW cruise terminal is 1.6 miles.

The OLD cruise terminal was more like 1/2 mile away from Pier 39.

Pier 39

James R. Herman Cruise Terminal

via The Embarcadero

7min 1.6mi

We got off the Grand in December and walked to Pier 39 (with our luggage) for breakfast. I just looked at my fitness app from that date and it shows I walked 1,573 steps before 10:30. That would include leaving the ship and getting to the restaurant.