Westerdam 1/20/2018 - Important Alert

A large protest march will start downtown at approximately 10 am that Saturday and proceed slowly past the cruise terminal.

Last year it is estimated that 35-40,000 marchers blocked Harbor Drive for over 2 hours. Some believe that 100,000+ may participate this year.

Broadway was barricaded by police in the hours before the start.

The best access to the pier was from the south and making U-turns at the Midway Museum. The result was a 3 block walk with luggage to get to the ship. Porters cannot go outside of the pier.

Traffic from the airport was delayed up to 45 minutes.

Think about how you might avert this mess.....arrive after 1:00 pm?

David

That's important information for the folks on that cruise! Thanks for posting it. Could you post it on their Roll Call, also? Not everyone who cruises read the main HAL board.

 

Think about how you might avert this mess.....arrive after 1:00 pm?

 

David

Well that's not good! Sorry to hear that. I sure wish I knew that area better. It is either arrive early or late (or stay in the mess while the crowds and traffic thins). Is there hotel near the dock you would consider staying the night before? You could then play it by ear when you wanted to roll your stuff out to the ship (provided your bags are easily handled). Do you usually go to your Mariner's lunch or do you mind skipping it? I am always anxious for my vacation to actually start, so prefer being early. There are always good ways to pass the time.... :wine-glass:

Thank you for alerting people.

We would have to wait and arrive later.

No way could we haul 4 large suitcases, 2 carry-ons and a back pack plus my large traveling purse. Plus I am handicapped and could not walk more than 10 feet by myself.

AGREE -- post this on their Roll Call.

Just heard on the evening news...

As part of ongoing infrastructure improvements along the coastal rail corridor, on Jan. 6-7 and 20-21, there will be no COASTER or Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service in San Diego County, according to a North County Transit District statement issued Tuesday.

David

Just heard on the evening news...

 

As part of ongoing infrastructure improvements along the coastal rail corridor, on Jan. 6-7 and 20-21, there will be no COASTER or Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service in San Diego County, according to a North County Transit District statement issued Tuesday.

 

David

Hi David!

We just heard the same thing on the news! The Women’s March will be huge here from last year on the 20th!

Will be down at Island Prime to watch Westerdam Sailaway!

Denise:)

Yikes, that doesn't sound good... Thank you for the heads up!

We'll be staying at SpringHill Suites across the street from the cruise terminal, and we were thinking of walking to the port. Do you think we'll be able to do that before 10 am? (I guess we'll watch the outside from our room and make our way to the port as soon as the crowd starts to gather...)

And thank you for posting this on our roll call!

Thanks for the update. This does effect us. We were going to drive down Saturday morning. We are now considering driving down Friday. Any suggestions where we can stay near the ship. I have read suggestions on here, but never paid to close attention because it never effected us. Please post more details when you are aware of them. Thanks much. This is a good reason to pay close attention to CC.

Thanks. This is why cruise ports like Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Tampa, and Port Canaveral are preferred.

The march and the SD cruise port are a coincidence. Why the comment? This is like complaining that the Boston Marathon is ruining an New England cruise. The smarter cruise passengers will just hold off until later in the afternoon before arriving at the terminal.

At least we are not freezing over here....

igraf

Thanks. This is why cruise ports like Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Tampa, and Port Canaveral are preferred.

The march and the SD cruise port are a coincidence. Why the comment? This is like complaining that the Boston Marathon is ruining an New England cruise. The smarter cruise passengers will just hold off until later in the afternoon before arriving at the terminal.

 

At least we are not freezing over here....

 

igraf

Is this an east-coast vs. west-coast thing developing? ;) I was going to make a wise-crack about the Floridians not being up for marching with their walkers and all... But those darn Californians... having opinions and everything... :')

Seriously though, I hope you all make it to your cruise and enjoy yourself on sail-away. The weather report for San Diego looks pretty perfect right now.

You won't be able to access the pier or drop off luggage until the previous voyage has disembarked....usually 10:30 am. It may even be delayed further due to traffic congestion, as taxis, shuttles, and buses are unable to access the pier from any direction. For those who don't know, the pier is in the center of the route....and with San Diego Bay to the west.

The trolley system uses a parallel route downtown, but protesters may block those lines, too.....that is how many of them will get to/from the event.

As I posted a while ago, Amtrak and Coaster (commuter rail) will be out of service for track alignment an bridge construction on 1/20/18.

The best way to deal with this chaos is to arrive late. Our shoreside staff, longshoremen, and the ship's officers are well aware of the consequences of this disruption.....and will expect to stay later than all aboard time at 3 pm for a 4 pm sailing.

Plan accordingly, and hope for the best.

David

P.S Walking distance (with roller luggage) from a few blocks away includes Wyndam, SpringHill Suites, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, Westin San Diego, Westgate, Best Western Bayside, Pacific Inn, and many other smaller properties.

I recall Hurricanes Irma and Harvey having caused significant cruise disruptions from Florida in the past 7 months.

David

P.S. Many of the protesters will not be from California....think about it for a minute.

Excellent advice.

Keith

Thanks. This is why cruise ports like Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Tampa, and Port Canaveral are preferred.

Wow, enjoyed all your previous posts. This comment is disappointing...

Thanks for alerting people, David.

Very thoughtful and helpful.

A large protest march will start downtown at approximately 10 am that Saturday and proceed slowly past the cruise terminal.

 

What is being protested?

It is a general pro-woman march with an underlying theme having to do with the last presidential election results. I'll leave it at that....

There are in fact several scheduled events throughout the year that will shut down Harbor Drive near the the cruise terminal in San Diego. The next one is the MLK parade.

https://www.sandiego.org/explore/events/parades/martin-luther-king-jr-day-parade.aspx

igraf

What is being protested?

 

There are in fact several scheduled events throughout the year that will shut down Harbor Drive near the the cruise terminal in San Diego.

Thanks. And how is that going to win people over to their point of view? Don't answer - that's a rhetorical question.

There are similar events all across the country on the same date.

Here is the Women's March route on 1/20/18......many of the roads leading to the pier will be closed for hours.

As I understand it, disembarkation might be moved up to start at 7 am.

David

Holland sent us an email with the news about the March.

IMPORTANT NOTIFICATION:

Please be advised that guests embarking in San Diego on January 20 should notarrive to the terminal until after 2pm. The Annual Women's march will occurbetween 10am and 2pm directly in front of B Street Terminal with road closuresexpected. While the terminal will remain open to pedestrians throughout the daythe road closures will impact vehicles. In order to alleviate congestion duringembarkation please follow the below progressive check in schedule:

2:00pm - Deck 10 Observation Deck & Deck 8 Navigation Deck2:30pm - Deck 7 Rotterdam Deck & Deck 6 Upper Verandah Deck3:00pm - Deck 5 Verandah Deck

3:30pm - Deck 4 Upper Promenade Deck & Deck 1 Main Deck

If you purchased a pre-cruise hotel package through Holland America Line yourtransfer time will be provided at your hotel. Guests traveling on sharedtransport or arriving as a group will be checked in together. Priority check-in

will be available to our 4 and 5 Star Mariners. Guests should not arrive prior

to the suggested check-in time and all must be on board by 4:00pm. Thank you.

Thanks for the Embarkation e-mail. As for disembarkation.....7 am start for Expedited, everyone off the ship by 9:30 am.

I see online that a particular protest group has several hundred members gathering at the Maritime Museum at 9 am for a rally.

That will make it very difficult or nearly impossible for taxis to get to the pier after that time....because that is just where they queue for the ship.

Stay tuned.

David

They are now saying 250,000 pro women marchers. Local police says not to confront them or even appear to, you could be arrested. The Amtrach and Coaster are down for track service so there will be more bus and car traffic in the area. Plan ahead.

The pier will open an hour early, 9 am. Check-in will start at 9:30 am.

Boarding will stay as usual 11:30 - noon. While you're waiting you can watch the parade go by. Snacks, water, and orange juice will be available inside the terminal.

David

P.S. Worst case.....If all of the access to the pier is blocked for vehicles, there will be a truck for checked luggage at Grape and Harbor Blvd. BE SURE TO HAVE YOUR LUGGAGE TAGGED WITH YOUR STATEROOM NUMBER.....DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PASSPORTS IN THE BAG!!!

From there you can walk 3-4 blocks to the pier.

David