NORTHERN CALIF Fun Cruisers

[barnismom]

Wow this is depressing our dear SHARKS are in need of our support now! Thankfully Todd McClellan is okay; we heard the game on the radio as we were going to an OSCAR party.

Carl and Yvonne, where are you? Hope you are enjoying the beautiful weather!

[barnismom]

Sounds like you made your deposit Janice! someday it'll be back in your hands and more cuz of the interest - but if the casino's interrest is like the ones from the banks right now, than you won't get much! at least get your deposits back!! glad you had fun -

 

carol

Carol, well I do intend to get it back! Thankfully I am not one to pawn something to get more bucks...it was an off day.

Have you thought of any possible dates for our NorCal Luncheon?

[kingsnake57]

Wow this is depressing our dear SHARKS are in need of our support now! Thankfully Todd McClellan is okay; we heard the game on the radio as we were going to an OSCAR party.

 

Carl and Yvonne, where are you? Hope you are enjoying the beautiful weather!

 

Here I am! :D

Been awful watching the Sharks lately.:(

Not sure what they need to get things going in the right direction.

Taking a couple of days off Thursday and Friday to go to Napa. Haven't been up that way for a while.

[cctn]

Here I am! :D

Been awful watching the Sharks lately.:(

Not sure what they need to get things going in the right direction.

Taking a couple of days off Thursday and Friday to go to Napa. Haven't been up that way for a while.

 

just nosey -- going to a winery? I love Chandon and Beringer - haven't been in ages - hubby wants to go to Coppola's in Geyserville.. Have fun!! carol

[kingsnake57]

just nosey -- going to a winery? I love Chandon and Beringer - haven't been in ages - hubby wants to go to Coppola's in Geyserville.. Have fun!! carol

 

Yes, we are going to stop at a couple of wineries. Sterling for sure. Haven't been there for a while. You get to ride the tram up the hill, great views. We are wine club members at Rosenblum, which is owned by the same company. Free tram and wine tasting!:D

We like Chandon too. You can sit in the champagne bar and order food.

Friday we might go to Sam's chowder house in Half Moon Bay. They have great chowder, and a lobster roll that's out of this world.

[cctn]

last time we were in Half Moon Bay, the parking lot was so full at Sam's - so we went to another little dig....it was ok but I am sure not as good as Sam's - have fun at the wineries - we have been going to Manteca to a very small winery and they are ok - they offer monthly specials and some of them have been very good buys. Right now my favorite is the muscato - always been, but never really bought a lot of it - now I have 4 bottles to drink up - I am not much of a wine drinker so it'll be forever before I finish a bottle - hubby doesn't like muscato ... carol

[barnismom]

Yes, we are going to stop at a couple of wineries. Sterling for sure. Haven't been there for a while. You get to ride the tram up the hill, great views. We are wine club members at Rosenblum, which is owned by the same company. Free tram and wine tasting!:D

We like Chandon too. You can sit in the champagne bar and order food.

 

Friday we might go to Sam's chowder house in Half Moon Bay. They have great chowder, and a lobster roll that's out of this world.

Carl, you will have lots of fun; the weather is suppose to be gorgeous this weekend. We like taking friends to Sterling and I also love Chandon too. Plus in Saint Helena we really love V. Sattui!

We haven't been to Sam's...worth a drive I am sure as I love chowder and lobster rolls. I AM STARVING NOW!

Our dear Sharks lost again...

[kingsnake57]

We have lunch at v. sattui sometimes. Fun place on a warm sunny day.

I found a really good sandwich place in St. Helena. It's called Giugni's Market. A little hole in the wall place, but they make the best sanwiches. If you ever go there, be sure to ask for Giugni juice on you sandwich.

We bought several bottles of wine (10 to be exact). We get free tasting and purcahse discounts at Sterling because we're club members at Rosenblum in Alameda.

We had a great day.

[cctn]

Weather was half way decent today here at home - went to Rio Vista this morning and the wind was blowing like heck - tried to look at the model homes there, Adult comm ... and the security told us only 55 yr olds and over are allowed and that we couldn't buy there -- what a compliment since I look older than I am-- unless he was teasing us!!! --yeah he probably was altho' he said, oops... needless to say, the models were closed cuz we were there at 10:30am and they opened at 12:30pm - so we had lunch at one of the local eateries and had to come home for another appt.

carol

[kingsnake57]

Rio Vista is nice. I used to have a boat birthed at Spindrift marina in Isleton.

[cctn]

Rio Vista is nice. I used to have a boat birthed at Spindrift marina in Isleton.

 

 

went there for lunch some months ago - love that area - love the drive along the levee along the rivers - c.

[barnismom]

We have lunch at v. sattui sometimes. Fun place on a warm sunny day.

I found a really good sandwich place in St. Helena. It's called Giugni's Market. A little hole in the wall place, but they make the best sanwiches. If you ever go there, be sure to ask for Giugni juice on you sandwich.

We bought several bottles of wine (10 to be exact). We get free tasting and purcahse discounts at Sterling because we're club members at Rosenblum in Alameda.

We had a great day.

Carl, how was the weather? I re-read your post and see that you were going before the weekend; very smart! I should keep a log of your recommendations. Friends of ours visited the Napa area President's weekend and said that most wineries were charging now and didn't automatically refund the fee or upped the minimum purchase to 6 bottles or more.

We have Visa Signature cards and they used to have specials for the Sonama wineries; not certain if they are still in effect.

GO SHARKS!

[barnismom]

Weather was half way decent today here at home - went to Rio Vista this morning and the wind was blowing like heck - tried to look at the model homes there, Adult comm ... and the security told us only 55 yr olds and over are allowed and that we couldn't buy there -- what a compliment since I look older than I am-- unless he was teasing us!!! --yeah he probably was altho' he said, oops... needless to say, the models were closed cuz we were there at 10:30am and they opened at 12:30pm - so we had lunch at one of the local eateries and had to come home for another appt.

 

carol

Dear Carol!

You don't look over 55! Enjoy the compliment! Happy weekend!

[cctn]

Dear Carol!

 

You don't look over 55! Enjoy the compliment! Happy weekend!

 

You are so sweet!! next drink on me!!ha!ha!

Went to Lodi for our classmates lunch than the inner circle (of our gang) went around after the others left and we shopped - went to antique shops - drove around Lodi - nice and warm - beautiful weather - carol

[UVaWiseGuy]

I didn't realize northern cal had its own thread. Looks like we have cruising neighbors.

[cctn]

I didn't realize northern cal had its own thread. Looks like we have cruising neighbors.

 

 

where you? yep -- we love to cruise - welcome to our little thread here -- visit us here often!!! carol

[barnismom]

You are so sweet!! next drink on me!!ha!ha!

 

Went to Lodi for our classmates lunch than the inner circle (of our gang) went around after the others left and we shopped - went to antique shops - drove around Lodi - nice and warm - beautiful weather - carol

Carol, I am on a mailing list for LODI but have never had the opportunity to experience that town. I know there are many wineries to check out plus I love antique stores too.

Today was gorgeous weather-wise but we spent half of it indoors: we went to the Stars on Ice with Fae/Chuck/Heidi-Marie. We had wonderful tickets on the ice!

I'm glad that you enjoyed your outing. FYI, do you have any dates yet for a NorCal Luncheon?

[barnismom]

I didn't realize northern cal had its own thread. Looks like we have cruising neighbors.

Welcome to this thread! My DH and I grew up in Palo Alto and Menlo Park and now residing is Shark Territory (we love the San Jose Sharks).

Please come by again!

[kingsnake57]

Carl, how was the weather? I re-read your post and see that you were going before the weekend; very smart! I should keep a log of your recommendations. Friends of ours visited the Napa area President's weekend and said that most wineries were charging now and didn't automatically refund the fee or upped the minimum purchase to 6 bottles or more.

We have Visa Signature cards and they used to have specials for the Sonama wineries; not certain if they are still in effect.

GO SHARKS!

 

Yeah, Napa is very expensive to wine taste. But, its really beautiful in the spring. The weather was great too. Rained a little in the am, but cleared up later

[barnismom]

Yeah, Napa is very expensive to wine taste. But, its really beautiful in the spring. The weather was great too. Rained a little in the am, but cleared up later

Carl, we have friends from out-of-state who often ask which is the better area and it's hard to say. We also have wonderful wineries in the LIvermore appellation and Santa Cruz too then there is the Santa Barbara area...so spoiled!

Keeping everything crossed for our dear SJ Sharks!

[NoobCruise]

well, we've only taken one cruise before and we definitely learned some lessons we'll apply to all future cruises. Our first cruise was out of San Pedro and the TA booked us such that we were up at 5am and stopped at Starbucks on our way to SFO for coffee and pastry - bad idea, sugar rush followed by sugar-crash about mid-flight. Once we got past security we weren't really hungry and didn't eat anything more. We weren't served snacks on our SFO to LAX flight and we landed just in time to hop on the Carnival shuttle to the Pier. No time for food or a drink. Then we stood in line at the pier for 4 hours to board. We had just enough time to drop our luggage in our room and grab our life jackets and head to muster. We were absolutely starving and exhausted by the time we crawled into the Lido grill for a burger. I think I did manage to have a drink in my hand on the top deck when we pulled away from the pier. After that first hectic day, it took me a day or 2 to relax before I started enjoying the cruise. Never again!

 

From now on, we fly the day before and board as early as we can so we can spend the day eating, relaxing, and enjoying ourselves. and new "tradition", I'm starting my cruise off with a couple of cocktails before we even set sail lol

[cctn]

Hi NoobCruise:

We always try to get into 'town' the day or sometimes 2 before sailing - more relaxed for boarding and not rushing around - welcome to this cruise gang!!

carol

[barnismom]

well, we've only taken one cruise before and we definitely learned some lessons we'll apply to all future cruises. Our first cruise was out of San Pedro and the TA booked us such that we were up at 5am and stopped at Starbucks on our way to SFO for coffee and pastry - bad idea, sugar rush followed by sugar-crash about mid-flight. Once we got past security we weren't really hungry and didn't eat anything more. We weren't served snacks on our SFO to LAX flight and we landed just in time to hop on the Carnival shuttle to the Pier. No time for food or a drink. Then we stood in line at the pier for 4 hours to board. We had just enough time to drop our luggage in our room and grab our life jackets and head to muster. We were absolutely starving and exhausted by the time we crawled into the Lido grill for a burger. I think I did manage to have a drink in my hand on the top deck when we pulled away from the pier. After that first hectic day, it took me a day or 2 to relax before I started enjoying the cruise. Never again!

 

From now on, we fly the day before and board as early as we can so we can spend the day eating, relaxing, and enjoying ourselves. and new "tradition", I'm starting my cruise off with a couple of cocktails before we even set sail lol

One of my sister-in-laws used to fly with her happy water and then add the OJ before she flew.

Flying in the day before is always less stressful! Welcome to our thread!

[SANJOSEGAL]

well, we've only taken one cruise before and we definitely learned some lessons we'll apply to all future cruises. Our first cruise was out of San Pedro and the TA booked us such that we were up at 5am and stopped at Starbucks on our way to SFO for coffee and pastry - bad idea, sugar rush followed by sugar-crash about mid-flight. Once we got past security we weren't really hungry and didn't eat anything more. We weren't served snacks on our SFO to LAX flight and we landed just in time to hop on the Carnival shuttle to the Pier. No time for food or a drink. Then we stood in line at the pier for 4 hours to board. We had just enough time to drop our luggage in our room and grab our life jackets and head to muster. We were absolutely starving and exhausted by the time we crawled into the Lido grill for a burger. I think I did manage to have a drink in my hand on the top deck when we pulled away from the pier. After that first hectic day, it took me a day or 2 to relax before I started enjoying the cruise. Never again!

 

From now on, we fly the day before and board as early as we can so we can spend the day eating, relaxing, and enjoying ourselves. and new "tradition", I'm starting my cruise off with a couple of cocktails before we even set sail lol

 

Wow that's what you call a lesson learned the hard way. My name is Yvonne and we live in San Jose. Compared to some of my fellow cruisers I still feel pretty new to cruising yet from our experience we always fly in a day or two early for a few reason. One of the most important is flight delays or luggage problems. Then the other reason is just decompressing from the hustle and bustle of getting there before the cruise begins. Last September we flew into Fort Lauderdale a few days before our cruise. We landed around 4:30 PM. Our cruise was leaving from Port of Miami we just usually find better prices flying into FLL. Well there was a big thunder storm as we landed and as we waited for our luggage we were informed that they could not unload our luggage due to lightning so to come back the next day to get our luggage. Of course there was big drama by all the passengers some getting very angry. We had a shuttle driver waiting for us from SAS transportation he assured us this happens all the time and eventually they will unload our luggage so he said I will wait as long as it takes. That was pretty impressive for the SAS driver to be so cooperative. About a hour later our luggage was unloaded and we were on our way to Miami though we had no idea exactly how long we were going to be waiting which was nerve racking.

 

This October we are cruising again out of Miami and again flying into Fort Lauderdale. We usually fly on SW except the only flights available arrive after 11:00 PM from San Jose. So we are flying on Virgin Airlines its a direct flight and its a red eye. We leave SFO at 11:30 PM and arrive at 8:30 AM in FLL. Still coming in the day before our cruise. One more interesting thing the Virgin flight was much, much cheaper than SW current prices.

 

To all my fellow Northern California cruisers I hope you are all doing good. I have not been on in awhile yet try to keep up with what's being posted now and then. We will be taking a vacation to Kauai in two weeks and so looking forward to the break.

 

We were in San Francisco last Sunday and WOW what amazing weather with temperatures in the 70's. We went directly to Muir Beach and hiked for a few hours on the coastal trail. Then we went to Sausalito for lunch and walked up and down the harbor looking at all the beautiful boats. We ended our day at Rodeo Beach to watch the sunset. As we left Rodeo Beach we took a right and ended up with the most amazing view of the Golden Gate Bridge. That was one of the best Northern CA days ever.

 

Take care everyone

Edited March 8, 2012 by SANJOSEGAL

[cctn]

Yvonne: all I can say about your day in SF is WOW!!! It is one of my fave cities! I love the view from the Bay Bridge and from the GG, even more fantastic -

That is freaky about your luggages not being unloaded-- so that is the very reason we should all try to get there a day or two earlier than our cruises - didn't know about flying into FT Laud. cuz it's cheaper - will note that.... also about Virgin Airlines - did you have to pay for your check in luggages? When we flew on Hawaiian Air last Jan, they actually weighed our 'hand carries' -- 20# was the limit and they were very strict about it -

they weighed ours but as it got busier, the other Pax's hand carries were not weighed and they didn't get the special little tag that they put on ours - we saw a lot of BIG rolls on's getting on the plane and NOT fitting in the overhead bins without being really squashed in there - not fare - I heard from some of the intern'l flight folks (Luftansa and I think Quantas) that they are also being strict and the limit there is 15# -- geeze... 15# is practically nothing -

glad you posted Yvonne - and have a good time in Kauai - haven't been there in ages - I hope you get perfect weather like we did last Jan.

Carol