need more cruise options from west coast!

[MissDiva1]

Common sense tells me if there was a market for a cruise going north from Los Angeles they would done it years ago......

[avidreader13]

We live in SoCal, very close to the port of LB and we don't sail out of there because we don't care for the MR itinerary. Mexico just isn't for us. We are port people as opposed to ship so we didn't like the at sea days too. We sailed it once and for us, that was enough. Thought about doing the Disney cruise from here as we have 2 young children but again, didn't want to do the itinerary so instead, are opting to cruise the caribbean, Western this time and Southern next. Not sure what type of ports they could offer to entice us to sail from here. Loved our Alaskan cruise though.

[Rosefloater]

During the Swine Flu cruises, there was a lady who did about 6 B2B cruises on the Paradise. We saw her on 2 of these cruises. She said it was cheaper for her to stay on the ship than to be home.

 

We took advantage of these lower prices. We paid $119/ea for an OV Riviera deck on a 4 day & $249/ea for OV Riviera deck Splendor. Went to Astoria, Vancouver & Victoria. The ships were full.

 

Would love to do this itinerary again.

 

I would have loved to go to La Paz. Been to Acapulco, Zihua, Mazatlan. Would love to go back there. Glad Carnival is keeping Manzanillo for now. Been to Cabo 3x and I really don't care for Cabo, but unfortunately if we want to go on a 7 day, then we have to go there 2x. I don't understand the fascination with this town.

 

There is violence in Mexico. But also everywhere else. The violence is not directed at tourists, but mainly between the police and the drug cartels. But in the Caribbean, thieves are targeting tourists, but the cruise lines still stop there.

[SadieN]

Why sure...but where else would you like to go that we can actually make round trip in 7 or 8 nights?...or less.

 

Today I got a postcard stating that I can go on a 7day/6night cruise LA-Freeport-St Thomas .:p

[mikelaw11017]

We too live on the west coast and agree the choices are limited. However there are many factors in play. Cruise lines are very limited on their sailings, because Federal law dictates they have a foreign port of call. On the west coast that means a stop at port in either Canada or Mexico. They could not operate an all US port cruise. It was really a joke and a bad way to end our Alaska cruise this year on the Spirit. Due to these regulations, the must schedule a stop in Victoria, BC. On the last full day of the cruise you dock at 7:30PM in Victoria and must be back on board by 11:30 PM (4 hr window at best). The additional laws and regulations that prevailed, essentially shut alot of the ships functions down at 2:00PM. All of the shops on board and casino were closed. Not a very good scenario. Alot of money is usually spend on the last day of a cruise buying gifts and gambling to the last second. No doubt, that loss of revenue from these operations plays heavily in the price of the cruise. Maybe someday they will change these laws.:cool:

[DEBnGAB]

Today I got a postcard stating that I can go on a 7day/6night cruise LA-Freeport-St Thomas .:p

 

lol!! Sign me up! That is funny!

[SadieN]

Why sure...but where else would you like to go that we can actually make round trip in 7 or 8 nights?...or less.

 

I think eventually there will be no more cruises to the Mexican Riviera.

 

RCI, NCL, HAL and one of Carnival ships have left ( Elation) and will be leaving (Spirit) .

 

All we have left is Disney Wonder, Carnival Splendor, Paradise/Inspiration or Imagination can't remember and Princess only part time.

 

That's it.

I think once Disney's contract is up, next March I believe, they will be leaving also.

 

With Mazatlan, Acapulco, Ixtapa/Zih and La Paz off the port lists, it is slim pickens.

We have always loved to do the MR run, so easy and convenient.

 

Very sad!

Toni

 

HAL Oosterdam is sailing the MR in March. Mom decided on the Spirit instead.

 

Love the PNW cruises. Have done it 3 times and would do it again.

[DEBnGAB]

 

I would have loved to go to La Paz. Been to Acapulco, Zihua, Mazatlan. Would love to go back there. Glad Carnival is keeping Manzanillo for now. Been to Cabo 3x and I really don't care for Cabo, but unfortunately if we want to go on a 7 day, then we have to go there 2x. I don't understand the fascination with this town.

 

 

I'd like to go to La Paz..had my eye on some of those itineraries I think in Jan-March...but then they took La Paz off for some reason. I want to sail the Splendor but not spend 2 days in Cabo.

[victory2020]

We live in SoCal, very close to the port of LB and we don't sail out of there because we don't care for the MR itinerary. Mexico just isn't for us. We are port people as opposed to ship so we didn't like the at sea days too. We sailed it once and for us, that was enough. Thought about doing the Disney cruise from here as we have 2 young children but again, didn't want to do the itinerary so instead, are opting to cruise the caribbean, Western this time and Southern next. Not sure what type of ports they could offer to entice us to sail from here. Loved our Alaskan cruise though.

I think I read somewhere that Disney is doing Coastal cruise out of LA. youy may want to look into it.

[jenn_x]

I would love to see more happening in CA...someday I hope to cruise the Princess ship that leaves out of SF (I understand it happens a couple times a year) to Mexico. :)

[Rosefloater]

Today I got a postcard stating that I can go on a 7day/6night cruise LA-Freeport-St Thomas .:p

 

Maybe they meant Louisiana (LA), not Los Angeles (L.A.):D.

[ccruisequeen]

I agree ....I wish we had like a 7 or 8 day that went to like San Francisco, Monterey, Seattle, Alberta or Victoria there are several port ideas....I heard the water is rough going north so they dont do it...not sure the real reason...and I know it would be more money ...spend more on fuel and port fees...even if they did it just a few times a year....i wish they gave us more options...

During the Swine Flu outbreak, Carnival & RCCL went North & our friends enjoyed that change of pace. By the time we cruised tho, the epidemic had passed & it was back to "normal" or us!:(

[MissDiva1]

I'd like to go to La Paz..had my eye on some of those itineraries I think in Jan-March...but then they took La Paz off for some reason. I want to sail the Splendor but not spend 2 days in Cabo.

 

La Paz is beautiful!

 

There is violence in Mexico. But also everywhere else. The violence is not directed at tourists, but mainly between the police and the drug cartels. But in the Caribbean, thieves are targeting tourists, but the cruise lines still stop there.

 

 

Exactly!!!

[DEBnGAB]

MissDiva-Is that your cat in the avatar? cute!

[saltsandknit]

We were on the Mariner during the PNW cruises. We got a really good deal on a JS. We sailed the 1st week of June. I don't think we would ever do that itinerary again. Our days at sea were cold and foggy, SF was 61 degrees windy and foggy. Seattle and Victoria were beautiful but the miserable sea days were just not worth it and a waste of a balcony for us. We like warm cruises we get enough cold and snow in Utah.

 

We debated about sailing the MR again this year but changed to the Caribbean. We like Mexico and have made friends with a few shop owners but the risk has become too high and 2 days in Cabo is just not appealing.

[MsSoCalCruiser]

In Mexico:confused: The $99 dollar fares (went up north) just proved the point that most people don't want to cruise up north even in the dead of summer......

A lot of people were afraid to go because they were freaked out about the Swine Flu.

 

You have a better memory than me. I took Splendor then and I think it was $399 for inside on that itinerary. I really doubt that $99 for 7 days ever happenned. Oh, and the ship was full on a June 1st cruise at those prices. I'd do that Canada cruise in a heart beat if it was ever offered again.

The $99 fare DID happen. I got the call from my PVP but I already had a flight to go and see my DD so I was unable to cruise or I would have jumped on it. Like you, I would also do the Canada cruise in a heart beat!!!

[Aquabug]

Yea I remember when splendor did that route to canada, and couldnt fill the ship at $99 insides for 7 days and balconys, any one you wanted for $299.

 

... and then people complained it was not sweetened with OBC at those rates.

 

 

Ohmi garsh!!!! Where was I when that was going on???! I so wish there were more choices coming from here. Hawaii is just too expensive for me, but the Pacific Coastals should be more popular than they are. I'm NOT charmed by Mexico in the least...

[MissDiva1]

MissDiva-Is that your cat in the avatar? cute!

 

No it's my friend's kitty.......isn't he a doll? Love your avatar!

 

We were on the Mariner during the PNW cruises. We got a really good deal on a JS. We sailed the 1st week of June. I don't think we would ever do that itinerary again. Our days at sea were cold and foggy, SF was 61 degrees windy and foggy. Seattle and Victoria were beautiful but the miserable sea days were just not worth it and a waste of a balcony for us. We like warm cruises we get enough cold and snow in Utah.

 

We debated about sailing the MR again this year but changed to the Caribbean. We like Mexico and have made friends with a few shop owners but the risk has become too high and 2 days in Cabo is just not appealing.

 

You complained about how cold the PNW was and you don't like Cabo:confused:

I am speechless:cool:

 

A lot of people were afraid to go because they were freaked out about the Swine Flu.

 

 

The swine flu was in Mexico:confused:

[MsSoCalCruiser]

?

 

No it's my friend kitty.......isn't he a doll? Love avatar!

 

 

 

You complained about how cold the PNW was and you don't like Cabo:confused:

I am speechless:cool:

 

 

 

The swine flu was in Mexico:confused:

It wasn't only in Mexico, one of my coworkers even had it. It was all over the US. At one point, the President even declared Swine Flu a national emergency.

[MissDiva1]

It wasn't only in Mexico, one of my coworkers even had it. It was all over the US. At one point, the President even declared Swine Flu a national emergency.

 

No that is not the reason that people didn't book up north........and no it was not all over the U.S.....and you do know that it was way overblown and the government look like fools after all said and done right:confused:

[DEBnGAB]

No it's my friend's kitty.......isn't he a doll? Love your avatar!

 

A doll indeed!

 

Thanks! Hard to see, but he's posing next to a Carnival hat..guess he wants to cruise too lol!

[MsSoCalCruiser]

No that is not the reason that people didn't book up north........and no it was not all over the U.S.....and you do know that it was way overblown and the government look like fools after all said and done right:confused:

In 5/09 there were confirmed cases in 36 states. If I remember correctly my $99 offer was in 6/09. What was the reason that people didn't want to book up north?

[MissDiva1]

In 5/09 there were confirmed cases in 36 states. If I remember correctly my $99 offer was in 6/09. What was the reason that people didn't want to book up north?

 

It was June. July and part of August 09. We finally got to go back to Mexico in August 09. And I had bacon for breakfast in Cabo......:eek: I should have died:cool:

[LucyR.]

I like checking out the repo cruises for the month of May when all the west coast ships start to repo to get ready for the Alaska cruises.

 

I have already booked a April 29th,2012 repo cruise to Vancouver on the NCL Pearl.

The Carnival Spirit had a repo cruise to Seattle last year. Princess and NCL also have the pacific northwest cruises around May.

 

NCL has the best itenerary sp. I love visiting Victoria and Nanaimo. Yes, it is a bit cold but I have great weather in Calif. all year and it is nice to visit those ports. Lucy

[Rosefloater]

It wasn't only in Mexico, one of my coworkers even had it. It was all over the US. At one point, the President even declared Swine Flu a national emergency.

 

I didn't realize it at the time, but when I finally went to the Dr. 4 days after the cruise was over, it turned out I did get the Swine Flu at the end of the cruise. Luckily I didn't get pneumonia (came pretty close to it though).