Why does Princess sail older ships from San Francisco

[pris993]

We too hate flying but still do because we are healthy enough to put up with the wear and tear of flying these days. Our next cruise is out of Rome, our last was a TA out of Ft Lauderdale. But do understand how you feel. Even though we still do fly, it is really nice to simply take a taxi to the pier in SF, which we have done a number of times - started when Princess did round trip cruises out of SF to Mexico and Alaska.

 

We did one trip on Princess out of LA back in l985 on the old Sky Princess, would not go out of LA again. Not that great for us. Would rather go out of San Diego on HAL or Celebrity flying to S. California.

 

We were on the Grand when it was brand new, did a cruise from Istanbul to Barcelona in l998. Did a Califonria coastal a year ago to simply check out the Grand. We had a fantastic cruise on board the Grand. We had late Traditional dining, with excellent food and service in the MDR. We are fussy, generally special order off the menu every night. It was so good we never made it to Sabatini's.

 

We had a mini suite, in excellent condition... we would not have any concerns about cruising again on the Grand. We have done the Star, the Sapphire and the Sun, along with the Ocean out of SF... simply trying to support Princess in doing round trips out SF.

 

We did a TA on the Ruby a few years back from Ft Lauderdale to Barcelona, the only thing I like about the Ruby is the location of Sabbatini's.

 

My DH is 82 and I am 67... we have been cruising for 30+ years on a variety of cruise lines... I sure want to have Princess here in SF when we get to the point we can't fly. I am considering an Hawaii trip in 2015, if I don't go back to Rome for a repeat on Celebrity.

[Thrak]

I for one will gladly pay to cruise out of SF.

No airfare, pre cruise hotel or gas. For those of us still working, that one extra day can be big deal.

 

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You sure got that right! I have 30 months until retirement and can't wait! (I'm hoping to take the last two months as vacation time so that would mean I actually have 28 months left to work. It seems like a long time yet...)

[IECalCruiser]

The Carribbean class ship is what I call a warm weather ship. You will enjoy it in warm weather. Cool weather and it gets awfully crowded below deck. San Francisco is not a warm weather port even in the summer. Haven't made an assessment of the Royal or Regal as I have not been on either one of them.

 

I would prefer the Sapphire/Diamond class or anything smaller sailing out of San Francisco. Myself, itinerary, price, food, ship maintanence, and ship fitting the itinerary are my order of importance anyway, not the latest model of ship.

The Star and the Grand both have covered pools which can be nice for cooler weather sailing out of San Francisco. Unfortunately, we have lost the Sapphire and soon the Golden to Asia and got the Crown and soon the Ruby in exchange. They are more suited for the Caribbean and the Mediterranean than the West Coast IMHO. Why don't we ask Princess to send one of them to Australia or Asia and give us back the Sapphire or the Golden???

 

 

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[norcalemt02]

You should be glad of even having ships sail out of San Francisco. Royal caribbean completely abandoned California.

 

 

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[Thrak]

You should be glad of even having ships sail out of San Francisco. Royal caribbean completely abandoned California.

 

 

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I have to thank RCI for that. By leaving California they opened up more of a market for Princess and that works out perfectly for me!

[san diego sue]

We don't mind our short 1 1/2 hr. ride to San Pedro.

And flying to SF, also 1 1/2 hr trip.

We are so lucky. Would love it even more if there were a Princess ship

sailing from San Diego once in a while. Princess tried it for a while with the Dawn Princess but I think they had trouble filling the ship.

San Diego is such a perfect city for a vacation, wish they would rethink it.Plenty of hotels near our port. One is directly across the street.Parking at that hotel(and you don't need to stay there, only $65.00 for a week.

[waltd]

You should be glad of even having ships sail out of San Francisco. Royal caribbean completely abandoned California.

 

 

It's a shame that Royal Caribbean left the West Coast. We enjoyed sailing on the Mariner of the Seas when she was in Los Angeles. Even though our preferred cruise line is Princess it was a nice change sailing RCI. Different shows, food, venues and the ship was beautiful. too bad the cruise lines can't fill cabins. It's nice to have options and change things up occasionally .

[timetobook]

We don't mind our short 1 1/2 hr. ride to San Pedro.

And flying to SF, also 1 1/2 hr trip.

We are so lucky. Would love it even more if there were a Princess ship

sailing from San Diego once in a while. Princess tried it for a while with the Dawn Princess but I think they had trouble filling the ship.

San Diego is such a perfect city for a vacation, wish they would rethink it.Plenty of hotels near our port. One is directly across the street.Parking at that hotel(and you don't need to stay there, only $65.00 for a week.

 

I've lived in California my entire life, but haven't visited San Diego yet.

I'm looking forward to finally getting to see it when we take our 7 day coastal in October:)

 

The Star is one of my favorites too!

[Northender]

BruceMuzz-your points are well made, but I do take issue with some of them!! The tugs are required for a very good reason. The combined horsepower of the tugs must equal 5% of the gross weight of the ship, and have the power and bollard strength to control the ship should it loose power and or steerage. Can you imagine the cost and havoc if a ship hit the Golden Gate bridge and damage or destroyed it? Or perhaps ran aground and caused a massive oil spill killing and destroying marine habit and shorelines. All over the world, not just San Francisco Bay such escort tugs are now required by local authorities to help prevent such incidents. Perhaps in some parts of the world marine Pilots just stand around and drink coffee leaving all forms of navigation to the ship's officers. However in many areas of the world the "local knowledge" of the pilots is essential for the save movement of the ship. Concerns such as traffic management patterns, strong currents and eddies, effects of winds and their vortexes all are things that deep sea mariners, regardless of their expertise, have no hope of knowing for each of the many ports they visit. Pilots are often a nation's first line of defense for potential dangers sailing in from the seas, with a keen eye open to competency of the crew, condition of the vessel, and compliance with local regulations and laws. Tugs and pilots should not be taken lightly, they have a very important role to play in the safe navigation of ships. I have to comment on the longshore situationl

 

I agree with you on the safety. But in my reading of Bruce's post, I don't think it was that we don't need these people, just the cost of them.:)

[yyjguy]

Northender-I admit that there were comments on the costs, and yes they are high; that is the nature of the maritime industry. I did find the "mafia" inference very negative when the tug companies in San Francisco are all very reputable. The negative inference of a pilot just reading the newspaper and drinking coffee was also taken as a slight to very highly trained and qualified mariners. Perhaps because I work in the marine industry I am a bit sensitive!!

[bdjam]

I would be more than happy to see them at Fort Lauderdale and send you the Royal and Regal in exchange.

 

I realize that it's a two for three swap but one of these will carry more passengers than all three of yours.

 

Mike:)

 

Amen brother

 

 

Then the local Bay Pilot (required) is paid far more than any pilots anywhere else on earth.

It's $15,000 for him to stand on the bridge and drink coffee, while reading a newspaper for 2 hours, while coming into San Francisco. And then another $15,000 for him to drink more coffee for 2 hours on the way out.

So you're saying that Princess is on their own when it comes to piloting their ships in the San Francisco Bay while the pilot on board is enjoying the ride? Seems given the navigating conditions in the bay, we'd be having ships in trouble all the time.

Edited June 27, 2014 by bdjam

[duck addict]

One major factor why the ships do not change:

 

Only the Island and Coral can transit the existing Panama Canal. To reposition another Princess ship to the west coast (or return the Grand, etc. to the East coast), they must travel around South America.

Once the larger canal is finished, then any ship will be able to reposition.

[Cruisin' Chick]

And before the Crown (built in 2006) came over to the west coast this year, the most recently built Princess ships on west coast itineraries have been the Diamond and the Sapphire (both built in 2004). So it's not just San Francisco.

[IECalCruiser]

One major factor why the ships do not change:

 

 

 

Only the Island and Coral can transit the existing Panama Canal. To reposition another Princess ship to the west coast (or return the Grand, etc. to the East coast), they must travel around South America.

 

Once the larger canal is finished, then any ship will be able to reposition.

The Grand and the Crown (and next year the Ruby) made the trip with no problem and those 49 day FLL to LA cruises have been very popular.

 

 

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[Working 2 Cruise]

The Grand and the Crown (and next year the Ruby) made the trip with no problem and those 49 day FLL to LA cruises have been very popular.

 

 

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I don't understand what you're saying... The Crown and next year, the Ruby, had and have to go around South America in order to reposition to Los Angeles... They aren't going through the Canal.

[bhopal21]

I don't understand what you're saying... The Crown and next year, the Ruby, had and have to go around South America in order to reposition to Los Angeles... They aren't going through the Canal.

 

The point IECalcruiser was making is that any ship can make the voyage now and has regardless of the status of the canal completion.

 

Mike:)

[IECalCruiser]

The point IECalcruiser was making is that any ship can make the voyage now and has regardless of the status of the canal completion.

 

Mike:)

Thanks Mike :) That is what I was trying to say.

 

 

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Edited June 28, 2014 by IECalCruiser

[Cruisin' Chick]

The point IECalcruiser was making is that any ship can make the voyage now and has regardless of the status of the canal completion.

 

Mike:)

 

And certainly has for many years just by going around the tip of S.A.