Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

More HAL cruises from San Diego

igraf

By igraf,
in Holland America Line

 Share

Recommended Posts

igraf

igraf

Posted
Posted

Here is an interesting news article regarding the number of cruises originating from San Diego. In particular, the article discusses the upsurge in the HAL Mexican Riviera cruises starting next year.

 

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/oct/12/sandiego-tourism-cruise-ships/

 

I believe that this is true as HAL has already announced the return of the larger Vista-class ships for the Mexican Riviera itinerary in 2016. One can also see from the article photo that Disney is now operating out of San Diego.

 

igraf

Link to comment
Share on other sites
78232

78232

Posted
Posted

We have booked a cruise to Mexico on the Westerdam for Oct 2016. We are very much looking forward to it. The general feeling in south Texas is that Mexico is much safer now than it was several years ago. We think Mexico will be a nice change of pace from the Caribbean cruises.

 

Marcia

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Krazy Kruizers

Krazy Kruizers

Posted
Posted
The article did not mention any labor problems.

 

In 2012 the Hotel Manager on the Westerdam said labor problems with the dock workers were causing HAL to think about leaving SD.

 

Here is a link to discussion about SD.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1732656&highlight=leaving+san+diego

 

 

We haven't been to San Diego since 2012.

And they sure did have problems -- mostly with people who didn't think they needed to go through immigration.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
sassyredhat

sassyredhat

Posted
Posted
We have booked a cruise to Mexico on the Westerdam for Oct 2016. We are very much looking forward to it. The general feeling in south Texas is that Mexico is much safer now than it was several years ago. We think Mexico will be a nice change of pace from the Caribbean cruises.

Marcia

 

 

Marcia, we are also booked on this cruise. As soon as my TA heard about it, she sent out an invitation.

We are sooooo happy to be sailing from SD, and excited to be back on a HAL ship.

 

Patti

Link to comment
Share on other sites
POA1 "Live from...." Rare

POA1

Posted
Posted
Here is an interesting news article regarding the number of cruises originating from San Diego. In particular, the article discusses the upsurge in the HAL Mexican Riviera cruises starting next year.

 

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/oct/12/sandiego-tourism-cruise-ships/

 

I believe that this is true as HAL has already announced the return of the larger Vista-class ships for the Mexican Riviera itinerary in 2016. One can also see from the article photo that Disney is now operating out of San Diego.

 

igraf

That's welcome news. The west coast of Mexico is a really great cruise. My wife picked it for her birthday a few years ago. It would not have been my choice, but I was absolutely wrong. It was a great trip. The ports were nice. The locals were great. Our pre cruise stay in La Jolla (Torrey Pines) and our post cruise stay in San Diego were great.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Copper10-8 "Live from...." Rare

Copper10-8

Posted
Posted

Good to have Westy based out of San Diego next Fall, doing ten 7-Day Mexican Riviera cruises, starting on 22 OCT 2016 with interim stops on 02 APR 2016 & 02 May 2016. She also does a 4-Day Pacific Coastal southbound out of Vancouver, BC with a rare, but unique, call at Santa Barbara, CA. on the way to the city of the Padres

Link to comment
Share on other sites
POA1 "Live from...." Rare

POA1

Posted
Posted
Good to have Westy based out of San Diego next Fall, doing ten 7-Day Mexican Riviera cruises, starting on 22 OCT 2016 with interim stops on 02 APR 2016 & 02 May 2016. She also does a 4-Day Pacific Coastal southbound out of Vancouver, BC with a rare, but unique, call at Santa Barbara, CA. on the way to the city of the Padres

Where is the Santa Barbara port call?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
DeeniEncinitas

DeeniEncinitas

Posted
Posted
Years ago when HAL offered 2 different itineraries -- each 10 days in length -- one for the Sea of Cortez and one for the Mexican Riviera -- it was worth all the hassle of flying across the country and cruising for 20 days.

We did that Itinerary 3 times and loved it.

 

Krazy Kruizers,

This is my home and have done so many of those cruises when The Ryndam, Oosterdam, and Zandam were doing them for several years! Loved Sea of Cortez, and the 10 day Mexican Riviera!

Our last cruise on the Oosterdam was the day after Xmas in 2010 doing the Mexican Riviera and we were coming back on a charter bus with Hal out of Acapulco! We were on the main drag of their busy crowded Main Street bumper to bumper in the heart of tourists central. Out of nowhere a band of men with masks started going through traffic with guns and we actually saw them drag a man out of a car across the other side of the street! One of them hit the man on his head and some women started screaming and hitting these men with her purse! We were told to by our guide to bend down away from Windows and asked us to stay calm. Ya right! I remember looking up to a poster of the US open tennis tournament with a picture of Andy Roddick that was advertised on a billboard. After that cruise we noticed I believe in 2011 that HAL started to dwindle down those cruises and eliminate Sea of Cortez especially!

I sure hope they do bring them back!

Denise:)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
jbhcw

jbhcw

Posted
Posted
Good to have Westy based out of San Diego next Fall, doing ten 7-Day Mexican Riviera cruises, starting on 22 OCT 2016 with interim stops on 02 APR 2016 & 02 May 2016. She also does a 4-Day Pacific Coastal southbound out of Vancouver, BC with a rare, but unique, call at Santa Barbara, CA. on the way to the city of the Padres

 

Sounds wonderful..have been patiently waiting for the Fall Pacific Coastals...are they out yet? And since San Diego is my former home town...very happy to see more cruises will be leaving from there:)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Krazy Kruizers

Krazy Kruizers

Posted
Posted
Krazy Kruizers,

This is my home and have done so many of those cruises when The Ryndam, Oosterdam, and Zandam were doing them for several years! Loved Sea of Cortez, and the 10 day Mexican Riviera!

Our last cruise on the Oosterdam was the day after Xmas in 2010 doing the Mexican Riviera and we were coming back on a charter bus with Hal out of Acapulco! We were on the main drag of their busy crowded Main Street bumper to bumper in the heart of tourists central. Out of nowhere a band of men with masks started going through traffic with guns and we actually saw them drag a man out of a car across the other side of the street! One of them hit the man on his head and some women started screaming and hitting these men with her purse! We were told to by our guide to bend down away from Windows and asked us to stay calm. Ya right! I remember looking up to a poster of the US open tennis tournament with a picture of Andy Roddick that was advertised on a billboard. After that cruise we noticed I believe in 2011 that HAL started to dwindle down those cruises and eliminate Sea of Cortez especially!

I sure hope they do bring them back!

Denise:)

 

 

That had to have been scary.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
DeeniEncinitas

DeeniEncinitas

Posted
Posted
That had to have been scary.

 

Your right it was! All I was hoping for was the bus to have wings and fly!!!

The federalies came in with protection gear on and smoke bombs!

All in all HAL was great and we were 3 hrs delayed, thank goodness for on site bathroom on board!

Got to ship and getting on board part of the crew and the Captain greeted us!

They gave us all a Pinnicale dinner and a bottle of bubbly! The thought was so nice!

Denise:)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Lizzie68

Lizzie68

Posted
Posted (edited)

Until Royal Caribbean abandoned the west coast, we did Mexican cruises but it was easy for us to get to LA. San Diego, whilst only being what used to be a 3.5 hour flight down the coast for us, is now more difficult because we now have to make connections either through LA or SF. My experience with San Diego port is there were never enough Customs and Immigration officers assigned, though it was better this year when we transited through.

Edited by Lizzie68
Link to comment
Share on other sites
igraf

igraf

Posted
  • Author
Posted

FWIW, it is just as awkward for us to fly up to (and back from) Vancouver BC for our Alaska cruises! A lot of people end up completing the trip with a 4-hour bus ride from Seattle.

 

Keep in mind that immigration is a US federal issue and not a San Diego port issue. Our recent experiences with disembarkation in San Diego have been without issue, however, we never try to be the first off the ship since we live in San Diego.

 

igraf

 

 

 

 

Until Royal Caribbean abandoned the west coast, we did Mexican cruises but it was easy for us to get to LA. San Diego, whilst only being what used to be a 3.5 hour flight down the coast for us, is now more difficult because we now have to make connections either through LA or SF. My experience with San Diego port is there were never enough Customs and Immigration officers assigned, though it was better this year when we transited through.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
AZWTRLVR

AZWTRLVR

Posted
Posted

Copper,

I am interested in the coastal that includes the stop in Santa Barbara. There was no information on HAL's website about it that I could find. What is the date? Would my TA have information yet if I contact her? Or perhaps I should call HAL?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Ricktan

Ricktan

Posted
Posted
Copper,

I am interested in the coastal that includes the stop in Santa Barbara. There was no information on HAL's website about it that I could find. What is the date? Would my TA have information yet if I contact her? Or perhaps I should call HAL?

 

 

Not Copper but I see. 5- day under the Pacific Coast on May 16, '16 that lists Santa Barbara

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • Hurricane Zone 2024
      • Cruise Insurance Q&A w/ Steve Dasseos of Tripinsurancestore.com June 2024
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...