San Francisco is about a forty-five minute drive from home. We also have a BART station one and a half miles from here. Our cruise began on the second day of a BART strike. The drive in took two hours.
When Wanda and I started cruising I had to be the first person on the ship. That never happened because several hundred others had the same idea. I've mellowed in my old age. I don't fidget and bite my nails all the way to the cruise port. I no longer care when I get on the ship only that I do.
Over the years every aspect of boarding and disembarking the ship has improved immensely. I should begin at the end of a cruise.
Princess asks you vacate your cabin by 8 a.m. This gives the cabin stewards three to four hours to ready the cabin for the next party. All paperwork is done on-line. Our requested boarding time for this cruise was 1:30 p.m. We arrived a few minutes early, checked in and were on board in ten minutes.
At the cruises' end we always opt to carry our luggage off the ship. We were able to leave this cruise at 8:05 a.m. Jennifer, who drove us in, was doing a "Dirty Girl" run that morning. Not knowing if BART workers would settle we asked our Niece Lisa and Nephew Ralph and they were kind enough to pick us up.
Several of the people who read the blog are regular cruisers, so this information is old hat. But, for those of you who have resisted for whatever reason, what are you waiting for?
The cruise was a seven day round trip San Francisco on the Grand Princess. We had two full days at sea with port stops in Santa Barbara, Long Beach, San Diego, California and Ensenada, Mexico.
There are many different pricing scenarios. The nuances are hard to explain and for the inexperienced, difficult to understand. So here are some basics for the same cruise in March of next year.
An inside cabin for two is currently selling for $1,378.00. A cabin with a window is $1.478.00 to $2,298.00. A balcony cabin can be booked from $1,978.00 to $2,278.00. There are other categories, mini-suites have more space and start at $2,478.00. Prices include tax and port fees.
The largest cabins, the full suites start around $2,500.00 per person and go up to $4,000.00. Insurance is an optional expense and we always buy it. It's not only trip cancellation but medical coverage while on the cruise as well. I would much rather spend a few hundred dollars and not need it than many thousands and not have it.
Princess, like many other lines charges gratuities daily. The fee is $11.50 per person per day. Bar bills have a 15% gratuity added per order. I've never had a problem with tips. The staff work extremely hard and offer terrific service. Your cabin is refreshed twice a day. Clean towels, made beds, and points on the toilet paper. A standard joke: I got out of bed to go to the john and it was made when I got back.
Yes, the cabins (unless in a suite) are small. Yes, the bathrooms are small. But, they're large enough to sleep, sit and read, walk around in, shower, put on make-up and a hair dryer is attached to the wall. But, the ships are large, rarely feel crowded and operate twenty four hours a day.
Check out Princess Cruises.
I've heard many reasons for avoiding a cruise vacation. A few of my favorites are, "I don't want to eat with strangers and be herded around," "I get sea-sick in the bathtub" and "I can't go, I would gain too much weight."
All the major cruise lines now have some form of "Anytime Dining." Princess still has two seating's for "Traditional" dining, same time, same people and same table. But it also has "open" seating. You go when you want and sit together, with friends, or even with strangers. Trust me; you will soon have some new buddies. Conversations abound around cruising and most (if not all) people have the good taste not to talk religion, politics or money.
There are several other dining venues on each ship. Pizza, both take away and sit down service. A poolside grill has several selections including hamburgers, hot dogs and fries. You can opt for a large buffet from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Princess also has a 24/7 International Cafe with pastry, sandwiches, salads and soup. Room service is, for the most part, free. There are some per charge items and drinks. But if you have a club sandwich and potato chip jones at 2 a.m. just pick up the phone and call.
You can also eat at "per change" restaurants. Grand Princess has the Crown Grill which is steak and seafood and Sabatini's an Italian style place. Both are $25 per person and excellent. Why spend extra money to eat on a cruise ship? Why not? You can get an appetizer, soup and salad, a 20 oz Porterhouse steak, dessert and coffee for $25. Try that at Stewart Anderson's.
A cruise vacation is whatever you want to make it. On this one Wanda and I did more nothing than ever before. We lazed around the cabin a lot. We read a few books and we lazed around some more. We did not see one production show, one comedian or one movie. We didn't go to any lectures. We didn't go swimming or hot tub sitting, and we stayed out of the casino. We had a great time.
If you honestly get sea sick in the bath tub, one of the many remedies probably won't work and you should stay home. Although this cruise felt like we were sailing on glass, you never know. We had some rough seas sailing across the Atlantic and Wanda said she'd never sail again. We've been on six since. I've never had a problem.
If you honestly think you would gain too much weight. You DON'T HAVE TO EAT JUST BECAUSE IT'S THERE. I saw many people who were overweight, out of shape, and eating too much of the wrong things. Weight and food consumption is personal and only something you can answer. I suppose if one eats on land, they will eat on the ship. I loved going to the buffet and having all the fruit cut and ready. The salad choices were amazing. Wanda had her daily cupcake and I my pastry or cookies. We ate what we wanted to eat. We each lost about a pound over the week.
I just can't think of a nicer way to spend a week or more with someone you love. Fair warning, you do not want to go on a cruise with someone you "get along with OK." You will hate each other before it's over. Space in the cabin is limited but then again, you have an entire ship to explore. Grand had a brand new nightclub up on deck 15. It was empty during the day. It was a great place to sit, read or play cards. We got up there once.
I would love to organize a family reunion on a cruise. Just imagine, everyone does their thing all day and you get together for dinner. When Wanda and I win the lottery maybe it will happen.
Tomorrow, sailing out under the Golden Gate Bridge to Santa Barbara.
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