momoftwins+

There's also the famous Fog City diner across the street on Embarcadero. Always a great place to chill until you can board.

D736 or D737 are our favorites. Fully aft with the largest decks, and only one shared wall. If someone booked them before us, we don't go!

They are a pretty small operation so I would book as far ahead as possible. We live in the Astoria area and used them a few years ago when a car was in the shop with good results.

 

If they are booked the local dealership rent cars (Lums Auto, Astoria Ford).

Thank you so much for the information. I don't think the Mister can has enough time to get a round of golf in so I was thinking we'd rent a car and drive up to Mount St. Helens and back. Just enough time to get there, stop a bit, and get back. I figure 0830-3 pm should work. I estimated a round trip total 4 hours give or take, so an hour at the visitor's center would be all we'd manage. I just hate standing in line to get back on board. . .

Any experience with Enterprise Car Rental in Astoria? It looks like it's the only game in town??

For SF, I would say spot on for the trip to Alcatraz BUT it might be very cold, windy, and foggy if you take the first trip out. Remember, it is crucial to book ahead. It is impossible to just walk on.

There is so much to see in SF, and to get around easily I'd suggest Uber or Lyft. Taxi's are great if you are at a hotel. Uber or Lyft is much more easily scheduled and far more convenient. It's not like Chicago or NYC where you can flag a taxi down easily.

Muir Woods is also an extremely popular spot and another that requires reservations for parking/transit: https://www.nps.gov/muwo/index.htm

If you've never been, and you don't want to do a hop-on-hop-off bus, I recommend a drive through the Presidio, Fort Point, Crissy Field, and, if you have time, go across the bridge to Sausalito and the old Presidio Yacht Club at Fort Baker.

I myself am looking for options in Astoria. I'm thinking of renting a car for the day and driving up to Mount St Helens. . .

We have taken two trips with Uniworld and look forward to our third in 2018. If you're looking for detailed information about meals, excursions, cities, etc., you may be interested in the blog from our 2014 cruise on the River Ambassador from Vienna to Prague. While the ship is a very different style, I'd expect much of the food and tours to be the same. You can find all the posts on the trip index page of our blog: http://grosstravelchronicles.blogspot.com/p/trip-index.html

Interested in the Nile cruise. What sold you to choose Uniworld??

It's not a bad walk. We stay aft, the furthest away from any stairs. Doesn't bother us a bit. Actually, it helps! I can have an extra glass of wine or dessert that night for the extra steps!

We have never been anywhere but aft. We were spoiled by an aft Mini-suite on the Dawn; now it's even worse, with D737 or D736 on the Grand. Love the quiet, the wake, the vistas that give you the best of both sides of the ship, just at the back.

Oh yeah, the Grand has the new ones. Lovely! Just spent the last 8 nights on it!

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We just finished our Christmas trip on the Grand. My only other trip was 11 years ago on the Dawn. The new mattresses are great! The furniture throughout the public spaces were fine, but the couch in our suite was uncomfortable for me--felt like a brick! My husband loved it, tho. . . New show, Dance, was wonderful and the service throughout was outstanding. If you have the chance, do the Chefs Dinner. It was a truly memorable and unique experience.

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