Dobby36

@Gardyloo makes a solid case for the Alaska card. I have it too, and love it. The value is there with the companion fare and I’ve used their miles to book business class in Japan airlines, Singapore airlines, and British airways (albeit with high taxes on BA) i see the OP noted the Amex platinum. I have it too and highly recommend checking out an online calculator tool which helps you estimate the value you personally find from the numerous benefits. Some are worthless to me, others I max out monthly and come out ahead overall. Take a look at the math and you may be surprised how much you get from that initial $695 annual fee. https://www.asksebby.com/credit-card-reviews/amex-platinum-card

interesting! I’ve been on both the Eurodam and NA Tamarind twice. All 3 times we made Tamarind reservations and sat there, but I added some sushi items from the Nami menu to my order, since they brought those menus as well. BUT we just got charged the usual Tamarind cover charge. Maybe I was just lucky! I assumed it was all covered if you paid the Tamarind charge but Pika maybe worked her magic

I was thinking the same thing. Ive lived in the same zip code of the port for ten years plus. It’s by the water! so very rare to see 40s, ever. And currently we are just touching 80 or slightly over, but no where near 90. Kiwimom must be based far inland. The fluctuations on the coast are minimal.

And as you mentioned, @mame42 I suspect you may feel a bit chilly! 😉

There are plenty of tours depending on your interest, and otherwise the Little Italy and Gaslamp neighborhoods are within walking distance to the pier, which both have restaurants and shops to browse. The pier area has plenty as well and a nice long walking path around the harbor. There are also plentiful ferries to Coronado, one-two hour harbor cruises (would recommend for nice narration and views, for reasonable price pp) and other rentals/activities near the cruise ship. USS midway and Maritime museum (collection of retired ships and subs to browse through) are other walkable highlights for inexpensive half day activities.

It will be foggy/gloomy here, likely (especially at coast, less so inland) but not downright cold. Should be fine for a light jacket if drizzling or sweatshirt if just cool. As others have said, you can google the exact temps and days of average rain historically, but there is rarely a bad time to visit Americas Finest City! Enjoy.

As long as you aren’t too concerned @lx200gps with a few homeless folks, you should be fine. It’s a pleasant walk that time of year and that direction has some hills, but no worse than other routes. It’s no a unsafe area and you’ll see a bit of balboa park along the way too.

Yes, all the Vista class ships have these two only.

On our BA to Santiago cruise on Oosterdam this year we chose to have lunch in the pinnacle during the day of scenic cruising the Chilean Fjords. It was a wonderful choice. Some of those passages were quite narrow, and therefore afforded great viewing of the shores from the windows in Pinnacle, just above the waterline. We were able to spot a bit of wildlife and many small waterfalls, etc.

No experience with the celebrity tour, but this water taxi sounds promising. Gets you from ship to main harbor area where they will store luggage, then taxi across to water later to BOS airport. https://www.bostonwatertaxi.com/cruise-ship-special we have it booked for Sept and think it sounds just right for us to kill 6 hours before our flight, maybe do lunch and a museum or something.

The walk is do-able in nice weather, but I would count on using most of the whole hour you found on google maps, etc. it’s uphill, and as already mentioned you need to get around to the east side to enter. Once you are inside there is a fair bit of walking and hills too, but you know yourselves and can choose Uber or walking accordingly. The only other item to note is either way you cut through little Italy under the 5 freeway, or head to east village and cross over the 5 there, it will be congested with cars and quite possible a number of transients and tents, debris etc. So just be aware of that, unfortunately.

There is an Avis/budget in little Italy (1670 Kettner) that is about half mile walk from the cruise port. The main car rental family is further, adjacent to SAN airport. not sure if either have a shuttle that drops off at the cruise port, but I doubt it since the airport now uses an on-site consolidated shuttle to the combined rental facility, doubt there is much in incentive to maintain each’s own shuttle service. but a 15 min walk, or a $10 Uber should get you to the nearest rental agency. Enjoy!

Plus one for this company, we used them after the Oosterdam earlier this year for a winery tour and hotel transfer. Guide was a hoot, and so full of info. Would do again for sure.

I would save La Jolla for if/when you come back to SD for a long weekend. It’s pretty sea cliff areas and there is some caves to explore, seaside viewing and nice restaurants and shops to stroll around. But to be it does not stand out as a must-do for a one-day visit. It’s also a 15 (or more) min trip each way from the cruise port to downtown La Jolla

Great idea! I watch tons of cruise videos on there but it never occurred to me to watch a port video! Many thanks. Aalso, @Wayfairers I meant next cruise, not next month. My apologies. We aren’t there until early November.

Should be, since White Russian is on the list (same thing but with cream)

Yes, but they won’t be premium brand name ingredients, rather house/well spirits. see the list on drinks on the bottom of this page, CrewNews posted: https://rogerjett-photography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Beverage-Package-Contents.pdf

That is what I was trying to say they do. I realize now I didn’t write it very clearly 😕 Suppose it can’t hurt to just make that clear when ordering, by saying “I have the drink package, can you charge me for two singles “

My fav is the bread pudding, but the one they make in MDR for breakfast, with orange zest and pomegranate seeds if I recall. I think it’s supposed to be only for Club Orange, but I’m guessing if you know about it you can just order it off menu? also the Thai Beef Salad in Tamarind. Mmm. Could eat there everyday!

They certainly can be out of specific brands, but they often have some that aren’t even ON that list posted (Grey Goose and Belvedere and Wofford Reserve come to mind- which all were included under$11 in 2022, and I suspect still are for singles) In fact, the grapefruit cosmo listed here is under $11 and has grey goose. https://rogerjett-photography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Billboard-onboard.pdf bottom line, all of those drinks you asked about should be covered, assuming you don’t ask for a double or the addition of some extra-premium liquor. the bartenders (more so than the servers, but often even them too) are good about keeping you under the limit if you say you have the regular drink package. oftentimes they would charge me twice, for instance if I wanted a double woodford reserve in something. And produce just one glass as I ordered 😉

Im stopping there next month too, on Celebrity and following this thread, hopefully someone has some advice. Seems like a very beachy vibe from our initial searches online.

Just also throwing my thanks in here. I’m visiting in November for only a couple post-cruise days, so this info has been very helpful as I try to plan our short stay as well. Cheers!

I agree the food in Old Town is not the best Mexican, but I think it’s a fun place to visit for tourists. But would place Little Italy above it, as others have. I think you could do it yourself, but since so many places are sit down and counter service, you might get a fuller experience with a setup done by a walking tour where you can still easily/cheaply/quickly sample smaller portions of main dishes. Enjoy!

Im in the minority, I see. But I think you buy tickets online and just Uber there. If they are charging $55 MORE than a single day ticket, for a group of 15 that’s $825 for a bus ride. If you use even a premium black suv Lyft/Uber, you’d only need 3 and at highest estimate it’d be $50/way, so that’s $300 total. The $500 you’d save could be used for a nice lunch at Alberts Treetop restaurant inside the zoo. (Do make reservations ahead!) Any Uber driver knows of the pier and zoo, ESPecially the Uber Black SUV option. plus this way you can get any cost savings on he zoo tickets (military are free, child are less, or a group of 15 qualifies as a large group for 10% off rates) but whatever you do, ENjOY! I’ve been a member of the zoo for years, and that plus safari park are some of my best memories. If your budget allows, splurge for a behinds the scenes group tour. Call them and they will make it really special.

I was also on Oosterdam in 2023 BA to Santiago, and agree that many dressed for comfort. There was still the occasional gown or tux, but much more rare than the Mediterranean cruise I took on Eurodam the year prior.