Philob

If not already mentioned, wear knee-high compression socks on the plane. 

Born & Raised here; the areas you plan to be are fine. In fact I think your SF friend has a higher chance of her car being broken into. 

Like any big city it has its good and bad, stay away from the Tenderloin, South of Market areas and you should be good. Unfortunately those areas also border some "good" areas too.

Situation awareness, anywhere, is required. YMMV.

Enjoy your stay.

On 4/18/2024 at 3:52 PM, MsSoCalCruiser said:

With everything that’s going on in California right not I think a silly nickname is the least of our worries. 

Welp, the San Francisco City Attorney filed a lawsuit against the Port of Oakland across the bay because they renamed their airport "San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport".

Pier 80 is in a industrial area. I drive by it twice a week. There is NO parking unless your vehicle is a semi waiting to be loaded. Local transit stops are blocks away. Pier 80 is leased by an auto transport company and used as a roll-on-roll-off pier.

IMO take the Princess transfer from SFO. Some taxis/ride share drivers don't go to that area since it's "that part of town".

Flying on one of the Asian airlines will provide the best experience in any class. Singapore is probably the top, with any of the Japanese airlines. Cathay Pacific (Hong Kong) used to be on par with Singapore, but they've been on a downward spiral lately. EVA (Taiwanese) is the up and coming. Asiana (Korean) and Korean Air comes next. Skip China Airlines(Taiwanese) and any of the Chinese ones unless you're going to Shanghai or Beijing and the price is right. 

YMMV.

Look at your ATM/Debit card, if it has any MasterCard/Visa/Cirrus/Plus, whatever logos, then you can technically use an ATM that displays the logo. Be mindful of the fees that may be charged.

If you take the subway under the harbor, try to sit in the front or the back and look towards the other end. You'll see the other cars "snake" or whip around as it travels under the harbor.

On 3/11/2024 at 4:26 PM, Cleo21 said:

 Also, any recommendations for Airport to Hotel Transfer services?

Airport Express. It's HK's subway service from the airport to Kowloon Station or Hong Kong (Central) Station. These are dedicated trains that service the airport. You should be in Kowloon in 25 minutes. A taxi or private car will take about 45 minutes plus any traffic.

Go here for information about transport:

https://www.hongkongairport.com/en/transport/to-from-airport/airport-express.page

IMO it's best to contact a local brick and mortar travel agent to handle this. Each party will have different needs, better to let the pro handle it, especially the $$$:

My uncle passed away while on a land vacation overseas. Hospital admin wanted their bill settled before they would release him to the mortuary. Mortuary took advantage and did the same before they would release him to the airline. Aunt was a total mess since uncle handles the money.

12 hours ago, scottca075 said:

We park at the BART North Berkeley Station (reserved in advance).

Times are a changing...

 https://www.berkeleyscanner.com/2024/02/23/crime/north-berkeley-bart-auto-break-ins/

On our last NCL cruise the Captain sat down at the table behind us with another officer. We exchanged hellos, he said he loves curry pointing to his heaping plate of curry over rice. Guessing it was a work dinner, the Executive Chef showed up later.

4 hours ago, DarrenM said:

Its odd that in the land of the free you are not allowed the freedom to decline stuff like this.

 

Its the same on the UK.

 

we are not as free as we think.

The only requirements of citizenship is jury duty and the privilege of paying taxes 😉

Transit through Narita (NRT) several times in the past to change planes (one ticket). Each time I had to go through security.  You get off the plane on the lower arrival level, security, and escalator to the upper departure level. 

The closest was 45 minutes on JAL; they were "last call" when we got to the departure gate.

2 hours ago, klfrodo said:

That will be treated as an ambulance here on land but by air (since there are no roads to Juneau). Ambulances is covered by your healthcare plan.

Better check the terms of your healthcare plan. Back in the 90s a friend of mine had to be air-ambulanced from Anchorage to Seattle. It was a non-emergency transport and the co-pay was pretty hefty.

44 minutes ago, ldubs said:

 

No it isn't.  They can call it what they want but once it is no longer voluntary, it is no longer a gratuity.  

 

BTW, in my area the mandatory service charge is usually added for 6 or more.   

Don't forget in certain Bay Area cities there's the employee health insurance surcharge, soda tax, take out container surcharge, and lest we forget the auto glass surcharge 😉

NCL would have a pp fee that'll cover most items on the menu or if you order 3,4... extra desserts or entrees.

Best to have a copy of the policy coverage page and telephone numbers handy. 

"it's back on the ship. I'll go get it," may not work some times 😎

6 minutes ago, ldubs said:

 

For tons of fun, slip the cookie sheet under your shirt right before the X-ray.  😄

On that note, airports will x-ray international luggage before it's loaded on the plane.  Your luggage with the cookie sheets will be diverted to secondary screening...they're going to open them up for a look see.

The luau is a dinner (buffet) show. HA begins soon after and ends 9ish.

As you mentioned you can't book either without a package. Best to call them, they may of a "secret" option for you.

Your NCL excursion would have gone back to Waikiki already, so you'll need to figure out how to get back. It's a 45 minute drive back to Waikiki and Uber on the PCC side of the island may be limited that time of night.

Doable, but consider:

Depending on your last port of call you may have to clear immigration and customs at the pier.

Takes about 30-45 minutes to drive from the pier to SFO with minimal traffic. Another 30-45 (at best) if you have to check baggage and go through TSA. Sometimes TSA precheck gets backed up during the mid-morning crunch.

Suggest you look for a later flight. Why stress this after a cruise😎

Can't just show up, advanced reservations are needed:

https://gostateparks.hawaii.gov/diamondhead/about

2 hours ago, Shmoo here said:

Only answer I can give is that I know that when we stopped in San Francisco on a west coast cruise to Alaska, someone was not allowed to bring onboard the dozen fresh donuts (in their pretty pink box) they had purchased.  They were told they could eat them or throw them away.

Bob's Donuts on Polk Street is the closest to the pier that would have the pink boxes. 24/7 dive joint, that's always in the top 3 of best donuts shops in the city. Before the great lock down, line would be at least 5 deep after 2 am. 

I would be surprised if California did not tax it.

14 hours ago, torringtonwyo said:

for our precruise in march we are staying at the suites at fishermanwharf is uber the best way to get to hotel from airport for 4 of us and luggage 

Yes.