DAllenTCY

Yes, there is a traffic light and marked pedestrian crossing....in this view David

Hi Pete, I don't doubt what you posted. A photocopy of a $5 bill won't buy coffee. David

San Diego is one of them. The airport is down the street about 2 miles. If you have non-refundable OBC then go ahead and use it for the transfer. Otherwise you have options. City bus $2.50 ....taxi $20+ tip.... Uber/Lyft....under $20 most of the time. Many times I've encountered guest who have either walked to the pier or from it to the airport. David P.S. ADA equipped taxis/rideshare are difficult to find. HAL transfers could be the best option.

Inflation affects everyone.....including crew. The cost of living everywhere is rising....especially food, housing, and hospital care. David

I'm curious as to what a photocopy of a passport will do for you? I've never heard of such a suggestion in 19 years working for HAL. David

In years past it would help....but not currently at our port in San Diego. Yes, we do receive advance notice of your request. What we do not know is when you will be arriving at the port. Everything is on a first come - first served basis. That applies to: Parking lot to Lobby Lobby to Check-in Check-in to ship Many arrive with their own ....wheelchairs, walkers, and scooters....preferred not only the pier workers but also staff onboard for your voyage. Airlines do not charge for mobility devices.....nor do rideshares, taxis, or bus transfers. If you need it....why not bring it? Any one of us can help push, but we have a very limited supply of wheelchairs and those few are typically in use all day. David

When you enter the terminal, look to your left or ask for direction to the ADA seating area. A staff member will take your name and add you to a waiting list (if necessary). Please be aware that on a typical 7 night voyage, somewhere between 40 and 50 guests require assistance. On the longer or Grand Voyages there are likely to be nearly 100 wheelchair requests. That being said, a shore side helper can only take you through the check-in procedure. You will be assigned a Group Number and then wait in a separate seating area closer to the gangway elevators. A crew member from the ship will arrive to take you onward once your group number has been called or in the case of Open Boarding as prioritized in that zone. David

The latest info I've received.....Volendam embarkation on January 3, 2024 = 1,072. Of those, 521 guest are either President's Club, 4&5* Mariner, Neptune Suite, or Club Orange. Continuing on from the previous cruise = 45 The local weather forecast is 50% chance of rain. David

"Priority" tendering....is offered to President's Club, 4&5 Star Mariners, Pinnacle Suites, and Club Orange. That could easily be 600+ who opt to go ashore early. David

When you enter the terminal, look to your left or ask for assistance to the ADA seating area. A staff member will take your name and add you to a waiting list (if necessary). Please be aware that on a typical 7 night voyage, somewhere between 40 and 50 guests require assistance. On the longer or Grand Voyages there are likely to be nearly 100 wheelchair requests. That being said, a shore side helper can only take you through the check-in procedure. You will be assigned a Group Number and then wait in a separate seating area closer to the gangway elevators. A crew member from the ship will arrive to take you onward once your group number has been called. David

Late departure today is due loading food and beverages. Everything you can imagine had to be replenished....pallets of sugar, flour, bottled water, wine, watermelons, bananas, paper goods, ice cream, beers, etc. The pier had over 100 left to load when I left to go home at 4:10 pm. David

Be sure to bring a Passport or Birth Certificate. Many guests forget that you need to provide proof of citizenship on sailings to the Hawaiian Islands from the west coast. Also, check to see if your "Boarding Group Pass" has a barcode on it. You may need to reprint it if not. A barcode will speed you through the check-in line. David

If you didn't already know.....the San Diego Airport is undergoing a major renovation to Terminal One. Phase 1 will be done in a year.....and then Phase 2 will follow with another 2 years of construction. Improvements take time. There has been no parking at Terminal 1 for almost a year. I agree that the politicians could care less about cruises. The last mayor ran his campaign based on repairing potholes...and he won. We still have potholes.... and his ambition is to run for governor. The County and City would rather that Los Angeles and Long Beach deal with cruises. Cruise calls in San Diego will be down over 50% in the years to come compared to 2022-2023. The forecast for 2024-2025 and beyond is even weaker. Newer ships recently constructed carry over 4,000+ guest....up to nearly 6,000 soon to be sailing from Florida and Texas. San Diego's port has but one gangway....newer ports have 2 or more. San Diego does not wish to compete for the maritime industry...cruises....containers...etc. We have bananas, automobiles, bulk chemicals.... and apparently that is sufficient to those who could change the future of the port. David

As far as I've heard, the Disney Wonder will be on the North Side of B. St. and the Koningsdam on the South side. That has been the case recently when both were in San Diego on the same day. The Zaandam will be at the Broadway Complex (aka Pier). Departure times: Koningsdam 3 pm Zaandam 3 pm Disney Wonder 5 pm David

An attempt was made about 15 years ago to build a "modern cruise ship terminal" in San Diego at the end of Broadway. The NIMBYS (Not in My Back Yard) so called "Downtown Coalition" (if I recall) kept the plan in court for several years. Ultimately so many concessions were made to downsize....limit the height....limit the length and that it has become nothing more of a location suitable for ships with under 600 passengers. David

The good news is that VOYAGE COMPLETE NOT COMPLETE K383 2482 91 Embarkation can be very fast once you've gone through the security lines. It only takes about 90 seconds for each guest .......if you are prepared: 1 Have your Boarding Pass with a bar code in hand when you enter the terminal 2. Each person should hold their own documents 3. Present your US passport at the facial recognition device with the Boarding Pass David

P1 = President's Club I should have made that more clear. Thanks. David

The Disney Magic will also be at the pier. We have had both ships here for the past two Saturdays (that has been in the works for almost a year). Disney guests will line up on the north side of the port entry road. Holland America will line up on the south side for embarkation. Two separate lines and entry times. The Koningsdam will have completed debarkation an hour before Disney. It is likely that Group A will be allowed into the building by 10:30 am. However, subsequent groups are very likely to be delayed until Disney guests have cleared out from the previous trip....usually around 11:15 am. It will not be shown on the televisions inside of the terminal. Disney does not want distractions. I presume that the Koningsdam will have the game showing....but likely not have Fox in your room. I understand that the broadcast will start early in the day. If it is important to you, I would ask the hotel for a late check out and enjoy the game at the hotel. Alternatively, you could drop off your luggage and watch the game at Portside Pavillion just a few hundred feet away and have lunch. By 2 pm the game will have ended....the lines at the pier will be shorter....and you'll have had something to enjoy for a few hours. The Koningsdam Boarding Groups unusual. I believe that P1, 4* & 5*, Neptune Suites, and Club Orange guests account for this. K383 A - 10:20AM 14 K383 A - 11:00AM 287 K383 B - 11:20AM 265 K383 C - 11:00AM 36 K383 C - 11:40AM 257 K383 D - 11:20AM 4 K383 D - 12:00PM 258 K383 E - 11:40AM 4 K383 E - 12:20PM 263 K383 F - 12:00PM 9 K383 F - 12:40PM 257 K383 G - 01:00PM 246 K383 H - 01:20PM 259 K383 I - 01:00PM 1 K383 I - 01:40PM 256 K383 J - 02:00PM 76 End of Group Arrival Expected Mariners Count LOYALTY CODE EMBARKING IN TRANSIT P1 7 5S 71 4S 260 3S 457 2S 349 1S 521 David

Yes, these groups are for Koningsdam 11/18/2023. If I had Group B, I would certainly be in line at 11 am after dropping off luggage. I would have my Navigator app on my phone with the bar code showing, or a printed bar code. Disney boarding does not begin (other than a few Concierge and Back to Back) guests until 11:30 most days. David

If you have a Group B assignment, you might want to reconsider your options. A - 11:00AM 294 B - 11:20AM 208 C - 11:40AM 202 D - 12:00PM 232 E - 12:20PM 217 F - 12:40PM 208 G - 01:00PM 212 H - 01:20PM 184 I - 01:40PM 196 J - 02:00PM 188 K - 02:20PM 190 L - 02:40PM 171 M - 03:00PM 258 David

If you don't have a bar code on your Boarding Pass...you will be asked to return after 2 pm. David

The route 992 bus runs every 15 minutes on weekdays....every 30 minutes on Sat & Sun. Drop off from the airport to the B Street pier is very convenient. From the pier to the airport requires a long walk to the intersection at Broadway. Fare is now $2.50 (seniors $1.25) each way. David

There will be 2 ships at the port that day....at the B Street Pier. Hopefully 2,600 (Disney) and 2,500 (Holland America) guests will be disembarked by 11 am. Holland America "Boarding Group" is a misnomer. It should be "Terminal Arrival Group". In essence it suggests that you arrive in groups of about 150-200 every 20 minutes beginning at 11 am. Actual boarding is subject to many variables. At least once you get through security screening, seating, restrooms, and vending machines are available. Disney Magic will have lines outside of the pier set up for their sequential boarding. Disney is very strict with it and will have posted times. This method has proven to work best at this port. Holland America would like to have you think that it will be controlled in a similar manner; however, there is no physical space to do so at the present time due to construction at the terminal. Much of the sidewalk outside the pier remains blocked off. My advice as usual.....do not arrive more than 20 minutes before your "Boarding Group" time. David

Door slammers Leaving TV volume up while ashore. Check in line with only a Driver's License David

Can't you purchase the Cruise the Vineyards package? You can get 5 bottles of wine for a fixed price. David