California Coastal-nice cruise but a bit rough

[cruising deacon]

We enjoyed the cruise and the Sapphire, good food and great service. The seas were a bit rough going to San Francisco, we arrived 6 hours late. To try and make up for the lost time they left 4 hours later than originally planned. We felt Santa Barbara was our best port, and Catalina Island was the worst. Not much to do there, no security or help getting off the tender. San Diego was a great stop for SHIP lovers, a lot of Navy action along with other sailing boats. All in all a good crusie. Princess entertainment could be a lot better, the shows never really seam to change, even the backdrops don't change during different numbers. They have very little else to offer in evening entertainment, so they offer movies. I could stay home and watch movies for al lot less than taking a cruise.

[Keith1010]

Thanks for the comments.

Keith

[Hayes104]

Thanks! What week did you cruise?

[paul929207]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

 

Thanks for the comments

[san diego sue]

Did you take any ship's tours ? Or did you just wander around? What made Santa Barbara the best port?

[sunsetbeachgal]

We LOVED this itinerary when we did it last October and seas were very calm....maybe the seas are calmer in the Fall? We thought Catalina was lovely and we enjoyed learning about it's history. Agree that Santa Barbara was great! Touring the Midway in San Diego was a highlight for us.

 

The Sapphire is such a great ship...hate to see her leave next year for the far East.

[jbobst]

Kind of sounds like the cruise we were on (April 6th). We were late getting to SF and the seas were a bit rough heading up there. However, that itinerary is so port intensive the few hours of rough seas seemed hardly bothersome. Plus, rough seas can happen on any cruise going anywhere.

 

One comment about Catalina...while we didn't do much there ourselves, I love that island and think it's a great port. The tenders were extremely easy and efficient and didn't have far to go (where as Santa Barbara was a bit more complicated and farther with the tenders). I have to say that I am very disappointed that Princess has changed the Coastal itinerary for next season skipping the Catalina stop. I beats a sea day by far (stay on the ship if you want to and enjoy the fewer people) and it's just a pretty little town/island.

[cr8tiv1]

I think the OP was on the April 13 voyage. This is the one that was 6 hours late arriving in San Francisco and left 4 hours later the following day. The April 6th voyage was only a few hours late (due to leaving San Pedro late).

 

I was also on the 4/13 cruise. It was a port intensive cruise and very glad to have hit all of those cities. Not too impressed with the new itinerary, but do understand the need since they seemed to have run into a lot of delays. Tendering in Santa Barbara was more difficult than Santa Catalina. All ports had beautiful weather (with a little more cold wind in San Francisco.

 

I agree with the production numbers. I only found one (out of three) that matched the lead singers well. Not sure if this is Princess or the cast. Other productions on other ships seemed to be much better.

 

There is another poster that says that any day at sea (cruising) is better than ____.

 

I enjoyed my voyage.

 

Renee

[cruising deacon]

Thanks! What week did you cruise?

We sailed away on Saturday, May 13

[cruising deacon]

Did you take any ship's tours ? Or did you just wander around? What made Santa Barbara the best port?

We are kind of toured out, most of them (unless extremely unusual) are about the same. The reason we liked Santa Barbara so much was that is was a beautiful and clean city. We were greeted at the tender pier by about 20 locals who volunteer to help visitors out. There only agenda was to help you find something that you wanted to do. One suggested the trolley tour (by the city), it actually is designed to take through the shopping areas so that you can be dropped off, and then catch it again to eventually get to somewhere else or back to catch the tender. We just stayed on and received an informative and enjoyable tour of their lovely city. The cost is 50 cents per ride, but they will only accept 25 cents from seniors, so it cost us 50 cents total, but the time was priceless.

I never heard any of the cruise passengers say a bad word about Santa Barbara.

[melody hounddog]

we sailed away on saturday, may 13

 

2012?

[Astro Flyer]

When we sailed a CA Coastal 2 years ago SB was the 1st stop & fog slightly delayed our tendering. Then a sea day & morning arrival in SF for the day. The current from Alaska generally produces a rougher experience going northbound than the other direction.

 

We didn't stop in Catalina which to me isn't much more than a walk around Avalon. Even the tour to the interior of the island we took on a Carnival cruise wasn't that interesting so I can understand why it's being dropped. SD was a great day & good to hear that others have enjoyed my home for a couple of years...USS Midway CV-41.

 

The past couple of months have brought strong winds to CA & wonder if that's a reason for the rough seas? Generally spring is calm with more fog & fall gets stronger winds & less fog.

[Astro Flyer]

I never heard any of the cruise passengers say a bad word about Santa Barbara.

And for those who enjoy wine tasting without going to the Santa Ynez wine country there are several good wine tastings within walking distance near the pier just off State Street. :)

[Working 2 Cruise]

2012?

 

No, April 13, 2013. Yes, it was a bit rough, but all in all it was a great cruise! I did not see any of the production shows, but the comedians were great. To each his own... A lot of varied entertainment was offered...

 

There were so many choices offered, I never got to do half of what was offered, as usual...:) I am sure I can remedy this on my next cruise - to Tahiti!

 

Our CD, Billy Hygate, was hilarious.

[Astro Flyer]

I am sure I can remedy this on my next cruise - to Tahiti!

Nina glad you're booked on the very popular roundtrip LA cruise to Hawaii & the South Pacific. It's a great way to go without having to fly anywhere although I wish they still had the Sydney to LA cruise that we enjoyed so much.

 

A couple of days in Sydney & cruising New Zealand added a lot to that cruise. There were 10% of the passengers who did the b2b from SF to LA & wished we could have done that with only a short flight to SF.

[Working 2 Cruise]

Frank, this is a big leap of faith for us...

 

I am very happy about it although I heard some stories about bad behavior on this particular cruise...;)

 

Believe it or not, but Norman was the instigator behind this one. I am normally the one who books our cruises and this was, because of the expense involved, a little outside my comfort zone, to put it mildly. At least, there will be no airfare or hotel expenses!

 

I have always dreamed of seeing the South Pacific, and now, I just may! On our last cruise (not so long ago), we were bemoaning the lack of sea days... :D

 

If you have any insight as to what to do in Papeete, I would be delighted to hear it. Can't wait for the first reports from the Royal Princess...

[san diego sue]

To Cruising Deacon,

Thanks for the information on Santa Barbara,

We will definitely look for that shuttle.

I cancelled all the ship's tour for our Coastal this Saturday.Just want to wander around too. We travel quite a bit and in foreign ports, really need to tour in order to see everything. It will be so relaxing on this cruise not having to do this, and just enjoy the ports.

:D

[aquaclass]

Hi Cruising Deacon,

 

How many Princess Cruises have you sailed? How do you think Princess has changed over time?

[DrivesLikeMario]

There is PLENTY to do in Catalina, but you have to put a little effort forth to experience it. The island tours that go quite a way inland are the best option. There's great golfing, horseback riding, buffaloes to see, some shopping, a few good food places, a museum, and just driving around in a golf cart for the day is fun. There's also marine wildlife to experience, boat trips, snorkeling, kayaking, and so much more. The best way to get "into" the island is to do a good, in-depth tour.

[C5R]

There is PLENTY to do in Catalina, but you have to put a little effort forth to experience it. The island tours that go quite a way inland are the best option. There's great golfing, horseback riding, buffaloes to see, some shopping, a few good food places, a museum, and just driving around in a golf cart for the day is fun. There's also marine wildlife to experience, boat trips, snorkeling, kayaking, and so much more. The best way to get "into" the island is to do a good, in-depth tour.

 

Agreed. There's a great zip line facility a bit inland. The casino tour is also very interesting given its history and construction. My wife and I also took a Segway tour that was a lot of fun. We spent a weekend in Avalon during our anniversary last year.

[fabby50]

Count me in as another "Catalina lover". Grew up in SoCal, so been there many times. Agree with everyone's recommendations, plus don't forget the Wrigley Gardens. We walk out there every time we visit. Also, take the stairs up to the bell tower - great views and everyone along the way have wonderful plants and gardens. And how about Zane Grey's place? Over our fireplace, we have a panoranmic picture of the theater section of the casino. Helps that we're avid art deco lovers -

[agabbymama]

I've done the Pacific Northwest from Los Angeles northbound to Vancouver in May. Seas were a little rough around San Francisco, we were 5 hours late too.

 

But the worst was a Southbound from Vancouver back to Los Angeles in September. We had 25 foot seas, they slowed the ship to 11 knots to try and smooth out the ride a little. We had broken glasses, plastic bottles flying everywhere. If it wasn't tied down, it was moving, In Victoria the winds were so bad, they stopped people exiting the ship (one lady was hit by flying debris and taken to the hospital). Astoria Oregon was cancelled due to high winds.

 

The Pacific is what is. It can be rough, stormy, & windy at any time of the year. You never know.

[remydiva]

Kind of sounds like the cruise we were on (April 6th). We were late getting to SF and the seas were a bit rough heading up there. However, that itinerary is so port intensive the few hours of rough seas seemed hardly bothersome. Plus, rough seas can happen on any cruise going anywhere.

 

One comment about Catalina...while we didn't do much there ourselves, I love that island and think it's a great port. The tenders were extremely easy and efficient and didn't have far to go (where as Santa Barbara was a bit more complicated and farther with the tenders). I have to say that I am very disappointed that Princess has changed the Coastal itinerary for next season skipping the Catalina stop. I beats a sea day by far (stay on the ship if you want to and enjoy the fewer people) and it's just a pretty little town/island.

 

I've done this route many times in both directions...in fact leaving next week on another one with some cruisn' virgin friends from LA.

 

It is always rougher going south to north in the spring because you are travelling AGAINST the Japanese current. The reverse trip in the fall you are almost floating on the current thus much smoother.

The seas off the coast of Oregon are known to be some of the roughest in the world.

Warning: Take Bonamine motion pills with you. Non drowsy and work like a charm if you have any tummy issues.

[cruising deacon]

Hi Cruising Deacon,

 

How many Princess Cruises have you sailed? How do you think Princess has changed over time?

Many - Elite tier - The service and dining is still good, but the entertainment has gone downhill over time. - Hi aquaclass - so you finally found me

not too happy so far with posting on this forum, some people think they know more than you even when they were not on the cruise. And you know, if you THINK something is RIGHT or WRONG then in my opinion it is, but some of these jokers feel they can tell you WHAT TO THINK instead of THINKING for yourself. I thought this site was for MY thoughts on the cruise, not somebody elses!!!! My REVIEW was accepted and posted, but I noticed the ratings I gave for DINING and SERVICE were shown INCORRECT when displayed. In both cases I rated them 5+, but they came back as UNRATED. Do you know how I can correct them?