Semi-live from the Solstice | Mexican Riviera, Oct 22-29

[NitaBcruising]

Thank you so much, OrcaGirl, for your report from this ship! I'll be on her in 2 weeks! I enjoyed reading your posts and seeing your great pics! I've cruised Mexico a few times, not my fave, but my daughter hasn't been. We're both looking forward to sunny, warm weather, and just relaxing! 

I am interested in the LA tour, though, as we don't fly out until 6 pm. A day sitting at the airport isn't appealing! Maybe my DD will rent a car instead!  She'll drive in LA traffic!!! 

[ACorgan]

Thanks so much for the live review! Do you happen to know at what time they started allowing people to disembark? We’re planning to hop straight to Disneyland from our cruise to meet people, so trying to get a realistic idea of how soon we’d be able to get over to the park 

[Smmessineo]

Thanks for your fun live review @OrcaGirl! 

[OrcaGirl]

6 hours ago, ACorgan said:

Thanks so much for the live review! Do you happen to know at what time they started allowing people to disembark? We’re planning to hop straight to Disneyland from our cruise to meet people, so trying to get a realistic idea of how soon we’d be able to get over to the park 

sometime between 7:30am and 8am for self-disembark … YMMV if the ship docks in its usual spot at the regular pier. 

[OrcaGirl]

7 hours ago, NitaBcruising said:

Thank you so much, OrcaGirl, for your report from this ship! I'll be on her in 2 weeks! I enjoyed reading your posts and seeing your great pics! I've cruised Mexico a few times, not my fave, but my daughter hasn't been. We're both looking forward to sunny, warm weather, and just relaxing! 

I am interested in the LA tour, though, as we don't fly out until 6 pm. A day sitting at the airport isn't appealing! Maybe my DD will rent a car instead!  She'll drive in LA traffic!!! 

I think it’s fair to say we did enjoy ourselves IN SPITE OF the tour guide and the missed stop. Bus tours aren’t my favourite thing (the glare from the windows means the photos never come out) but we did enjoy our independent time in Santa Monica and not having to deal with our luggage until the airport. So as a time-killer, it served its purpose.

 

Poor Fox, though. Her flight home got delayed by over two hours due to (get this) a fishing pole stuck in the overhead compartment of the plane. I told her to come to Disneyland with me instead… 🤣

[lakegirl16]

Thank you for your great review.  We're on the Solstice in December so your information is most appreciated.  Enjoy Disneyland and safe travels home.  

[SHIP TRAVELER]

Thanks for the live review. We were shocked about the disembarkation situation.  We always carry off and we have an early flight (10:45) from LAX.  On our other Mex Riv cruises we have always been able to walk off with the first wave.  Was there any explanation about the use of this pier and when you say shuttle buses, were these for every passenger on the ship?  I am trying to picture this because some people carry off a lot of baggage even when they put their big bags out the night before.  This may be because they need CPAP or other things for even an overnight.  Some have wheelchairs and walkers so how did the shuttle buses handle all of this?  I am wondering how long it would take if we are in the same situation and can't breeze off early and grab an Uber straight to LAX. Thanks for any feedback.

[mauimary]

Folks withWheel chair and scooters and walkers had their own handicap smaller bus. The reason we had to do this is because both Princess and Norwegian had use of the main piers at San Pedro.  We were told they had seniority. We were at a sort of makeshift pier #46. 

For those with early flights you need to let them know as no one could do walk off. They will place you in a earlier group. We did not get called until nearly 9:30. Then you get in a long line to clear Immigration in the dining room then another long line to walk down a very steep plank from deck 4.  Then the two busses one to get luggage and place it on another bus and finally down to Pier 93 where taxi and Uber cars are.  At this point we then competed with the Norwegian passengers.  We made it to LAX @apx 1145!  Needless to say a process and hopefully it’s not like this all the time.   Our flight was not until 2p hence the reason for our late group #28. 

Edited October 30, 2022 by mauimary

[mynx7]

We were also on this trip, and while the cruise itself was lovely and relaxing, the disembarkation was the most jarring experience yet for us, but thanks to the kindness of others it wasn't a disaster!

We were in the retreat, so we had an escort to the immigration line on the ship, but that was where the concierge stopped. A kind staff member did let us take the elevator down to 2 after immigration so we could skip the steep walk, but before we got off the ship we had a surprise phone call from a guest (we didn't know) to say they were calling because one of our bags was unloaded from a bus at 93 and was just sitting out alone out there. 

 

We eventually caught the shuttle to baggage pickup, grabbed our 2nd bag, tried to figure out what on earth had happened with staff there (they had no clue, but already had a stack of reports from other guests regarding luggage issues), and then our group had to coordinate with our driver who was at the wrong pier for pick up, and then drive over to get our wayward bag.  Thanks to the kindness of that amazing guest who kept our bag with her, we were able to return home with everything despite the absolute chaos!

 

Overall, we are spoiled with the retreat normally and disembarkation being a 5-10 minute quick walk out & through customs; this time we were at about 1.5 hours to get out of the port.  I hope if they have to use this pier again, they can get a bit more organized.

[RobandLynda]

Great report. 

 

Do you know or have any idea how many or what percent of the passengers got covid on the cruise?

 

The cruise lines - if they know- will not release this info to the public. 

 

We are looking at this cruise in Dec - but everyone we know who has gone on a cruise this year has come back with Covid - (including us in June. )  This info would be good to know so that we can make an informed decision.

 

Thanks

[mauimary]

30 minutes ago, RobandLynda said:

Great report. 

 

Do you know or have any idea how many or what percent of the passengers got covid on the cruise?

 

The cruise lines - if they know- will not release this info to the public. 

 

We are looking at this cruise in Dec - but everyone we know who has gone on a cruise this year has come back with Covid - (including us in June. )  This info would be good to know so that we can make an informed decision.

 

Thanks

No announcements on C.  We have been on four cruises in the last year (Europe Alaska and twice to Mexico) as well as a land trip involving trains in Europe we have not gotten Covid.  We are also very careful.  We are boosted to the max. 
 

This particular cruise was really fun and our weather was perfect. 

[NitaBcruising]

8 hours ago, OrcaGirl said:

I think it’s fair to say we did enjoy ourselves IN SPITE OF the tour guide and the missed stop. Bus tours aren’t my favourite thing (the glare from the windows means the photos never come out) but we did enjoy our independent time in Santa Monica and not having to deal with our luggage until the airport. So as a time-killer, it served its purpose.

 

Poor Fox, though. Her flight home got delayed by over two hours due to (get this) a fishing pole stuck in the overhead compartment of the plane. I told her to come to Disneyland with me instead… 🤣

Thanks! We decided to book this tour. Beats sitting at the airport for 8 hours!!! I actually don't care for big bus tours either. but, will do this and hope for the best!

[SHIP TRAVELER]

4 hours ago, mauimary said:

Folks withWheel chair and scooters and walkers had their own handicap smaller bus. The reason we had to do this is because both Princess and Norwegian had use of the main piers at San Pedro.  We were told they had seniority. We were at a sort of makeshift pier #46. 

For those with early flights you need to let them know as no one could do walk off. They will place you in a earlier group. We did not get called until nearly 9:30. Then you get in a long line to clear Immigration in the dining room then another long line to walk down a very steep plank from deck 4.  Then the two busses one to get luggage and place it on another bus and finally down to Pier 93 where taxi and Uber cars are.  At this point we then competed with the Norwegian passengers.  We made it to LAX @apx 1145!  Needless to say a process and hopefully it’s not like this all the time.   Our flight was not until 2p hence the reason for our late group #28. 

Thanks so much for this response.  Thank Goodness it looks like we will not have Princess and NCL to contends with on our Dec. 19th disembarkation day.  This sounds like a big mess.  Our original flight was at 12:45 and the airline changed it to earlier.  The only other choice was a very late flight and all day at LAX so we went with the early flight based on past experience at San Pedro.  I was concerned that we might need to change to that late flight after reading the OP's post.  I will bet Uber had very expensive surge pricing with all those ships off loading on the same morning.  Thanks again for setting my mind at ease.

[briguy1314]

On 10/29/2022 at 3:18 PM, OrcaGirl said:

Yes, we ended up having four different time changes and as a result I never knew what time it was.

One of the drawbacks of a Mexican cruise. It’s so exhausting and confusing! 🙂

[Texed]

7 hours ago, SHIP TRAVELER said:

wWe were shocked at the disembarkation situation.

 

5 hours ago, mauimary said:

For those with early flights you need to let them know as no one could do walk off.  At this point we then competed with the Norwegian passengers.  We made it to LAX @apx 1145!  Needless to say a process and hopefully it’s not like this all the time.  

In my opinion San Pedro is the worst embarkation/disembarkation port I have ever sailed in and/or out of. Yes, I believe it is always that way.  

[mauimary]

42 minutes ago, SHIP TRAVELER said:

Thanks so much for this response.  Thank Goodness it looks like we will not have Princess and NCL to contends with on our Dec. 19th disembarkation day.  This sounds like a big mess.  Our original flight was at 12:45 and the airline changed it to earlier.  The only other choice was a very late flight and all day at LAX so we went with the early flight based on past experience at San Pedro.  I was concerned that we might need to change to that late flight after reading the OP's post.  I will bet Uber had very expensive surge pricing with all those ships off loading on the same morning.  Thanks again for setting my mind at ease.

We pd $43.42 dollars to LAX in a Mercedes!  For some reason our ride arrived before many of the others.   I think by the time we got to terminal 93 many of the earlier  Norwegian passengers had already been picked up so it was not too overly crazy!  Busy yes. 

Edited October 30, 2022 by mauimary

[zdad59]

Now that the trip is over, can you tell us what cabin you were in?     We'll be in 7266 in February on the same itinerary as you.   Your thread has been extremely helpful.   Thank you.

[twincheryl]

21 hours ago, mynx7 said:

Overall, we are spoiled with the retreat normally and disembarkation being a 5-10 minute quick walk out & through customs; this time we were at about 1.5 hours to get out of the port.  I hope if they have to use this pier again, they can get a bit more organized.

Wonder how they handle embarkation...? People have to drop luggage at berth 93 and bus over to the ship?  Sounds like a giant hassle.  Looked on Goggle Maps and it's 2.5 miles, so probably not walkable.

[briguy1314]

So for those following along here who are on future Solstice sailings from San Pedro, you can check their port website and it will tell you what berth you are in/out of. 
https://www.portsamerica.com/operations/cruise-los-angeles-terminal-schedule

 

seems like @OrcaGirl arrival berth was a bit of an anomaly luckily (though sorry it was so bad for you) 

 

 

[slugger44]

Thank you for the very informative review as we are on this cruise in December.

[AnnaNicole]

1 hour ago, briguy1314 said:

So for those following along here who are on future Solstice sailings from San Pedro, you can check their port website and it will tell you what berth you are in/out of. 
https://www.portsamerica.com/operations/cruise-los-angeles-terminal-schedule

 

seems like @OrcaGirl arrival berth was a bit of an anomaly luckily (though sorry it was so bad for you) 

 

 

Thanks!  That information is super helpful.   we were on the Sept 24 Solstice sailing and disembarking was quick and painless once the line inside the ship started to move.   We are on the Solstice again in February 2023.  It is good to see she will be at the same pier berth 93.

[k9Rulez]

Does Celebrity have a bus that goes directly from the port to LAX.  I don't see one on the Shore excursion list but it would be really nice.  If so, how much is it and what times do they leave port.  Thanks.

                                                                                              Rob 

[steveontheseas]

9 minutes ago, k9Rulez said:

Does Celebrity have a bus that goes directly from the port to LAX.  I don't see one on the Shore excursion list but it would be really nice.  If so, how much is it and what times do they leave port.  Thanks.

                                                                                              Rob 

They do, and you can stop by guest services during the cruise to let them know you want it and they will add the $30 charge per person to your account.   Going to the ship Uber / Lyft was looking for $80-90 (surge was in effect) and I was solo, so it's cheaper for me to do their transfer.

 

As soon as you get past immigration, turn right and there will be  buses waiting for you, the reps will have a spreadsheet from the ship and look for your name.  The bus appears to leave when it's full...it was a 10 minute wait for me but I don't know how long others had waited.  It took 20 min to LAX on a Saturday morning.

Edited October 31, 2022 by steveontheseas

[NutsAboutGolf]

2 hours ago, briguy1314 said:

So for those following along here who are on future Solstice sailings from San Pedro, you can check their port website and it will tell you what berth you are in/out of. 
https://www.portsamerica.com/operations/cruise-los-angeles-terminal-schedule

 

seems like @OrcaGirl arrival berth was a bit of an anomaly luckily (though sorry it was so bad for you) 

 

 

 

I'm on her three times this season, I skimmed the site, it's always in B93 except for two sailings, both at the end of her season in April:

Apr 1st: B50

Apr 29th B92

All other sailings are B93

***IF YOU'RE READING THIS, BE SURE TO DOUBLE CHECK THAT THINGS HAVEN'T CHANGED***

[mauimary]

4 hours ago, twincheryl said:

Wonder how they handle embarkation...? People have to drop luggage at berth 93 and bus over to the ship?  Sounds like a giant hassle.  Looked on Goggle Maps and it's 2.5 miles, so probably not walkable.

For the cruise immediately after ours for embarkation they did have to check in at one pier and we’re bussed.  The rep said the pier where check in was at was not big enough for the Solstice. It was a smaller pier. 
This whole ordeal was an anomaly. 
 

We pd $43 ea direction for Uber. We spent the night before at the Marriott LAX

Our return from pier 93 to LAX was also 43$ for the two of us.  The problem was if you were close on time we were also competing with Norwegian passengers whose ship was at pier 93 who were still around.