MSC Meraviglia - Florida and Bahamas Cruise (12/09/23 - 12/16/23)

I decided to take this cruise, not knowing whether I would like, dislike, love or hate being on this ship.  Seven days later, I still have ambivalent feelings about this cruise ship, cruise line, and destinations due to the circumstances of this trip.

But first things first....

This was a solo trip for me, as my travel partner was visiting family this week.  Luckily, I was able to snag a good price for this trip:

$400 fare (includes $100 solo supplement)
$149 tax/port fees
$101.50 gratuities
$290 (Specialty Dinner & Beverage Package upgrade)
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$940.50 Total.

This is not a bad price for a solo traveler taking a 7-day cruise out of New York at this time of year. But I made some compromises to take this trip:

• This ship sails out of Brooklyn, and I had no experience getting there via mass transit.
• My booking was for smallest of cabins, and this would prove to be a minor issue when on the ship.
• Mixed reviews of this cruise line available on YouTube made me apprehensive about taking this cruise long before I got on the ship.

Would the cruise be worth it?  Would I regret taking 7 days out of my life to  take this cruise?  Would I feel trapped in my stateroom?  There were so many questions I had before boarding the ship, that I was concerned that I made a big mistake taking this cruise.  But as I found out, most of my questions would be answered, and I was left feeling just as ambivalent after the cruise as I felt before the cruise.

Transit to the Cruise Terminal:

I live in Northern Westchester County, NY.  Since I can't park at the local MNRR train station, I called for a cab to reach the station in time for a 9:37 am train to Grand Central Terminal (GCT).  Although the cab was reasonably prompt, I barely made it to the station in time to buy my ticket and board the train.  To avoid this problem, I advise travelers is to try to take a train 30-60 minutes earlier than you will need to reach your destination on time.

My original plans were to take the NYC Subway from GCT to Lower Manhattan and walk to the Ferry at Pier 11.  Unfortunately, the ferry schedule didn't mesh with my Embarkation schedule, and MSC noted that people should be at the terminal within a 30 minute window of one's embarkation schedule. To avoid the risk of not making the ferry on time, I took a cab to Pier 11, and just missed an earlier ferry.  I could have made the 11:28 am ferry after all!  

I take advantage of the Senior Citizen rates for all mass transit options when possible, and used it for my ferry fare.  Boarding the ferry with my luggage was easy, and I was at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal by 12:00 noon. However, the luggage drop-off area was not immediately adjacent to the terminal, but where cars were dropping off their passengers.  So I ended up crossing traffic to drop off my large suitcase, then walked across it again to get on line to enter the cruise terminal.

Others will have different transportation requirements.  Parking at the cruise terminal costs $45/day.  Unfortunately, the cruise terminal is in a section of the city (Red Hook in Brooklyn) that can be awkward to reach by car, as traffic on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway is often very slow. Additionally, mass transit of all forms(buses, subway, ferries) near the cruise terminal leaves much to be desired in this isolated section of the city..

Embarkation:

Since the MSC Meraviglia is a large ship, the lines to both get into the cruise terminal, and inside the cruise terminal were long.  Although one might have needed to dress warmly outside the terminal, one could dress for the tropics inside the terminal.  This meant that I had to strip off my coat and wish I wore a T-Shirt and Khakis while making my way to board the ship.  Unlike the first time I was at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, I didn't have to spend time in the waiting area before being called to board the ship.  The lines moved relatively quickly through security and cruise card collection, and I was on the ship before 1:00 pm. 

Stateroom:

I chose an interior stateroom at the far aft of the ship.  Any further back, and I'd be in the water.  This wasn't a bad option for me, as I could use a good walk before visiting any dining or entertainment venue on the ship.  On average I walked approximately 0.25 miles between my stateroom and any dining area (and back) for each meal.  What might bother some people would be the zig-zag path one would need to use to reach the stateroom from the aft elevator bank, as the ship's design was laid out to maximize the number of inside cabins available on the ship.

My cabin, 10308, was the tiniest of cabins I ever have been in.  Coming in at 129 sq. ft., one would think that this cabin would have been designed to be a solo cabin.  It was not.  It was designed to be an annex to either of the two balcony cabins to which it could be connected.  As a result, when the sofa was turned into a bed, it blocked the closet doors, making it impossible to open these doors wide enough for practical use.  However, I was able to lift the bed enough to get one side of the closet opened.  That was just enough for me to store the clothes I needed for the week.  But it wasn't enough for me to use the cabin safe. Another problem with my stateroom was a lack of space under the bed to store my luggage.  Luckily, I was able to use floorspace in front of the door connecting my cabin to the cabin next door as a storage area.

Since the sofabed was always in bed mode, there wasn't much space for me to sit at the desk and use my computer.  I always ended up sitting on the edge of the bed instead of the stool provided for that purpose, as it was heavy, awkward to move, and not designed for use at the side of the desk area.  Unfortunately, the TV was directly in front of the desk area, meaning that the closet could block the view of the TV when lying down.

In regard to the bathroom, the best and worst thing I can say about it was that it was small, but adequate for my needs.  I figure that there was not enough counter space for most people, and suspect that a solo woman traveler would find thie counter space a little too small for her toiletries and makeup.

Entertainment:

I attended 5 theater performances, all of which were only 45 minutes long.  Of these performances, 2 were in the more intimate Carousel theater, and 4 were in the larger Broadway theater.  On my first visit to the Broadway theater, I saw a show with 4 different magicians, each with their own specialties. The next visit had a good singer performing various Broadway show tunes.  The third visit had a comedian, Dave Konig, performing a routine which took 20 minutes to get me to laugh.  (It takes a lot to get me laughing.) And the final visit was for a crew talent show.  In the Carousel theater I saw MSC's (forgettable) "Houdini" production.  (I must acknowledge that they couldn't perform the show as originally envisioned due to rough seas.)   And the next time I was in the Carousel theater, I saw Dave Konig again, doing a different comedy routine.  For the most part, the entertainment in the theaters was good, but the performances were way too short. If one expects a stage show on this ship, the closest thing that comes to one will be found in the Carousel theater, where 2 different shows are performed.  Strangely enough, the Broadway theater had acts which focused on individual performances, including the magic show.

Lounge entertainment was entertaining, and inobtrusive enough that one could have a conversation with people sitting across from you.  There is not much to say about these performers, save that they were competent in their crafts.  And this is enough when one wants to enjoy a quiet drink in the lounge.

Itinerary:

As most people who cruise often know, itineraries are plans that can change in a moment's notice.  And that was the case on this cruise.  We were originally scheduled to set sail for Port Canaveral, then head for Nassau.  From there, we'd sail to the cruise line's private island, Ocean Cay Marine Reserve, before returning to New York.  But this would not be the case, and it would result in a "fustercluck" when we returned to the USA.

Our trip started out well, having tolerably good weather until we reached Port Canaveral.  And then things started to change.  By the time we reached Nassau, it was raining and the weather started getting worse from there.  Around 5 pm, we received our notice that we were not going to Ocean Cay as planned.  Instead, we'd be heading for Miami.

Normally, I'd be looking forward to seeing a city that I had never been in before.  But this day was very different.  I'd have rather spent the day at sea than to deal with US Customs and Border Protection.  We were told that shortly after arrival, everyone would have to disembark the ship and go through a US Customs checkpoint before reboarding the ship.  This process would take 3+ hours, and no one would be let back on the ship until there were no passengers onboard.  Since it was raining outside, I took a book with me and proceeded to the terminal where I expected to find a seat where I could quietly read a book.  This would not be as easy as first thought.  Going through the Customs checkpoint was easy.  But there were no directions on how one could reenter the terminal to wait until we were allowed back onboard the ship.  Luckily, I found a way back in and waited for the signal to get on line to reboard the ship.  There weren't enough seats for the people waiting to get back onboard, nor was there any organization for getting the passengers back onto the ship.  When the line moved, it made sense to get on it from wherever one was and hope that they'd let you on board before you lost bladder control.  (Oh, did I mention that one woman told me that the women's room attendant was telling restroom users not to pee on the seats or on the floor?  That's enough to make one want to struggle to get back on board the ship as quickly as possible.)  For those who chose to leave the ship and take an excursion, they had 3 excursions available.  None of these seemed interesting on a rainy day, considering one was a hop on/off bus, another was a 5-hour bus tour of Miami, and the last was a trip to the Everglades.  It was easy to understand why the waiting room got overcrowded quickly.

Food/Dining Venues:

1. Buffet.
   
   - The design of the buffet area leaves a lot to be desired.  Cruisers getting food from the buffet tables are being bumped into by people transiting the aisles through the buffet area.   Crew members are also rolling their carts along the same aisles, causing traffic jams in the pathways going through the buffet area.
   
   - The quality and variety of the food found in the buffet is not as good as I've found when sailing on several other lines., with the exception of the pizza.   Excepting the pizza, most buffet dishes were lacking in flavor.  It was hard to find food such as hamburgers at the buffet during lunch time, and I ended up choosing pizza way too often as my default choice.
   
   - Several times during the cruise, serving plates, utensils, glasses and coffee cups were hard to find in the buffet area. 
   
   - There was often a lack of orange juice in some of the beverage stations.
   
   
2. L'Olivo D'Oro  Dining room (Dinner):
   
   - The MSC Meraviglia uses fixed dining times and tables for its main dining rooms for non yacht club passengers. For couples and members of small groups, this is not much of an issue.  But for solo travelers, it is impossible to request being seated at a shared table.  For travelers like me when traveling alone, this is a big drawback, as I like the company of random strangers for dinner when cruising.
   
   - On the first night, second service was delayed for almost an hour while people were being shown to their assigned tables.  This delay, caused by delays from the first seating, is inexcusable.  It would be better to switch to anytime dining with new table assignments each night, as this would prevent the first night delay, and provide for better table service - does MSC want the dining rooms to be that of catering halls instead of large restaurants?
   
   - Except for gala night, the food quality was below that of the other lines I've sailed on.  MSC's  portion sizes may be that of a European clientele.  When I asked for a Greek Salad on Gala night, I was charged $5 for a portion smaller than a side salad served at Greek restaurants in Astoria, Queens.  The quality of this salad would be an insult to the Greek community living in the NYC area.
   
   - The waiters and staff manning this dining room did their best to accommodate my wishes, and I applaud them for their efforts.  They went beyond what was expected to make me happy, and I appreciate that very much.
   
   
3. Waves Dining Room (Breakfast - At Sea):
   
   - I arrived 15 minutes before the morning breakfast window ended.  Although I reached a table quickly and was handed a breakfast menu, it took about a half hour before anyone brought me any water, juice or coffee.  There were no utensils on the table, nor was there a place setting.  I had to ask for this while waiting for service.
   
   - When service was provided, it still took a long while before my breakfast was delivered to the table - and the waiter got the order wrong.  It doesn't take much to get things right, but the lack of quality service made me prefer the disaster of the buffet to dealing with this restaurant for breakfast.
   
   
4. Panorama Dining Room (Breakfast - Debarkation Day):
   
   - Sadly, this was the breakfast venue that I visited on my last day on the ship.  Although they got my order slightly wrong (in a forgivable way) it was a pleasure having breakfast here while I waited for my debarkation group number to be called.  Not only was I able to get the breakfast beverages I ordered, but they didn't make me feel like I had to be in a rush to leave the table - debarkation took care of that.
   
   
5. Hola Tacos! Specialty Restaurant (Dinner):
   
   - This restaurant was a very pleasant surprise.  I chose this place, as I had the dining package, and I was glad I did so.  Both service and food were of high quality, equivalent to some of the best Mexican restaurants I have visited on my travels.
   
   - Restaurant staff were very eager to serve, and they made suggestions that I wouldn't have thought of when trying out this place.  Assuming I sail with MSC again, I'll be sure to have a meal here.
   
   
6. Butcher's Cut Specialty Restaurant (Dinner):
   
   - I ordered a Merlot wine that was available on my drink package. Unfortunately, the waiter assumed that I ordered a Malbec.  I was not in a mood to correct him in regard to my Merlot order, as I was tired and hungry.  Since the Malbec was not on my plan, he suggested a Zinfandel that went well with my steak. 
   
   - Although I enjoyed the strip steak I ordered, it was a little below the quality I've had at other cruise lines' specialty steakhouses.  No, I am not looking for a Peter Luger quality steak.  But I am looking for a steak that is equal to the quality I've eaten on other lines.
   
   
7. Ocean Cay Seafood Specialty Restaurant (Dinner):
   
   - This was a disappointment.  There weren't enough main course choices available to someone on the dining plan without an effective upcharge.
   
   - For my main course, I chose the pasta in clam sauce, and it was better than many versions of this dish that I've had on land. 
   
   - For dessert, I chose the Creme Brulee.  It was done as well (or better) than many versions of this dish I have had elsewhere.

Debarkation:

1. I'm glad that I didn't have to catch a flight.  Arbitrarily assigning me a late debarkation group may have made it impossible for me to make a noon flight, as I would have needed to be off the ship by 9:00 am to be at JFK or LGA by 10:00 am.  (EWR would have required an even earlier debarkation,)  On other  lines, I can choose my debarkation times (within limits) as many people prefer either early or late debarkation based on their needs.
   
   
2. Unlike some of my cruises, it was easy to find my luggage in the Brooklyn cruise terminal. Having smaller debarkation groups is very helpful, as it is easier to batch a group's luggage in a smaller area making it easier to find.

Miscellaneous:

1. Given that this cruise was diverted from Ocean Cay (MSC's private island) to Miami due to the weather, I am upset that CBP (customs and border protection), the Miami Cruise terminal, and MSC couldn't work out a better process for first landed USA port processing.  On other cruise lines, CBP did not make us get off the ship when we reached our first US port after touching foreign soil.  Instead, they had a process in place (such as I experienced in Portland, Maine) where everyone flows through one of the dining areas to have their papers inspected by CBP, then are free to go on their ways.  When the weather is bad or uncomfortable, this would be very disruptive, as it took several hours before we could return to the ship.  Additionally, no instructions were given to us on where we could reenter the terminal to reach the waiting rooms, nor were there enough seats for us to wait there.  Even though we were given boarding group tickets, they meant nothing when people were being allowed to return to the ship - it was simply unorganized chaos and poor crowd control. 
   
   
2. Contrary to what I've been told, public areas on the ship were kept very clean, including the rest rooms.
   
   
3. The use of highly reflective, silvery surfaces next to each other (such as the wine walls between the L'Olivo D'Oro dining room and the Panorama dining room) is stressful for people who have visual problems, as it can magnify any visual problems they may have.  Future ship design should consider people with sensory disabilities in their design.
   
   
4. There were a lot of people from one non-Western ethnic group whose behaviors (in places such as the buffet) are considered rude by most American cruise bloggers I watch.  Although the behaviors of this group didn't bother me, having a disproportionate share of people from this group may be upsetting to many from the American market.    

Conclusion:

On the whole, I consider MSC a good value for the price charged.  I will consider it for future solo cruises, but not for ones with my partner. In a head to head "apples to apples" comparison on 7-day cruises to Bermuda and the Bahamas with lines such as NCL, I feel that NCL delivers a better product for just a little bit more money.  (In the "apples to apples" comparison, NCL cost $300 more than MSC for an interior cabin with the "Free at Sea" package.)  If MSC wants to gain market share in the US market, it might be wise NOT to consider being a low cost leader in cruising.  Instead, it might be wiser to deliver a better, less glitzy experience that attracts the seasoned cruiser like me.

PS: I sent both an email and a snail mail to customer service at MSC shortly after my cruise, and did not received a reply after 3 weeks.  If this is the kind of absent response someone can expect from this cruise line, I doubt that I will ever cruise with them again, as they have no interest in even acknowledging the concerns I put into my letter.

PPS: I received the email below from MSC, 4 weeks after my cruise.  It's a perfect example of slow responses to customer complaints or criticisms.  

From: Postcruisesupport@msccruisesusa.com



Good afternoon,

Thank you for contacting the MSC Post Cruise Support Department and for sharing your candid comments about your experience onboard the MSC Meraviglia.

As a guest, you are part of the MSC Cruises family, and we can assure you that your valuable feedback is not only taken seriously but is also shared with the relevant departments for their internal follow-up.

We also understand that the problems you pointed out with several departments could detract from that enjoyment and sincerely regret if your cruise did not meet your overall expectations.

We truly appreciate your patronage and hope to have the opportunity to regain your confidence when we have the pleasure of welcoming you back aboard MSC Cruises.

Sincerely,

GGallina
Post Cruise Support Specialist
MSC Cruises USA

NCL Getaway - Bermuda Cruise Observations (11/19/23 - 11/26/23)

 

The following are my unfiltered observations in regard to the Bermuda cruise we took on the NCL Getaway this November.  I will mention how we got around, along with options that a tourist without a car can use.  However, since my partner was injured less than an hour into the cruise, I was not able to focus much on Bermuda, save to note that the Dockyard area is a perfect place to visit if in Bermuda for a short time.

Embarkation/Settling in.

1. The check-in process for people moves quite quickly - even for people who don't have priority check-in.  However, the ship is so big, that one will get in a lot of walking before one gets to his/her cabin.
2. The cabins weren't officially available to cruisers when we boarded the ship.  Instead of waiting, we made sure that our room was ready and moved our bags to a safe place in the room.  (We were lucky not to be hassled for opening the door and walking the hall to our cabin.)

Restaurants.

1. Buffet. (Complementary).
   -  Compared to past NCL cruises, the selection did not seem as varied as in the past.
2. Savor and Taste Dining Rooms  (Complementary).
   - Service and food were acceptable, and up to NCL's usual standards.
3. Tropicana Dining Room (Complementary).
   - Service and food were acceptable, and up to NCL's usual standards.
   - 
4. Moderna Churrascaria (Specialty Restaurant).
   -  Service and food, as usual, were flawless.  
5. Cagney's Steakhouse (Specialty Restaurant)
   - Service and food, as usual, were flawless. 
6. Le Bistro (Specialty Restaurant)
   - Service and food, as usual, were flawless. 

Excursions.

1.  Self Directed - Bus to Hamilton / Ferry to Ship
   - We had been told that it was safe to take the buses and travel across Bermuda. This opinion was confirmed when we took the bus to Hamilton, and returned on the ferry.  Hamilton is a very safe place to be, and a good place to visit on a multi-day visit to the archipelago. 

Post-Cruise Debarkation.

1. Debarkation was very quick.  We were off the ship shortly after our color code was called, without having to wait on line.
2. Our luggage was easy to find at the pier.  Having Tile trackers in our bags insured that we'd have a good chance of locating them, if others had similar looking bags.
3. The lines to pass through customs were long, but moved quickly.

Miscellaneous Items of Note.

1. We caught a cab from Grand Central to the Manhattan Cruise Terminal at the Southeast Corner of the building, 42nd and Vanderbilt.  We allocated about $20 and 30 minutes for this crosstown ride, and everything was as expected, save that we were directed to the lower level of the terminal for baggage drop-off.
2. On previous returns to the Manhattan Cruise Terminal, cab drivers refused short trips, such as a quick ride to Grand Central Terminal, only being willing to do airport runs.  This time, a TLC Inspector was manning his station at the cruise terminal, and there were no problems hailing a ride across town.
3. We purchased the "Free at Sea" package.  This allowed us to choose our own cabin, as well as getting 2 free specialty meals.  We opted out of getting the free drink package, as we didn't want to spend $180/pp on gratuities for the drink package, as we are not heavy drinkers.
4. Since I have Platinum loyalty status with NCL, we got an extra 2 free specialty restaurant meals on this cruise.  We used the coupon given to us at the beginning of the cruise to get a bottle of red wine which we enjoyed at each of our two meals at Cagney's.

Researching things to do in a cruise port.

 

As I like to say, all Caribbean Islands have beaches, shopping districts, and forts.  The island of St. Kitts was no exception to this rule.  When I was there for the first time, I avoided the shopping district and spent my morning there visiting the fort at the top of Brimstone Hill, then spending an afternoon at Turtle Bay. Nowadays, St. Kitts has more things for a cruiser to do on a shore excursion, and I'd like to help people get the best value out of any port.

Given that I usually schedule my cruises far in advance to get the best prices, this also gives me the opportunity to research things I can do at each port.  For example, Bermuda has beaches,  a shopping district in its capital, and a fort near the pier we will be docking at.  But there is more to this archipelago than the usual points of interest, as it has museums, historical architecture, and caverns, in addition to the usual water based activities that one can enjoy on a shore excursion.  Since I will be in port for 3 days, it made sense for me to research the mass transit options for Bermuda, as well as the places I'd want to visit. This way, I could avoid spending the extra money that the cruise line would charge for excursions.

But first, I had to find out - Is Bermuda Safe?  And from what I can tell, a tourist can travel anywhere in Bermuda without worry, unlike the situation in Caribbean nations such as Haiti and Jamaica.  If Bermuda wasn't safe, I'd only venture off the ship in a cruise line sponsored excursion, staying in a cruise line sponsored "bubble" for safety.

Next, on things to find out would be how to reach my points of interest without using cruise line sponsored transit.  From what I have read, buses and ferries run during daylight hours, and can get a person to any point in Bermuda without trouble.  Given that a bus/ferry day pass is relatively cheap, it makes sense to use their system to reach the outer reaches of the archipelago (and return), and save money that can be better used on souvenirs and meals.

The cruise line offered a tour to both the Crystal Caves and Bermuda's Aquarium/Zoo for $169.00, including transportation to and from the ship.  Using the following web sites, I built my own shore excursion as follows:

• https://www.investopedia.com/terms/forex/b/bmd-bermudian-dollar.asp 
• https://www.gotobermuda.com/plan/getting-around-bermuda
• https://caves.bm
• https://www.investopedia.com/terms/forex/b/bmd-bermudian-dollar.asp 
• https://bamz.org/visit/planning-your-visit

Self Constructed Excursion:

• Zoo/Aquarium - $10
• Crystal Caves - $35
• Bus/Ferry Fare ($5/segment) - $15 (or $25) based on individual fares.
  Day passes may be available for a lower price.
  

Total cost for Excursion - $60

Given that I've saved over $100 by building my own excursion, I have more money I can spend elsewhere in Bermuda.

The process I used for Bermuda can be used in most places with little effort.  However, it takes an investment of time to sort through all the available options.  Yet, my decision making process only applies when the risk for being back to the ship late is very low.  In the case of the above excursion, I would do this on the first of my 3 days in Bermuda.  The second day would likely be spend exploring Hamilton.  And the third day would be spend at the Naval Dockyard, a short walk from the pier where the ship is docked.  Each day, I am taking progressively less risk of returning to the ship late, as I don't want to risk the ship leaving Bermuda without me.

Hopefully, this will give the reader of this entry an idea of how best to plan a shore excursion.

Why people shouldn't cruise on some cruise lines and ships

 

It is just as important to know what you don't want in a cruise as what you do want.  In my case, I do not want to go on "Booze Cruises" or cruises catering to families with children.  So I have learned to pick my cruises very carefully to avoid going on trips on which I would feel I've wasted my money.

Avoiding booze cruises is relatively easy.  Think of a typical long weekend.  It's usually 3-4 days long.  When I see a cruise which lasts less than 5 days, I assume that the cruise will be filled with young adults who want to party - and hard.  Yet, they may be perfect for some people.  I see them for what they are and avoid them like the plague.   There are exceptions to this rule of thumb.  For example, if Disney offered a 4 day cruise, I'd bet that it would cater to a family friendly clientele, and that one would rarely see anyone who is three sheets to the wind.

Often, people do not want to be on a cruise that will have families with children,  As a result, many in this demographic avoid cruise lines such as Disney, avoid cruises during school vacation periods, and avoid cruises of less than 10 days.  Additionally, they may choose to cruise on cruise lines such as Virgin or Viking (adults only lines) to ensure that they do not bump into children while on the cruise ship.

Many people like to gamble and smoke on cruise ships.  Many others do not.  If I wanted to gamble, I'd avoid ships like the Pride of America, or cruise ships from Disney which do not have casinos onboard.  In general, finding ships without casinos is a little bit more tricky, as most major cruise lines' ships have some sort of casino.   Unfortunately, to get from one place to another on the ship, one will need to walk through the casino area, an area which is usually smoke-filled, as it is one of the few areas where one can smoke on a mainstream cruise ship.  So, if one wants a tolerably smoke-free journey, one may want to avoid older ships which do not have a closed off casino area for smokers.

The larger the ship, the fewer the number of ports where it can dock.  Although this isn't important to that many people, it can be important to people who want to travel to more exotic places.  Many ships use tender boats to reach small ports, which means that mobility challenged people may not be able to get off the ship and enjoy the port.  If one falls into this category of cruisers, one should contact the cruise line to find out whether the ship uses a tender boat to bring people to/from the shore.  On many of the cruises I've been on, at least one of the ports requires tendering to go ashore, making it impossible for the wheelchair bound to enjoy the port.  Why is this important?  There are many destinations that can only be reached by tender boat, and mobility challenged people would be advised to avoid cruises that are tender boat port intensive.

There are so many things that turn people off from cruising, many of which are having the wrong expectations of a cruise before it sets sail.  The best thing one can do is to be careful in selecting a cruise, making sure that the cruise fits one's needs as well as possible.

How we chose a future cruise (some guidance for new cruisers)

Although this is not the ship I will be cruising on, it is a ship that I would cruise on if it were to sail a route I wanted to be on from New York.  This post should help the novice cruiser in selecting a cruise by illustrating the decisions I would make in that selection process.

- - - - - -

Next year, I will be traveling to Norway with my partner.  This destination is on many peoples' bucket lists, as the Fjords are breathtakingly majestic.  We chose to take the cruise in 2024, as most of the scenic fjords will be off limits to conventionally powered cruise ships after the end of the year.  This left us with a lot of questions to be answered, and choices to be made.

Given that we already knew the main destination, Norway, we needed to prioritize things such as departure ports, ports being visited, cruise length, cruise line and ship  Many ships will be sailing the Fjords next year, so we decided which ports were musts and which ones were nice to visit.  For me, riding on the Flaam railroad was almost a must (I am a railroad junkie).  That limited cruise selection, ruling out a few cruise ships and itineraries.  Then, not having pets to worry about, we chose a 14 day vacation, with 12 days being on the cruise.  We could have sailed out of several European cities, London (Southampton) and Amsterdam being our top 2 choices.  The former was picked, as I have family in London.  This finally limited us to cruising on Princess, and not Holland America.

One might be asking, what other factors did we consider when cruising a cruise line, itinerary, and cabin type?  Well, I've sailed on NCL, Holland America (HAL), and Princess lines in the past, and I consider all of them when picking cruise lines.  MSC has a mixed reputation, especially on European cruises, and I didn't want to risk things on a once in a lifetime cruise opportunity.  Each cruise line (and ship) has unique Norwegian Fjord cruise itineraries, and with much of our time to be spent in the Fjords. a balcony cabin became an essential part of our requirements - we wanted to view things from the comfort of our own cabin.  Since all 3 cruise lines being considered have activities appropriate for seniors, I wasn't as concerned about life onboard ship as if I had been cruising with Carnival, Royal Caribbean,  or MSC.  (Royal tries to do everything on its ships, and I prefer older, smaller ships found on the 3 cruise lines I've sailed on before.)

You'll note that I ruled out MSC because of a lack of experience cruising the line in Europe.  I place a lot of value in the reviews of ships and cruise lines that I've read online.  Why is reading reviews and doing preliminary research so important?  Well, if I chose a cruise on price and cruise length alone, I might have chosen a different cruise.  At the time of  writing, the following were the lowest prices cruises being offered:

16 Days:  Jun 14, 2024 Southampton, England  Caribbean Princess  $1,394 pp
14 Days : Jun 15, 2024 Southampton, England  Sky Princess  $1,667 pp
14 Days:  Jun 29, 2024 Southampton, England  Sky Princess  $1,667 pp
16 Days:  Jun 09, 2024 Southampton, England  P&O / Arcadia  $1,777 pp
14 Days : Jun 17, 2024 Hamburg, Germany MSC Preziosa $1,909 pp
14 Days:  Jun 08, 2024 Rotterdam, Holland  HAL Rotterdam $1,979  pp


On the site where I extracted this list, the Princess and HAL ships were rated as 5 stars, the P&O ship was rated as 4 stars and th3 MSC ship as 3.5 stars.  The MSC ships often give the best prices, but it caters to a multilingual European audience. Entertainment on their ships is known to be abstract.  The P&O ship oozes British formality, and might feel a little too stuffy for an American cruiser.  That leaves Princess and HAL at the top of my list.  Given that Princess skews to a (slightly) younger demographic than HAL and offered a cruise both at a better price point and reached a port I wanted to visit, the Princess cruise won out.  

Port Information - St. Thomas, USVI

 

St. Thomas, USVI is a very popular spot for cruise ships to make port.  Like most Caribbean ports, it has its beaches, a fort, and a shopping district.  Yet, there is one unusual thing I notice about this port each time I visit: It is the only place in United States' territory where motor vehicles  drive on the left hand side of the road, instead of the normal right hand side of the road. 

The US Virgin Islands were purchased from Denmark, and their capital is the city of Charlotte Amalie. Although I didn't go to the beaches here, I toured the island, and took the Skyride to Paradise Point, where I captured the above picture.  

Most of the excursions in this port are water based, and include snorkeling, sailing, swimming, and other water based activities. However, the land based tour that I was on took us to Blackbeard's Tower, the St. Thomas Synagogue, and Fort Christian. Additionally, a cruiser can take a cab (or walk) to the heart of town to do some shopping or dine at the local restaurants.

Port Information - Basseterre, St. Kitts / Nevis

 

Like most Caribbean ports, St. Kitts has its beaches, a fort, and a shopping district.  This island has worked hard to develop its tourist industry in the past quarter century, including attractions such as the St. Kitts Scenic Railway. Many tours of this island focus on "typical" water based activities, such as: snorkeling, sailing, and swimming. 

When I last visited the island, I took a scenic tour which included a trip to see the fort at the top of Brimstone Hill, followed by an afternoon swim at Turtle Bay.  Both places are well worth the visit on a stop at St. Kitts.

Word to the wise: St. Kitts is NOT LGBTIQ friendly.  Do not visit the island it you can be identified as Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, or have a gender non-conforming presentation.  Although this is a beautiful island, it is not getting off the cruise ship here and risking the wrath of the locals.

Emerald Princess - California Coastal Cruise Observations (06/17/23 - 06/24/23)

The following are my unfiltered observations in regard to the California Coastal Cruise on the Emerald Princess we were on in June.  Although I will not comment on the sites we visited in Los Angeles, I will mention how we got around, along with options that a tourist without a car can use.

Flight Arrangements:

1. We used a travel agent to handle of our booking requirements.  As a result, we were able to specify the airline to use for this trip (Delta) so that we each could get a free checked bag on our flights.  Additionally, we were able to select flight times, so that we didn't have to rush to the airport on either leg of this trip.

Pre-Cruise Hotel Arrangements:

1. The Marriott LAX is Princess's hotel of choice for pre-cruise stays.  All pre-cruise transfers take place between the airport and this hotel, and the hotel to the pier.
2. (Not a Princess issue) In order to get free Wi-Fi, one has to register in Marriott's loyalty program.  However, registering for this plan at the same time as checking into the hotel can be problematic.  I couldn't complete the data entry part of loyalty program registration, nor could hotel staff.  As a result, I was charged for the Wi-Fi upon leaving the hotel.
3. (Not a Princess issue) Dining choices near the hotel are very limited and are overpriced.  On our first night, we spent $120 for a simple dinner, each of us having a single drink.  Soft drinks and candy from the hotel's store easily cost twice as what one would pay at a local 7-11 store.  The only reasonably priced outlet where food and beverage is sold was the hotel's Starbucks outlet.

Pre-Cruise Transfers:

1. Although Princess was supposed to provide a transfer from the airport to the hotel, we were not able to find it.  Instead, we used the hotel's shuttle to get from the airport to the hotel.
2. The transfer from the hotel to the pier ran a little late in arriving due to Los Angeles' traffic jams.  Once the bus arrived at the hotel, it was a relatively quick trip from the hotel to the airport.

Embarkation/Settling in.

1. The check-in process for people who have lost of misplaced their Princess Medallion needs to be fixed.  Although we had notified Princess of my problem a day in advance, they did not have have either a replacement medallion or a temporary cruise card available when we arrived at the cruise terminal.  We had to wait 30 minutes before a cruise card could be given to me before proceeding onto the ship.
2. Once on the ship, we proceeded to Guest Services and traded the temporary cruise card for a medallion.  However, it took 15 minutes' waiting at Guest Services for the replacement medallion to be printed and handed to me.
3. The Guest Services area did not have adequate air conditioning to keep people comfortable while in the area on embarkation day.  This is likely a result of the crowds of people needing service once they got on the ship.
4. Upon activation of my new medallion, my partner's medallion was accidentally deactivated.  We had to go back to Guest Services to rectify this.

Restaurants.

1. Buffet. (Complementary).
   - We were underwhelmed by the range of food selections found in the buffet.
   - The layout of the buffet made it harder to find the foods one wanted to eat, as there was no default flow of people through this space.
   - Buffet staff always handed us both plates and tableware when we went to get food from the stations. 
   - Buffet staff would fetch beverages for us, making it a more enjoyable dining experience in the buffet.
2. Botticelli Dining Room  (Complementary).
   - This was the easiest of the complementary dining rooms in which to get a table for dinner service, due to its location at the back of the ship.  
   - Once seated, the wait staff was friendly, professional, and efficient.  
   - At dinner, we were often served extra main courses and desserts, both containing items we didn't think to order. as samplers.  At one meal, we enjoyed the extra courses more than the dishes we had ordered.
   - On the last night, we were not prepared for the cruise director, and the noisy lights-out parade of sparkling Baked Alaska desserts.  This was very disturbing, and almost ruined our meal.
3. Da Vinci Dining Room (Complementary).
   - I found it hard to get seated in this dining area unless I arrived early.  If seated here, service was of the same quality as in the Botticelli dining room.
4. Crown Grill (Specialty Restaurant).
   - On both occasions that we went to this restaurant, there was no one waiting in front of us.  There was no one manning the host/hostess location, and we had to wait 5-10 minutes to be recognized and then get seated.
   - It took a while for table service to start, but once started, it was almost flawless.
   - Food quality was very good, but not as good as I've had at some land based steakhouses in the NYC area.  

Excursions.

1.  San Francisco - Japanese Tea Garden
   - The Japanese Tea Garden is an island of serenity in a chaotic city.  There is not much to do here, save enjoying the beauty of the place.  However, like many excursions, it involves a bus ride from the cruise ship.

Post-Cruise Debarkation and Airport Transfer.

1. Debarkation was very quick.  We were off the ship shortly after our color code was called, without having to wait on line.
2. Our luggage was easy to find at the pier, as our group's luggage was in a relatively small area compared with some other ports I have sailed from.
3. Customs at the Los Angeles (San Pedro) cruise terminal used facial recognition, and we breezed through the checkpoint without incident.
4. Buses were lined up for those using airport transfers.  As soon as a bus was filled with luggage and passengers, it was off to the airport.  We had booked a 2:20 pm flight to be safe.  We could have booked earlier flights, as the bus reached our airport terminal before 10:30 am.

Miscellaneous Items of Note.

1. We had purchased the Princess Premier package.  This entitled us to:
   - Photo Downloads of all pictures taken of us together or as individuals
   - Three 8"x10" print photographs of our choice for each person
   - Two meals at the ship's specialty restaurants for each person
   - Unlimited Wi-Fi for four devices each person
   - Unlimited specialty desserts
   - Exercise Classes (unused)
2. The photography area did not associate my partner's solo pictures with our room.  As a result, these pictures were lost to the ether.
3. Pictures in the photography area were hard to find in their displays.  Cruisers mishandled pictures, intermixing undesired pictures with those of other cruisers.
4. On the last day of the cruise, the photography area did not have enough staff to deal with both download issues (such as our missing images) and photo purchases.
5. The music volume at the Crooners' lounge was excessively loud, making conversation impossible without having to shout.
6. The "Baked Alaska" parade was a needless interruption of dining on the last night of the cruise.  For people with visual impairments, the lack of adequate light can create a dangerous environment.
7. On the last morning of the cruise, using the Da Vinci restaurant as a debarkation staging area is confusing, as people may think to go there for their last morning's meal on the ship and miss out on that meal.

Emerald Princess - California Coastal Cruise (06/17/23 - 06/24/23)

 

This would be our first cruise of the year, and the first time my partner and I would be sailing from a port outside the New York Metropolitan area.  We chose to take a cruise (on the Emerald Princess above) from Los Angeles, so that we'd have a chance to see my aging uncle before starting off on the cruise.  Given that one should fly in to a city at least one day before a cruise, we figured that we'd have a day in Los Angeles to both see my uncle and to do some light sightseeing before embarking on the cruise.

We chose to book the Princess Premier fare, as we didn't want to think about what we were spending on drinks, nor did we want to pay extra for crew gratuities during the cruise.  We wanted a "One and Done" price for our trip, and we got that for the portions provided by Princess with one exception.  (And that was a set of pictures taken at the portrait studio, in my attempt to burn off non-refundable cruise credits.)  My partner and I wanted price simplicity, and we got it.

- - - - - -

But I digress....

Both of us have TSA Pre-Check privileges (I get mine through Global Entry), and we breezed through check-in and the security checkpoint, leaving us almost 2 hours to kill before our flight.  Although airport food is overpriced, we chose this flight so that we could have a bite to eat before getting on the plane, and be able to have dinner when we arrived in LA.  Everything went according to plan until we arrived in LA.

LAX is a large airport with all the confusion that can take place at an airport its size. Once we found our baggage, we didn't know where to find a shuttle that would take us to our airport area hotel.  We had purchased airport transfers, but we didn't see anyone near the luggage carousel.  So I figured that almost all airport area hotels have shuttle buses, and started to look for them.  Although, the signage wasn't especially clear, we found the shuttle bus area, and made it to the hotel.

Hotel check-in was easy, but getting from the front desk to our room required a long walk.  I figure that we got as much exercise walking around the hotel as we normally do on a cruise ship - and that's a lot of walking.  Once I got to the room, I decided to complete my registration in the hotel's loyalty program to get free wi-fi.  (I was told that I'd get it for free, now that I was in their system.  This wasn't the case.) But their computer system wouldn't let me do this.  So, it was another long walk to the front desk for help - something that they tried to provide, but couldn't.  They referred me to the loyalty program's help number, something I didn't bother to use as I was too tired to care anymore.

After a little bit of rest, my partner and I decided to go to the hotel's restaurant to get a bite to eat.  It's too bad that we didn't know the area and weren't in the mood to take a cab, as what normally would have been a reasonable dinner cost us $120.  Sadly, hotel restaurants all over the world seem to indulge in this type of highway robbery, as they cater to a clientele that doesn't want to venture far afield.

- - - - - - 

The next day, Friday, I noticed that I had misplaced my Princess Medallion.  So I called the staff at the local Princess help desk, and they said this would not be a problem.  (I wasn't told that I'd be given a one-time-use cruise card to get on the ship, and then get a new medallion from guest services.)  And then we started our daily activities.

Since we weren't renting a car to get around LA, we decided to go looking for where the Metro station was near the airport.  We needed the Metro's TAP card to get around, and I didn't trust that the bus system would process payment by phone, as my phone doesn't have NFC.  (Don't mind the details here.  I can be a technology geek at times, and I prefer to use tried and true technology when I need for it to work.)  So we went to the Hotel's concierge to get information.  But it was misinformation we got.  We were directed to a station 4 long blocks away.  One problem.  LA is a car centered city, and even the poorest of people drive here.  The concierge didn't know that the station wouldn't open for another year.

Once we found out that we wasted a half hour walking through a desolated area, we decided to get an Uber to take us to the Motion Picture Academy Museum and the Petersen Automotive Museum.  We were lucky to find an Uber driver waiting for an airport hail who helped me set up the app.  However, as much as we wanted to use this person's services when we hit the "Summon Driver" button, the signal didn't reach his phone in time to respond to the summons - someone else had responded in less than a second!  So he drove off while we waited for the new driver to come.

The new driver came, and we had an interesting conversation about Armenia (his former home) while on the way to the museums.  On the way, he drove past what might be the highest price gas in the continental 48 states, save Gorda, CA (see photo above).  I was glad that we got a ride with this Uber driver, as it confirmed my faith in America's ability to absorb immigrants of all nationalities.

Our first stop was the Academy Museum.  I was underwhelmed by this museum, as New York's Museum of the Moving Image gives the visitor a better appreciation for the art of cinema.  However, I was impressed by its exhibit covering the depiction of Blacks in cinema and the achievements of Blacks in American cinema.  It covered the racism in D.W.Griffith's "The Birth of a Nation", as well as the history of Black cinema.

Next, it was across the street to the Petersen Automotive Museum.  This museum focuses on the art of the automobile, and contains both production models of many cars, as well as concept cars produced by auto manufacturers.  I can not do this museum justice with my words, save that it helped me gave a greater appreciation of the art of automobile design.

Once we were done with this museum, it was off to the heart of Beverly Hills for dinner. (My uncle was not up to having visitors.)  We found an excellent and affordable Indian restaurant while walking around town.  Once done, it was time to go back to our hotel for one last evening.

- - - - - -

Saturday came, and it was time to make it to the ship.  This is when our first set of travel hiccups occurred.  When the boarding call came for the transfer to the pier, RQS and I got separated from each other.  Luckily, there was not far to go before we found each other.  But it was a comical miscommunication we could chuckle about before we got to the pier.  The bus took 30-45 minutes to make it to the Los Angeles (San Pedro) cruise terminal, and I enjoyed pointing things out to my partner along the way there.

Then, the "fun" began....

Arriving at the pier, I proceeded to the check-in desk, where a temporary cruise card (in place of my misplaced Princess medallion) would be issued to me so I could board the ship.  It took about 30 minutes for this card to be issued.  Then, it was off to board the ship.

Once on board, I proceeded to Guest Services, where a new medallion would be issued.  (Why this couldn't have been done in advance so I could pick it up at the pier, I'll never know.)  After a short wait in sweltering temperatures, I got some help.  And it was another 15 minutes before I had a working medallion.  Finally, it was off to our cabin, when we found out that my partner's medallion didn't work. So we went back to Guest Services for another 15 minutes before this problem was resolved.

By this time, we were exhausted, and relaxed during the ship's sail-away before going to dinner, then going to bed.

- - - - - -

Our first full day on the ship would be spent at sea. Gala nights on Princess' cruises tend to be a bit more formal than on NCL.  Although many people dressed as "Business Casual", more people dressed in nice suits and fancy dresses.  I was very glad that my partner and I were prepared to enjoy looking our best when we would be photographed later in the day.

My partner and I decided to relax during the day, and we took the time to explore the ship.  We decided to have lunch in the main dining room, and share a table with other cruisers. We shared our table with a couple of ladies who were celebrating their 40th anniversary of graduating college, and wished we could meet them again later on in the cruise.  (Word to the wise: If one wants to chat with a diverse sampling of people, choose shared table dining.)  When we finished lunch, we went to get a specialty dessert from the ice cream / pizza shop.  Although these desserts have a list price of $12, one can get them for free as part of the Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages.  We were underwhelmed, as the presentation did not look anywhere as appetizing as that on the menu, and the dessert did not taste as good as what we expected from the menu's description.

Once we were done with our desserts, it was time to go rest before getting dressed for the evening.  We had scheduled the first of our two specialty dinners at the Crown Grill (Princess's Steakhouse), and we wanted to look our best when we posed for the photographers.  

Before we entered the restaurant, we posed for our photos.  This would be where we would stumble into a problem with the technology used by Princess.  On our prior NCL cruises, the photographer would ask us which room we were in, and then all pictures associated with the photo session would be associated with the cruisers in the room.  Princess uses a different technology, with no human backup.  From what I can tell, Princess either uses facial recognition to associate a person's pictures with one's room number, or the proximity of one's medallion to the photographer.  There is no automatic provision for a fall back when a person's photo can not be associated with the cruiser's cabin.  This is what happened with my cruise partner, as all of her solo photos were lost in the ether.

On our ship, Princess offers two specialty restaurants of interest to me: Crown Grill and Sabattini's. (We weren't interested in the Salty Dog gastropub, or any other of the specialty venues.) The Crown Grill is a steakhouse similar to NCL's Cagney's, while Sabattini's is comparable to NCL's La Cucina. Given that good or excellent Italian restaurants are "a dime a dozen" in the NYC area, we decided to go to the Crown Grill for our two specialty dinners.  Arriving at the restaurant, it took a while before we were greeted. Then, it took a while for us to get seated. I feel that this restaurant was understaffed, and could have used a few more staff members. Once our service started, we both considered it to be top notch.  Would I consider the food as good as that in NCL's steakhouse restaurant?  No.  But the service is much better once started.

- - - - - -

Monday came, and the ship docked in San Francisco.  The last time I was on a Princess ship in this city, I was embarking on an Alaska cruise.  This time, we were at the new cruise terminal, and what a pleasure!  Compared with the old terminal, this terminal was light and airy.

As usual, I digress....

My partner and I decided to go on a shore excursion to the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park.  This is an island of serenity in a big city, a place that I always try to visit when in San Francisco.  And my partner fell in love with this city when she explored the tea garden for the first time.  This was something we don't have in New York city, and a special place worth visiting on every visit.

After our return to the ship for lunch, we loaded our phones with San Francisco's Muni app, bought a 1-day unlimited pass for $5.00 and  took off for Fisherman's Wharf to see the Musee Mechanique. The Musee is a working museum of coin operated machines, many of which are over 75 years old.  The above picture is of Laffing Sal, a feature of a former San Francisco amusement park, Playland by the Beach.  When one puts $0.50 in the box, Sal will start laughing in an uncontrolled manner.

Nearby is a beautiful old Wurlitzer automated band.  There is a machine like this at the Santa Monica pier.  but this one is my favorite.  Although I could go on and on about the machines in this place, one has to visit it to appreciate it.

And then we took the historic trolley from Fisherman's Wharf to the Castro district.  "The Castro" is the headquarters of San Francisco's LGBT community, and a great place for people to visit.  The Castro movie theater is a great place to watch movies, and should be visited on a multi night stay in this city.

All too soon, it was time to go to dinner and return to the ship.  So, we boarded the trolley, and took it back to the pier.  Don't confuse trolleys with Cable Cars.  Trolleys are propelled by electric motors getting power from wires above the street, while cable cars are propelled by gripping cabled running below the street.

- - - - - -

Tuesday came, and it would be our last day in San Francisco.  Today's goal would be lunch at the Swan Oyster Depot.  So, we had a light breakfast at the buffet, and off the ship we went.  We again loaded up the Muni app with another 1-day pass, and took the bus to the depot.  Unfortunately, the president was in town, and this fouled up traffic along the route the bus would normally take.  Our bus was diverted several blocks out of the way to avoid the "hot zone", and we made it to the depot around 12:30 pm. 

The Swan Oyster Depot is a small restaurant that can seat only 18 people at a time on its bar stools.  So, there is always a line in front of the place, as it serves some of the freshest seafood in town.  If it isn't on ice in the window, it is not available for its customers.  If what you see is what you get, then you are sure to have a great meal.  But one will have to wait for it.  We stood on line for 45 minutes before we got seated, and couldn't wait to chow down when we got our seats.

My partner had the mixed Clam and Oyster platter, while I had Clam Chowder and some Smoked Salmon (the server's recommendation, as they didn't have the cracked crab I wanted), with an Anchor Steam Beer to wash things down.  (I didn't know it at the time, but this would be the last time I'd be able to enjoy this local brew, as the brewery would close the following month.)  The chowder alone was worth the effort to get here, and our main courses were as close to perfection as you could get.  All too soon, it was time to go back to the ship.  So we got back on the bus and returned to the ship to relax for the evening.

In the evening, we ate in the main dining room.  It was Italian night, and the head waiter made sure that we had extra dishes to sample.  Yum!  He was going above and beyond to make sure that we enjoyed our meal.  And we did!

- - - - - -

Wednesday was the second and last sea day on the cruise.  As usual, we got up late and lunch was the first meal of the day.  We had made an appointment with the portrait studio to have photographs taken of the two of us.  Just before dinner, we  dressed in our Sunday best and walked to the back of the ship and looked for the special elevator that would take us up to the 19th floor of the ship.  (There is only one elevator that goes to this floor, and there is a separate call button to summon this elevator.)  Once we got there, we went to the 19th floor and walked through a narrow corridor to reach the studio.

At our appointed time, we entered the studio and found the photographer busy with another couple. Stepping outside, we found some people playing cornhole in a strong breeze.  We decided to kill 10 minutes playing miniature golf, then return to the studio.  After 10 minutes had passed, we returned to the studio and the photographer got busy for a half hour taking monochrome photos of us.  No mention of the cost of these portrait photos was made at this time.  That would be sprung on us the day before disembarkation with the skill and subtlety of a slick used car salesman.  But more on that later.

We then went downstairs to our second specialty dinner, and had the same problem that we had the first night we were there - it took them a while to start the dining process due to a lack of staff, but once begun, things were as smooth as silk.  Dinner was flawless.  It's just too bad that it felt that our wait was being caused by a shortage of staff, as I'd have otherwise ranked this meal as a 10 out of 10.

- - - - - -

Friday came, and the ship arrived in San Diego.  If we were on our own, we might have explored the San Diego Maritime Museum (a short walk from the cruise terminal), then taken Light Rail to Old Town San Diego (the original San Diego settlement site).  However, we had a chauffeur for the day - my partner's cousin.  And she drove us to the Old Town San Diego state park and historic site for our first stop.

Old Town San Diego is both a restaurant district and a state park.  The state park has both original and reconstructed buildings which give the tourist an idea of what life was like for the city's original settlers. We were lucky to have latched on to a tour being given by one of the park's tour guides, and we had the benefit of  someone who made the site's history come to life.  If we had more time, I would like to have spent more of it in this park.  Instead, we took a convoluted route to our next stop, Balboa Park.

Balboa Park is San Diego's answer to New York City's Central Park, but on steroids.  It has the city's famous zoo and many of its museums all in one place.  We had lunch in one of its restaurants, and then went to see the Spanish Village Arts Center, where my partner picked up some of the artisan's work. A little later, we walked over to the zoo's entrance, where we relaxed while the zoo's band entertained us.

All too soon, it was tie to get back to the ship.  So we bid my partner's cousin goodbye, and got back on the ship for the cruise's mandated stop in Mexico.

We decided to dine at a shared table, and this was a rare mistake in doing so.  We joined two other couples, and one of them was extremely picky.  This couple were classic "Karens",   By the time they were finished with their dinners, they rushed away to see the late theater performance.  Unfortunately, their actions cause our remaining tablemates to miss that performance, as the Karens delayed service for the four of us remaining at the table.  Luckily, we had nowhere to go, so we went to the lounge and caught up with another couple from the cruise and finished the evening in good spirits and glasses of good spirits in us.

- - - - - -

Our next and last port on this cruise before returning to Los Angeles was Ensenada, Mexico.  My partner and I were both very tired, having averaged over 4 miles of walking each day we were in port.  So today, we decided to take a rest and stay on the ship.

While in port, my partner noticed that the Princess photographers (not the portrait studio, which is a separate operation) had not posted my partner's pictures for us to download.  We figured that we could get this fixed later on, when the ship is back in international waters.  This was a big mistake, for reasons I'll get to later on.

As the ship left Ensenada, we made our way to the portrait studio, where we were greeted by the photographer who took our monochrome "glamour shots".  He proceeded to show us a set of 45 photos he had taken, and had us choose the ones we liked best over several passes through the 45 poses.  And then he tried to baffle us with numbers on a spreadsheet representing "fictional" volume pricing for the pictures.  There was no way that we were going to spend $1,200 for 8 photos.  I had $150 left in cruise credits, and I wanted to get the best value I could for these credits.  Eventually, he went down in price to $300 for a set of 3 photos, the first of me alone, the second of my partner, and the third of the two of us together.  And that's where we bit - we could justify $300 for these 3 pictures.  We inked the deal, and were told that it might take 6-10 weeks for the photos to be delivered. (It took less than 4, but I digress.) So then, it was down to the main photography area.

By the time we arrived at the main photography area, all the photos were scattered in random slots.  There is no way that we could find our 3 free photos each in this mess, nor were we willing to stand on line for 45 minutes to get help.  As upset as my partner was, it was not worth our time to get this resolved.  Instead, it would take "nastygrams" to Princess after the cruise to get help.  So we went off to our last meal in the main dining room.

Normally, I would have been very happy with the service and food in the main dining room.  This last visit was a rare exception, but not a fault of any of the restaurant staff.  We had been seated, enjoying some wine when the lights went out suddenly.  Instead of a quiet last meal, the cruise director started playing loud and disruptive music for the "Baked Alaska" parade.  This annoyed me to no end.  My mood was ruined by this celebratory indulgence of the cruise director, and it took me a while to recover my relaxed mood.  Thankfully, the head waiter made sure that all our needs were taken care of, and that extra beverages, main courses and desserts were delivered to our table - we again felt pampered and relaxed.  It was a nice way to finish off the cruise.

- - - - - -

Saturday came, and we returned to Los Angeles.  Facial recognition is now being used at this cruise terminal, so we were able to disembark, find our luggage, and get to the airport transfer bus in less than 15 minutes.  (I can still remember the time it took over 45 minutes to make it through both New York and Brooklyn cruise terminals a little over a decade ago.)  As soon as the bus was filled with people and luggage, it proceeded to the airport - a 30-45 minute ride away.  We were glad that someone else was doing the driving on these busy roads.

When we made it to our airline's terminal area, we checked our bags and proceeded to the TSA security checkpoint.  I had made sure to put all my liquids in my checked luggage.  But my partner made a mistake, and had to toss an expensive bottle away at the checkpoint.  And then, we made the long walk to our gate, where we would spend the next 3 1/2 hours.

Delta's gate area in Los Angeles is largely devoid of food options, though they are adding some in the next month or two.  So we had to make another long walk to buy some over priced food to eat before getting on our flight.  We also bought some food to eat on the flight, as there was no significant food or snack service on our flight to LA.  This would be a fortunate move on our part, as our plane boarded at 1:45 pm for a 2:20 pm takeoff, and was held 90 minutes for a New York initiated ground stop for all incoming flights to JFK.

Unlike other passengers on our plane who exited the plane while at the gate, we stayed seated and ate what we had brought on board.  Eventually, our plane's passengers got back on board the plane, and we took off for New York.  Several hours later, we could see why there had been a ground stop.  Weather conditions at JFK were inhospitable for planes to land.  (Flights over the next couple of days would be cancelled because of the New York City weather, so we considered ourselves lucky to have gotten to New York at all.)  

Getting from our gate at the end of Terminal 4 to the luggage area involves a long walk, where moving walkways gave us a much needed break.  The weather had disrupted enough flight plans, that the airline was bringing pizza to people scheduled to take "Red Eye" flights to Europe, as all of the food vendors had already shut down for the evening.  After a mile of movement inside the terminal, we found the one open food outlet in the secured area - a McDonald's.  But we didn't stop.  We wanted to find our luggage, summon an Uber, and get home.

It took a while for our bags to make it to the luggage carousel.  When we found them, we went outside to summon our Uber.  And that's when New York weather slapped us in our faces.  It was 80° outside with 95% humidity.  If we could have taken off all our clothing, we would still be uncomfortable.  (We'd have been arrested too.)  And then we had to wait 15 minutes for our Uber to arrive.

Finally, we made it home after being in transit all day.  It was a great trip, and one I hope we can do again.