Tuesday, 9 February 2016

Day 2 - San Francisco

We are currently docked close to Fishermans Wharf, having arrived about 5.00 pm Saturday (ship's calendar).  However to carry on where the last entry finished, back in Santa Monica.  We had pre-booked Super Shuttle to take us down to the port of San Pedro,  but after the  debarkle at LA airport when we arrived I had some concerns.  The other Kiwis we had met had made other arrangements, with one couple taking a taxi @ over USD120.  However I had no need to worry as I got a text just after 12.00 with the details of the shuttle and the code to track it all the way to the hotel.  Sure enough he arrived just before the 1.00 pickup and off we went - no other pickups!  It was just on an hour's journey and traffic was pretty heavy, but we had plenty of time.  Our check-in was very smooth and we were aboard by 2.30.

Nipped upstairs for a bite and a coffee while waiting for our bags to be delivered.  By the time we got back they were in the cabin, so unpacking began, interrupted by the mandatory Emergency Drill.  Unlike Princess, there was no scanning in of passengers to ensure that we actually attended and we felt that that was a little slack.  The Captain's recorded message went into a loop and was repeated (well started to be repeated ) 3 times before they were able to shut it down.   Back to the cabin, finished up packing and enjoyed a well earned glass of French Champagne.  Yes, the ship gave us a half bottle, however the travel wholesaler gave us 2 large bottles as well, so along with our ship credit we will not go thirsty!

First impressions of the Queen Victoria.  She appears a bit narrower than other ships we have been on, but this is compensated with length!  The narrowness is particularly  noticeable on the stairs, although so far very few people seem to use the stairs! The whole layout, both interior & exterior is one with lots of corners and very few long corridors or promenade.  For example, our stateroom  is about 10 from the midship stairs (notice there is no mention of lifts), however we turn right, left and left again to get to the stairs lobby.  Similarly it is the usual 3 times around the deck for the mile, but oh so many blind corners and so many walkers/runners who don't know the cruisers etiquette.   While midship is a fine location on Princess, Cunard have restaurants fully Aft but have a lot more lounge areas, rather than a main atrium.

Dining hours are a bit of an issue and we have elected for early sitting at 6.00, mainly because second sitting is 8.30, which is really far too late by the time we finish.  So off to dinner and we find another NZ couple from Wanganui and an American couple from Virginia.  There is another couple, but they were at alternative dining.  A little strange really as both American couples get off on Sunday!, so looks like  we'll have new table mates from then on.  In any event we had a great time.  Oh yes, another observation - on Princess, waiters introduce themselves and from our experience become personalised to the table.  While our waiters are extremely polite & efficient, they are just that - polite & efficient!

To clarify the situation - San Francisco is the sector port, however this year San Francisco hosts Super Bowl on Sunday 7 February and this of course is the biggest sporting (not sure about that) event in USA.  As such there is no accommodation available for arriving/departing passengers.  So they used Los Angeles to catch the overflow.  650 of us got on in LA and about the same number will get on in San Francisco.  There are a large number of both UK and US passengers who are going no further, but I gather there are quite a few doing the sector to Sydney - & of course a lot of Kiwis going to Auckland.

We sailed pretty well all of Saturday down the Californian coast, and passed under Golden Gate Bridge just after 4.30.  On our way in we have been "escorted" by 2 US Coastguard high speed craft, complete with manned machine guns.  They don't  mess around and cleared everything from 300 metres away.   As above, Super Bowl weekend has everyone on extreme alert!   The weather  could not be better and the sun reflecting off the bridge is magnificent.  As I started this entry, we are just along  from Fishermans Wharf and our stateroom looks straight out to the setting sun behind Golden Gate Bridge & the island of Alcatraz.  Magic.

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