Given that we had two ships (Norwegian Jade and Holland American’s Niew Amsterdam) boarding at the same time, I feel things in the San Diego cruise terminal were well-handled. I’d be happy to cruise out of here again.
I was frustrated when I arrived, because I found the airport-adjacent cruise ship parking difficult to find. Ended up missing a scheduled Uber back to the port — I had dropped off Roxan with the luggage and was trying to get back for my ship inspection/tour. Unfortunately, that tour ended up not happening for me. It took too long to get the parking thing worked out and get back and through the security line, by then I was over 30 minutes late in spite of having allowed an extra 30 minutes beyond my original plan to get to the terminal, park, etc.
Things happen — I’ll have to make another trip out here sometime and try the tour again. I decided life as a passenger only was sufficient, and leaned into getting on board and enjoying the cruise!
Not Priority Boarding, but it just as well have been…
We were in boarding group 1…things got started a few minutes after 11am and we were onboard by 11:30. A quick video as traditional, walking up the ramp and entering the ship.
On the smaller ships, the entry to the ship is without the fanfare that sometimes accompanies the boarding on the larger ones. We just dump off the boarding gantry and right into the desk 6 security stations…there we are.
But after clearing security, free to wander the ship! After muster drill, we found a spot in O’Sheehan’s and sat down to enjoy our traditional embarkation mudslides and lunch.
Rooms were ready a bit late, but nothing major, maybe 20 minutes or so. Still enough time to unpack the backpack and take a short nap before Sailaway! (Naps have become a big feature of our first 24 hours onboard, for some reason.)
As we departed, we passed a US Navy ship being maintained. Google Lens identified it as the USS Ronald Reagan, but I’m not sure.
More Sailaway Tradition
Our other first-night tradition is dining in Cagney’s. See the review here
And…that’s it. We fell into bed at 7 or 7:30 and proceeded to sleep the next 11 hours!