In a recent article titled “Three Reasons to Book Your Next San Francisco Cruise,” we wrote about the fun of spending part of a vacation in the famous city by the bay, and part of it sailing to exciting destinations like Hawaii, Alaska, and the South Pacific. This story is about the cruise ship we selected to follow our own tour of San Francisco.
Selecting a cruise
As Mark Twain used to point out, it can get a bit chilly in San Francisco no matter what time of year, so we thought a cruise to somewhere warm would be the perfect addition to a vacation.
We did an internet search and explored all the cruise line itineraries departing from San Francisco on our travel dates, and Princess Cruise Lines had exactly what we wanted: a round trip from San Francisco to the Hawaiian Islands. . We made the right decision, and here’s what you can expect if you decide to take the same step.
The day before the cruise.
We arrived in San Francisco the day before our cruise to Hawaii departed. We hit our favorite spots in town, had a nice dinner at Scoma’s on Pier 47, and checked into our favorite and always trendy San Francisco Hyatt Regency. The hotel is directly across from the iconic Ferry Building on the Embarcadero, and very close to the cruise ship terminal at Pier 35.
Sailing from the Golden Gate
We settled into our port cabin, popped a bottle of bubbly, and as the ship pulled away from the dock, we headed out onto our patio to watch the San Francisco skyline in a slow parade. There was the illuminated Ghirardelli Plaza in all its splendor, and the famous Transamerica Pyramid Building – standing out among its neighboring traditional “plazas”.
We could see the Golden Gate Bridge approaching over the bow, and we said a fond farewell to old Fort Point as we headed out of San Francisco Bay into the vast blue Pacific. All we could think of at that point was, “What a spectacular way to start a cruise!”
Next stop: Hilo, on the big island of Hawaii. A future article will describe Hawaiian ports of call in Hilo, Nawiliwili, Lahaina, Honolulu and our last stop in Ensenada, Mexico before heading back to San Francisco. Why do cruise ships sailing to Hawaii from US ports have to stop at a foreign port like Ensenada? We will explain it in the next article.
This story introduces the many joys of vacation aboard the Star Princess. Note: The Grand Princess has now replaced the Star Princess on the Hawaiian route from San Francisco. They are sister ships, so the differences are minimal.
sweet suites
The Star Princess has several luxury suites spread throughout the ship. The Grand Suite is 1,314 square feet of pure indulgence, with a walk-in closet, large bathrooms, and an oversized balcony. These fancy digs are for the truly lucky among us.
In addition to luxury accommodations, the suites feature complementary services, such as an exclusive Suite Breakfast at Sabatini’s specialty restaurant, where you can start your day with a complimentary “Good Morning Mimosa” and select other delights from an extraordinary breakfast menu. . We expected the service to be impeccable, and it was.
Did you know that the now famous “Mimosa” champagne and orange juice drink was created and first named at the Ritz in Paris in 1925? Its namesake is the mimosa plant, which has sparkling, bright yellow flowers.
There are also afternoon and pre-dinner cocktails and private parties where suite passengers can mix and mingle with passing ship officers.
Do you want a quiet dinner for two? Having a lavish room service meal served in a ship’s suite is the height of maritime indulgence and sublime privacy.
Suite passengers are also provided priority boarding and deplaning through the Elite/Suite Departure Hall. While visiting ports that require bringing a motorboat to shore, suite occupants receive priority tender landing tickets, a nice time-saving touch.
time to dinner
Soon it was time for our initial dinner aboard the Star Princess. The first night aboard a cruise ship is a casual affair, so after cleaning up a bit, we headed to the Portofino Dining Room on Deck 6.
The Maitre d’hôtel was busy orchestrating the process of showing the first diners to their assigned tables. Remember when everyone ate at an “early” or “late” session? On these days you can dine traditionally or decide to eat at a time of your choosing during dining hours. There are advantages to both practices: it’s clearly a matter of personal taste.
that’s entertainment
After a sumptuous dinner, it was time for our opening night of entertainment at the Princess Theater on decks 6 and 7. The first show included the entire cast in a extravaganza review. The large two-story theater was packed but comfortable, and everyone enjoyed the lavish musical production.
We took a walk on the deck of the Lido before returning to our cabin after the show. Not quite ready for bed, we turned on the TV and watched our first movie from the CCTV library. He was an old man, An Affair to Remember, starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, a quintessential tearjerker with a plot that begins on a cruise ship. What could be more appropriate for the setting?
days at sea
It took four days to reach our first port of call in Hilo. We traveled 2,003 nautical miles (2,303 highway miles) from San Francisco. Time passed quickly.
The days at sea can be calm or exciting: you choose. You can shop non-stop at the myriad of Ship’s Boutiques. You can visit the internet cafe to catch up on emails, listen to live chamber music and attend lively art auctions. How about exercising in the spacious Gym, a Seminar at Sea, eating pizza, a hot dog or a hamburger, or trying your luck at the Casino?
Teeth whitening is another option, as are indulging in a variety of spa indulgences, dozing by one of the pools, and chatting while enjoying your choice of entertainment at the many bars and lounges. There is also the opportunity to watch movies outdoors or indoors, use the library, read and, of course, eat.
the captain of the ship
On one of our days at sea, we had the opportunity to interview the captain of the ship. At the time of our sailing, the captain of the Star Princess was Edward Perrin, a native of Dorset, England. As is often the case, Captain Perrin was very friendly and very willing to share stories about his ship and his experiences at sea.
We always ask boat captains what they like best about their job. Captain Perrin revealed that he most enjoyed the ability to have a positive impact on people’s lives, both crew and passengers. He gave an example of an elderly couple who saved their entire lives to take a cruise. He was approached with the problem that they had no more money to spend during the cruise. Captain Perrin summarily wrote a list of “free” things the couple could do on their cruise vacation. They were elated, and the good Captain was just as pleased: he made their day and he has never forgotten the feeling of being able to help.
When it comes to passenger services, an important member of the crew is the General Manager of the Hotel. In Star Princess, that was Terri Lynn Cybuliak, and she contributed a lot to our fun conversation.
As we have mentioned in previous cruise articles, ship captains are hired to be captains for months, not years, and therefore transfer from ship to ship quite frequently. Keep an eye out – you may well find Captain Perrin in command of your next Princess cruise ship.
Attention on the bridge
After our meeting, Captain Perrin invited us to join him on the bridge. The ship’s bridge is always manned 24 hours a day by two officers working four-hour shifts in a three-watch system. It is interesting to witness the wide variety of sophisticated systems that make these mega ships work in a calm and controlled atmosphere. We are still fascinated by the fact that the traditional rudder on a ship has been replaced by a small joystick on a desk panel.
Eat at specialty restaurants
All of the food on board the Star Princess, and most other cruise ships, is quite delicious. It is amazing that marine chefs can prepare thousands of varied meals daily and do it with such finesse.
People always ask, “If all sit-down meals are included in the cruise price, why would anyone pay more to eat at a specialty dining room?” The answer is quite simple: privacy, and something extra special for an important occasion.
Each specialty restaurant has its own kitchen, so there is just an extra touch of attention to detail in the preparation and presentation of the food. The servers have fewer tables to serve, and the overall experience is one of eating in a truly fine restaurant. The additional charge is never outrageous and the experience is worth it.
Avoid disappointment, book your specialty restaurants in advance.
Our recommendations
Over the years we have enjoyed many cruises, and Princess Cruises is one of our favorite lines. It provides first-time travelers with a welcome introduction to a cruise vacation, and offers seasoned passengers a good selection of accommodations and amenities. Regardless of what your wallet dictates, a Princess Cruise will provide you with good value for your vacation dollars.
If you go
San Francisco International Airport is about 20 miles away and it’s a $65 cab ride to the cruise terminal or the Hyatt Regency. Your travel agent or Princess Cruises can also arrange transfers to and from the airport, but if there are two passengers involved, we recommend taking a taxi, it’s much less hassle.
a final note
The San Francisco cruise terminal is currently located at Pier 35. That will change when the America’s Cup venue removes betting from Pier 27 sometime around September 2013, after the US (hopefully) win the cup
After a quick facelift and the addition of a new on-site park, the much-improved cruise terminal at Pier 27 will be able to handle larger ships and boast expansive views of the city, including Telegraph Hill and Coit Tower, the Ferry Building, and the Harbor Bridge.
Happy travels!
