As the seas have been so smooth, we can hardly tell the difference on the ship between port days and cruise days. By the time we were out of bed, the sun was up and it was a beautiful day. There was obviously no rush to go ashore as in most places, nothing much happens before 10am anyway. Others had decided to go ashore early to get on the cable car.
At Pier 33, the Grand Princess (see pic) was berthed, but as in yesterday’s photograph, that is NOT the Golden Gate bridge, but the Bay Bridge.
A full breakfast and surprise, surprise; in the buffet pastry cabinet, a LARGE chocolate doughnut and I’m sure it had my name on it.
Originally, we’d planned a Princess Alcatraz tour, but with Paula feeling fragile earlier, we’d cancelled. More on-board credits to spend again.
We walked off and turned right once again, up to Pier 45 again and across the road was where the famed cable car terminus is situated. We waited for ages to see a trolley roll car onto the turntable, then the crew manually turned it around onto the ‘up’ track. There was quite a delay before that cable car headed off, with people hanging on the sides, 2 per platform step. Not much fun for those sitting on the back to back benches, facing outwards. By the time number 1 was heading back, there were 8 trolley cars lined up, before the turntable, so whether there was a hiccup in the system or not, we’ll never know.
We found the ‘Ross, Dress for Less store OK (Paula bough a shirt), but most passengers never ventured to the store next door, in the same block. They missed a great shopping experience. Although it appeared from the frontage to be little more than a furniture/home store, it was billed as an International store and at the rear, was an extensive selection of beers, wines, spirits and food. We staggered out with a 6 bottle pack of cider (20% off all beers and ciders…), one large bottle of Australian, Bundaberg ginger beer and a small bottle of Dandelion and Burdock. (If you don’t know what that is, then you probably aren’t British.) We also bought a small gift and the total hit on the Onesmart card was just $22.95.
Lugging that lot around for the rest of the day was not on so we headed back to the ship.
We managed to get to through the shore scanner but were pointed towards the ‘booze table’. The bottle of ginger beer was NOT wine and nor was the D & B. The cider wasn’t beer so we walked through intact. Ironically, that was the only time we saw the booze table manned. It was probably put in place as much for the people boarding as those in transit.
Once we’d unloaded, we headed for the buffet and bumped into Ray and Mirella from previous cruises, so we chatted with them whilst scoffing yet another lamb curry.
We went ashore again and just relaxed on Pier 39, but we did buy some fresh cherries. Not exactly cheap at $11.60 a pound, but some of the nicest we have ever had.
After a drink, we retired to the cabin for a while, for a blog catch up and a read.
An early dinner in the buffet, then briefly to the Wheelhouse Bar en route for the theatre. Salomon was playing and wanted us to dance, so played a cha-cha for us. Not much fun in shorts and sandals… Then Paula asked for rumba and we gave him one minute, as it was almost show time.
It is very tough on a performer playing when half the passengers are ashore anyway. Bernie Fields is a very accomplished harmonica player. The show was very high quality but more for the real music enthusiasts, when we really wanted entertainment.
We then bumped into another well-known cruise couple, Ed and Bev, who joined the ship today, so we chatted to them whist enjoying a hot chocolate before retiring for the night. They were completely unaware of the revised schedule and had only learned of it through this blog. Cutting out San Diego without letting boarding passengers know, seems very slack of Princess.
Another half day in SF tomorrow and for the second time, we had a note to say they’d be switching off the power for a while.
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