September 29, 2025 – San Diego: From History to Happenings

After five incredible days sailing down the Pacific Coast, today marked transition day for our floating village. Roughly 350 guests disembarked, while around 900 new passengers embarked, transforming our cozy community into a bustling town seemingly overnight. It’s always fascinating to watch this subtle shift—the rhythm changes, new faces appear, and everyone begins to find their own routines and favourite spaces aboard.

But before diving into the onboard festivities, we had the pleasure of spending some time ashore in beautiful San Diego—a city steeped in history and coastal charm.

A Brief Look at San Diego’s Rich History

Often called “America’s Finest City,” San Diego is not only known for its sunshine and beaches but also for its deep historical roots. It’s considered the birthplace of California, with the area first claimed for Spain in 1542 by explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo. The first European settlement began in 1769 with the establishment of Mission San Diego de Alcalá, the first in a chain of 21 missions across California.

Over the centuries, San Diego has transitioned from a small Spanish settlement to a bustling American city, playing significant roles in military history, maritime trade, and biotechnology. Its proximity to Mexico adds a rich cross-cultural flavor, reflected in everything from the food to the architecture.

Reuniting with Friends & Exploring Balboa Park

By around 10:00 AM, we disembarked and were warmly welcomed by our San Diego friends, Karen and Aaron, who generously offered to show us around for the day. Our first destination was the iconic Balboa Park, where we were also met by dear friends Mike and Cheryl—locals who made the day even more special.

Balboa Park never disappoints. We leisurely wandered through some of its most stunning features:

• The amphitheater, a grand open-air venue
• The serene Japanese Friendship Garden
• The fragrant and colourful Rose Garden
• The charming Spanish Village Art Center, full of artisan studios
• And the beautifully renovated Botanical Building, always a favourite

The conversation, the scenery, and the warm sunshine made for a perfect morning and afternoon.

Old Town & A Fabulous Lunch

From there, we took a scenic drive to Old Town San Diego, where California’s early days come to life through preserved buildings, museums, and vibrant Mexican culture. Our lunch at Casa Guadalajara was nothing short of fabulous—everything homemade, including the warm, fresh tortillas. Delicious food, great company, and a festive atmosphere—it doesn’t get much better than that.

Karen and Aaron returned us to the ship well before all-aboard, giving us time to freshen up and prepare for what we thought would be a relaxed afternoon…

Surprise Drill & Spectacular Sail Away

But cruising keeps you on your toes! We were surprised by a full lifeboat drill—not just the usual keycard check, but the complete safety demonstration with everyone on deck. While unexpected, it’s always reassuring to know HAL takes safety seriously.

Following the drill, we headed straight into sail away mode, with festivities in full swing. As we glided past San Diego’s impressive naval base, the city slowly faded behind us, offering stunning views including a memorable glimpse of the legendary Hotel del Coronado—a fitting farewell to a great port.

Evening Celebrations & Connections

After a quick shower, we attended a special event for 3-, 4-, and 5-star Mariners and President’s Club members, which took over the entire Lido Pool Deck. With such a long voyage ahead, there are quite a few in these loyalty tiers, and the event was well-attended and lively.

We even had the chance to exchange a few words with Captain Smit, someone we’ve sailed with before—a familiar face that added a nice personal touch to the evening.

Dinner in the main dining room was exceptional as always, and we capped off the night with an energetic Hawaiian-themed show on the World Stage. A truly vibrant and full first day of this next cruise leg.

Until Tomorrow…

They say cruising is relaxing—but after today’s excitement, I think we’ve earned a quiet moment or two tomorrow. That said, if this is how the voyage begins, we’re in for an unforgettable adventure ahead.

With Mike, Aaron, Karen and Cheryl 

At Casa Guadalajara 

Freshly made tortillas 

Sail away festivities 

Casting off our lines

With Captain Smit

At Sea - September 28, 2025

Reflections on a Memorable 5-Day Coastal Cruise

As we wrap up the final full day of this 5-day Coastal Cruise from Vancouver to San Diego, I can’t help but reflect on how well Holland America Line (HAL) managed to pack the full cruise experience into such a short itinerary.

With around 720 passengers on board, the ship had a relaxed, uncrowded feel—a refreshing contrast to the mega-ship vibe. About half will be disembarking in San Diego tomorrow, while the rest of us continue onward. Yet, despite the shorter length and smaller group, HAL didn’t cut corners when it came to programming.

From the moment we embarked, it was clear HAL intended to deliver the full cruise experience, regardless of duration. Here’s what impressed me most:

• Captain’s Welcome Toast: Just like on a longer sailing, we had the traditional welcome toast, complete with sparkling wine and introductions to the ship’s senior officers.
• Enrichment Seminars: Engaging talks and presentations offered a great mix of education and entertainment—ideal for sea days.
• Bar Hop & Orange Party: HAL brought the fun with themed nightlife events. The bar hop was lively and social, while the Orange Party brought a splash of signature Dutch flair.
• Dressy Night: One elegant evening gave passengers the chance to dress up and enjoy a more formal dining experience. A nice touch for a five-day cruise.
• Cake Me Away: An event of a variety of cakes to select from.
• Farewell Celebrations: As with longer itineraries, HAL held a crew farewell parade and song—always a heartfelt moment and a reminder of the incredible service that defines the HAL experience.

All in all, I was very impressed. It’s clear that HAL doesn’t scale back just because it’s a shorter itinerary. Instead, they manage to create a cruise that feels complete—full of charm, class, and just the right amount of celebration.

If you’re considering a shorter cruise but worried it won’t offer the same experience as a week-long voyage, rest assured—this one checked all the boxes.

Cake Me Away. Mika, our dining room head waiter serving up some cake.

A good sampling.

A Space X rocket launch.

Pictured here with Annie on her last performance of her contract. She is a gifted Cellist playing as part of the classical trio. We sailed with her an our last Legendary Voyage last year. We are sorry to see her leave us but happy did see a few performances in this leg of our journey.

San Francisco, USA - September 27, 2025

A Day in San Francisco: Sea Lions, Sunshine, and Sailaway Magic

San Francisco is a city that seems to defy time—an ever-evolving blend of rich history, vibrant culture, and unforgettable scenery. Nestled on the tip of a peninsula surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, the city’s roots go back to 1776 when Spanish colonists established the Presidio of San Francisco and the Mission San Francisco de Asís. It truly began to boom in the mid-1800s, fueled by the Gold Rush, drawing fortune-seekers and adventurers from around the world. Over time, San Francisco grew into a beacon of innovation and counterculture, known for everything from the 1967 Summer of Love to the rise of Silicon Valley just to the south.

Today, it continues to captivate visitors with its famous hills, eclectic neighborhoods, and iconic landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island.

Our Day in the City by the Bay

After docking this morning, Jan and I decided to spend the day soaking in some of San Francisco’s classic sights. We set off on foot and made our way toward the historic Fisherman’s Wharf—a bustling area that’s always alive with energy, street performers, and the scent of fresh seafood wafting through the air.

Our walk led us straight to the famous Pier 39, where we spent a good while watching the local celebrities: the sea lions. There they were, sprawled out in the sun, barking and jostling for space on the floating docks. It’s always such a treat to watch their antics—some snoozing peacefully while others slap fins in playful rivalry. The view of the Bay in the background made it even more spectacular.

After enjoying the salty breeze and lively atmosphere of the pier, we made our way back to the ship for a well-earned late lunch at Dive In, the casual poolside grill onboard. There’s something incredibly satisfying about biting into a juicy burger or hot dog after a long walk, especially with views of the water all around.

Golden Hour Sailaway

As the afternoon gave way to evening, we gathered on deck to take in the sailaway—and what a breathtaking one it was. With clear skies and golden light shimmering on the water, our ship slowly glided beneath the majestic Golden Gate Bridge. There’s something surreal about seeing that iconic red span from below, the city fading in the distance behind us, the open Pacific ahead.

It was one of those perfect moments you try to freeze in your mind: the wind in your hair, the soft sound of waves, and the bridge towering above like a gateway to the next leg of our journey.

San Francisco never disappoints—and today was no exception.

Alcatraz Island - sidebar, growing up I knew someone who did some time here in a cell under the Bird Man. 

Visited the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park Visitor Center, yes, got our stamp.

Visiting the Famous Sea Lions at Pier 39.

Sailaway

Going under the magnificent, Golden Gate Bridge, the bridge we drove over just a few months ago with our Andiamo.