California Coastal Cruise

I just returned from a relaxing week on the Crown Princess Cruise Ship. My parents invited my sister and me to join them on a California Coastal Cruise. Our journey began in Los Angeles with ports of call at San Francisco, Santa Barbara, San Diego and Ensenada, Mexico returning to Los Angeles. Sandy & I enjoyed Zumba and Line Dancing, both made for a good workout. Although the sky was cloudy most of the week, the temperatures were pleasant. We all got together often for dinner and the nightly shows in the Princess Theater. The entertainment was good and offered quite a variety throughout the ship. The food was good and the desserts, of course are always good. It was fun re-visiting the towns we vacationed at many years ago as kids; especially San Francisco and Solvang. We met a lot of nice people on the ship. If you've never been on a cruise now is the time to start planning. How would you like a vacation where all you have to do is unpack and enjoy the ride?

We sailed on the Crown Princess, it's a beautiful ship

Mom & dad, the Official Cruisers

Dad, mom, Sandy and I

The Stateroom Sandy and I shared

Our room was comfortable, we also had a balcony

The Atrium is a great gathering spot

We enjoyed these Circus performers in the Piazza, they were good

Neptune's Reef & Pool

Dinner at the Crown Grill

Dad's awesome chocolate dessert, it tasted as good as it looks

Cruising under the Golden Gate Bridge at San Francisco

It's been years since I've been here

We could see Alcatraz

Stinky, noisy Sea Lions at Pier 39

Sandy & I rode the Cable Cars

We last rode these when we were kids

We walked down to Chinatown & back up the hill

The Famous Lombard Street

Coit Tower and city views from Mom & dad's room

Evening views from our room

Sandy & I walked to the end of Stern's Wharf at Santa Barbara

Enterprise Rent-A-Car picked us up at Sambo's........the original Sambo's

I got to drive a 2015 Ford Mustang......whoohoo!

Solvang is a cute Danish town about 35 miles from Santa Barbara

Of course we had to try a pastry

I remember seeing the windmills when we visited here as kids

Further up the road we stopped at Quicksilver Ranch

The miniature horses were so cute

This little guy was one day old.......so cute & tiny

We tendered at Santa Barbara since there were no docks

We were entertained by a variety of sail boats in the harbor

Good night Santa Barbara

Arriving in San Diego

Crown Princess holds 3200 passengers & crew, 951 ft. in length with 18 decks

We were docked right in downtown San Diego with great views of the city

Looking toward Seaport Village and Coronado Island

The airport was nearby, too

The 'Unconditional Surrender' statue on display in Tuna Harbor Park

Interesting Bronze Sculptures along the way to Seaport Village

We have arrived to Seaport Village, a fun shopping spot

Sandy couldn't resist the cowbench at Ben & Jerry's

We passed through the Gaslamp Quarter on our way to Horton Plaza

Interesting work of art along the way

Great views from the Promenade Deck, 3 laps equal one mile

A couple of stowaways on a balcony below

Coming to the end of another fun day at sea

Coffee & dessert from the International Cafe make for a great afternoon treat

Me in our Stateroom don't I look relaxed.....cruises are fun!

Our view of Ensenada, Mexico from our balcony on the Starboard side of the ship

Here comes the first cruise ship we have seen on this trip

Where is the Carnival Imagination going?

We went to mom & dad's room on the Port side of the ship to see where the Carnival ship docked

Ensenada was much larger than I expected

We had fun looking at all the shops in the Downtown Shopping District

Stinky Sea Lions below the ship

Adios Sea Lion

Last evening at sea......in the morning we shall be back at Los Angeles

Every night, Wendell our Room Steward left these wonderful chocolates on our beds.....I brought them home for Kent

Just a few mementos from the cruise