Golden Princess California Coastal Wine Country Cruise
Through the vineyards, all the way from Los Angeles to Vancouver.
The 7-day California Coastal Wine Country Cruise on the Golden Princess was the one that my husband Rob and I decided to go on after looking through dozens of colorful brochures advertising other cruises. The Los Angeles to Vancouver route and the ports of call were enjoyable for us.
Checking in at Pier 93 in Los Angeles only took fifteen minutes of one’s time. The 3,100-passenger ship had recently returned from the dry dock where it had been refurbished, so it smelled like new carpet, and the Horizon Court buffet had been updated. We encountered welcoming multinational crew members all over the ship who were eager to fulfill our requests. We observed that today’s cruisers tend to be younger and more comfortable in casual attire.
Several different cuisine choices available
We dined in the Bernini (main) dining room using the “Anytime” reservation option. We were able to avoid waiting in a lengthy line for the restaurant’s entry by making a reservation for a table at 7 o’clock every night for supper.
In the main “Anytime” dining room aboard the Princess, there is typically a huge line for guests who did not make reservations, and the wait time to be served can be up to an hour. An experienced cruiser that we met over lunch suggested that all we need to do is contact the reservation number and let them know when we would like to eat.
That evening, we proceeded to the side of the gate labelled “reservation,” where we merely supplied our name. I responded in the affirmative when the gatekeeper inquired as to whether or not we desired a standing reservation for 7 o’clock. There will be no more waiting in line for the remainder of the cruise!
The wait staff served lavish dinners while cracking jokes and smiling broadly. One of my all-time favourite meals began with a shrimp cocktail and continued with artichoke soup, a green speciality salad, exquisite broiled fish, and a decadent dessert that was delivered with wit and panache.
The International Café was a well-liked choice for a more relaxed dining experience, and it offered mouthwatering sandwiches, salads, and desserts all day, every day (extra charge for beverages). Seven of the venues on the cruise ship offer alcoholic beverages, and nine of the venues offer food.
Activities conducted on board
The enjoyment of music is a significant component of the cruise experience. Various genres of music, ranging from folk and classical to jazz and rock, as well as dance music, were included at entertainment venues. The Princess Theater was home to production shows in the style of Broadway, complete with singers and dancers, as well as comedians, a mentalist, and other performers. Something was always going on in the Piazza on deck five, whether it was a variety of musical performances, fashion exhibitions, spelling bees, games, or other activities.
The highlight of the trip for us was the bridge tour, during which an officer provided an explanation of the ship’s communication and navigation systems, as well as the roles of the stabiliser, thruster, and crew. It was a wonderful opportunity for us to see the ship from the perspective of the senior officers who are in charge of it.
During the course of our week-long coastal trip aboard the Golden Princess, we stopped at four places that were very different from one another.
Santa Barbara
We were greeted by several lovely Jacaranda trees in Santa Barbara’s downtown area. In order to get to the church services, we boarded the white shuttle bus at the waterfront, which cost fifty cents for adults and twenty-five cents for seniors. During that time, the morning fog was gradually replaced by bright sunshine. We walked to the Maritime Museum from the waterfront, where we passed the yacht basin on the way.
Later, while we were on the famous Santa Barbara Trolley tour, our expert driver, Richard, brought the city’s history to life with intriguing anecdotes about the city’s architectural styles, celebrities, and local businesspeople like Ty Warner, the developer of Beanie Babies.
State Street is home to a multitude of hospitable shops and businesses that extend a warm welcome to passing cruise ships. State Street is lined with stunning government buildings. The Old Santa Barbara Mission was visited during a halt of approximately twenty minutes on the trolley trip.
San Francisco
Pier 27 was home to our vessel for the entire day while we were there. The Woods and Wine tour offered by San Francisco City Sight Seeing Tours was the one that we decided to go with. Muir Woods is only a half-hour drive from Fisherman’s Wharf, and it was a treat to be able to stroll amid the towering Coastal Redwood trees there. The crisp aroma of pine needles and the serene setting are both very good for the spirit.
In the afternoon, we boarded a separate City Sightseeing bus that drove us to Sonoma County, which is known for its scenic terrain dotted with wineries. The history of the Italian Jacuzzi family was explained to us as we sampled award-winning white and red vines at Jacuzzi Family Vineyards. After that, we tried some of the olive oils and walked around the breathtaking grounds. In addition, we sampled wines at Larson Family Vineyards, went to a cheese shop, and had a really entertaining wine tasting experience at Roche Winery.
Astoria, Oregon
At the museums, stores, and even the 125-foot-tall Astoria Column, we were greeted by friendly volunteers. In the years 1805-06, while Lewis and Clark were stationed in this area, they erected Fort Clatsop. We learnt this fact at the Maritime Museum. This was the first military outpost established by the United States of America west of the Rocky Mountains, and it was located at the point where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. Ships frequently go down in these perilous waters at the mouth of the Columbia River, which are also known as the Columbia Bar.
Today, the United States Coast Guard maintains a significant presence in the neighbourly community of 10,100 people that is driven economically by fishing, logging, and tourism. Visitors were taken on a tour of the city in buses, which included an ascent of a hill that was approximately 600 feet high. This stunning hilltop offered breathtaking vistas in every direction.
Victoria, B.C.
In the island city of Canada, kind hostesses expertly guided cruise passengers to shuttle buses that were waiting for them. While driving us to the world-famous Butchart Gardens, the motor coach driver for CVS provided a running commentary on the sights that we passed on the way there.
The breathtaking underground garden, which was developed on the site of an abandoned stone quarry, caused everyone to exclaim, “Wow.” The privately owned property spans 55 acres and features a variety of themed gardens, including Italian, Japanese, Rose, and Mediterranean gardens, along with rare and exotic shrubs, enormous redwoods and other trees, flowers, and fountains.
A high tea featuring a beautiful assortment of excellent tea, small sandwiches, and sweet sweets that were neatly displayed in a three-tiered server was a unique and unusual treat. The gardens are accessible to one million visitors annually and include blooms appropriate for each season. An ice skating rink, large displays of poinsettias and the 12 Days of Christmas, and other forms of musical entertainment make Christmas a truly enchanted time of year.
We had a wonderful time taking a tour of the Inner Harbor on a quaint water taxi that looked like a little tugboat. The captain provided commentary on the houseboats and Fisherman’s Wharf, which is known for serving up delicious ice cream and fish and chips. In addition to its primary use, the Inner Harbor is also an airfield for seaplanes.
During the fascinating Gray Line hop on/hop off trip, which took place in a genuine London double decker bus, we gained knowledge about Victoria’s well-known landmarks, historical sites, and neighbourhoods. The thoughtful driver offered to drop off cruise guests just a few blocks away from our ship, which was convenient for everyone involved.
When we arrived in Vancouver, disembarking from the ship was a piece of cake. The closet in our balcony cabin was large enough to accommodate all of our wheeled and upright stuff. The night before, in preparation for taking a cab to a motel in the area, we packed our belongings and stored them in the cabin where we were staying. As soon as we were given the all clear, we hastily moved our luggage off the ship. We were eager to begin our exploration of Vancouver, so at 8:15 in the morning, we checked into the Fairmont Vancouver Hotel.
Pat Woods is a travel writer who has been published in a variety of publications and frequently contributes to CruiseMaven.com. Pat strongly recommends to readers that they SKI, which stands for “spend the kids inheritance,” on a vacation.
