I read this last week and sorry to take so long to respond. I don't know where you live, but we have cruised from SD twice and it is my FAVORITE PLACE IN THE WORLD!! We live in Northeastern NJ so SD is a long ways away. We went on a Mex Riviera cruise on CCL Spirit 2 years ago from SD. I was FURIOUS because for me, it's "the cruise" and nothing else. Didn't want to spend 1 1/2 days in SD to wait to board. We went with 2 other couples. The one day we had free before cruising "everyone else" decided we would go to the SD Zoo. I am NOT a zoo person. We have the Bronx Zoo at our doorstep and I can't be bothered. But I had to go "along with the crowd." Well, you had to drag me away! It is beautiful. Go on the tram/bus, then get off and walk back to the places you want to see again. After our cruise we spent another day just hanging around and I loved it so much I had DH book the SAME cruise for the following year before our suitcases were in the house! We went last year (just the 2 of us) alone and spent 4 days pre cruise in SD. We rented a car and drove all over the place. LaJolla we saw the beautiful friendly seals and they had the US Open at Torrey Pines with Tiger Woods (not that I follow boring golf!) We stayed at Hampton Inn which is about 2 very short blocks from the Holiday Inn. Very very nice, CLEAN hotel, takes about 1 1/2 minutes to walk to the pier, tho you can see it from the hotel and offers a wonderful complimentary continental breakfast. Staff is very pleasant and they have free internet access in the lobby. The only "problem" with it is that there are trolleys in the back of the hotel, so ask for a room at the front. There is a very small pool that was never used when we were there, but a fine area to sit at with a bottle of wine and to watch planes take off and land from airport nearby. Gaslamp District is a MUST. And right down from the Martime Museum there is the Seaport Village which is very quaint. If you're in a walking mood, go across from Seaport to Kansas City BBQ for a drink. This is where they filmed the bar scenes from Top Gun...it is a DIVE. But lots of fun to see (the piano is still there!) I could go on and on and ON! I just fell absolutely in love with SD and as much as I just absolutely LOVE my cruises, you had to drag me ON the ship and I couldn't WAIT to get OFF when we got back! If you need any additional info, please PM me. I would give my right arm (or left since I am left handed :lol) to go back to SD. My advice, if you aren't a local, is to take at LEAST 2 days pre cruise to experience it. Have a wonderful time! :thumb ps/Hampton Inn (at least when we were there) also offers free van service to and from Gaslamp District. (and airport pick up) Take your cell phone, call them and they'll tell you where they'll pick you up. There's also a great Rite Aide a few blocks up from the hotel. (ask at the desk where to go) They have "all the stuff" plus booze if you care to take some on board. Anthony's Grotto was great the lst year we went-last year the food was kind of crummy. Fun (or not!) is to stay over a day and watch your ship sail out again with drinks on the deck. Oh, and YOU HAVE TO GO TO CORONADO Island!! Get a ferry ticket right at the pier and go over and just walk the streets...go to the Dell, have some lunch at a cafe. We found a 50's "place" that was so cool...malted and great cheeseburgers served outside...(DH just saw me posting this and is rolling his eyes....:lol) Have a FANTASTIC TIME!!! .
