Cruises from San Diego

San Diego is a city located in Southern California, USA. It is situated near the coast, and the city’s cruise ship industry is supplemented by the submarine and shipbuilding yards located therein. The largest naval fleet in the world can also be found at the San Diego ports.

The maritime operations in San Diego are handled by the corporation Port of San Diego. It is a self-supporting corporation and they aim to develop and maintain the different harbors and ports in the surrounding area. The main cruise facility is near the North Harbor Drive in downtown San Diego.

There are many cruise lines that operate cruises from San Diego. Listed are some of the more popular ones: Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Princess Cruises, Crystal Cruises and Celebrity Cruises.

The weather in San Diego is temperate, so it easier and convenient to take cruises from San Diego. Passengers can choose from a variety of cruise locations, such as the Mexican Riviera, the Panama Canal, Canada and Hawaii.

The Carnival Cruise Line offers year round service. One of the more popular cruises from San Diego is the Elation cruise ship, which can hold more than 2000 passengers. It offers cruises from San Diego to locations in Mexico such as Cabo San Lucas and Ensenda. The cruises typically last 4 to 5 days. Longer cruises spanning as much as 8 days are also available. Locations include Acapulco, Manzanillo and the Panama Canal.

The San Diego Cruise Ship Terminal in downtown San Diego is at the center of various attractions for cruise ship passengers. Security can be very tight in the area, so passengers are advised to bring a picture ID and their cruise ship ticket to enter the area. Other items that may be needed are passports and birth certificates.

The terminal itself is about a 10 minute drive from the San Diego International Airport. Travelers can look for designated areas that have taxi cabs. Those arriving by train will be dropped off at the Santa Fe Depot Station. It is similarly in close proximity to the terminal. Parking is not available on the pier itself, so travelers must park at parking terminals located near the pier. Parking rates range from $10-$20 per day.

The San Diego Bay, also known as the Big Bay, is home to bayside parks and promenades for cruise ship passengers before and after the cruise. Numerous hotels and restaurants are also scattered throughout the surrounding area. Travelers can drive around the area for additional entertainment.