March 9, 2019

  This morning there were clouds in the sky, very little wind and the temperature was +10°C (+50°F) as the sun rose. Back home there was a snow storm warning as a Colorado Low passed the center of North America, with the prediction of another one bringing rain or snow in three or four days time.  The weather was milder at only -3°C (+26°F).

   We could see the Cruise Ship Terminal from our balcony, but the Eurodam had not docked at 6:15 this morning. We had to lean out from the balcony to see around the corner to view the B Street Pier and cruise terminal. It was pleasant sitting on the balcony listening to the birds, as well as the trolleys, trains and planes. When we leaned out again 30 minutes later the ship had just arrived, the ropes were still being tied down.

 view of the Eurodam from the hotel's outside elevator

     We took a 13-minute walk to the Corner Bakery Café on Broadway and First Avenue for breakfast. Then walked, on purpose, further away from the hotel to see more of Broadway up to the East Village district before turning back taking about 45 minutes to return.  We noticed signs on several streets advising of traffic detours tomorrow for a half marathon.  “The San Diego Half Marathon has been designed to carry runners over a spectacular 13.1-mile USATF-certified course, while showcasing one of the world’s most beautiful cities! Our signature scenic route begins between Petco Park and the San Diego Convention Center on palm-tree lined Harbor Drive and continues with spectacular views of the USS Midway Museum, San Diego Bay, San Diego’s skyline, Harbor Island, Spanish Landing Park and Cancer Survivor Park. Then it makes its way through historic Liberty Station while passing NTC Park (formerly, the Naval Training Center) and the Marine Corps Recruit Depot. Next, it’s up Washington Street through the neighborhoods of  Mission Hills and Hillcrest. The last few miles coast gradually downhill, passing beautiful Balboa Park and lead right back into downtown, with an epic finish inside Petco Park!  USATF Certification Code:  CA17072RS.”     When we left the Wyndham hotel, we saw the refueling barge already delivering fuel to the ship. We took a 13-minute walk to the Corner Bakery Café on Broadway and First Avenue for breakfast. Then walked, on purpose, further away from the hotel to see more of Broadway up to the East Village district before turning back taking about 45 minutes to return.  We noticed signs on several streets advising of traffic detours tomorrow for a half marathon.  “The San Diego Half Marathon has been designed to carry runners over a spectacular 13.1-mile USATF-certified course, while showcasing one of the world’s most beautiful cities! Our signature scenic route begins between Petco Park and the San Diego Convention Center on palm-tree lined Harbor Drive and continues with spectacular views of the USS Midway Museum, San Diego Bay, San Diego’s skyline, Harbor Island, Spanish Landing Park and Cancer Survivor Park. Then it makes its way through historic Liberty Station while passing NTC Park (formerly, the Naval Training Center) and the Marine Corps Recruit Depot. Next, it’s up Washington Street through the neighborhoods of Mission Hills and Hillcrest. The last few miles coast gradually downhill, passing beautiful Balboa Park and lead right back into downtown, with an epic finish inside Petco Park!  USATF Certification Code:  CA17072RS.”

    We have encountered races before – in January as our ship disembarked, the Miami Fitbit Half Marathon was passing nearby and last May in Dublin, a marathon route passed the exits and entrances to the port where the ship was docked, causing delays.

   When we were back out on the balcony enjoying the +14°C (+57°F) temperature, we heard the ship's horn sound a long blast followed by three short blasts, which we speculate meant that all passengers were off the ship, since it was just after 9:30 a.m.     

   Steps 7,7873 or 4.5 km on the GPS.

 morning walk with breakfast at Corner Bakery Cafe

   Taking advantage of the hotel Wi-Fi, I checked the Cruise Critic thread to find that a lot of people were staying at the Sheraton Hotel, several blocks from the harbour. I think it is the hotel that Holland America is using as pre-cruise accommodation. We saw the hotel on our wanderings. Some people took the Sheraton shuttle to the ship which left at 10:15 a.m.  It is a 5 to 10-minute drive.  The cabins onboard were not be available until after 1 p.m.  Our checkout was noon. We walked across the street to the B Street Pier cruise terminal in less than 5 minutes.

The line-up for the Holland America Eurodam check-in was about 600 people long. It moved steadily from the shaded south side of the terminal into the building and snaked toward the security check and four American Customs officers, who were checking the boarding passes and passports. Then we proceeded to the line for the actual check-in where we received our key cards for our stateroom, since we on a Holland America ship 14 months ago our photos were on file and another picture was not necessary. We were given the daily list of activities called the When & Where, an invitation to a 2:15 p.m. Welcome Reception for 3, 4 & 5 star tier loyalty club members, and a number to board the ship. To this point, 55 minutes had passed and we sat in the waiting room for about 15 minutes before our number was called for boarding the ship. As we waited we heard an announcement that the bunkering had ended. Bunkering is the loading of the ship’s fuel. We managed to avoid the photographers taking welcome aboard photos, as we followed directions to go to the gangway.  We were not buying any photos from the ship’s photographers on this trip.  Our Deck 1 stateroom was ready, so we left our backpacks and coats there and rushed to the dining room for lunch, since the dining room closed at 1:30.  We sat with two couples from Oregon. 

   We hurried from lunch to the Welcome Reception at the Deck 9 Sea View Bar at the stern of the ship.  We discovered that we should have taken our jackets, since this was an open area bar by the smaller pool.  There were two kinds of wine, plus sparkling wine, mimosas and canapés. We enjoyed a chat with Jane and Roy from Ontario while the sun shone, but the wind was cool when the clouds covered the sun.

     When we returned to the stateroom our steward, Irma from the Philippines, introduced himself and told us that he and his assistant, Ida, would be tidying our room for the voyage. Our luggage arrived 20 minutes before the mandatory safety drill and we were able to put most of the clothes away.  We are quite impressed with our stateroom.  It had about 30 more square feet of space to the average size stateroom that we usually have. It also had USB ports at the desk and above the night tables on either side of the queen size bed.

   We joined some of the Cruise Critic people back at the Sea View Bar, with our jackets, for the 5 o’clock Sail Away. We met the spreadsheet guru, Chris, who organized into tabs all the tours and activities which other people had arranged. There were about 40 members there. Larry got some nice pictures of the San Diego Harbour and Naval base. A ship’s photographer took a group photo which we missed.

   We were a few minutes late for our 5:15 dinner seating. Dennis and Carol from Arizona were already seated at the table for 6, then Ron and Jackie from Oregon joined us a while later.  The entrance to the Deck 2 dining room was the usual first night chaos, since they had two lines, which you couldn’t see as you came off the staircase.  One line was for reservations and the other was for people with no reservations.  We chose the wrong line, but within 5 minutes were escorted to table 167 where Ida (Eeda) was our waiter assisted by Adrian. 

Dennis and Carol are celebrating their 50^thwedding anniversary, while Ron and Jackie, who retired to a horse ranch, are celebrating Ron’s 80^thbirthday.

    After dinner we walked through deck 2 and 3 finding the different entertainment venues and bars, then climbed the stairs to Deck 11 to see the Explorers’ Café, which is part the coffee bar, part alcohol bar.  In the 2016 refit of the Eurodam, the library was removed and many people were disappointed that they could not get books until Hawaii.  I downloaded 13 books to read on my e-reader before leaving home.

   The ship was pretty quiet, but there were some people enjoying the Casino on Deck 2.

   Total steps 16,682  

 our stateroom

 San Diego skyline from the ship

 leaving the Port of San Diego