April 6, 2019

The Eurodam arrived in San Diego around sunrise. Non-American passengers were given times, by deck number, as to when to go to the Deck 3 Meeting Rooms to see United States Customs & Border Services officials, with our passports. since we were re-entering the United States.  Deck 1 was first at 6:30 to 6:45 a.m., however the interviews started about 15 minutes late, only taking about a minute per person. There was five United States Customs & Border Services officials at the start.

   Breakfast was being served on Deck 9 Lido Market and the Deck 2 dining room. Sections of Deck 2 and 3 were roped off due to the USCBP interviews and the disembarkation of passengers, so navigating the usual routes on Deck 2 and 3 required thinking of alternate roures.  The staff in the dining room seemed unorganized, there were waiters but no one to show the people to their tables,  Then the assistant waiters brought juice, water and coffee or tea, but the waiters were showing people to tables. We had plenty of time and were back to our stateroom together our belongings and were waiting in the Billboard Onboard Lounge by 7:30 a.m.

   We kept our luggage to leave the ship, rather have the crew collect the bags the previous evening and transfer the luggage to storage when the ship docked and then collect it in a secure area in the cruise terminal. Many people are taking the ship’s shuttle to the airport.  We were in the first group to leave the ship scheduled for 8:30, but not all of the non-American passengers had been cleared by the Customs officials. Finally, at 9:05, the line started to move, but people with coloured tags for 8:45 and 9 a.m. departure times were mixed in with the 8:30 Expediated people and it was chaos.  Our flight was at 12:40 pm and we wanted to be at the air[ort by 9:30ish.  It was only a 10 minutes taxi ride to the airport and we were hoping to get a cab or airport shuttle.  After showing that our passports had been stamped by the USCBP officials we were scanned off the ship.

    Once in the cruise terminal we were guided past the luggage storage and into the Customs Hall, but just had to show our passports by the exit and we were out.  There were lines of taxi cabs, taxi vans, airport shuttles and private vehicles. We were in the cab by 9:30 and checking in at the airport at 9:45. The check-in for our flight had only begun at 9:40. In 30 minutes, we had removed our shoes and placed our backpacks in the bins and passed through security. We had over two hours to secure internet and upload photographs.  First, we stopped for coffee.

    San Diego had very good land-based internet.  In just 20 seconds eight photos were uploaded – lightning speed! It was culture shock from the less than dial-up speed of the satellite internet!  Larry labelled the uploads and then we walked a bit and met Dennis in one of the gift shops. They were at gate 25 and we were over at gate 50.  There was no separation between domestic and Canada-bound flights.       Steps 7,210

     Richard and Maggie were on the same flight as were Merrill and Jane. Another couple from the ship that we had met on the flight to San Diego on March 7, Victor and Bevan were staying in San Diego while Victor was hospitalized with a respiratory condition.  The plane left on time for the almost three-hour flight to Vancouver. Vancouver was a little over the half way point of our journey home. The first hour the sky was clear and you could see the land below, but near Sacramento, the clouds rolled in and there was mild turbulence.  The rain had stopped in Vancouver when we landed and we followed the signs to Canadian Border Services and were given yellow cards to take a shuttle to the domestic terminal, without going through another security check, after we had cleared Border Services.  The process was electronic and the interview with the Border Services official was brief. We stopped at the Tim Hortons in the Domestic Terminal before settling into chairs and posting more photographs to March 26 & 27 blogs. Vancouver’s airport Wi-Fi was also good.  We stopped for Fish and Chips dinner at Monks and we did not have to ask for vinegar for the fries. 

    The plane was full and left on time for the almost three-hour flight home.  There were lots of taxis waiting for fares.  We were home within 15 minutes of getting a taxi. It was after midnight, so we left the unpacking for the morning.              Steps 11,610

Pictures are now all loaded and labeled where appropriate.

A trip with great memories!