Background Information: We are newly retired folks, aged 62 and 65, and relatively new to cruising. Our first cruise was on Royal Caribbean, followed by 4 more on Holland America. We have additional Holland America Cruises booked, as the line is a good fit for us.

Travel to Port of Embarkation: We arranged our own air, flying American Airlines, O'Hare to San Diego, non-stop. The flight was uneventful, which is always good news.

Hotel Information: We stayed one night pre-cruise at San Diego's Holiday Inn on the Bay. A free shuttle was provided from the airport. We think of this as the 2 star hotel with the 5 star view. It was pricey, at $279 for one night in a very ordinary room, but there is nothing like sitting on your balcony just before dawn to see your ship arrive at the pier. A couple hundred feel closer and the bow would have been in my lap. Read more