Embarkation

San Diego is just a couple of hours away (on a good day) so we chose to drive down the day of our departure. We thought parking in the lot directly across from our ship, even getting a "front row" space, was a stroke of good luck, until we had to walk halfway up the block to cross the street, then back before we could get to the ship. The "independent contractors" that descend upon you as soon as you pop your trunk are very persistent, actually downright insulting. They ensure you they can get you and your baggage to the ship in no time. It took me several replies to assure them we can manage. Looking back now, considering the walk and the look I got when the guy finally left (I seriously worried about my car after that through the whole trip), maybe I should have negotiated a lift from him.

Once at the baggage "dump" we were directed basically by a bunch of pointing fingers. No one really explained that we needed to stand in the correct line, determined by deck designations, until one very angry porter said in broken English "not here - down there." Bit more than small signs on low stanchions would have helped here. Read more