This was one of the best, if not the best, cruises my husband and myself have ever taken. This was due in great part to the fantastic bunch of people who had participated in the Cruise Critic thread for this cruise. While our group was small, it was diverse and interesting, and there wasn't one person on it that I didn't enjoy spending time with. Our group got together informally several times during the 11 night cruise, and each time was very enjoyable.

PRE-CRUISE

The ship set sail out of San Francisco. We had not been there for years, so we decided to do a two day stay prior to the cruise. We are so glad we did. San Francisco is an incredible town, with lots to see and do. We stayed at the Tuscan Inn, which I highly recommend. It is very quaint, and in excellent condition. Each night they have a "happy hour" where guests can enjoy free wine and appetizers. It is held in a comfy lounge area with a wonderful fireplace. There is an Italian restaurant next door to it, which was very good. The Tuscan Inn is conveniently located near Fisherman's Wharf and the cruise terminal, and it also had a Walgreen's and Safeway across the street. We had forgotten a couple of items, and we happy to be able to pick them up prior to boarding the ship. We also picked up our two bottles of wine to take on the ship. Read more