Our day began early with us taking our COVID tests using eMed. The first hurdle was passed when we both received negative results and even more relief when we received notice that my mother in law had also received her negative result. We put in a half day of work and then caught a ride to the airport to begin a long journey to the west coast.
We had a layover in Atlanta and then landed at John Wayne Airport (Santa Ana, Orange County) ahead of schedule but still very late. Our shuttle was ready for us by the time we got our luggage and we were at the hotel around 11 pm local time (around 1 am our time).
We stayed at the Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Harbor Hotel in San Pedro which is very convenient to the pier, has rooms that overlook the harbor, and provides a shuttle to the port. It is a bit of a tired looking hotel though and the maintenance staff seem very busy trying to keep up with maintenance needs.
Friday morning, we enjoyed a Subway breakfast at some tables near the pool and I took some time to admire than many beautiful flowers around the hotel grounds and we all enjoyed the perfect weather.
We walked down to the waterfront around lunch time to find some food and see if we could get a glimpse of the Navigator of the Seas which was in port this day. We found a great waterfront food stand and tables overlooking the water and then were able to take a harbor cruise where we got a close up look at the container ships and even the Navigator of the Seas.
Herring Gull
Navigator of the Seas
Juvenile Herring Gull (likely about 3 years old)
USS Iowa
Brown Pelican
Pilot Boat - This (or one just like it) would be the boat that would pick up the Tampa pilot after he or she helped our ship navigate out of the bay.
Herring Gull (breeding adult)
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Our hotel - Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Harbor Hotel
Late in the afternoon, we walked over to CVS for a few last minute items and to pick up dinner at Jack in the Box and spent the rest of the day relaxing.
It's cruise day!! We were up super early and watched the Emerald Princess come into the harbor from our hotel room.
We then walked down to the pier to get some close up photos.
The walk back to the hotel from the pier is along this narrow park/walkway where we found more beautiful flowers.
After checking out of our hotel, we took the 10am shuttle to the port to begin the embarkation process. About a month earlier, with the rise of Omicron COVID cases, Princess had put in place additional protocols for longer voyages. So in addition to having to do a covid test within 2 days of embarkation, I expected we would also be tested again at the port. After dropping off bags, they shuttled us to the building at a different pier where we took a COVID test and then waiting in groups of about 25-30 to be released once our test results came back negative. We then were shuttled back to the pier where we went through the normal check in process which included reviewing our vaccination cards and pre-cruise COVID test results. That process went quite smoothly. Once we were all checked in, we only had to wait a short time until they started letting people on the ship. We were the third group to be let on the ship (after back to back passengers which were already on and then elite passengers).
Waiting for test results
It was so great to be back on the ship again. We headed straight to my parents room where we dropped off our carry on bags. (They had been on the cruise before.) We then headed to the Sanctuary to book chairs for a couple half-days and found lunch on the lido deck.
It wasn't long until we could get into our rooms and start unpacking and relax before dinner. At dinner and afterwards it was really nice to catch up with my parents.
Here are a few photos from our balcony before leaving port.
Our ship was very late leaving San Pedro and so it was quite dark as we left port. My husband took this time-lapse video of our ship leaving from the perspective of our aft balcony. The ship backs out of its birth first before proceeding forward through the channel.
