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San Diego is home to a variety of cruise options, from the Mexican Riviera's sunny beaches and Hawaii's picturesque landscapes to voyages through the renowned Panama Canal. As you sail off on an adventure full of diverse cities, white-sand shorelines, and fascinating cultures - provided with top-notch service by prestigious cruise lines - expect your journey to be truly unforgettable. Whether you are looking for a cultural experience, a relaxing trip to paradise or an opportunity to discover ancient worlds – there are opportunities to begin and end your adventure at the Port of San Diego. You can enjoy the best San Diego has to offer, and then take a cruise to relax in the Mexican Riviera, enjoy a Panama Canal adventure, or explore an Incan discovery. Or enjoy the best of the US with a cruise of the Pacific Coast or to Hawaii. A world of destinations awaits, and it all begins from our beautiful waterfront in San Diego.
Next Stop, Go: Where Adventure Awaits.
The San Diego Zoo is considered one of the best zoos in the world, thanks to its incredible conservation efforts and large animal enclosures. Visitors of all ages will enjoy its wide variety of species and educational live shows. The San Diego Zoo is known for its panda exhibit, as it’s one of the few zoos outside of China where you can still see them in person.
Navigating the Cruise Terminals
It’s conveniently located adjacent to Belmont Park, a carnival-style amusement park with a wooden roller coaster and games. Located just about a 2 hour drive from San Diego, a lot of our sailing’s passengers headed there to extend their vacation after the cruise. If you are coming from outside California, it’s a great opportunity to get a double dose of Disney.
BALBOA PARK
The longer sailings cruise farther south and can reach Mazatlán and/or Puerto Vallarta on the Mexican Riviera. Starting at the end of the summer 2023 Alaska season, Disney shook things up a bit. This repositioning created a little bit of a gap in the usual San Diego schedule. Several of the Disney Magic cruises are designated as Halloween on the High Seas or Very Merrytime sailings with special holiday decor and celebrations. Travel to international destinations such as Panama, Colombia and Mexico on Holland America. The line's vacations range from seven-day Hawaiian and Mexican Riviera cruises to a 28-day Panama Canal excursion that visits Aruba, Cabo San Lucas and Cartagena, Columbia.
The San Diego Trolley is a scenic way to travel around the city. It connects the Gaslamp Quarter with Old Town San Diego and some of the outer edges of the city limits. You’ll find many taxi ranks around downtown San Diego, popular beach areas, and the Port of San Diego. Take the Coaster to visit some of the coastal suburbs and their charming downtown areas. You can also use the Sprinter, a light rail line that connects the western coast with some of the more inland areas, such as San Marcos and Escondido.
What cruise lines depart from San Diego?
If you have time before or after your Disney Cruise to explore the city of San Diego proper, the city really always delivers. My family visits San Diego often since it’s such a cheap flight from home, and it’s one of our favorite family travel destinations that never gets old. If you plan to spend any time on board by the pool on San Diego sailings, keep in mind the weather patterns I already mentioned. The warmest days will be in Cabo and farther south – and shorter cruises won’t go that far. You may still want to get in a swim, but it probably won’t be for long. My husband and son hit the AquaLab after our time in Ensenada so it was doable but definitely chilly!
THE 11 BEST Cruises from San Diego to the Panama Canal & Central America (with Prices) on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
THE 11 BEST Cruises from San Diego to the Panama Canal & Central America (with Prices) on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 14:39:52 GMT [source]
Adventure enthusiasts can go sea kayaking through the caves or snorkeling and scuba diving within the cove. Head to Mission Beach for a quintessential San Diego beach experience. Mission Beach is known for its miles of wide, golden sand and its bustling boardwalk full of rollerbladers and surfers enjoying the sunshine.
Ships sailing from San Diego include the ms Statendam, a 1,260-passenger vessel that features a culinary art center and wine-tasting room in addition to lounges and restaurants. The ms Zaandam holds 1,432 passengers and features two cocktail lounges, two restaurants and a show lounge. For those seeking a paradise escape, the perfect choice is to take Celebrity Cruises' 15-day Hawaiian Island Cruise.
Celebrations On Board
Discover the perfect destination for fun with friends, a romantic getaway, or a trip with the little ones, all within sight of your ship. With our two cruise ship terminals located right in the heart of the city, picturesque sunsets and a dazzling skyline greet you and will have you wishing you could stay forever. With mild weather year-round, more than 70 miles of pristine beaches, world-class attractions, captivating arts and entertainment, and endless dining and shopping options, there’s plenty to see and do. Plus, the proximity of the cruise ship terminal, located on the Port of San Diego's dynamic waterfront, means that you’re within minutes of a host of great activities sure to please the entire family.
While San Diego can certainly have those kinds of days, the city isn’t always as warm as you might think. Furthermore, Cruise Critic makes no guarantees for availability of prices advertised on our site. Listed prices may have blackout dates, qualifications or restrictions.
Our older child turned 14 during the middle of the cruise and was able to go to the older teen club Vibe. There were a lot of teens on our sailing (which was during an Easter break for many schools). They formed fast friendships and really made the most of their time and independence. Just across the Sea of Cortez on the mainland of Mexico is Mazatlán, a stop on longer DCL San Diego sailings. A popular excursion there that only takes a limited amount of time and that can be DIYed on the cheap is climbing El Faro – a lighthouse on a hill overlooking the water with spectacular views. Many people who aren’t from California have visions of hot beach weather and fun in the sun departing on a cruise out of Southern California.
Find exceptional City Stays & Pre/Post Overland Packages, which offer a seamless experience ashore to add to your cruise from San Diego. The mecca of all malls in the city is Fashion Valley, located in Mission Valley. Fashion Valley is home to several department stores, brand names, and luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Burberry, and Balenciaga.
Cabo Adventures is a trusted tour company that we’ve used before on other Cabo vacations. Cabo doesn’t have a cruise ship dock of any size, so the ship uses tenders that drop passengers at the far end of the marina. You can take a water taxi across the harbor to get to the Medano Beach area. Depending on which itinerary you book, here are the ports of call you may experience on a San Diego cruise.
