I just tried booking this trip to connect with a short coastal cruise. I was surprised that there is a change at Irvine to a bus. Track work? What's up? I'll probably book it anyhow since the station in SAN is so convenient to the cruise ship dock.
Coming back we'll fly from SEA to BUR and connect to a NB Surfliner.
Thanks in advance,
Frank in VERY SUNNY but SOON TO BE WET (We hope!) SBA
Posted by railrev (Member # 2640) on :
I believe there was a notice posted in Oceanside that there will be track work going on weekends in April and May.
Sounds like you're going on a positioning cruise up the coast. Have you done that before? If so, what's it like compared to a destination type cruise? Sorry for the off topic, but I'm curious.
Posted by sbalax (Member # 2801) on :
Railrev--
Thanks for the info. I figured someone here would have the answer.
This will be the fourth coastal repositioning cruise we've done. Two on Princess and one previously on Holland America and now this one with them. They are great and VERY reasonable. The service is the same as you would have on any other cruise because they are often part of a larger cruise. There are people on this ship who are starting in San Diego and going to the Sea of Cortez and back to San Diego and then up to Vancouver and some are continuing on to Alaska.
We've also done two transatlantic repositioning cruises which were just incredible. Those are especially good value. We generally pay less than $100 a day per person for a very nice balcony cabin.
If you want to know more send me a private message and I can send you in the direction of some good agents and consolidators.
Frank in dark but still dry SBA
Posted by HopefulRailUser (Member # 4513) on :
I concur with Frank. We took the repositioning cruise with Holland America from Vancouver to San Diego in the fall of 2006. Great trip. Plus we then got to take the Surfliner back to LAX.
No rain here yet Frank.
Posted by sbalax (Member # 2801) on :
Problem solved. We are going to SAN on Friday. Train all the way and we can take the 9:21AM Surfliner from SBA instead of getting up at the crack of dawn. We will stay at the Holiday Inn across from the cruise ship dock. They advertise free shuttle from the train station although I know it is only about two blocks.
I also booked the Surfliner from BUR on the return. We land at 2:23PM and are booked on the 3:19PM NB train back to SBA. A little tight but we have the later train as a backup.
Question. I booked in BC. If we miss the 2:19PM can we use the tickets on the later train? Do I need to call Julie?
Frank in still dry SBA
Posted by chrisg (Member # 2488) on :
The five weekend train to Irvine/bus south is due to the replacement of the San Luis Rey River Bridge north of Oceanside.
This affects my return from my Millionth Amtrak Mile Trip as we are coming down the SAn Joaquin to LAUPT and have on 1580 at 3:00 PM to connect to Santa Ana and home on.
I'm not sure I understand the last part of this post.
Congrats in advance on your Millionth Amtrak Mile Trip! What an amazing accomplishment.
Frank in Sunny SBA
Posted by chrisg (Member # 2488) on :
Limited train service during the work windows means few train are running only to Irvine so instead of 578 at 2 PM I can only take 1580 ie Surfliner 580 home at 3 PM or have to waitfor 784 at 5:10 PM. No 582 to take because it is not running. I hope that clears it up for you.