Emerald Princess - Classic California Coast from Los Angeles

Where this cruise calls, day by day

6 ports and 2 sea days over 7 Nights.

1. Day 1

   Los Angeles, CA

   United StatesDepart
   Los Angeles, CA port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore

2. Day 2 · At sea

3. Day 3

   San Francisco, CA

   United StatesPort
   San Francisco, CA port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore

4. Day 4 · At sea

5. Day 5

   Santa Barbara, CA

   United StatesPort

   Santa Barbara has no cruise berth, so ships anchor in the open roadstead and tender passengers to the harbour or Stearns Wharf. The town is a rare California case where the walk from the landing is genuinely the point: red-tiled Spanish Revival architecture enforced by city code, a palm-lined beachfront, and State Street running straight inland from the water.

   • Old Mission Santa Barbara, the 1786 'Queen of the Missions' above town
   • The Santa Barbara County Courthouse and its free clock tower viewpoint
   • The Funk Zone tasting rooms, a few blocks from the tender landing
   • Stearns Wharf and the waterfront path toward the harbour

   Getting ashore

   Tender only into the harbour or Stearns Wharf; downtown and the Funk Zone are walkable, the Mission is uphill and better by taxi.

   Best months

   May-Oct (Sep-Oct warmest and clearest; winter swell causes tender cancellations)

6. Day 6

   San Diego, CA

   United StatesPort

   San Diego is one of the easiest cruise arrivals in the country: the B Street and Broadway piers sit directly on the downtown Embarcadero, with the aircraft carrier USS Midway permanently moored a few hundred yards along the same waterfront. The Gaslamp Quarter is a flat ten-minute walk. It works as both a turnaround port for Mexico runs and a pleasant one-day call.

   • USS Midway Museum, with the flight deck and hangar open to walk
   • Balboa Park's museums and the San Diego Zoo
   • Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, the original Mexican-era settlement
   • The ferry across the bay to Coronado and the Hotel del Coronado

   Getting ashore

   Docks downtown at the B Street or Broadway Pier; the Gaslamp Quarter, Midway and Little Italy are all walkable.

   Best months

   Year-round (Sep-Oct warmest and clearest; May-Jun often grey until afternoon)

7. Day 7

   Ensenada

   MexicoPort
   Ensenada port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
8. Day 8

   Los Angeles, CA

   United StatesArrive
   Los Angeles, CA port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore