Royal Caribbean International’s Mariner of the Seas has successfully completed a series of seven in-transit calls at the Port of San Francisco.
Published: August, 2009
Royal Caribbean International’s Mariner of the Seas has successfully completed a series of seven in-transit calls at the Port of San Francisco.
During May and June 2009, the 138,279-ton ship, which has a capacity of 3,114 people, diverted from her scheduled cruises between Los Angeles and Mexico and instead ventured north to Canada because of the H1N1 flu travel advisory. Besides San Francisco, other interim ports on the itinerary included Victoria, Seattle, and Astoria.
“The diversion of Mariner of the Seas to San Francisco was both a boost to the City’s economy and an opportunity for Royal Caribbean guests and crew members to enjoy our city, famous for its scenic beauty, cultural attractions, diverse communities, and world-class cuisine,” said Mayor Gavin Newsom.
“The Port is delighted that Royal Caribbean had the chance to test this new northern itinerary,” said Peter Dailey, Port of San Francisco maritime director. “San Francisco is able to serve cruise ships both as a homeport and port-of-call.”
Mariner of the Seas has now resumed her seven-day round-trip voyages from Los Angeles to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta, which are offered year round.
“We were pleased with the positive feedback from our guests and the travel community,” said Christopher Allen, director of Deployment and Itinerary Planning for Royal Caribbean. “A variety of factors—such as customer demand, port and fuel costs, berth availability, and weather—weigh into whether we might consider offering the Los Angeles to Victoria itinerary in the future.”
One of the selling points for cruise ships visiting San Francisco is the unique beauty of the route; entering beneath the breathtaking and iconic Golden Gate Bridge, ships then find a stunning port-side view of Alcatraz and a gorgeous starboard vista of San Francisco’s historic waterfront. The Port’s cruise terminals are located near the foot of Coit Tower and are within walking distance of the Ferry Building and Fisherman’s Wharf, as well as quick excursions to the City’s famed neighborhoods, including North Beach, Chinatown, Union Square and the Castro.
The Port of San Francisco is an enterprise agency of the City and County of San Francisco that manages a broad range of maritime, commercial, and public-access facilities along the City’s waterfront that are held in public trust for the people of California. San Francisco has been a homeport for cruise ships since 1969, featuring Alaska, Mexico, and coastal itineraries. Each year the Port hosts more than 60 cruise calls at its Pier 35 and Pier 27 cruise terminals, welcoming approximately 200,000 guests.
Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand with 20 ships currently in service and two under construction. The line also offers unique cruisetour vacations in Alaska and Canada, Asia, Australia and New Zealand and Europe.
