Saturday, March 23, 2024

Santa Barbara Cruise Ship Schedule

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Cruise Ships Are Expected To Return This Month In Santa Barbara

First cruise ship since 2020 visits Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Expect to see cruise ships returning to Santa Barbara this month.

The Harbor Commission and Waterfront Department have supported the new COVID protocols for cruise ships after two years without them.

The last cruise ship came to the area on March 4, 2020, just as the pandemic hit.

The next cruise ship is scheduled for March 16.

The city says the cruise ship schedule for Spring calls for 17 ships to arrive.

It brings a strong economic boost to the waterfront economy through special fees, and to the city overall with thousands of people taking tours and visiting local businesses.

The Santa Barbara City Council will discuss the cruise ship rules going forward at its Tuesday meeting.

Local Currency & Tipping Customs

The official currency used in Santa Barbara and the rest of California is the U.S. Dollar. If you need cash, youll find several ATMs throughout Santa Barbara, especially at local banks. Most businesses in Santa Barbara also take credit cards. Tipping customs are similar to what you find in the rest of the United States, with 15% to 20% of the total bill being a common tip amount to leave for restaurant services, taxi rides, and bar service. In the U.S., its also common to see tipping jars at eateries and coffee shops where you order at the counter, and leaving change or a dollar bill or two is appreciated.

Arriving By Cruise Ship

Santa Barbara is the ideal port of call for cruise ships due to its manageable size and walkability. Those arriving by cruise ship dock 1.5 miles offshore from the Santa Barbara Harbor. Passengers are then taken ashore to the Sea Landing, where they are greeted by Santa Barbaras Hospitality Team a friendly, knowledgeable group ready to answer your questions and point you in the right direction. Hospitality tents are located along Cabrillo Boulevard, and across from Bath Street.

From here, the exploration begins. Walk to the Harbor or Stearns Wharffor restaurants, museums, and souvenir shops. Or wander along the Urban Wine Trail a unique series of 20+ wine tasting rooms just steps from each other. Take the MTD Downtown Waterfront Shuttle along the coastal Cabrillo Boulevard and then up Santa Barbaras notable State Street.

For those who love to cruise, your stop in Santa Barbara is sure to enhance your love of the sea, and leave you craving another visit to our shores.

Also Check: What Is The Best Cruise Ship In The World

No Comments Deleted By Administrator

The cruise ships are cool. Welcome to the tourists who disembark and take in the town.

The Santa Barbara Waterfront Department and Santa Barbara City Council are responsible for cruise ship visits. 31 visits planned and the Waterfront Department gets $7.00 per head from the cruise ship operator for visits. Clearly this is bad for community. Clearly this is the City of Santa Barbara selling out is residents once again for money.

Email Waterfront Director Mike Wiltshire and each member of City Council and tell them what you think. Here are their email addresses for you to contact them and share your thoughts.

[email protected]

[email protected]

The first email is for the Director of the Waterfront Department and the second email is for all members of the Santa Barbara City Council.

What makes you say or think it is “clearly bad for the community”?

Facts from” Friends of the Earth”https://foe.org/blog/how-eco-friendly-are-cruise-ships/How Eco Friendly Are Cruise Ships

There is no such thing as an eco cruise with these massive ships. What you dont see on the cruise companys websites, in their advertisements, and onboard is the hidden truth cruises are devastating our environment, oceans, sea life, and coastal communities.Cruise Ship Pollution Facts

Top 5 Reasons to Never Take a Cruise

Experience Santa Barbara’s Best Views

Port of Santa Barbara Cancels All Cruise Ship Calls Until 2022

For an experience you wont forget, come enjoy Santa Barbaras scenic sunset cruises or go whale watching aboard our 70 multi-level luxury yacht, Azure Seas. For a more intimate adventure, complete with sea lion sightings and maybe even a dolphin or two, take one of our Santa Barbara boat rides aboard Lil Toot, Santa Barbaras official water taxi. Our newest boat, Whisper, offers luxurious harbor cruises aboard Santa Barbaras first fully-electric charter boat.

Celebration Cruises of Santa Barbara offers options for everyone including whale watching, coastal cruises, catered and private cruises, water taxi rides, weddings, private parties, corporate events, and so much more!

“Wonderful way to relax and enjoy some beautiful evening views of Santa Barbara at sunset. Kathy booked for us at the last minute and was just so helpful. The crew was so nice. Light appetizers are included but you must purchase any cocktails you desire. We really enjoyed this cruise after a long day of driving.”

“Super clean boat and friendly staff. Nice spread of food and reasonably priced drinks. Blankets are available if you get chilly. My two older kids sat with the captain the whole time and he was super sweet to entertain them and answer all of their questions. Captain Taylor rocked!”

“Perfect way to wine and dine our out of town family and friends for our rehearsal dinner. The best way to show off our beautiful city. The staff were so wonderful, kind, and accommodating.”

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Several Cruise Lines Affected

Multiple cruise lines had cruises scheduled to Santa Barbara in the upcoming period. Holland America Line has the Zuiderdam and the Koningsdam scheduled for visits in October. Other cruise lines that have been affected are Princess Cruises and Celebrity Cruises.

The first Royal Caribbean ship that is scheduled to call in the port is Radiance of the Seas, a call that looks to go ahead in the spring of 2022.

For now, not many ports have decided amongst themselves to ban cruise ships from entering. And while Santa Barbara is not the busiest cruise port in the world by any measure, it is a sign of the negative connotations that still linger around cruise ships since the issues seen last year. Multiple outbreaks painted a grim picture of an industry struggling to battle an enemy that later brought the entire world to a standstill.

Port Of Santa Barbara Cancels All Cruise Ship Calls Until 2022

— The California port of Santa Barbara has announced it will cancel all cruise ship visits for this fall, affecting Pacific coastal and California coastal itineraries onboard Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line and Princess Cruises.

“Due to local increased COVID infection rates, the Santa Barbara Waterfront Department will be continuing the suspension of all cruise ship visits to Santa Barbara, until March 1, 2022,” statement on the city’s website read. “This will provide time to see how the impacts from COVID unfold, as well as work with the industry and stakeholders to determine the right time to reinstate this program safely.

“The next cruise ship on the schedule after the suspension is March 10, 2022.”

The first ship to call on Santa Barbara was scheduled to be Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam on September 23, with Princess Cruises’Majestic Princess rounding out the season December 19.

Calls aboard those two vessels, along with Nieuw Amsterdam, Koningsdam, Celebrity Millennium and Ruby Princess, have also been canceled through the end of the year by the Santa Barbara Waterfront Department.

The port has been a popular addition in recent years on California coastal cruises that typically run during the shoulder months, acting as a bridge between the Alaska cruise season and the start of the Mexican Riviera and Hawaii cruise seasons that take over in the winter months.

Read Also: How To Apply In Cruise Ship

Cruise Ships San Pedro

, Royal Caribbean Cruises> and Catalina Express, along with other cruise lines offer frequent sailings that make San Pedro the busiest passenger port of call on the United States West Coast. Most Carnival Cruise Linesships depart from Long Beach, California. San Pedro remains the easy and economical place to stay before and after your cruise. Find your your San Pedro Hotel discount deal here.

Location:

  • The World Cruise Center is located at Berths 91, 92 and 93A/B or 100 E. Swinford St., San Pedro, CA 90731. See below for an interactive map and driving directions.

Protect The Health Of The Community

Cruise ship stops begin in Santa Barbara for 2022

According to city officials, the move to ban cruise ships from the city for the coming six months has been taken following the recent outbreak of COVID-19 amongst the fully vaccinated crew of Carnival Vista, which was linked to the death of one of the passengers.

Cruise ships bring in millions of dollars to the local economy and generally have a low impact on the city as guests use tenders to come to the town center. Nonetheless, the city believes it is not ready for resuming cruise operations just yet, saying it wants to protect the health and safety of our community.

Waterfront Director Mike Wiltshire said the decision was not taken lightly:

Our cruise ship program brings millions of dollars to the local economy as well as introduces Santa Barbara to tens of thousands of people from around the world. It is a well-run program that strategically minimizes impacts by scheduling visits only during the shoulder seasons and often mid-week. That being said, the health and safety of our community, as well as the health and safety of cruise ship passengers visiting our area are our top priority so we have decided to pause the program. We remain optimistic that once were back to pre-pandemic status, Santa Barbara will return as a premier destination for the cruise line industry,

Read Also: What Cruise Lines Sail Out Of Boston

Opening Hours And Holidays:

In major metropolitan areas like New York and Los Angeles, many drugstores and supermarkets are routinely open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, while department stores, shopping centers and most other large retailers are typically open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and often with shorter hours on Sundays – generally 11 a.m. or noon to 5 or 6 p.m. On holidays, the tendency is to remain open

Holidays in the USA

Culture& History Of The Santa Barbara Cruise Port

Santa Barbara was founded by Spanish governor Felipe de Neve and Franciscan Padre Junipero Serra in 1782. Prior to the European settlement of the region, the land was home to the Chumash people.

Santa Barbara may feel like a big, cosmopolitan city, but it has small-town roots, and many of the locals work on or are familiar with farms and wineries in the area. The city has an upscale air to it, but similar to the rest of California, youll find that the locals live a laidback lifestyle largely based around the outdoors. The local state university contributes to the economy, as does the tourism, finance, and health care sectors.

Santa Barbara Port Facilities & Location

Cruise ships that stop in Santa Barbara anchor offshore and tender passengers on a smaller boat to land. Passengers are dropped off at Sea Landing, a small pier within the Santa Barbara harbor. Sea Landing has a staffed information table where visitors can get maps and public transportation timetables as well as information about various activities to do in the city. The actual Santa Barbara Visitors Center is located at 1 Garden Street. Sea Landing is also within walking distance of Stearns Harbor. To get to State Street and the beaches along Cabrillo Boulevard, a cheap shuttle is offered.

Read Also: Where Is The Best Place To Cruise In January

Top Things To Do In Santa Barbara

Explore Downtown Santa Barbara on Bike

Riding a bike around the downtown area is a lovely way to spend your day in port on a Santa Barbara cruise. There are bike racks all over town, including up and down State Street, that make it easy to stop and try a cup of locally roasted coffee, shop, or grab a bite to eat. Riding a bike is also a fun way to get to some of the citys main sites, such as the Santa Barbara County Courthouse.

Whale-Watching Tours

Santa Barbara is a great jumping-off point for a whale-watching adventure. There are more than 27 different types of whales and dolphins that you can see throughout the year in the waters off of Santa Barbara. May through November is the best time to spot these magnificent sea creatures, when humpback, blue, and gray whales are in the area. Youll also likely encounter some frolicking sea lions during your whale-watching excursion.

Santa Ynez Valley Wine Trails

Santa Barbara is located right within wine country, and exploring the surrounding Santa Ynez Valley is a fantastic way to spend the day. From the Foxen Canyon wine trail to the famous Fess Parker Winery and Vineyard, there is no shortage of wineries and vineyards to visit during your Santa Barbara cruise port of call. Booking a wine tasting shore excursion is your best bet, since you wont need to worry about driving or getting back to your ship on time.

Santa Barbaras Urban Wine Trail

Cruises From Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California Cruise Ship Schedule 2020

Santa Barbara is a coastal town located in California, USA. It is a popular tourist destination, often referred to as the American Riviera. Imagine London, Sydney or Buenos Aires – great food, great shopping, and great culture. Now shrink it and delete traffic and noisy, crowded streets. Read more

Keep the pedestrian-friendly easy-to-get-around part, plus the great Spanish architecture, and then add wine. Now surround it with beautiful mountains, rolling valleys and kilometres of beautiful beach. Welcome to Santa Barbara. Several iconic destinations lie within the city’s limits. Mission Santa Barbara, The Queen of the Missions, is located on a rise about 3 km inland from the harbour, and is maintained as an active place of worship, as well as being a national historic landmark.

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Port Of Santa Barbara Puts Cruise Ships On Hold Until 2022

The Santa Barbara Waterfront Department has decided to put its cruise ship program on hiatus until at least March 2022 because of COVID-19 concerns.

Officials on Monday voted to delay the return of cruise ships, which havent docked at the California port since March 2020, because of health and safety concerns.

In a statement, Waterfront Director Mike Wiltshire on Monday said that despite the industry bringing millions of dollars to the local economy, health concerns ultimately forced their hand.

Our cruise ship program brings millions of dollars to the local economy as well as introduces Santa Barbara to tens of thousands of people from around the world, Wiltshire said in a release. That being said, the health and safety of our community, as well as the health and safety of cruise ship passengers visiting our area are our top priority, so we have decided to pause the program.

Santa Barbara, while not one of the busiest cruise ports in the world, has been a consistent staple in many California coast itineraries for a while. The last cruise ship that was scheduled to dock at the port was the Grand Princess, which was set to arrive in Santa Barbara on March 24, 2020, before it was diverted because of COVID-19 cases onboard.

Holland Americas Koningsdam had Santa Barbara as part of its restart plans later this year, sailing from San Diego to Santa Barbara along with Avalon, San Francisco, and Ensenada. But those plans will have to be changed after Mondays announcement.

California Cruise Destination To Remain Closed To Cruise Ships Until March 2022

Santa Barbara, a cruise destination in California to remain closed to cruise ships until March 2022.

One of the more popular ports of call for cruise lines like Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Holland America Line has banned cruise ships until March 1 of 2022. Santa Barbara, perched between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean in California, is a popular tender port on the Pacific Coast cruises that many cruise lines have on their itinerary.

The Santa Barbara Waterfront Department and the city mayor, Cathy Murrillo, decided to put its cruise ship program on hold until at least March 2022 because of COVID-19 concerns.

Officials on Monday voted to delay the return of cruise ships, which havent visited the California port since March 2020.

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Santa Barbara California Cruise Port Schedule

Santa Barbara California Cruise Port Schedule Santa Barbara, California is the county seat of Santa Barbara County. Santa Barbara is the ideal port of call for cruise ships due to its manageable size and walkability. Those arriving by cruise ship dock 1.5 miles offshore from the Santa Barbara Harbor. Upscale boutiques and restaurants offering local wines and seasonal fare line State Street.

Transportation In Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA TOURISM

Taxis are the easiest way to get around Santa Barbara, but theyre not necessarily the most charming mode of transportation. That designation would go to the Santa Barbara Electric Shuttle, a public transportation system that runs along Cabrillo Boulevard and up and down State Street that only costs 50 cents to ride. A bus system connects downtown Santa Barbara with the outer edges of the city and nearby coastal towns, such as Carpinteria and Goldeta.

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Californias Santa Barbara Bans Cruise Visits Through March 2022

Our cruise ship program brings millions of dollars to the local economy as well as introduces Santa Barbara to tens of thousands of people from around the world, said Waterfront Director Mike Wiltshire in a statement.

That being said, the health and safety of our community, as well as the health and safety of cruise ship passengers visiting our area are our top priority, so we have decided to pause the program.

READ MORE: The U.S. Is Off The European Safe List What Does That Mean For Cruisers?

While the city with the dramatic backdrop of the Santa Ynez mountains is not one of Americas leading cruise stops, it has long offered a laid-back alternative to busier ports in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Most calls were scheduled during the September-May period, often by ships that had been cruising Alaska routes during spring and summer.

Cruise ships, including those from Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, and Celebrity Cruises typically anchor about 1.5 miles offshore, and guests are ferried in by tender boats to enjoy wine tours, historical excursions, or simply to enjoy upscale dining and shopping in the citys downtown.

The last cruise ship to anchor off the Santa Barbara Harbor was the Amadea, operated by Germany-based Phoenix Reisen, which arrived on March 4, 2020. The Grand Princess was scheduled to arrive on March 24, 2020 but was diverted due to COVID-19 cases onboard. At this point, the next scheduled call is March 10, 2022.

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