ON march 29 2025 myself and my sister ROSEMARY boared the HOLLAND AMERICA LINE ship KONINGSDAM in SAN DIEGO CA after beening in SAN DIEGO for 3 days. we left SAN DIEGO at 5pm and was heading north long the california coast to SAN FRANCISCO it was nice send off we had sunny skies when we left and as we headed out of san diego bay we could see MEXICO just south of us not far from downtown SAN DIEGO . on first day at sea it was very rough at times and very heavy seas like high as 20 feet but the ship handeled it very well and could not see the coast line of CALIFORINA because we were lest 30 miles away from the coast but it was intresting to see that part of the pacific coast of the USA . on march 31 we arived in SAN FRANCISCO at 7am and came under the GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE wich was a sight to see and came in to san francisco bay wich was intresting to see wich i have been to SAN FRANCISCO before but not on a cruise like i was on . after we got off the ship in SAN FRANCISCO we took a tour of SAN FRANCISCO BAY on one there tour boats and went all the way to the GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE and pass ALCATRAZ ISLAND wich is a very old prison and now a NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE operted by the NATIONAL PARKS SERVICE of the USA it was intresting to see ALCATRAZ ISLAND upclose but not place very every one to see if they dont like prisons . after the tour of SAN FRANCISCO BAY we got on our tour bus and went to GOLDEN GATE PARK and saw the GOLDEN GATE BRIGE at the base of the bridge from the south end. the bridge is tolled and only has one sidewalk on the east side looking towards OAKLAND and downtown SAN FRANCISCO the other side of the bridge is the side used for the maintance i was told but we got great vieuws of the bridge and san fancisco bay . after that the tour of the golden gate bridge we went on through golden gate park saw one of there beaches next to the park and onto onther place i never heard of before when i was last in SAN FRANCISCO in sept 2002 was TWIN PEAKS wich gave us great vuiews of the city and the bay area wich we could see north towards OAKLAND and BERKELEY and south towards SAN JOSE and SANTA CLARA onwards wich was great to see. then after we left TWIN PEAKS we heaed back to downtown and back to our cruise ship long the way we could see this city is very hilly city with lot hills that realy high and maybe hard to drive around . on APRIL 1 we went back into town and walk along the waterfront of SAN FRANCISCO and got on one of there cable cars . the ride on the cable car was great we went up one street that was very hilly and long the way got great view of the downtown of san francisco and saw there chinatown long the way and the way . the cable car took right to dowtown and MARKET STREET wich is one san francisco main streets in downtown san francisco . after we got off the cable car at market street we walk long the street and got to see downtown san francisco wich was intresting . then we got on street car on market street and took us right back to the waterfront and our cruise ship wich was very handy. overal i like our time in SAN FRANCOSCO wich we were there for 1 night but we got to see lot during that time and was intresting to see then at 8.30pm we left san francisco and headed for ASTORIA OR . wile at sea on our way to ASTORIA OR i could see bit of the coast but not lot but i could tell we were long way from the coast and it was nice cruise to ASTORIA time chopy and windy and sunny at time but enjoyable . on april 3 we arived in ASTORIA at 8am and it rained overnight from what i saw on the streets but that did last long because it got sunny for the rest of the day wich was great wile we were in ASTORIA we went to the COLUMBIA RIVER MARITIME MUSEUM and looked around and that museum was worth seeing including the light ship COLUMBIA wich was lightship at the mouth of the columbia river and at the columbia river bar from 1951-1979 wich is now part of the columbia river maritime museum. going on that ship as part of our addmision to the museum was worth it i never been on a lightship and seen it was very intresting to see and hear how they worked and operated. after that we went back to our ship and saw lot of downtown ASTORIA but there was not lot to offer and not lot to see in this town because lot cruise dont come here alot only on reposioning cruises wich i was told but it was place worth seeing wich i been to before on other trips . when we left ASTORIA at 6pm we heaed out of the columbia river and onto the pacific and north to VICTORIA B.C. on our way out of ASTIORIA a pilot boat came long us and fowled us all the out to the columbia bar wich i was suprized to see and went by a lighthouse on the WASHINGTON side of the river CAPE DISAPPOITMENT wich i saw before on my last trip to ASTORIA in sept 2002 wil i was with one my friends heaed north for SEATTLE but it was intresting to see it from the river and got great vieuws of it . the next morning april 4 wile were in JUAN DE FUCA STRAIT and i could see vancouver island on one side of the ship and the other was WASHINGTON STATE wich was great to see and see SOOKE BC. when we got close to RACE ROCKS lighthouse they were two bulkers heaed of us waiting for there pilot to board but the PILOT BOAT PACIFC GUARDIAN came and put our pilots on first then went to the other ships after that and were bound for vancouver and ROBERTS BANK from what i saw . after that we came into VICTORIA and walked around town . i come to this town alot and know it very well but from what was told there were passangers on the ship that never been to VICTORIA and got to see very intresting city. then at 10pm we left VICTORIA and heaed for VANCOUVER and home we arived in VANCOUVER at 6.30am and had breakfast on the ship and got off and went home overal this cruise on the KONINGSDAM was a intresting cruise and got to see a part of CALIFORINA i never seen before wich was great and see the pacific coast of the USA was great to so it was great cruise to go long the coast of the USA and home to CANADA .
