Beaches in San Diego???

[SamandWill1921]

DCL told me we would be docking at the "B Street Cruise Terminal" in San Diego. Where is the nearest beach? We didn't schedule any excursions because we just want to spend a few hours enjoying the sand and surf (Colorado natives). I tried google maps but to no avail.

 

[Debers17]

Your terminal will be very close to the Ferry dock, which would drop you off at the Coronado Ferry landing, which has a little beach area there and/or from there you can catch a taxi to Hotel del Coronado, which has a gorgeous beach. The ferry leaves every 30 minutes. Another option is you could grab a taxi from Terminal B and ask them to take you down to Shelter Island, which is not far at all. There are actually SEVERAL beaches within a short distance from the port, including right along Harbor Drive where the port is at. Ask your cab driver and they will know what is the best beach area to take you to. Also make sure to ask for a business card so you can call for pick up. Beaches here do not have taxi stands as I believe they do in FL. Of course this is assuming you would take a cab as I don't think renting a car would be ideal for such a short amount of time that the boat is docked. Have fun and we are awaiting the day we get to finally see a Disney boat in our bay!!!

 

[GromMom]

I'd recommend Coronado over shelter island, shelter island, while a lovely walk does not have very much beach in the traditional sense. I walk on shelter island all the time, and while people can sit in the sand, I'd call the atmosphere more park like than beachy.

 

[ImDMous]

I also would definitely recommend taking the ferry to Coronado and going to the beach at the Hotel Del. There is a bus that goes between the ferry stop and the hotel. The beach is gorgeous, the hotel is gorgeous, there's food, drink and restrooms. I think it's probably the closest beach to downtown as the city goes right up to the water with docks and sidewalks, not sand.

 

[Debers17]

I'd recommend Coronado over shelter island, shelter island, while a lovely walk does not have very much beach in the traditional sense. I walk on shelter island all the time, and while people can sit in the sand, I'd call the atmosphere more park like than beachy.

Exactly! This is why I suggested Coronado first. Plus I believe it would be easier/cheaper to take the ferry across than to have a taxi take them around. Once across to Coronado, I believe there is a form of public transportation (a trolley car if I remember correctly) that can get them to Hotel del, which has the most gorgeous beach! Plus they can walk around that area to shop or just site see.

 

[SamandWill1921]

awesome! thank you! is the ferry free?

 

[debdreamsofdis]

We're doing the California coastal cruise in October and are thinking about speniding some time on Coronado beach. Is the water going to be warm enough for swimming then?? Do they have lifeguards on the beach?

 

[momjeeps]

I'm a San Diego native and would not plan on really warm beach swimming weather. Coronado is very pretty and there will be plenty to keep you busy even if the weather isn't perfect for swimming. There is a cost for the ferry but I'm not sure how much. I'm sure you could google it. Another enjoyable option would be the Harbor Excursion. Very enjoyable and close to the terminal I believe. Have fun!

 

[gunka]

We're doing the California coastal cruise in October and are thinking about speniding some time on Coronado beach. Is the water going to be warm enough for swimming then?? Do they have lifeguards on the beach?

October can go any direction weather wise,it could be in the 70's or the 60's. Either way the water will be like always cold, mid to high 60's. Which doesnt seem to slow the kids down as much as it does the adults.

For more of a boardwalk atmosphere you can check out Mission Beach, most likely would be a cab ride, although public transportation might be an option.

 

[LBYC-19]

I agree with everyone above- last summer we visited Coronado Island and Hotel Del- gorgeous beach and breath-taking hotel. We had lunch outside overlooking the ocean. There is also a great cream parlor inside the hotel. It was beautiful!

 

[Macmaro]

We're doing the California coastal cruise in October and are thinking about speniding some time on Coronado beach. Is the water going to be warm enough for swimming then?? Do they have lifeguards on the beach?

I call San Diego home though I live in Texas right now. The water is never warm but I always found it swimmable. I second (or third) the Coronado suggestion. My favorite beaches are closer to La Jolla but that would be a long trip in a cab.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Chilly]

I went to Coronado earlier this year and loved it, its a beautiful beach.

 

[Tired mom of 3 boys]

I'd agree on going to Coronado, but I love the La Jolla beaches... Water will be cold....

 

[j2tyco]

I would look into hiring a water taxi to take you to and from Coronado and not deal with the ferry..here is why- in my research with the ferry times and the shuttle times a little jaunt over to Coronado can take up to 2 hours doing the ferry and shuttle (matching up drop off times with shuttles pick ups etc) and then taking the same amount of time to get back to the ship means you have to leave the beach by 230 or 3pm if you want to get back on the ship for an early dining..so depending on when you get off the ship you end up spending more time waiting for ferrys and shuttles then on the beach itself.

With a water taxi it is $7 per person each way but you schedule the pick up times and it takes you right to the hotel coronado dock (just google san diego water taxi)--the ferry is less expensive as it is $8.50 round trip per person..but lacks the flexibility plus you need to buy a San Diego transit pass for $5 each to use the shuttle...I did a cab far estimator on the san diego .org site and it estimated about $30 one way

The other popular beach would be Mission where the old wooden roller coaster is and the cab estimator says approx. $23 each way

We will be on the Sept 23rd Cali coast Pixar cruise and I am trying to figure out exactly how much if anything we will do while in San Diego Port as well. Good Luck!!

 

[woody73]

When we go to a beach in San Diego, we go to Coronado.

Woody

 

[crzy4dals]

I would look into hiring a water taxi to take you to and from Coronado and not deal with the ferry..here is why- in my research with the ferry times and the shuttle times a little jaunt over to Coronado can take up to 2 hours doing the ferry and shuttle (matching up drop off times with shuttles pick ups etc) and then taking the same amount of time to get back to the ship means you have to leave the beach by 230 or 3pm if you want to get back on the ship for an early dining..so depending on when you get off the ship you end up spending more time waiting for ferrys and shuttles then on the beach itself.

With a water taxi it is $7 per person each way but you schedule the pick up times and it takes you right to the hotel coronado dock (just google san diego water taxi)--the ferry is less expensive as it is $8.50 round trip per person..but lacks the flexibility plus you need to buy a San Diego transit pass for $5 each to use the shuttle...I did a cab far estimator on the san diego .org site and it estimated about $30 one way

The other popular beach would be Mission where the old wooden roller coaster is and the cab estimator says approx. $23 each way

We will be on the Sept 23rd Cali coast Pixar cruise and I am trying to figure out exactly how much if anything we will do while in San Diego Port as well. Good Luck!!

We are doing the 23rd cruise as well. We are thinking about a quick jaunt to Tijuana then head back up .. In all of the trips we have made over the years to San Diego we never went to the Hotel Del. Since this trip will be just DH and I - I think we should do that. Now to figure out the logistics.

 

[debdreamsofdis]

Thanks for all the replies! This is great information to know!

 

[kindsoul73]

How exciting! What day is the ship here? I want to take my kids to go see it!
About beaches, I am also a native, and I love Coronado as well. La Jolla beaches are beautiful- idyllic, really, but a drive.
Mission Beach is fun, but there are a lot of partiers and homeless people.

 

[SamandWill1921]

We will be in San Diego on Friday Sept 21st from 8:30am - 7:30pm according to my DCL documents.

 

[Pinkandproud]

I live in San Diego. Coronado would be your best bet and the easiest and most affordable to get to. You can do the ferry, the water taxi or you could do the Trolley. The trolley goes through out San Diego and you can see the whole city and get off and on all day. It's like $30. We do this as locals, it's alot of fun. You could go to Coronado this way too. Regular taxis really aren't an option as they are very expensive. It would cost you a lot to get to any of the beaches.

Someone mentioned Mexico, I definitely WOULD NOT do this. It is very dangerous over there as of late and crossing the border could be very time consuming. It just really isn't safe. Us San Diego people don't even go there! Being on a cruise ship you leave yourself wide open for missing the ship if you get into any trouble over there. They have their own rules in Mexico. Basically, they make them up as they go!