Got back to the suite to find the room was being fumigated (probably because we didn't send in the questionnaire to the infirmary in time, telling them we didn't have the norovirus), so we cleaned up and stowed all the toiletries and items sitting out on cabinets, tables, and countertops. Breakfast for me was a Diet Coke and some Wheat Thins, and for Jill was a latte from across the aisle. Then vacated the room to the cafe. Filled out the infirmary form, sipped a couple of iced chai lattes, and was met by Mom and Dad. We then disembarked and walked the mile or so to Seaport Village.

At the next pier, the USS Midway serves as a floating Navy Museum

Spent the time liesurely strolling through shops while we waited for Libby. After she arrived with Kimmie, we ambled over to the Harbor House for lunch. Had a nice lengthy lunch and visit. Dad and I caught a quick nap on a park bench while the three and a half women shopped some more.

A fountain in Seaport Village, with the Coronado Bridge visible in the background

Kimmie Driskill, with sun hat and sunny disposition

Eventually, we said our goodbyes at the waterfront. Jill escorted Libby back to her car carrying the young-un, while M&D caught a pedicab back to the pier. I walked and met them at the cruise terminal entrance, as the cab driver had mistakenly taken them to the end of the pier and they had to walk back. We boarded together, and Jill followed only a minute or so later, having caught a ride from Libby to the cruise terminal parking lot across the street.

By this time it was about 3, and we had just enough time to catch a quick nap before the start of the lifeboat drill. I'd already had a bit of a nap, so the 45 minutes was sufficient. Jill didn't get to sleep as quickly, so planned to return to her nap once the boat drill was over. Lots of new faces at the drill, even younger people and--gasp!--children. (Lots of very familiar faces too, as we easily struck up conversations with what seemed like old friends, and tried not to make fun of the "newbies.")

We pulled out at 5:00, as Jill was trying to finish her nap and I was making journal entries on the laptop.

I went topside to watch us sail through the channel, past the Navy yards and Coronado Naval Air Station, and to take some pictures.

Pulling away from the pier in San Diego in late afternoon. The cruise ship on the left is Royal Caribbean's "Monarch of the Seas."

The USS Nimitz, being stripped down following her decommission

The overcast had cleared and we had sunny (if somewhat hazy) weather for departure. Mom caught up with me on the Sky Deck, and we ran into Dad shortly after that, just as the Pilot transferred from the Veendam to the pilot boat. (Transferring from the large ship to the small boat is much easier, apparently, when the flying bridge catwalk on the pilot boat is the same height as a deck of the Veendam. The pilot simply stepped across. Watching the transfer from a smaller pilot vessel earlier in the cruise was like watching a daredevil stunt.)

Counted sea lions sunning on the channel buoys, and soon we were in open water. It was a bit chilly, having left the protection of the harbor, so we went below, promising to hook up again at 7:00 in the Crow's Nest.

Jill finished her nap and we "dressed" for dinner. Up in the Crow's Nest, we saw 4 pods of dolphins within about 30 minutes. One pod seemed to know we were coming, as they stayed in place off the starboard bow until the ship was near, and then raced for the bow, presumably to ride the bow wave. The water was so smooth it was almost glassy, and the setting sun cast a long bright streak before disappearing behind the far horizon clouds.

The sun sinks in the west over a smooth sea.

Dad had the sniffles, so didn't join us for the evening. We had dinner and joined the usual crowd in the piano bar for Randall's Request night. By the end of that we decided it was bedtime.