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Thank you to Princess Cruises for hosting us on this awesome family cruise. All opinions are ours. We hope you enjoy our review, and tips of the Crown Princess, Princess Cruises California Coastal cruise.
Day five started with this beautiful sunrise as we arrived in Santa Barbara.
So far this has been my favorite view from our balcony. During the afternoon I spent some time just taking in the sights and sounds. We watched sea lions swim by, and the warm and cool breezes were the perfect touch.
I noticed that so many different people like to cruise, and it is because a cruise can be anything you want it to me. If you are an adventurous vacationer, you will be very happy on a cruise and especially with the excursions they offer. If you are looking for a relaxing vacation, you will be equally as happy. Pete is more into adventures, and I like to relax and on a cruise, even people within the same traveling party can have their vacation just as they would like it.
For this port, we had to take the tenders to shore. We were staged in a dining room, given a number and then when our number was called we were taken to the boats. It was a short 10-minute ride to shore. The girls enjoyed the smaller boat ride, and we considered it an adventure all on its own.
When you get to shore, you have a few options for the day.
I advise booking your excursions via Princess Cruises because it takes a lot of planning off your hands. Any issues are resolved by Princess too. Since we’d been to the area multiple times, we decided to just explore a bit and get back on the ship. We enjoyed the amenities on the ship so much that it was fun just enjoying the Crown Princess.
When we were off the ship, we headed right to Stearns Warf.
Stearns Warf features restaurants on the pier that serve the local’s favorite, seafood in all forms. Soup, salad, sandwiches, etc.
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Since we don’t eat seafood, we headed onto State Street for more options. We stopped for lunch and did some souvenir shopping.
Santa Barbara is known for the beautiful buildings and is a very pedestrian friendly town. If you just want to explore on foot, you will have an awesome time. If you are looking for a more structured itinerary, consider the following family friendly cruise port activities in Santa Barbara that are all a quick Uber drive away.
- Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center
- Santa Barbara Zoo
- Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
- Lotusland
Santa Barbara’s know for their fabulous wines. Princess Cruises has excursions that showcase them so be sure to explore all of their available excursions. They are adding more and more of them all the time. If you do plan to take a more adult themed excursion, it is good to know that children can stay in the kids clubs while you are in port. During this time they have to have a parent check them in and out in person, which is a great safety feature. We choose to explore together on port days, but Emmy begged us to let her stay in the club because she was having such a great time!
There are great places to take pictures, and we didn’t miss a single one of them!
We found the perfect photo opp spot with the cruise ship as a background! The girls also played in the sand for a few moments and then we headed back to the Crown Princess.
We were back just in time for afternoon tea.
This time, we decided to have a girls date. Little One brought her new seal friend “snow flake” and she enjoyed some tea too! Each time we have gone for tea they have different cookies, sandwiches, and pastries which are fun because you can try some new treats! The scones are amazing so be sure not to skip those!
Em and Ash asked to have an early dinner so that they could go to kids club while we ate our dinner.
They requested pizza, so we headed to the pool deck and relaxed while they ate dinner. The pizza is pretty well known because it’s really good!
We got them settled in their kids clubs, and we went to Da Vinci’s for Italian Night!
Everyone is dressed up like we are in an Italian Restaurant in Italy. It set the mood and dinner was delicious.
I can’t even count how many nights in a row I’ve had some Tiramisu. Each one has been different and delicious. I hope to not break the streak now!
Then it was 10:00 pm and time to pick the kids up from kids camp.
You can pay for extended care (charged to your account) at $5 for every hour, but we opt to get her at closing time so she can get some rest for the next day. I had plans to go back out, but the gentle swaying of the boat makes me sleepy, so I stayed in with her. Ashley went out for cookies and milk with her friends while Pete and Maddie went to see the comedy and magic show. It was a full day of fun!
Next stop is back to our hometown of San Diego! We are planning to be tourists in our own town. It’s always a different experience when you see a place through new eyes!
Have you ever been a tourist in your own town?
PS. See our complete Crown Princess, Princess Cruises Review and Detailed Daily Posts Here.
It sounds like another fun day on the ship! Glad you guys had fun.
I used to love to be on the balcony when the ship was pulling into a port. Especially if I was on land side to see everything.
I love all the beautiful sights you saw and the wonderful cuisine that you and your family enjoyed. It is an experience that you guys will never forget.
That’ll be this spring and summer, being a tourist in my own town. I really would like to find out more about what’s going on in the area. Those pictures are amazing.
Day 5 sounded like an awesome one. I’d be so happy trying a different tiramisu each day. Those are delicious!
This loos like a great cruise and the food looks yummy. I love the dolphin statue.
Sounds so lovely! I’ve always wanted to visit SB I have a dream of vacationing there for a week or two, as a kid I wanted to live there. Looks just as beautiful as I imagine!
Oh I’d love to do this cruise! I’m thinking we’re not too far from one another.
It looks like you all had a wonderful time! The pictures are beautiful. There are many local places we would like to visit this summer.
I’d love to visit Santa Barbara, but not for the reason you might think. My grandmother used to watch Santa Barbara during the day. I’d love to visit for that reason alone.
Sounds like a wonderful time! I love fun trips like this and love seeing the photos!
That is one cute pirate! That beach is stunning!
I’d love to go on a cruise like this and stop at all the beaches. I always forget about that!
I love italian food. I would definitely have eaten there. BTW I was indeed a tourist in my own town–today. 🙂
I live close enough to NYC that yes, I have been a tourist there every once in a while! It is fun to see all the different venues (like the day I decided I wanted to go see the wax Museum or the day I decided to stop in at the American Indian Museum) and just people watching can be an experience in NYC!!
Looks like everyone had a great time. The food looks really good too.
I don’t think I’d ever want to leave that Italian restaurant! The food looks amazing! I love the photo of you and your family with the cruise ship in the background!
There seems to be so much to do on a Princess Cruise that it would be difficult deciding where to start and what to accomplish all day. I think all of the food would be my favorite part!
I’ve never been on a cruise. It’s definitely something I want to do.
Absolutely gorgeous photos. You have a real talent for photography.
I like playing tourist in my own town. I consider San Diego my “home town” and every time I get back to visit I look to see how much has changed (and wow, is it a lot!). I’ve enjoyed your travel adventure and thank Princess for giving you and the family the opportunity to cruise in style and share the adventure with your readers.
Looks like you guys are having a fun time! We have never tried a cruise for a vacation.
Beautiful photos! I have never been on a cruise before. My husband and I are hoping to be able to go on one someday. It looks like you guys had a wonderful time.
I’ve never been on a cruise but this looks amazing. I love the afternoon tea and all of the food looks great!
Cruises look like so much fun! I need to go on one really soon
I love your family photos. Cruising is something that we have yet to try to do as a family.
This is an amazing vacation with your family! I hope to go on a cruise some day, still on my list of things to do. Your pictures are beautiful
Such beautiful pictures and views! I’ve always wanted to go on a cruise. I think the food would be an adventure in itself!
Your balcony view was amazing! and a special tea time, such a fun day!
My family would love to go on a cruise! This looks amazing!
The photos of the sunset are amazing. I’ve been following the cruise and it has given me cruise fever. Tendering into port is a fun experience. We did that when we stopped at Cayman Islands.
The desserts look delicious.
The thought of that gentle swaying of the ship makes me want to lie down and rest… I’m enjoying your trip. 🙂
I like to see that your girls look so happy! I always thought cruises weren’t that fun for kids, but I’m now convinced otherwise!
I’d love to go on a cruise with hubby. I wish we can have more time for a quick getaway 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Tiramisu!!! My favorite. YUM! What lovely weather, it looks like summer! The whole day looks like it was obviously such a blast for the whole family. Can’t ever go wrong when amazing food is involved, either!
This looks like such fun! I think my kids would enjoy a cruise. If they’d be brave enough to try the kid’s club, they’d be hooked.
Sounds cool and fun. I wanted to experience this. Thanks for sharing.
This looks like an amazing cruise. The food alone would make me want to jump on board!
What a great adventure! Santa Barbara is one of my favorite towns to visit. Boy, that spread of food looks wonderful!
The sunsets and rises from the ship are so beautiful. I’d love to experience afternoon tea on the ocean 🙂
The view is breathtaking! Thanks for sharing these awesome photos!
Your entire cruise has got me absolutely sold on the idea and I cannot wait to be able to go on one. All the tiramisu selections look so delicious, it’s one of my favorite deserts so I certainly wouldn’t mind having it every night for a week haha.
This looks like the perfect time with the family! Love all of the pictures!
Your pictures are beautiful. Looks like you and my daughter are having a blast.
Hi Heather – Love Day 5 of your cruise! Sta Barbara has some of the most beautiful beaches – I used to take care of one of the PCUSA Conference Centers a bit further up (one of the 3 I was Director of) and loved that area!! Thank you for sharing the cruise photos – fun foods and loved that pirate!
Since I commented on this great post already – I also wanted to share 🙂
How wonderful! I bet this was a terrific experience. The food looks delicious too.
Santa Barbara looks so cool! I am jealous of you guys! I want a cruise too!
I know we have a Princess Cruise scheduled for December, but looking at your post makes me want to leave right now!
A very beautiful family and awesome photographs and I am sure you guys having lots of fun! Awesome place too
I miss being in Santa Barbara! Beach, sun & fun 🙂
Looks like a fabulous time! I am so jealous.