Yesterday, Barbara and I closed our San Francisco visit with a wonderful crab omelette and Mimosa breakfast at Beach Street Grill. We wandered the Embarcadero for a final look the Bay and its environs.
We decided we'd rather wait at the Cruise Terminal on Pier 27, so left our hotel a bit after noon, accepting we would probably (as first time Princess cruisers) be waiting for a while. 
We met Clark, a white-haired, straw-boater-wearing greeter for Princess, who "adopted" us and scooted us through embarkation, letting us pause long enough for me snap a great shot of Coit Tower as we walked the gangway to the Grand Princess:
We were happily ensconced in D619 before 1:00 PM! Amazing!! Sipping our complimentary champagne by 1:15! 
When I looked down from our balcony and saw the tug pushing against the ship, my immediate thought was "How antiquated! No sidereal thrusters!" Then I was astounded to realize the tugs were moving the portable dock, not the ship! 
Between the two tugs' screws and the cruise ship's blades, the harbor bottom was churned enough to offer the gulls a buffet; hence, this carpet of gulls!
We passed The Rock and I saw a good photo opportunity:
As the ship steamed toward the mouth of the Bay, the Coast Guard patrol boat "pulled over" a motor sailer which didn't come about soon enough in the Coasties' opinion to avoid the Princess. How cool for us to watch; how embarassing for them to be "blue lighted" at sea!
Unexpectedly as we steamed under The Golden Gate, walkers waved and shouted while slowing cars honked horns! 
We left the confines of the Bay and immediately hit the rolling swells of the Pacific at the edges of the California coast! Holy crap! I am on the Pacific Ocean!!
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