Your cruise ship has just docked in San Diego between 6:30am and 8am, and it won’t leave port until 5pm or 6pm. What do you do?

That depends on your interests and energy level. What do you prefer—sightseeing, shopping, dining, museums or just relaxing? Here are some options:

Narrated Tour of the City

If you want to pack in the most of San Diego during your visit, catch the Old Town Trolley Tours—San Diego’s most comprehensive,  fully-narrated tour. You can hop on and off at any of eight stops including Coronado (picturesque Island and home of famed Hotel del Coronado), San Diego Zoo (world-famous), Seaport Village (shops and restaurants along San Diego Bay), Balboa Park (museums and gardens), Old Town (shops and historic sites) and the Gaslamp Quarter (restaurants and shops in the heart of downtown including the multi-level Horton Plaza outdoor mall). The Trolley will stop at each location every 30 minutes.

From the cruise line terminal, walk down Harbor Blvd. and look for the orange and green Old Town Trolley Tours booth where you can purchase tickets (next to the large sailing ship called Star of India). The tour starts at this location. First tour of the day leaves at 9:15am.

Exploring the City by Light Rail Transit

For those of you who prefer to explore on your own, hop on the San Diego Trolley, a light rail transit system that stops a few blocks from the cruise ship terminal at the Santa Fe Depot on Broadway and Kettner Blvd (stop #31). From there, you have a variety of choices of stops: Little Italy (#32) with its Italian restaurants and shops; Old Town (#35), a historic area with many restaurants and shops; Fashion Valley Mall (#37), the largest mall in San Diego; Mission Valley Center (#39), another large outdoor mall in Mission Valley; Qualcomm Stadium (#42), and Mission San Diego (#43), site of the oldest mission in California.

A Walk and Lunch on the Bay

If you prefer to stay closer to port, there are many things to do along the bay.  Turn left from the Cruise Ship Terminal and you’ll find the Maritime Museum of San Diego that houses one of the finest collections of historic ships of the world. On the museum tour, you’ll see the Star of India, the world’s oldest seafaring ship, built in 1863.

When it’s time for lunch, try Star of the Sea restaurant, a San Diego tradition with its award-winning seafood cuisine.

If you’re in the mood for a long walk, turn right from the Cruise Ship Terminal and walk along the bay past piers until you see the sign for The Fish Market and Top of the Market. This restaurant on the bay offers a seafood menu as well as sushi and oyster bars.

Shopping at Seaport Village

A 10-minute walk from the restaurant, you’ll find Seaport Village, a great place to spend the afternoon. With its 57 shops, four restaurants and 13 international eateries, this quaint village is designed with three plazas that look and feel like Old Monterey, Victorian San Francisco, and traditional Mexico.

Whether you decide to take a walk, climb aboard the Old Town Trolley Tour or ride the San Diego Trolley light rail system, you’re sure to have an interesting and enjoyable experience when you dock in San Diego.