Cruisers are skittish about flying to embarkation cities these days, so the cruise lines are bringing their boats to their customers. And they're shifting itineraries to accommodate vacationers who prefer to stay closer to home. All this is particularly welcome news for Northern Californians, because the number of Alaskan cruises departing from San Francisco this year has grown dramatically. At the same time, the frequency of Mexican Riviera cruises leaving from the Los Angeles area has doubled.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2002/01/13/TR80629.DTL

You are so right. I've seen tv ads for cruises that clearly state 'you don't even have to fly'.

I would adore cruising out of San Francisco. What a dream!