I don't know if I would do an overnight cruise again. It would depend on the circumstances.
If you have been following the blog from day one, please excuse my redundancy. Up to this point in the story; we sailed a seven day round trip Seattle-Alaska-Seattle and an overnight Seattle to Vancouver. All this was on Golden Princess, we are now in Vancouver, it's Sunday September 23rd.
I digress. Going back to the end of the first cruise, Saturday morning the 22nd, we didn't finish our processing for the overnight until about 11 AM. Granted, we were back on the ship and able to enjoy it but things really don't get started until sail-away which was at 4 PM. We did not have to participate in this muster drill.
We had a nice evening. We're now waiting to disembark, it's Sunday 7 AM. Many of the people around us are hungover. Princess did not have a contingency plan for anyone with luggage. I guess they assumed everyone on the ship would have overnight bags only. Wanda and I were able to handle ours but there were people who couldn't. Eventually this was taken care of, but, it was the passengers, not the cruise line that initiated the solution to the problem.
There was also a pervasive, although subtle attitude that I felt from the crew beginning Saturday morning that lasted until our departure Sunday morning. Now, maybe it was me projecting my feelings? The crew had to turn the ship over twice in twenty-four hours and would do it again three days later. That's a LOT of beds to make and floors to clean. I also felt this Monday morning on Star but that's for another day.
7:45 AM and we were still waiting for our clearance to leave the ship in Vancouver. The Princess representative in our waiting area said something about the gangway giving them trouble. Finally they called off the first group, the rest of us waited. Maybe fifteen minutes later the rep said, "OK, be careful, everybody get off," and so we did.
Ever since our initial booking seventeen months ago we have held reservations in a hotel for our night in Vancouver. Andi Wil, Ted and Catherine were staying at the Pan Pacific Hotel , we were not. A few days before the end of the first cruise Andi said, "We wanted to stay there and figured it's a one time thing. We'll probably not be in this situation again, needing just an overnight in Vancouver for a cruise." The hotel is right next to the cruise ship dock, you don't even go outside from one to the other.
I knew if I didn't at least try to change our reservations I would be bitching our entire stay in Vancouver. I got lucky and was able to cancel one reservation and book a room at the Pan Pacific. A nice benefit to staying here; in the morning you did not need to handle your luggage. A bellman picked it up and you saw it next at your cabin door.
Now, why wouldn't I do an overnight cruise again, you may ask. Or, maybe not. It's 137 miles from Seattle to Vancouver B.C. It takes a couple hours. I'm sure there are several different forms of transportation to make the trip.
Conservatively, we could have been in Vancouver by noon Saturday. I think it would have been about the same or even less to forgo the cruise. But, money aside, the extra time in Vancouver would have been very nice. And, at this point an extra night on the cruise was just, an extra night on the cruise.
There were two things we wanted to do in Vancouver. Well, at the time this picture was taken, three. Wil told us that Roger's Chocolates was a must stop, he was right! Our other two places were Granville Island and the VanDusen Botanical Garden .
We went to Roger's, twice. Once was obviously not enough. It was an easy walk from the hotel. We took cabs to Granville and VanDusen. I think the cabs were fifty or so, they take credit cards. This was not our first time in the area. I would suggest the Hop-On Hop-Off bus otherwise.
Granville Island on Sunday was very crowded. If we lived here it would be a regular week end stop. The produce in the market was beautiful. Many of the prices were for 100 gram quantities. Between that and the exchange rate I had no idea how to comparison shop, but I'd learn. The American dollar was actually worth a tad less.
The gardens we beautiful, especially so this time of year. I'm sorry I didn't get any decent pictures at the market but I do have a few here.
This last one is my favorite, I call it; Wanda and the Bull Man with a Penis.
At least two hours is needed to go through VanDusen. If you go, do not...I repeat...do not go through The Maze. And, that's all I'm going to say about that.
Sunday evening we all walked down to a local Asian restaurant. If I remember correctly it's housed in a building that's almost 100 years old. The food was very good. I'm sorry I can not remember the name. If you want to go I suggest you go to the Pan Pacific and talk to the concierge. Tell him or her you had friends who stayed here in September and ask for the Asian restaurant in the 100 year old building that has a picture of Robin Williams and Mick Jagger on the wall. Oh, and some tall basketball player too.
We had a lot of fun in Vancouver in spite of the short time there. I would love to go back again and spend a few days. It's a very cosmopolitan city that had a Chicago feeling, without the wind. It is rather expensive but what isn't?
There is one more thing I think I should point out just in case you find yourself at the Pan Pacific.
Yes, that is a scale on the bathroom floor. Here is an example from the room service menu: "The Canadian Breakfast" Juice or Milk, Toast or Muffin, Tea or Coffee, Two Eggs, Ham Bacon or Sausage.....$27.00 p/p $4.50 delivery charge plus 17% service charge for orders over $10.00. So, a delivered breakfast could cost you $36.35.
The scale? I'm convinced the housekeepers sneak in when you aren't around and set the scale back a half pound or so everyday. The less you weigh, the more you'll eat.
Tomorrow or the next post: Boarding and sailing Star Princess from Vancouver to San Francisco.
No comments:
Post a Comment