Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Pacific Coach Lines takes us from Victoria across the water on BC Ferries to the
Canada Place Cruise Terminal in Vancouver without a hitch. They drop us off
right inside the terminal, and our bags are delivered to our cabin aboard
ship…what terrific service!
Boarding the Volendam is pretty easy, despite having to go through three
stages before actually stepping aboard: security screening (like airports), US Customs
and Immigration, then Holland America's own check-in.
Somehow I manage to leave my dress jacket at home, so I leave the ship and make a quick dash to
Dunn's Tailors on lower Georgia Street where I buy a new dress jacket. So
now I will be ready for the seven formal nights we have
schedules while on board this cruise. I arrive back on board in time for the compulsory
lifejacket drill just before our departure.
The Volendam slips away from the dock at 5PM, and we are on our way!
There are some folks who boarded today in Vancouver and who will leave the ship
tomorrow in Seattle – a one day overnight cruise! No doubt they will party hard
tonight to take advantage of all the fun stuff aboard.
Sailing under Lions Gate Bridge is spectacular this evening, with great views of
the North Shore Mountains, the harbour, and Stanley Park. It brings back
memories of when I sailed under the same bridge in 1981 aboard the Cunard
Princess bound for the Caribbean. Everyone is very excited as we pass under the
bridge, but then it is time for dinner. We opt for a BBQ dinner served alfresco
on the (covered) Lido deck beside the pool as the sun sets over Georgia Strait and
Vancouver Island.
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