Here we are…back in Vancouver once again. Docked at 7am, we were not alone as the Regent Seven Seas Mariner was already here, and joined shortly after we arrived, was the Ruby Princess.
Breakfast in the Pinnacle Grill revealed that the same wait staff was still there. We have been told that by Skagway, there will be a rotation of managers and some of the staff. This appears to be the norm these days. Leaving the restaurant, we ran into Henk, who told us a few facts with the upcoming cruises. We think we heard him say that so far there will be 600 in transit next Wednesday after the last Alaska run. Then they will pick up 1000 more guests in San Diego. We heard rumors that HAL is offering a good deal to board the ship in Vancouver for the 5 day sail down to San Diego. The stop in San Francisco will now allow guests to board there. This was not the case when we booked. San Francisco is usually not a port for HAL to embark guests.
The amenities for our room began arriving such as gifts of shipboard credit from our travel agent, the Have-It-All packages, two new KN95 masks, and two Mariner drink cards. Later in the day, we found two bottles of Brut sparkling wine, two trays of munchies, and 16 Cokes and one bottle of Bacardi Rum in place of the flower arrangement. We always check our shipboard account on the room TV to make sure our credits are posted. Most of them were, but we had a surprise to find we had been charged for our Canaletto dinners last night….1/2 price, but it should be complimentary for us. Tomorrow we will have to pay a visit to the front desk folks and get that fixed, as well as searching for other missing credits. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't, and if we had not discovered it, it would remain incorrect.
There were about 30 minutes before we had to leave the ship, so we took this opportunity to do a favor for friends that will be on the 23 GWV. We located their room and took photos of every nook and cranny for them. We happened to run into the assistant head housekeeper, Evi, who said she could do us a favor. We asked for a small dining table we could put on our veranda, and she promised to find us one. Low and behold, it did appear when we returned.
Repeating pretty much what we did a week ago, we left the ship by 9:30am and headed to the area where the crew leaves. With our in transit cards in hand, we got off easily. The weather could not have been better, with the predicted high in the 60's or more. It took us about 1 ½ hours to hike the water front from Canada Place, past the Convention center, and along the seawall. The seaplane terminal was already getting busy with float planes landing and taking off every few minutes. Passing the Westin, we continued past Coal Harbour and the marina.
We spotted Lost Lagoon this time, then continued to Stanley Park with 1000 acres of evergreen trees and other venues. One of those is the Horse Drawn Carriage Rides. Today the pair of horses were Percherons, according to their handler. They were huge beautiful animals with hooves the size of dinnerplates. They pulled the aluminum frame coach with ease. A sign was posted between the two horses warning not to pet them near their mouths, as they may mistake your fingers for carrots. Ouch!
It was beginning to get crowded, so we headed off into the park, taking a shortcut over the top to the Stanley Park Seawall. We saw Lumberman's Arch, what is left of a massive tree from the beginning of the 20th century. There was also a take-away café in this area, but it was closed for the season we think. The designated pedestrian walkway and bike lane was starting to get busy. To complete this walk, it was 6 miles. The view of the Lions gate Bridge was excellent here. We did not need to go further, so headed back on the pathways through the tree-studded park. Took about an hour to make it back to the lunch place we like so much….The Steamworks Brewing Co. The pizza and beers were really good, as was the apple galette dessert. It was close to 1pm, and the place was crowded for a Wednesday. Service was a bit slow, but we needed to take our time, and not get back to the terminal too soon. With three ships to fill, there would be a lot more guests to check in. Last week this went off like clockwork. But today…..well, not so easy.
We entered the terminal located under Canada Place, and proceeded to the same area the crew uses. We showed our in transit cards, and were directed to the correct line. When we reached the area where the bigger crowd was checking in, we were directed around them when we were asked if we were US citizens. At the kiosks, we scanned our passports, answered a few questions, then had our photo taken. Once completed, a slip is issued that is handed over to an official. Easy, but not for long. A row of HAL reps were getting the newly checking in passengers at the kiosks with facial recognition. We did not have to do this last time, since we were in transit. Today, they insisted we had to do this. Not listening to us that we were already on the ship, they could not locate our names as new passengers. Hello……we were in transit! These gals sent us to another desk, and another rep said why are you guys here? You are already cleared. Great, she walked us to the barrier tape and said go through and go to the gangway. As we were about around the rope, here comes another rep, saying no…we cannot go. Come on…enough already. Showing her our room keys and in transit cards, she reluctantly apologized, and let us go….finally. Both of us were thinking…hurry up before they change their minds.
Good to get back to our room, we spent the rest of the afternoon working on photos. By the time the ship left the dock around 4pm, we cracked open the bottle of sparkling wine, and sipped and savored as we left the harbor. Good thing that we thought ahead and had a bottle in the refrigerator, because they failed to have the new bottle on ice. Oh, should all of life's problems be so bad? Not.
Dinner was in the Pinnacle Grill, and we were rather surprised to find the room so full of guests. Usually at 8pm, the majority are about finished with their meals. Not so tonight. Guess we were lucky to get a table for two, even though they are really tiny. Our waitress told us that they had planned for 16 guests, but about 80 showed up. First time we noticed a long wait time for our courses, not that we were in a hurry. One table for three that were across from us, definitely must have had the Have-It-All beverage package. You know the one where you get 15 drinks a day per person? Well, at least two of them must have exceeded that number, and were really loudly whooping it up. The good news was they were on their dessert course, and once they finished their wine (a must), they left the room. Had a difficult time doing it, so some waiters came to help. So not worth the hangover, ha-ha.
Tomorrow, Captain Friso warned that we can expect a change in the weather, with cloudy skies and eventually some rain. Guess our luck might be running out for sunny skies.
Bill & Mary Ann
