Well, it's kind of about boats at least...

[dechion]

Ok, just seeking a bit of advice from the forum community. 

 

In about a month I'll be taking a week long cruise from Vancouver, thru several port calls, to Seward Alaska. The trip has been a long time coming and I'm just curious if there are any on the forums that can offer any suggestions. 

 

Could be anything. Perhaps you went on a cruise once and realised later you wished you had brought something. Maybe you have been to Vancouver and can recommend a good restaurant for dinner the night before departure.

 

Pretty much anything really. 

[StingRayOne]

Are you going alone or with friends? The cruise dock is downtown near the Convention center, and near Howe Street. There are many excellent steak houses in that district. Further away Gastown and it is a high priced shopping and food district with the Black Cat Café. There is a section of Downtown Vancouver near Seymor  and about three blocks form the water that famous for needle freaks and hostels, Avoid that after dark.

As for the cruise, pace yourself on the food, there's plenty, meet folks enjoy the activities, pack light but for the weather and leave yourself room to bring a few goodies back. Do NOT spend all your cash on the boat. whatever they sell on the first day will be there on the last day. Try the Reindeer sausage and sourdough pancakes they are awesome.

 

And the local native folk are not Indians, they might be Aleut and Inuit.

 

Bon Voyage

[dechion]

I'll be going with friends, I likely should have mentioned that.

 

Thanks for the advice on Vancouver. I'll be at a hotel near the airport, but will likely find my way down to the area where the steakhouses are the evening prior to the cruise. The friends are staying at a different hotel near the port.

[TacoSallust]

Moose are jerks. Avoid moose. Bison are cool. 

[MaliceA4Thought]

Heads up..  Vancouver is EXPENSIVE .  

 

Which ship??

 

If you are from US.. check and double check entry regs into Canada..  you don't want to get stopped at the airport.. if you are Canadian check and double check entry regs into US for when you arrive in Alaska..  seriously way to many people don't do that.

 

If you are near the airport, you have the river rock casino resort but you may easily loose all your cruise money there and it's NOT a mini Vegas..  recommend give it a miss even if the hotel pushes you towards it which they may well do .  Would second Gastown.. it's by the docks, so a cab ride there would give you an idea of how long it will take next day and if you don't want to take a cab you could take the skytrain..  (I recommend a cab)    Gastown itself is nice with the steam clock, shops and bistros..  the area around Gastown can be not so nice so don't stray

 

Have sailed out of Vancouver a couple of times..  Docks area and getting on the ship should be fine.  when you are on..  go to the onboard shop and buy a "nausea bracelet".  Personally I find these cruise ships don't move enough for me when at sea and that can upset me if its not a storm..  those bracelets work   (ex Royal Navy speaking so you would think I would be immune but it may have been the drink..  but surely not

 

As soon as you get on board,  make sure you get the onboard newspaper, if not in your cabin.. there is SO much going on aboard ship that you could easily miss something good..  and get ready for the departure party..  always a good time.

 

Me, I am sailing out of New York in October on Queen Mary 2..  hoping for a heavy and stormy transatlantic to Southampton.

 

Bon Voyage

 

M

 

 

[alexf24]

Two years ago I sailed Seattle to Victoria, Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway, with a day inside a fjord and a glacier at the end.

 

Weather always rainy in SE Alaska. It was early October, but not too cold.

 

Victoria: Beautiful

Ketchikan: interesting and rainy (always)

Juneau: meh

Skagway: very nice

 

I am a serious hobbyist photographer so I brought good camera lenses. If interested I can post the link to my photo website for the ship and trip.

 

This October I am doing Ft. Lauderdale to Panama Canal. Cameras in tow of course.

 

[StingRayOne]

There's a rail line between airport and downtown , so if you are traveling light its easy, I am sure you have a passport so customs won't be a problem, have never been on a cruise Inside but did a day on a sail boat there and it was awesome.

My experience with Alaska was  snowy in February in Skagway, Haines and Red Dog

Benn to BC like 60 times, like it alot

 

have fun

[Beardog]

Stay away from the lower eastside of Vancouver ,other than that B.C. also means bring cash .

[Triela50]

The bread at the all you can eat buffet is a trap avoid it 

[dechion]

Thanks much for the advice and info. Looks like I'll have a good chunk of a day in Vancouver.

Though I'll likely have lunch and breakfast at the hotel, I'm seriously thinking about going down near the terminal for dinner with friends.

 

Edit: forgot to mention, I'll be sailing on the Norwegian Sun. 

[dechion]

Thanks for the advice folks. I'm headed out today.

 

Looks like I won't get my Mikasa, and will probably be respeccing some DD captains when I get back.

 

Such is life.