September 18 – Vancouver

home for the next 3 weeks

Weather – 18º, sunny

Steps – 6,824

12 hours 23 min of daylight

Latitude – Calgary 51º, Vancouver = 49º

Fortunately we weren’t scheduled to leave the hotel and board the ship until after noon…there were some technology struggles this morning. Thankfully, we had them and worked on them while we had decent wifi, Ship wifi would NOT have made the frustrations any less.

Anyway…tech problems solved, the rest of the morning was spent on breakfast

last morning at the Shangri-La

and packing what little was unpacked for the last 3 days.

We’ve settled on Ubering to the port. It’s not far, but for less than $10 we don’t need to schlep our bags.

Vancouver harbor action

We have embarked at many a port, and Vancouver has to be one that took the longest. Things were organized and civilized, but there were many, many people. Usually only security is necessary, but here all the ships are going to the US so we are doing customs here. Even if it was just security, that line was loooong. From the time we left the hotel we were on board in a little over an hour – really not terrible, but not great. There were 3 other ships in port today, in total about 6000 passengers and maybe 4000 crew. Places like Miami seem to have multiple security and customs areas, so everyone isn’t going all together. Miami has more ships than Vancouver, but in my experience it’s smoother.

welcome abord

Once on, things were smooth. A welcome

all gassed up and ready to roll

champagne, visit to our muster station, a sit by the pool and lunch. Since Covid, safety drills are now a video on TV and a visit to your muster station…that’s it, is it safer…who knows, it sure is easier.

After lunch was unpacking, meeting Maria our room attendant who will be taking care of me for the next 3 weeks.

Sail away was at 6. Originally, it was supposed to be at 8, but the sun is down by then. I’m sure that’s not why it was changed, but it’s a happy change.