Alaska here we come - Boarding & sailaway Vancouver
SAILAWAY
Arriving in Vancouver after scanning passports , Vax certificates & PCR results multiple times we went through the Cruise terminal quite quickly until customs. As you have to leave Canada & enter US it requires you to line up twice, scan passports & fingerprints. Yep fingerprints !!
It seems many were able to board earlier than allotted check in as boarding times weren’t checked.
Once through it was quick walk onto the ship & be greeted by crew. Our room was ready so we dropped carryon luggage & set out to explore ship. Very stylish traditional maritime feel with deep blue colour scheme, brass & timber.
Lunch on Lido was tasty, service quick & plenty of tables to sit inside or outside on Seaview deck. We had taken up the Have It All package so drinks from Seaview bar with lunch was great. Exploring the ship was easy with a nice flow to each deck.
Using the HAL navigator app we were able show our boarding pass, confirm our shore excursions, check opening times of bars, restaurants, shows, shops ,other amenities & even chat to each other.
Departure was slightly delayed with a number of passengers late flights. Obviously booked through HAL or the ship would have departed.
Beautiful sailing out of Vancouver under the Lions Gate Bridge & towards Vancouver Island, closely followed by cruise ship Grand Princess.
We selected anytime dining but during Northern Hemisphere summer, sunset is around 9:30 pm with Sunrise after 4am so it was quite unusual going to a later dinner with it still daylight.