Day 31 - Thu 09May2024 - Vancouver, BC

 Oh what a day in so many ways.  Overnight I woke up at 2:30am for a bio break and took a peek out the stateroom window and discovered that we were tied up at Canada Place in Vancouver.  That meant that we sailed under the Lions Gate bridge at least an hour earlier and I missed it.  We had the STAR NOVA berthed behind us and we were expecting a Royal Caribbean ship in later in the day (likely around 2pm when the next low tide would occur).  The skies were blue and just a few clouds in the sky.  We slept in a bit until around 8:00 although I was awake much earlier and took care of some bill paying electronically.  

Up in the LIDO marketplace on Deck 16 we were treated to the display of seaplanes taking off and landing with significant frequency.  We were warned that with the 3rd ship arriving that there will be significant delays in returning to the ship, but to carry the "IN TRANSIT" card to skip all of the  immigration check delays.  With that apprehension planted in our minds we made plans to walk the 2 miles to Stanley Park which was totally viewable from the ship and then walk around Stanley Park.  We've been to the park previously a number of times and it's quite nice.

So we gathered our things and headed off on Deck 7 at 9:45 just as the final departure call was being made for those passengers who were disembarking today (around 1,000).  With our in transit cards we quickly made it through the terminal and out on to the crowded street filled with departing passengers with their luggage.  We walked along the very nice waterfront promenade to the west reading most of the historical signs and taking a few pictures even though we've done this several times before. Angela wanted to purchased some cough drops for a cough she has recently developed, so we diverted south to Robson Street and found a Safeway where we purchased her items and some replacement water flavor.  We then walked back to the waterfront path along Denman Street and spotted a Bao restaurant and made a mental note to consider it after our walk in Stanley Park. We walked by Lost Lagoon and along the sea wall and the Vancouver Rowing Club.  .  At this point we had been walking 1.5 hours and we spotted a sign for horse drawn trolley rides.   We followed the signs to the ticket booth and purchased two seats for the 12:45pm tour which takes an hour.

We had about an hour wait for our tour and when our carriage arrived, I was able to photograph the Percheron pair and pet them and talk to one of their care givers. Finally our driver and a narrator showed up and we were off for the one hour trip around the park.  There was lots of commentary and the slow walking pace was just right.  As we reached the other side of the park, the huge RCCL Ovation of the Seas passed in front of us having just sailed under the Lions Gate bridge.  It was arriving from Honolulu having spent the summer in Australian and New Zealand waters.  We also had great views of the Lions Gate Bridge and the lady in the wetsuit (modeled after the famous statute in Denmark).

At the end of the tour we walked back to the little restaurant we had spotted earlier and totally enjoyed the crab Bao (steamed and stuffed buns) and edamame beans.  Our server even provided a chocolate filled Bao.

  It was also very yummy.  We then walked Robson Street east to Granville street where we turned left or north to the terminal at Canada Place.  There were lots of people with luggage who appeared to have just disembarked from the Ovation of the Seas.  We were still uncertain of how our in transit experience would work.  But it worked very well and we breezed through the terminal with the security screening being the biggest delay.  I got scanned, patted and finally cleared to head for the ship.  The whole process took less than 10 minutes.  Back on the ship it was quite obvious that the ship's clientele had dramatically changed and the average age dropped at least 20 years.  

In our stateroom there was a surprising letter.  This letter said that for this 3 day segment of our cruise, we were now PLATINUM level on Princess after just 3 cruises.  So now we have access to the Captain's circle cocktail party in the Vista Lounge plus some other benefits.  Wahoo!  I knew we would make Platinum, but didn't expect it to be granted during our cruise since we were booked from Sydney to Seattle, but this voyage is considered two segments and we're apparently doing a back to back.  

We needed to recheck into our muster station by 5pm which we did.  We met our friends, Linda and  Doug, for a nice Lido dinner and great conversation.  We made the 7:30pm comedy show featuring Mike Wilson.  His schtick was imitating other people's voices which he easily did.  Afterwards, I watched the sail away party in the piazza featuring the singers and dancers.  I also picked up two souvenir cups that I had a special picture of the rainbow over the Majestic Princess in Moorea affixed to.  They are pretty cool and a good memory memento of this cruise.

I came back to the stateroom to update my blog before falling asleep.  It's going to be a busy 3 final days.