VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA


(Canada Flag)


(Map of British Columbia)

FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2007:

I left Indianapolis at 6:00am on Friday, June 15, 2007
I arrived in Vancouver around 11:00am pacific time
after changing planes at Chicago's O'Hare Airport.
It was raining upon my arrival.

UNITED FLIGHT #827 VIDEO
6 minute video of my flight from Chicago's O'Hare Airport to Vancouver International.

I checked into my hotel, the Sheraton Wall Centre.


All of the images below are thumbnails and can be clicked on for a larger image.

After getting settled at my hotel I walked around the city a bit.
I walked down to Canada Place where my ship would be departing tomorrow.
I also went to the top of the Harbour Centre tower where the photos below were taken.
Harbour Centre Vancouver Lookout Vancouver Lookout

After lunch the sun came out and it was a beautiful evening for a nice long walk.
I walked along beautiful Coal Harbour and into Stanley park. One of the first things
I passed in the park were the totem poles. There were nice views of the city from the trail.
Coal Harbour Totem Park Canada Place

A Celebrity cruise ship starts it trek to Alaska as my walk continues past the Brockton Point Lighthouse.
It was a long but pleasant walk back to the hotel from the Lions' Gate Bridge.
Brockton Point Lighthouse Lions' Gate Bridge Coal Harbour

VANCOUVER, B.C. VIDEO
6 minute video of Vancouver, British Columbia.

MY DAILY EMAIL SENT FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2007
Hello Everyone:

Guess who's traveling again. I left Indianapolis VERY early this morning and flew to Vancouver, British Columbia. I arrived here on Canada's west coast shortly after 10:30 this morning. It was very gloomy when I arrived this morning but that cleared off by late afternoon and it was a beautiful evening.

After checking into my hotel I walked down to the harbor and went up the Harbour Center Tower for views of the city.



The picture below was taken at the top of the Harbour Center Tower.



The picture below was also taken from the Harbour Center Tower looking down on Canada Place. This is where my ship will depart tomorrow.



Then this evening I took a walk along the Seawall Walking Trail.



The Seawall Walking Trail goes all around the harbour and then into Stanley Park.



Below are some toem poles in Stanley Park.



The picture below looks back on Canada Place.



From the Brockton Point Lighthouse I watched the Celebrity Mercury sail out under the Lions Gate Bridge.



From here I walked back to the hotel. The walk out was great but my feet were quite sore by the time I got back to the hotel.



Me and the ducks got a nice view of the Vancouver skyline on my walk back to the hotel.



Tomorrow I will be leaving on a seven day cruise to Alaska on the Sapphire Princess. This will be my first cruise. I think I will have Internet access on the ship so I should be able to send out emails from there. If not, I'll write again from Anchorage in a week.

More later,

Tim
Click on email photos for the large full-size photograph.

SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2007:

It was a rainy day on Saturday when I boarded the Sapphire Princess around noon.
Sapphire Princess Mini-Suite Stateroom E721 Mini-Suite Stateroom E721

We set sail shortly after 5:30 on a gloomy and misting rain Saturday evening.
Vancouver skyline from stateroom balcony. Brockton Point from Sapphire Sun Deck Lions' Gate Bridge from Sapphire Sun Deck

We set North by Westerly courses navigating between the
British Columbia coast and Vancouver Island throughout the rest of the evening.
Lions' Gate Bridge from Sapphire Sun Deck Point Atkinson Lighthouse from Sapphire Sun Deck The sun sets over the Strait of Georgia

The Sapphire Princess is a big and beautiful ship.
It was the largest cruise ship in the world when it went into service in 2004.
But even with over 2600 passengers and a crew around 1000, the ship never seemed crowded.
Captain Attilio Guerrini Explorers Lounge on Promenade Deck Grand Plaza Atrium on Plaza, Fiesta and Promenade decks

VANCOUVER SAIL AWAY VIDEO
11 minute video of my sail away from Vancouver, British Columbia on the Sapphire Princess.

MY DAILY EMAIL SENT SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2007
Hello Everyone!

There is an Internet Cafe onboard this ship. So far, both times I have tried to use it there was no Internet connection due to technical problems. So not sure when you will get this email. I will send it when I can.

I spent the morning in Vancouver. Weather was awful, so I pretty much just stayed in my hotel room until they began the boarding process for my cruise. Pictured below is the Sapphire Princess just before I boarded.



I boarded the ship at 12:00 noon which couldn't have been easier. The line was very short and within about twenty minutes I was in my stateroom.



My stateroom is great. I got what they call a mini-suite. It has a queen size bed, separate sitting area, refrigerator, two TVs, nice size bathroom with walk-in closet and a private balcony. Very comfortable. From my balcony you could see them loading all the ship supplies onto the ship. Must have been enough stuff to fill a couple hundred semi trailers.



We set sail at about 5:30.



Below is Brockton Point where I was last night watching the Celebrity Mercury sail away.



We sailed under Lions Gate Bridge.



That is Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas following us.



We sailed past Point Atkinson.



The Serenade of the Seas passed us as the sun was setting.



This ship, the Sapphire Princess, is amazing. Even though there is 3800 people on this ship, 2600 passengers and 1200 crew, it never seems crowded. There is a three-story atrium in the center of the ship which you see when you first enter. Marble staircases, Gold trim everywhere, grand piano, and surrounded by shops. There are 18 decks on the ship. A dozen or more restaurants, bars, night clubs, library, writing room, Internet cafe, casino, gym, spa, several pools and the Princess Theater where I attended the welcome aboard show this evening.



Below is the cruise map for my voyage.



More later,

Tim
Click on email photos for the large full-size photograph.

SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 2007:

Saturday was a day at sea as we sailed north off the coast of British Columbia.
I spent the day relaxing and wandering around the ship.
Princess Fine Arts gallery Calypso Reef and Pool on Lido Deck Calypso Reef and Pool from Sun Deck

I also spent the day breaking my diet and enjoying the plentiful and excellant food on board.
Looking down on Terrace Pool from Sun Deck Grand Plaza on Plaza Deck Me in my stateroom downloading pictures into the computer

MY DAILY EMAIL SENT SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 2007
Hello Everyone!

This was a sea day. It rained most of the day and there was very little to see. So I spent most of the day eating and in the casino. I didn't win anything but was able to play for quite a long time and only lost about a hundred dollars, so I consider that a win. It was a formal night on the ship tonight so I spent the evening hiding in my stateroom because I did not bring any formal attire. The picture below was taken today of a Canadian pilot boat pulling away from the ship.



Tim
Click on email photos for the large full-size photograph.


Click above to continue to my next adventure, KETCHIKAN, ALASKA.

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