From the Island Princess’ navigator:
On departure from Canada Place, Island Princess: will sail through Burrard Inlet.
Stanley Park lies to port and Lion’s Gate Bridge spans the inlet leading out to English Bay.
At Point Atkinson (Waypoint 1) Island Princess passes into the Strait of Georgia, turns to starboard and heads north.
On board Island Princess
We skipped the ship’s photographers and went straight onto the ship. There we had our pictures taken by security as we boarded. Then we started our search for a TV so we might be able to catch some of the England World Cup game.
The TVs in the bars were not switched on. At Reception we were told that the ship would not be showing the game anywhere. Instead we bought drinks at the small bar in the Atrium. There we sat and tried to get access to the ship’s Internet to follow the game.
We gave up as the ship’s Internet had yet to be initalised. Time for lunch in the Bordeaux restaurant. There we shared the table with three couples from the USA. None of us have been to Alaska before so instead we shared stories about Vancouver. For lunch I had another cheeseburger and finished off my Alaskan beer.
As it was by then nearly 1.30 pm the cabins were all ready. Time to go down to Deck 10. One suitcase was already inside the room and we could now start unpacking. The cabin was positioned where the ship’s upper decks widened out at the stern. We had a great view looking forward to the bow.
Our cabin steward presented us with a nest of bird made out of washcloths. Space was at a premium as we had lots of extra bedding stuffed above our wardrobe.
The second suitcase had not arrived by the time we left for the safety drills. At the drill we were entertained again by the recorded drill that we had first heard on Sapphire Princess earlier in the year.
Leaving Vancouver
Once this was all over I went out on the Sun Deck to watch the ship move out from the cruise terminal.
The Holland America ship was also leaving.
At the side of Canada Place the seaplanes were once again landing and taking off.
We passed by Stanley Park. We could see the statue of the girl in the wet suit and the crowds around the lighthouse
Lionsgate bridge
Then the ship went under the Lions Gate bridge closely followed by the Holland America ship.
