Robbins Ramblings: Boarding the Star Princess.

After another early night everyone woke up this morning in a very excited state waiting for the cruise ship to arrive. From our hotel windows we could all see the Lion’s Gate Bridge under which the ship was due shortly to make an appearance. We were all tracking the progress of the vessel using different methods, me the ship’s webcam, Oliver a GPS tracking device whilst Helena and Sylvia just looked out of the window. At 6.11 exactly we were all rewarded with the first view of our home for the next ten days (or twenty-four in our case).

With the ship now safely docked we now had about five hours to kill before we could board. As it was such a bright and sunny morning Victoria and I walked to a local supermarket to get some last minute supplies. Vancouver had certainly saved it’s best day of weather for today with the clear skies and bright sunshine picking out the snow on the mountains opposite.

With our cases dispatched with the bellhops, hopefully to reappear in our stateroom on the ship, we started the embarkation process. We were expecting to have to clear customs and immigration prior to boarding the ship but this was not to be. A short 15-20 wait in line for security was followed quickly by the issue of room keys and before we knew it we were aboard the ship. After a buffet lunch and the obligatory muster drill the captain sounded the horn and away we sailed. Inching away from the berth at Canada Place allowed us the chance to get some nice shots of our hotel with the city behind.

Up on deck the sail away party had started with a swing although nothing like those on P&O cruises. Instead a small band played classic Motown, Rock and Soul classics and the members of the entertainment team tried their best to encourage fellow travellers to dance. The children looked far too cool to participate in such an event……...