One of the benefits of booking a suite on the ship is an early boarding time. We’d been advised to check in with Group A at 10 am so we were up and breakfasted and heading out the hotel door at 9.50. We rolled our bags down the block and we’re intrigued to see the bank up of taxis, cars and buses all queued to enter the big car park under the cruise terminal . There were police working the crossings to keep the vehicles and pedestrians moving – this must be a daily event in cruise season! There were three ships docked and all three embarking today , our Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam, the Celebrity Eclipse and the Brilliance of the Seas.
The embarkation process was smooth but it took an hour and a half to get onto the ship. We rolled our bags to the baggage drop off for our ship ( different areas for each cruise line) and then joined the queues for the cruise line’s identification process then immigration and security. As we will be entering the USA we needed to pass American immigration. It was a quicker less stringent process than we have had on entering the USA via air, but the security check was very much airplane style . After this we were directed to lines of chairs and waited for about 39 minutes before we were moved off a row at a time … into another room with more rows of chairs!! Another wait of roughly 20 minutes and we were finally directed out the doors and down the gangplank!
Although we’d made it on board we didnt yet have access to our cabin so we headed up to deck 9 to the Lido Deck. This is where the buffet and a couple of other fast food options were open. We found a nice spot near the balcony and ordered a Pizza for lunch and our first glass of celebratory bubbly. It was a very warm day and it was a nice spot to while away the time until our room was available.
After lunch we explored the ship
After lunch we explored the ship before finally heading to our cabin. We’re in a small suite ( a “Signature Suite” ) which has a nice amount of space and a roomy balcony.
We settled into the cabin and once the luggage arrived we unpacked and enjoyed some time on our verandah. A little before 4pm we headed up to the Seaview pool area at the aft end of the ship for the “Sailaway Party”, music and specialty drinks and some dancing and many happy anticipating a wonderful week of cruising. We set sail promptly at 4.30 and cruised out under the Lionsgate bridge heading for more open water beyond Burrard Inlet.
We relaxed in the room after the party before we changed into tidier gear for our dinner at the Pinnacle Grill – this is one of the Specialty restaurants onboard, which charges a service charge. We were a little early so enjoyed a pre-dinner drink in the Pinnacle Bar before heading to our table. The meal was outstanding! Three delicious courses – fortunately the portions aren’t typical American “huge” . My steak with lobster dumplings and my creme brulee were to die for!
After dinner we went for a stroll on the deck ( to walk of the meal!) and saw the Brilliance of the Seas cruising along nearby and lit up like a Christmas tree – very pretty!
I final nightcap in the Ocean Bar before we head to bed. Cruising is looking great so far!
