We always wanted to take an Alaskan Cruise and jumped at the opportunity several years ago when some friends also indicated their interest. #CelebrityCruise Lines’ 7-night cruise on the Century was the one we selected leaving mid-September and operating roundtrip from Vancouver, Canada. Traveling from the Tampa, Fl area made it easy for me to turn in some #United miles for our transportation to Vancouver and, with a quick stop and change of aircraft at Chicago’s #fly2ohare Airport, we arrived at our Canadian destination in the mid-afternoon. The lovely #panpacificvan Hotel was our home in Vancouver for 2 nights’ prior to our cruise departure. The hotel is located directly on the waterfront with sweeping Coast Mountain vistas and the city’s best attractions just minutes away. We checked into a King-bedded Deluxe Harbor Room of about 350 square feet. These guest rooms feature 300-thread count bed linens and a pillow menu along with an executive writing table, bathrobe, hair dryer and a programmable thermostat. The 42-inch LCD television carried local and cable channels and our room also featured a smartphone docking station with speakers, a fully stocked minibar, coffee and tea-making facilities, daily newspaper, turn-down service on request and complimentary shoe-shine service. We also enjoyed high-speed WiFi, 2 cordless telephones, secure key-card access and a personal digital safe.
With its mountain backdrop and urban beaches, Vancouver has the rightly-earned reputation of being one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The downtown area is perfectly situated on a peninsula in the Straight of Georgia, bounded to the south by the delta of the Fraser River and to the north by a deep fjord reaching far inland. Also to the north are the often snow-clad ranges of the Coast Mountains. On our first full day in the city, we explored Gastown, the oldest neighborhood in Vancouver which was just a short walk from the hotel. It’s an area of restaurants, galleries and shops set in carefully restored Victorian buildings. Heritage structures, cobblestone streets and iron lampposts give the district its distinctive atmosphere. The area came into existence in 1867 when a man named John Deighton arrived on the scene. He had a habit of launching into lengthy stories and soon acquired the nickname “Gassy Jack.” His statue now watches over the neighborhood in Maple Tree Square where tourists often stop for photos with Gassy Jack. We did the same and also visited the nearby Steam Clock which puffs steam-powered chimes every 15 minutes.
The cruise ship passenger terminal was just a short walk from the Pan Pacific at #CanadaPlace. The building’s exterior is covered by fabric roofs resembling sails and this unusual roof design creates the impression of a huge sailing vessel. This architecturally remarkable structure has become a prominent landmark for the city and has drawn comparisons to the #SydOperaHouse in Australia and the #DENAirport in Colorado. Once inside we soon located helpful staff from the Celebrity Century who took our luggage and guided us through their check-in process. Before long, we were cleared to board, followed the gangway up to the ship and were shown to the Royal Suite on the Penthouse Deck.
The 538 square foot suite featured a luxury mattress, plush duvets and pure cotton linens. The marble master bath had a large soaking tub, a separate shower, a double sink vanity, luxury bath amenities and plush robes. The floor to ceiling sliding glass doors opened onto a very spacious, private veranda of 195 square feet. Booking the Royal Suite ensured a number of perks, including complimentary unlimited Internet access and reserved theater seating on several evenings. It also came with bottled water, soda and beer stocked daily, unlimited lunch and dinner in all specialty restaurants, 2 complimentary bottles of premium spirits, VIP canapés, complimentary laundry service twice per cruise and priority luggage delivery. We were treated to a guided tour of the bridge during which we met the Captain and had dinner one evening with one of the ship’s Senior Officers. Having said all that, the ship was starting to show its age and was nowhere near as nice as the Celebrity Equinox we sailed on a transatlantic crossing a few years earlier.
Our second day aboard ship found us cruising the Inside Passage. Hugging the beautiful coast of British Columbia, it’s the longest, naturally sheltered, inland sea route in the world. This wildlife-filled and smooth-sailing waterway stretches for more than 1,000 miles northward from Puget Sound all the way to the Gulf of Alaska. Ships using this route avoid some of the bad weather in the open ocean and travelers are spoiled with breathtaking scenery. Ketchikan was our first port of call on the following day. This Alaskan city faces the Inside Passage and is known for its many Native American totem poles which are on display throughout the town. We made a visit to the Totem Heritage Center which aims to preserve and perpetuate the living artistic traditions of the native peoples. Some of the totems on display were over 100 years old and the knowledgeable and friendly staff were eager to explain their varied symbolic meanings.
No cruise to Alaska would be complete without seeing a glacier from the comfort of your own veranda. It was eerily quiet as our ship sailed nearby one of these “ice mountains” while gliding past chunks of frozen ice that quietly and calmly floated above the water. Glaciers are made up of fallen snow that, over many years, compresses into large, thickened ice masses. They form when snow remains in one location long enough to transform into ice. What makes glaciers unique is their ability to flow as, due to their sheer mass, they flow like very slow rivers. The glacier ice itself is a vibrant blue in color. While there’s a scientific explanation for this having to do with scattered wavelengths of white light, seeing it for yourself leaves a terrific lasting impression.
Our northernmost port stop was in Sitka, nestled at the foot of the magnificent glacial-carved mountains facing the Pacific Ocean on Baranof Island. Originally inhabited by the Tlingit Indians, the area was “explored” by a Russian expedition in 1741 and was firmly established under their control in 1799. The formal transfer of Alaska from Russia to the US took place in Sitka in 1867 and, as a history buff, I couldn’t have been happier to be there. During our stop, we visited St. Michael’s Cathedral. It was built in 1848 and was the first Russian Orthodox Church built in North America. Sadly, the cathedral had to be rebuilt following a fire in 1966. It started across the street in a dry goods store and spread quickly, engulfing the cathedral. Some 100 townspeople and parishioners came to the rescue and emptied the cathedral in about 20 minutes. Luckily, all the icons were saved. It took a decade to rebuild this cathedral but it’s an exact replica, down to the sailcloth lining the interior, traditionally used for insulation and acoustics.
After another “sea day” cruising south along the Inside Passage, our final port visit was in picturesque Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. It sits on the craggy southern end of Vancouver Island and its British colonial past is reflected in the Victorian architecture seen in many of its buildings. The boat-lined Inner Harbor is flanked by the imposing, domed Parliament Buildings and the Royal British Columbia Museum. We enjoyed a leisurely walk through the area and then took a guided “bus boat” city/harbor tour. First, we saw the city sights in what appeared to be a typical bus on 4 wheels. While never leaving this vehicle, our driver took us down a ramp right into the water. We didn’t sink but floated while those very same wheels went up into the hull and our “bus” became a boat which then circled the harbor. What an experience! It was the perfect way to see and enjoy this pleasant city and the perfect ending to our 7-night cruise.
After disembarking the Century on our return to Vancouver, we made our way home with an overnight stay at the O'Hare #Hilton Hotel. Looking back, this Alaska cruise was educational, relaxing and just plain fun. We wouldn't hesitate to repeat it once conditions warrant.
Until next time...stay safe.
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A great description of what must have been an exhilarating trip.
If I never get there you have given me an incredible tour of the best of the best!
Once again, thank you George.