On Thursday, August 28th our group left for Vancouver anticipating the trip of a lifetime. We were booked on the Serenade of the Seas departing from Vancouver on Saturday, August 30th. In our group was myself Alison (32), my husband Dave (37), my aunt Dorothy (61), her friend Jeanette (50's), and Jeanettes sister Dorothy (50's). We had booked two balcony cabins next to eachother about a year earlier and counted down until the day we left!
I had reserved two rooms via priceline for Thurs. and Fri. night and we received the Residence Inn Downtown on Hornby St. With tax, we paid $150 per night per room, which I thought was a bargain for an all suite hotel with complimentary breakfast. On Friday, we parted ways and my husband and I explored the city by foot. We went down Robson St. and window shopped and walked down by the water at Canada Place. It was so much fun and we loved Vancouver. We had lunch at a place called New Amsterdam Cafe and we had dinner at Steamworks (downtown brewery). Both meals were great. The hotel was conveniently located and in walking distance to areas attractions as well as close to the trolley stop.
Saturday morning we checked out and got a taxi out front of the hotel which took us to Ballyntine Pier for embarkation. I'd say we left our hotel at 12:30 pm and we were on board and in our room by 1:30. We are both platinum members and were able to surpass a long line to check in which helped. Overall very smooth and painless. We immediately ordered some drinks and fired up my husband computer so that we could listen to the Maryland football game. It was nice sitting on the balcony and we won which was even better.