I booked this cruise for 30 family members and friends to celebrate my son's high school graduation. I have been a travel agent for 25 years.

We flew into Vancouver from the east coast the day before. Traveling that far a distance, I always recommend flying to the port of departure the day before. One family in our group booked their air arrangements via the internet and it was booked for the wrong date. It cost them $4000 to get to Vancouver and they made it with only hours to spare-Lesson learned for them.

We spent the night before the cruise at the Fairmont Waterfront. A beautiful hotel and the staff was most helpful. I used the concierge to set up a private motorcoach to transport us from the hotel to the pier 10 mins away. It cost us $17 per family including taxes, luggage handling and the driver gratuity. It worked out perfectly. We left the hotel around 11:30 a.m. and once at the pier we proceeded through security and pier check in and onto the ship very quickly. We were all on the ship between 12:30 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.. Lots of time to explore, get the fountain packages for the kids and have some lunch. Read more