We spent embarkation day in the Vancouver Convention Hall & we were "stuck" there for 8 hours. After you checked in your bags & went to the convention Hall, then they told you that you could tour Vancouver. Unfortunately, many people weren't dressed for that, nor did they have their walking shoes because "X" took their bags without saying a word about the delay. We didn't know about the delay until we reached the Convention exhibit hall & then we were told we wouldn't be getting on the ship until 7 PM & we wouldn't be sailing until 4 PM on Monday. They needed that time to repair the propulsion pod. It was a mob scene in the exhibit hall...there was no operational PA system (you couldn't hear it) and people pushed & shoved out the doors when they called for the first group to board. I saw elderly & handicapped people caught in the mob of people trying to get on the ship. Many of the seapass cards also weren't working properly & this created more angry passengers. But, believe or not, "X" had their photographers in the hall ready to take embarkation pictures. This was hard to believe. All around us people were shouting & complaining. We hadn't even stepped foot on the ship yet!

It was so frustrating that after 10 cruises we chose to sail on the Infinity because if its high ratings & it turned out to be our only cruise disaster. Not only did we not go to Sitka...we also didn't sail through the Inside Passage when we left Vancouver...basically we were at sea. On the return trip, we did get to see the Inside Passage briefly.

Our port day in Juneau was delayed by 2 1/2 hours & we missed our 8:30 private excursion with Captain Larry. Luckily, they moved us to the 11:30 whale watching trip, but we had limited time to walk around town after that because we had to get back for dinner. Read more