Pre-cruise: Since Vancouver is a long hike from the East Coast, we came in a day early to enjoy Vancouver and make sailaway stress-free. We chose the Marriott Pinnacle (Marriott points) and give it the highest recommendation. We met 18 other members of our CC Roll Call for dinner and that set the stage for an excellent cruise. A great harbor front room, terrific service, and a wonderful breakfast made a nice start to the cruise.

Embarkation: This was a breeze. We were to board at 1:00 PM but got there early and were in the room by 12:20. The luggage followed not too long after we returned from lunch and a little exploring.

Cabin: Based on previous experience, we selected an AB mini-suite (seemed a little larger than on the Coral). Unlike our balcony on the Coral, this one was totally uncovered and we liked that very much. With an eastern exposure, we got the morning sun and that was great. The balcony was very good sized with a small dining table and 2 chairs plus 2 loungers. The cabin was very comfortable, spacious, and the newly upgraded bedding was a welcome change. The maintenance was outstanding. Read more