Alaskan 7Night 17August 2008 Norwegian Sun. I chose this cruise for no other reason than the date of departure suited, all itineraries were pretty much the same. 7days in the rain is 3 less than a 10day cruise. This was my first cruise alone.

Vancouver There are several hotels directly across the street from the Port, but I chose to stay at the Fairmont on West Georgia, it's as central as any in Vancouver. Vancouver of course is a great city to get around with a fair few tourist sites on the agenda. The West End for latest entertainment of who's who. Kayaking around False Creek. Browsing at Farmers Market Aquabus to Granville Island (The Fringe Festival) Leaping off Grouse Mountain Outdoor concerts at Stanley Park The strawberry shortcake at True Confections Strolling down Robson St Vancouver Art gallery

Embarkation US and Canadians citizens have a shorter time to wait than foreigners, who have a lot more form filling and fingerprinting to complete. But the process took a little over an hour to complete. The staff handling this procedure were helpful and very friendly. It's a nice touch to be greeted on board with a glass of champagne or orange juice. Read more