LIVE!!!: Eclipse — 9/1 to 9/8 — Alaska

[What A Market]

Greetings to All

This will be my attempt to post live on a regular basis while enjoying a seven day cruise on the Eclipse. We embark Sunday here in Vancouver. This is a “round trip,” so disembarkation will also be in Vancouver on the following Sunday.

 

Arrived in Vancouver Friday evening on a non-stop Air Canada flight Phoenix to Vancouver.  We took the Sky Train from the airport to the Waterfront station. This was easy easy.  Thanks to all previous posters on the Cruise Critic boards for comments/recommendations on using the Sky Train.  From the Waterfront Station we walked to our hotel. Staying at the Marriott Pinnacle. 

 

So exactly who are “We”?  There are four of us on this journey: DW, DD, and DD’s SO (soon to be my son-in-law based on upcoming wedding in February).  The four of us are regular cruisers.  Of late, we have been cruising with Oceania. We also have one Celebrity cruise in the recent mix when we cruised with fifteen family members over three generations traveling on the Millennium.  That was a great cruise with ports in England, Ireland, and Scotland. We also had a stop in Le Havre to do the Normandy beaches.  Very memorable for my mother and mother-in-law as well as the rest of the family.

 

This will be my first cruise on an S Class ship.  Also my first cruise on what would be considered a larger ship.  Although by comparison to some of the behemoths plying the seas, I guess you can’t say the Eclipse is truly large with “only” just over 2800 passengers.

 

Signing off for now. I will try to be diligent in posting. I leave you with a photo taken from the Marriott’s Concierge lounge of a HAL ship arriving at Canada Place this morning.

[Barwick Cruiser]

Looking forward to your review.  We did Alaska in September a few years ago on Solstice and had a wonderful time with great weather.  Hope you enjoy the same!  Congrats to your DD and her fiancé!

 

[Jammu2]

I will be on Eclipse in October. We also like Oceanias smaller ships. I will be interested to read about the food on the Eclipse. Thanks for letting us follow along.

[gerelmx]

Following your review, we will be on board on September 22, we will also will do days before the cruise at the Marriott

[TeaBag]

I'm glad you found our skytrain so easy.  I have stopped recommending it because people think it is too hard managing their luggage.  It is fast, easy and cheap and a great way to get from YVR to the pier.  BTW when you return if you plan on taking it back to YVR, you won't have to pay the extra $5/pp that is only charged on fares from YVR.

 

We'll keep our fingers crossed for you that tomorrow's forecast of rain won't materialize and you will have a fabulous sailaway.

 

If you have time, I hope you take the seabus across the harbour to North Vancouver.  You will get a great view of the city from out there in the water.  I imagine you have your day planned.  Have a great time and enjoy your cruise.

 

I look forward to your review.

[katherinemcgill423]

I’ll be on this exact cruise on Sept.15! Would love to see some of the “Celebrity Today” daily schedules if you are able to post them!

 

Looking forward to seeing your updates.

 

Happy Travels!

[willma]

And here is the HAL ship leaving, taken from our Pan Pacific Hotel room. Hopefully when we draw back the curtains tomorrow Eclipse will be in view. 

See you on board.

[ksgrandmak]

We'll be on the September 15 sailing so I look forward to your postings.  When you're back, would you please let us know how long it took to disembark?  I'm hoping we can take the QuickShuttle bus to SEA, but the one I want to take leaves at 9 a.m.  Or perhaps someone already knows--will we be able to make that?  I need to make reservations.  Thanks.

[Lynnys]

2 hours ago, katherinemcgill423 said:

I’ll be on this exact cruise on Sept.15! Would love to see some of the “Celebrity Today” daily schedules if you are able to post them!

 

Looking forward to seeing your updates.

 

Happy Travels!

 

[Lynnys]

My husband and I will be on our first ever cruise on the 15th to Alaska 

[What A Market]

Hoping to post some thoughts later on our Saturday in Vancouver.

 

Here’s a photo in the meantime of the Eclipse arriving.  Time is 6:30AM, so right on time.

Yay for that!  Need it to do the same thing next Sunday because we have an 11:40AM flight back to Phoenix. (I know, I know.  Not the smartest thing to do, but I have to catch a flight from Phoenix to NYC for work later that same day.  Ugh!)

 

[What A Market]

Quick note to TeaBag

Your city I see beautiful.  Keep up with your recommendations for people to use the Sky Train from the airport.  Very easy as long as you are fairly mobile. Four us wheeled our suitcases on and off the train with ease. Wheeling more than one large bag would be a pain, but we’ve learned to travel with no more than one wheeled bag and a backpack/satchel.

 

No rain this morning.  So the walk from the hotel to the ship should be dry.  🙂

 

[gojocruise]

Will be following this review as I will be getting on next Sunday (8th Sep)  Yay!! 

Have an amazing cruise!! 

ps - thanks for the info about the Sky Train from the Airport, will use that instead of a taxi next week.

[What A Market]

On board!  Pretty painless, but probably facilitated by being in a suite. Left hotel at 10:40. Walked down to port for check in. The walk was less than 10 minutes with our bags. After dropping off bags we were escorted at a couple of different points by two different people during the boarding process, including an escort onto the ship and into Michael’s Club. Seated in Michael’s at 11:15.  Created my Celebrity Internet log in and here I am with my first Cruise Critic posting from the Eclipse. More to follow. 

 

 

[What A Market]

I don’t want to start a ruckus on this point, I am only reporting. Here’s a photo of paper straws being used on board. Personally, I’m a fan. 

[What A Market]

Rooms announced as ready at 1:08pm. 

The important stuff at hand......

[TeaBag]

Thanks for the update.  I'm glad the forecasted rain has not materialized.

 

I'm reading about the seapass cards being by your cabin and that you can drop off your carry-ons as soon as you board the ship instead of waiting till they announce that the rooms are ready.  Is this true?

[Lynnys]

51 minutes ago, What A Market said:

Rooms announced as ready at 1:08pm. 

The important stuff at hand......

Can you take hard liquor aboard or did you buy it from the ship? Thought we could only bring two bottles of wine?

whats the rule on taking our own juice I need a drink of juice during the night?

[Lynnys]

2 hours ago, What A Market said:

On board!  Pretty painless, but probably facilitated by being in a suite. Left hotel at 10:40. Walked down to port for check in. The walk was less than 10 minutes with our bags. After dropping off bags we were escorted at a couple of different points by two different people during the boarding process, including an escort onto the ship and into Michael’s Club. Seated in Michael’s at 11:15.  Created my Celebrity Internet log in and here I am with my first Cruise Critic posting from the Eclipse. More to follow. 

 

 

Can’t wait to hear more 

[TeaBag]

1 hour ago, Lynnys said:

Can you take hard liquor aboard or did you buy it from the ship? Thought we could only bring two bottles of wine?

whats the rule on taking our own juice I need a drink of juice during the night?

You can only take 2 bottles of wine aboard, no liquor or beer.  You can take cans of juice/water/soda.  I heard that the crew were complaining about the extra "luggage" with cases of water/soda etc and that it was suggested you carry these on.  I don't know if this has followed through.

[What A Market]

Muster drill complete. (You need to wear life jacket, as announced several times.  But you don’t need to bring it either, which was unclear until I walked out the door and a crew member said to leave it room. Ha!)

 

Ship underway. Goodbye Vancouver. Until we meet again!

 

[What A Market]

Ok, now we’re cruising!

(Ocean View Bar)

 

[TeaBag]

Those are wonderful pictures.  Thank you.  We watched you sailing (on the web cam).  Sorry we were not with you as this is our 52nd anniversary.  We have resolved to always be on a sailing somewhere on this date in the future.  We are sailing in 5 weeks so couldn't really justify joining you even though we wanted to.  So glad the weather was great.  I hope you enjoy Alaska to the fullest.  Bon Voyage.

[What A Market]

And Martini Bar before dinner 

[cruisecatmama]

Where are photos the Martini Bar bartenders? lol!  We were on the Eclipse in March from Buenos Aires to San Diego and the Martini Bar bartenders were awesome, so much fun...