Fire and Ice : A photo travelogue from Alaska thru the canal to the Caribbean and beyond

[scubacruiserx2]

 Join us as we spend 6 weeks aboard the Nieuw Amsterdam .

 

 

[SusieKIslandGirl]

What is your sail date? Sounds like a wonderful cruise.

[scubacruiserx2]

3 hours ago, SusieKIslandGirl said:

What is your sail date? Sounds like a wonderful cruise.

 

Our sail date was September 25th and it was !

[puppycanducruise]

Sounds great, looking forward to reading all about it.

[scubacruiserx2]

3 hours ago, puppycanducruise said:

Sounds great, looking forward to reading all about it.

 

Hopefully it will not be long if the computer will cooperate .

[scubacruiserx2]

O Canada !

Trip began at 3:30 am, TA ❤️ picked us up and took us to the airport for our 6:00m flight. Told to be at PBI 2 hours early. The airport opens at 4:15, counter opened at 4:45am. 

Flight took-off  to Atl, fairly easy shuttle train experience and next flight to Toronto (Delta, booked through HAL), ArriveCan was a snap, no one was there except a gentleman to direct and assist you if needed. We flew to Toronto to have a domestic flight to Vancouver. In the past CBP Canada was a nightmare in Vancouver, before COVID. This proved to work well.

The longest flight from Toronto to Vancouver had no "entertainment" on WestJet.

 

We had been dreaming of these that we had bought at our local Publix .

 

 

Flight Photos

 

 

 

Lunch

 

 

 

 

The Lions Gate Bridge in Vancouver

 

 

Edited November 17, 2022 by scubacruiserx2

[luvteaching]

@scubacruiserx2 Sorry to disappoint but that's not the Lions Gate Bridge. I believe it's the Port Mann one. 

[scubacruiserx2]

13 minutes ago, luvteaching said:

@scubacruiserx2 Sorry to disappoint but that's not the Lions Gate Bridge. I believe it's the Port Mann one. 

 

Oops, I believe you are right. Thank you.

 

 

 

[quilty964]

Can't wait to see more!  Would love to hear about Aruba and Curacao!  Any tips for the Panama Canal?  We're going on a partial transit in the New Year...can't wait!

[scubacruiserx2]

1 hour ago, ktbraun said:

Can't wait to see more!  Would love to hear about Aruba and Curacao!  Any tips for the Panama Canal?  We're going on a partial transit in the New Year...can't wait!

 

Thank you . But we have thousands of photos to cull and edit so it will take awhile . If you have specific questions about the Canal - fire away . If you would like to see the ABC and D islands now you can look at our review of them on the Zuiderdam at this link .

 

 

 

[quilty964]

14 minutes ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

 

Thank you . But we have thousands of photos to cull and edit so it will take awhile . If you have specific questions about the Canal - fire away . If you would like to see the ABC and D islands now you can look at our review of them on the Zuiderdam at this link .

 

 

 

Thanks!  

[scubacruiserx2]

 Welcome to Vancouver

 

 

 

We stayed at the Pan Pacific in Canada Place

 

 

And saw the Koningsdam sail under the Lions Bridge .

 

 

The view was very good but the smell of the Jet A fuel wasn't good reminding me of my Air Rescue days with the Fire Department .

 

 

The brown window was the tub and you could see a silhouette on it when the bathroom light was on .

 

 

The hard , black corners of the bed projected far out and were cover by the comforter . I nailed and cut both of my shins which I later needed to go to the ships doctor for treatment and medication - so be careful !

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

 We decided because of our long day just to have some delivery from a local Vietnamese restaurant . After a restless sleep we were up at the 23rd floor buffet for breakfast before boarding the ship .

 

 

We had just dodged a hurricane when we left PBI and were hoping for some cooler Fall weather in Vancouver . It was near record heat .

 

 

 

 

Edited November 18, 2022 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

And with one last visitor we were off toward the ship .

 

 

We had read on CC that it was easy to board the ship by sending our large suitcases ahead through the hotel which we did ( And it was ) . We were also told by CC and the hotel staff that boarding was easy ( we were in a Neptune suite ) . It wasn't . 3 ships were boarding including the brand new Discovery Princess and the RC Serenade OTS . Instead of being in separate buildings all 3 ships were in intertwining lines crisscrossing each other in different directions . When we asked where the suites lines were we were told  to " Just get in line with everyone else " . We've never seen such apparent disorganization .

 

 

 

After more than an hour we found the Suite , 4 and 5 star line and boarded .

 

Edited November 18, 2022 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

This cabin would be ours for the first week of our cruise 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Sail away from Canada Place and North to Alaska ! This is the newest Princess ship  - The Discovery . We sailed on her younger sister The Sky and really enjoyed it a lot

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sailing beneath the Lyons Gate Bridge . We would stop at this park a week later .

 

 

 

[albingirl]

Thanks for doing this. I really love your blogs.

[scubacruiserx2]

46 minutes ago, albingirl said:

Thanks for doing this. I really love your blogs.

 

You're welcome . Your kind action is refreshing and stands out on CC where many people want to take the low road instead .

[Lauranne]

Love your pictures. For future reference: If you download the Westjet app, you can connect to loads of entertainment. Movies, tv shows, podcasts, music etc. of course you use your own device. 
 

[scubacruiserx2]

5 hours ago, Lauranne said:

Love your pictures. For future reference: If you download the Westjet app, you can connect to loads of entertainment. Movies, tv shows, podcasts, music etc. of course you use your own device. 
 

 

Thanks and good info for possible future use . Plenty of photos and videos coming up . 😎

[oakridger]

Hi guys!  Glad to see you covering the cruises since I was there too!  I loved the Pacific Club (?) room up on top of the hotel. Best views and good service. I stayed there last in 2018 but tried the Fairmont Waterside across the street in September. It was very nice and great service  but the views from the room and club room couldn’t compare with the Pan Pacific views!! PP is cheaper too. I’ll go there next time.   ~ Nancy 

[scubacruiserx2]

Our Retreat for the week

 

 

The sunset

 

 

Dinner at the Tamarind

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

10 minutes ago, oakridger said:

Hi guys!  Glad to see you covering the cruises since I was there too!  I loved the Pacific Club (?) room up on top of the hotel. Best views and good service. I stayed there last in 2018 but tried the Fairmont Waterside across the street in September. It was very nice and great service  but the views from the room and club room couldn’t compare with the Pan Pacific views!! PP is cheaper too. I’ll go there next time.   ~ Nancy 

 

Hi Nancy and thanks for the tip . It was sure nice meeting and traveling with you . I believe that this was the first night that you recognized us at the Tamarind ! 🙂😊

[highscar]

Hmmm, no problem getting my scooter into that cabin.  Lol. 

[scubacruiserx2]

The Day at Sea

 

Breakfast at the Pinnacle

 

 

 

 

Breakfast with my pretty wife