Vancouver, visit 1, day 5 / Cruise day 1

Wed 17th

After breakfast we head back up to the high street as I still need trainers for Alaska, We all go in the Liquor store to buy some wine. We have read that any spirits being taken on board will be 'looked after' and returned on your last day, but for some reason wine is allowed. I find a pair of trainers back in Marks store and we head back for a final bit of packing.

No large cabs available so we order two which cost us $15 each. As soon as we arrive at the port, our cases are taken straight away, so we're just left with hand luggage (Michelle appears to have various items overflowing from hers!!). There is a bit of a wait at immigration but the officials are strangely friendly. After Liz finally gets her immigration card filled out correctly, we all copy it and get on board around 13:00. We're pleased to find there were no checks on alcohol between us we have wine, gin and brandy.

Lunch is being served so we have a bit of a nose around before settling with plates of various Asian food and a bucket of bud. Sail at 16:00 and there's a bon voyage party with cocktails on the bow. When we get back to our cabin we meet Norman the cabin boy, who will spend much of the next week leaving us animals made from towels and taking care of our rooms.
Drinks in the cabin before going down for dinner which tonight is smart casual. After dinner we have drinks in the ocean bar. Deb and I decide to go and watch the show, put up with it for around three minutes, go back to the bar before retiring for the evening.