Vancouver was the first chapter of our Alaska journey — and even in a short stay, it left a lasting impression. With mountains, ocean, and vibrant neighborhoods all wrapped into one beautiful city, it felt like the ideal place to begin our cruise adventure.
Vancouver was the first chapter of our Alaska journey — and even in a short stay, it left a lasting impression. With mountains, ocean, and vibrant neighborhoods all wrapped into one beautiful city, it felt like the ideal place to begin our cruise adventure.
🛍️🌊 A Morning at Granville Island
After breakfast at our hotel, we took a cab over to Granville Island, where we spent most of the day browsing shops and exploring one of Vancouver’s most popular districts.
It was a cold, rainy morning, so we were glad much of the area was sheltered and easy to explore indoors.
The highlight was the famous public market, filled with:
- Fresh seafood and local produce
- Baked goods and specialty foods
- Handmade crafts and souvenirs
- Regional products and gifts
We loved wandering through the stalls and soaking in the lively atmosphere, even with the weather keeping things chilly outside.
For lunch, we stopped at a small Asian restaurant nearby — simple, warm, and perfect for a rainy day — before continuing to explore the harbor and seaport area.
By early afternoon, we headed back to our hotel to collect our luggage and prepare for boarding.
🚶♀️🚢 Walking to Canada Place & Boarding Our Ship
With bags in hand, we walked about half a mile to Canada Place, Vancouver’s main cruise terminal.
Several massive cruise ships were already docked — including a Disney ship and others from major cruise lines — while our smaller Seabourn ship sat quietly among them. It immediately reinforced why we love cruising on more intimate vessels.
Check-in with Seabourn Cruise Line was fast and effortless. Within minutes, we were onboard and ready to begin our journey.
We showed Gary and Mary around the ship, familiarizing them with the lounges, decks, and dining areas, before heading back to our suites to unpack and settle in.
🍾🌅 Sailaway & Passing Under the Lions Gate Bridge
By late afternoon, we made our way to the Explorers Lounge for sailaway at 5:00 PM.
As the ship slowly departed, we enjoyed drinks and conversation while watching Vancouver’s skyline drift into the distance. One of the most memorable moments came as we sailed beneath the iconic Lions Gate Bridge, framed by mountains and evening light.
It was a exciting send-off — the perfect transition from city life to open water, even though the weather did not co-operate as much as we would have liked.
From there, we headed north toward Queen Charlotte Sound and the start of our Alaska adventure.
🌟 A City We’d Love to Explore More
Our stay in Vancouver was far too short, and we left knowing there was so much more we’d love to see next time. Some of the most memorable cruise experiences happen far from land.
On a future visit, we’d love to spend more time exploring:
- Stanley Park and its scenic seawall
- Gastown and its historic streets
- Capilano Suspension Bridge and surrounding forest
Vancouver feels like a destination that deserves several days — not just a brief stop before a cruise.
🌊 Why Vancouver Was the Perfect Starting Point
Between Granville Island, the waterfront, smooth boarding at Canada Place, and a stunning sailaway, Vancouver set the tone for the entire trip.
Vancouver Offers a variety of cultural and scenic sites including:
- Great food and local culture
- Easy cruise logistics
- Beautiful scenery
- A relaxed, welcoming atmosphere
It was the ideal gateway to Alaska — and a city we’re already looking forward to returning to.
From Vancouver, our journey unfolded beautifully. After this smooth departure and scenic sail-away, we spent our first full sea day cruising through Queen Charlotte Sound before heading deeper into Alaska’s wilderness at Misty Fjords and enjoying a peaceful day among the Inian Islands. Together, these experiences became the foundation of our Alaska Journey.
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