Sept 27-- Comes the dawn and I awaken early and go out on the balcony with my camera. We are just in the harbor at Vancouver BC (Canada). The Maasdam is still underway and had just passed through (under) the Lion's Gate bridge.

Lion's Gate Bridge—the span connecting the city to the suburbs

Once in the basin, we turn and tugs push us back into a slip at Canada Place. If you've seen Canada Place, you'll recall it looks like a ship with four white sails moored to a pier—but it is in fact the pier, and the same place we departed 3 years ago on our cruise to Alaska.

The city of Vancouver at about 6 AM as we arrive from Seattle

The day started out a bit chilly in the early morning, but then settling into a 70-73 degree day. Overcast at first, then sunny in the afternoon. We had requested breakfast in our room last night, and a knock came at 7:30 with a huge tray of eggs and crossants, plus juice and coffee and tea, and so we scrambled to make room for all that.

Our room—photo taken from the doorway to our balcony. At the far end is the door to the corridor, in the entry hall a bath with Jacuzzi tub and shower on the right, closets on the left.

The room is very nice, but everything except the bed is about ¾ size. Small chairs, narrow walking aisles and so on. Out on the balcony the chairs are full size, but there's no room to drag them in, and it's too cold to just sit out there this early morning, so we took all the breakfast items off the tray and managed to make room for the goodies on our little table.

My first effort at a panorama of Vancouver shot from Stanley Park, (at low tide) Sandra in her red hat getting a similar shot. The Maasdam is on the extreme left at the pier with 4 masts.

At 9AM we had arranged to take a “city tour”, basically a random bus ride through the city, but with a guide who knew lots about the city and provided a good patter as he drove us through Stanley Park and over to the Lion's Gate bridge and then back through the old part of Vancouver. Although he had a pretty heavy accent, he had lived in the region for about 20 years and was generally entertaining.

Lion's Gate bridge from Stanley Park

The driver gave us the opportunity to get off the bus in the China Town area and walk back to the ship. So we did. It was interesting to see the various stores and shops, and to wander through that area. We came upon an A&W Root Beer store and decided that a root beer float would be a great option just then—and they had free WiFi too, so we settled in and enjoyed ourselves.

Finally we got underway and found Canada Place was really only just 2 or 3 blocks further—but then the delay began, since we had been through all the customs and passport checks in Seattle, and had documents that certified we were passengers INTRANSIT, we had been told we would be able to get right back on—but no... Apparently that was an error, we were walked maybe half a mile through Canada Place, all the way to the end of the pier within a cattle fence, and then up a long stairway, then all the way back to the front of the building—now on the top floor. All the “guards” were Indian or Muslim, and had their own garments on (turbans and berkas) but wore yellow reflective vests over the top with ID badges. Finally we were seated (now with 100's of others) and had to wait for US Homeland Security Border Police to meet us one at a time, and scan our passports, read our other documents and finally send us “through” meaning we could take the escalator down and walk the same old route back to the front of the building, and then up what seemed like the companion escalator, and get back to the gangway to the ship—maybe an hour or more in total time wasted. Later the Captain apologised and indicated that it was not Holland America's fault. He said the Homeland Security guys were called in plenty of time, but they had to drive to Vancouver from Seattle (where they were based) and stopped for lunch on the way. Much of our waisted time was waiting for them to arrive. On the other hand, adding Vancouver to the list of stops was not on the original schedule, it was added in August and may have been added so Canadians who went to the Seahawks game in Seattle on Sunday could take a one day cruise to get home. Anyway, everyone had to be re-certified to leave a foreign country (Canada) to go to the US (Hawaii). Just a SNAFU that we see in the Coast Guard on a weekly basis.

So back on board, we explored the ship and prepared to depart at about 4. Lots to find, like where's the laundry and which bars are having happy hours and the like. Of course our departure was delayed as well due to the Homeland Security issues, but the Maasdam finally got underway and retraced our course south toward Victoria and then a hard right as the sun set and and the captain makes our course toward the Pacific Ocean and points South and West. It's all exciting as we get going in earnest.

Cold evening sky as the sun sets over the Straits of Juan de Fuca

At dinner we joined a couple from Australia (Deardra and Andrew) who we had met in the “Crow's Nest” bar yesterday. They have suggested they would take us sailing in Sydney on their new 50' sailing catameran. That would make a nice visit, don't you agree? And with desert were surprised by the waiters all singing to Sandra and me—Happy Anniversary. Nice touch. Sleepy came early and the time changed by an hour, so although we got in bed at 10 or so, with the time change it was only 9.