Day 1- Embarkation Day

​Embarkation day in Vancouver was cool and rainy- surprise, surprise!

We were grateful for our prearranged shuttle from the airport to the port which meant we, and our bags, had very little opportunity to get wet. In fact, our bags were checked in at the airport so we didn’t have to haul them around again until mid-afternoon when they showed up at our stateroom. 

The embarkation process went relatively smoothly. It was, as someone had said, a bit like herding cattle. With only a few glitches with Mona’s medallion and a bit of a wait at the end just before boarding, we were on the ship around noon. 

And then, chaos! People everywhere. Most of us not knowing where to go. Our staterooms weren’t ready yet, so we were encouraged to go have lunch on deck 15. The elevators seemed to not be moving and the crowds of people waiting blocked traffic. All accompanied by the performance of the singer with the electric guitar!! 

We managed to extricate ourselves and our carry-on bags to find a relatively quiet area to sit and have a drink while we waited for our escape to our room, which wasn’t long at all. 

We set sail around 4:00 pm, passing under the Lion’s Gate Bridge and headed for the Inside Passage to Alaska! 

The rest of the day was spent getting settled in our new home and exploring the ship.