A Cruising Lunch in Vancouver
After a week of meeting people and generally making friends over a coffee separately, the Tim & I were looking at day trips for a our long weekend to end this year's trip to Vancouver. Everyone we met/knew was suggesting something really tiring; Grouse Mountain (both done it), Whistler (I've done it and will introduce it to the bf for a special trip, it deserves more than a hastily prepared day trip after a tiring week) or the new cable ride that had just opened that will take half a day to get to as it's not really accessible by public transport.
We've had a tiring, exhilarating, draining and positive week. All I wanted to do is sit, eat and watch the world go by. On Friday night, I saw this trip on the tourism site (Why had we not looked there before? That's what happens after 18 years of travelling to the same place, you're no longer a tourist!). They had just started the season that day and once I convinced the bf to do it rather than some long day island/mountain hopping, we realised it was booked up.
However, next morning I called for cancellations and leaped up and down when they said I could book! Had we been in our regular hotel, Century Plaza, we would have just spoken to concierge during the week and got something booked. This is one of the downsides of Air BNB, no hotel staff to help!
It turns out, as 10% of me had suspected, as we couldn't book any one-hour tours either, the booking system wasn't working and the boat only had 25 people on rather than its capacity of 300. So it felt like a very private cruise and an amazingly, relaxing trip.
From the minute we walked on board, we knew we were in for an experience. After we booked are tickets at 8.30am, we got ready and strolled down the West End towards English Bay, calling in at Horton for a quick breakfast. As we're being treated to a salmon lunch, a treat brunch felt unnecessary on this Saturday. I did however, regret not grabbing a coffee before we went on board as there was no talk of any being offered until after lunch.
But this is Canada, home of hospitality as we went down the stairs, we delighted in having a reserved, table clothed table with iced water waiting and coffee being served.
We set sail 15 minutes early at 10.45 and lunch was due at 11.30. I've only just had breakfast yet! The meal was served buffet style, downstairs (below deck?) with a choice of salmon or chicken - although every one was offered both and there was plenty of desert to go round twice too!
Rare drinkers at home, we even treated ourselves to half a bottle of wine; it fitted so well with the sunny weather, menu and the holiday atmosphere.
This turned out to be part of one of the best days we've ever had in Vancouver and we decided, the perfect way to introduce newbies to Vancouver in future months/years to come! We booked on Harbour Cruises, paying approximately $150 for two.
We stayed with Airbnb and here's some money off for your next stay
Vancouver; Spectacular by Nature as their tourism site says!
