Anchors Away

Saturday morning: a dark and gloomy start. Maybe, thought I, it will improve later. That's when I realised it was still only 5.00am, pre-dawn over in Vancouver, and that I was still adjusting to the time difference. By 7.00 when we stepped out in search of a short stack and coffee it was clear it was going to be another hot and sunny day. It was also clear that something was going on! There we are, strolling in the vague direction of the harbour when we developed an uncanny feeling rather like being the unhealthy, slow rats in the Pied Piper's reluctant flock. All around us, young fit people in shorts, trainers and with iPods and earphones were moving somewhat more purposefully past us but in the same direction. Thankfully a traffic cop manning a road block soon explained that the 5th annual SeaWheeze half marathon, due to start shortly, would be over by 10am and the city back to normal. Fun to watch though. 

The next excitement was check-in, a process not disimmilar to that on the scale of an international airport. Strange, I thought at first, given that we were still in British Columbia, until it became apparent that in fact the Nieuw Amsterdam is a U.S. vessel and once on board we would be in America, albeit still in Canada! 

Farewell Vancouver, for now.

Lunch, finding our 'stateroom' (euphemism for cabin, albeit large, lovely and with a balcony view of the mountainous shore-line, so maybe stateroom is more appropriate) and unpacking out of the way we attended the 'first time cruisers' presentation 'to ensure you make the most of your time onboard' ("Try everything, step outside your comfort zone - it's about food, fun and the Alaskan ports") and later the mandatory muster-stations practise drill. This, like herding cats, was a job I was glad I didn't have to coordinate. The ship is a mid-size cruise liner with a mere 2200 people on board. Somehow I think that in a real emergency bedlam might ensue. Still, at least we now know which lifeboat we should have been in!! Moving on ....

Each evening a daily bulletin publishes the scheduled events, lists restaurant and bar opening times (8 and 11 of each, respectively), possible shore excursions, likely wildlife sightings etc for the following day and there's certainly something for everyone. From quizzes, to art appreciation, digital workshops to flower arranging, beer tasting to ping pong - there will certainly be no peace for the wicked. But first, dinner!  

Day 1 on board we found ourselves sharing a table in the Manhattan Dining Room with Cathy & Bernie from Chicago and Patrice & David from Orlando, the latter celebrating their 10 year wedding anniversary. Lovely company as they were, it never ceases to amaze me how few people outside of the U.K. have heard of Shakespeare, less still Stratford-upon-Avon, so we're quickly learning to say we 'flew from London'. Nevertheless, excellent food, great service and interesting conversation made for a fun few hours. And so to be lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking of the waves. A full day at sea tomorrow - hoping for fine weather, good views and maybe, just maybe, a cookery demo or a non-surgical face lift talk (not, but seriously an option!!) Night.