Our trip to Alaska is a long time coming. We were meant to go back in 2018. But we had a beautiful wedding to attend in Santa Barbara. Our son Rob married Jordan. 

So our trip was shelved until now. An Alaskan cruise has been popular with almost everyone we’ve spoken to. 

Plans were made and today we left for around 3  weeks. We’re going via Auckland on Air NZ – a new airline for us. Kia Ora! So far, so good. 

We’re about to land in Auckland for around 2.5 hours. 

We have 3 days in Vancouver then board the ship – the Westerdam a Holland- American ship. 7 days cruising up into Alaska then 8 days on land visiting Alyeska, Anchorage, Denali National park and flying out of Fairbanks. 

Let me know if you’ve done a cruise like this …… 

The transit in Auckland went well then it was ‘chocks away’ at 8 pm for the 12.5 hrs to Vancouver. Air Nz was great premium economy was good but Steve in particular missed the flat bed. 

I bonded with my immediate neighbours because I lost a pearl earring and two people behind were up with torches and moving things around. They were so kind and helpful. 

We arrived to blue skies and very friendly people. Into the city to a Marriott hotel  a block from Gastown.

We got into the room but decided to move! After sitting for so long we needed to stretch our legs. We walked along the waterfront, part the cruise terminal where we’ll be boarding the ship. 

We were last here about 30 years ago. Steve had some business and we were on our way to Calgary to visit our friends Lynne & Tom who now live in Brisbane. 

It’s a beautiful city with a waterfront that always shines especially when the sun is out. It was busy with tourists and locals – many sitting having a beer in the sunshine. We found a good spot for a beer before moving back to Gastown for dinner. 

Now we are in the hotel.  Showered and wondering if we can go to bed at  8.15!