Sea Day and First Tracy Arm Visit

2023 Cunard Queen Elizabeth - 29-Day Transpacific Yokohama to Vancouver

June 9, 2023 (Friday) At Sea

Now, I think I am back to normal and waking up around 5:30. We were still sailing the Inside Passage so the scenery was very nice outside the window. After breakfast, we went up to the Commodore Club again and enjoyed the sights. Then came back and nap a little before lunch. We ended up having Fish and Chips at Golden Lion since there really wasn’t much we wanted at the buffet. I must say the Fish and Chips were very good every time!

They had taken out most of the Asian food started today. I suppose because most Japanese passengers left the ship when we were in Vancouver. No porridge, rice, and condiments for breakfast in the morning but replaced with different kinds of cereal. Then only one kind of sashimi left for lunch. There is definitely a change of passengers on this sailing. With most Asians gone (Japanese, Koreans, Taiwanese) this sailing is made up of mostly Americans and Canadians. The whole atmosphere is different. I definitely missed the familiar faces that greeted us in the past days.

It's Gala Night with the theme of Icy White this evening. Many people were dressed to the occasion. It is also noticeable that most Americans enjoy early dinner because the dining room was full and a long line formed to get inside. Europeans usually like late dinners so maybe that’s the difference. The menu is a repeat of the last cruise so nothing is new. We were back at table #432 again tonight but the service was definitely not ‘Richard and Carlo’. We certainly missed them both. After dinner, we went to the casino for just a little and then came back for the night. 

June 10, 2023 (Saturday) Tracy Arm

Today it’s almost like a sea day with a day of sailing inside Tracy Arm. I don’t think we have ever done this before on our previous eight Alaska cruises. We were told that the scenery should be beautiful and we will possibly see wildlife on the way. 

After breakfast, we went up to deck 10 to the Commodore Club and got a front row seat there where we sat for the whole morning. The scenery was definitely breath taking but we did not see any wildlife.

It was calm and beautiful with the shores on both sides so close to the ship. This was a cold day so being inside was definitely necessary. We had to give up our seats at lunch while we went to the Lido and then soon after we came back we found the place filled with people taking the front row seats. We had to take up what was left on the starboard side seats which was also good. 

Sailing into Tracy Arm

So green!

Waterfalls and rock formations scattered around making this an amazing cruise. Something new we found on this Alaska trip!

For the rest of the afternoon, we just sat there and watched the world go by. 

The 'blue ice' floating around the ship.

A big one!

I felt that this is the prettiest sailing in of the three glaciers even though we did not get to Sawyer Glacier on this day. This reminded me of Norway and the Fjords in New Zealand. 

At around 5:00, the ship started turning back out towards the open sea and we got back to the cabin and nap a little before dinner. 

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" -- Isaiah 6:8 

 

Transiting at Port of Vancouver

2023 Cunard Queen Elizabeth - 29-Day Transpacific Yokohama to Vancouver

June 8, 2023 (Thursday) Vancouver, B.C., Canada

I got up as usual, 5:30 and we were already sailing into Vancouver. It was right on time when we docked at Canada Place. Debarking was easy and we got out before 9:00. Other than the 5 of us, Gary and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Lin, were also with us. It was kind of sad to have to say goodbye to those leaving the ship this morning. For some reasons, Cunard had the sailings priced the same whether for 1 or both segments. Those who booked only the first segment early on did not realize that last minute sale would include the second segment, making it a 29-day sailing for the same price. We were fortunate enough to have all 29 days included in our voyage.

Sailing into the Port of Vancouver.

We found our way to the Sky Train Station, bought our one-way tickets and boarded the train to Richmond. We planned on having some good Chinese food for the day, and Richmond is the place. 

Taking the Sky Train to Richmond.

We got off at the end of the train line and went to the Richmond Public Market. This is a spacious food court on the second floor with a huge dining area, Everybody went off to get whatever they wanted for the day. Some of us went across the street to get some won-ton noodle that's suppose to be one of the best in Vancouver, brought them back and ate at the food court. We also had some rice rolls, the best that I’ve ever had, we all had a satisfying lunch. 

This food court has many different choices to choose from.

An older food court but still serves it's purpose. We will explore the other food courts when we come back in a week or so.

The best rice rolls that I have ever had!

After lunch, we took the Sky Train back to Waterfront. 

At the Waterfront station, we walked to Gas Town to see the Steam Clock. None of us could figure out how that clock works. The clock was showing the wrong time and the hooting of the steam clock was in no particular schedule.  We did see the 2-seconds steam clock show though while we were standing there watching what everybody else was doing. Even a tour guide leading a group couldn't tell what was going on.

Then we walked back to Canada Place, window shopping along the way and snapping photos. It was just a beautiful day as we made our way back into the cruise terminal. We then got a message from Gary, telling us to hurry back and get in line for the check-in before it's too late. The line was ridiculously long and the process complicated even for those of us who are in-transit. They really need to do something about that.

Beautiful ship waiting for our return!

Ridiculous long lines even for transiting passengers trying to get back on the ship because we had to go through U.S. Immigration and Border Control.

Finally got back on the ship!

Back on the ship, I was tired and thirsty. So we went up to the buffet and got some cold orange juice which was so refreshing. They also had some yellow tail sashimi for lunch so we had to get some. 

After that light afternoon snack, we went around the ship as it was quiet and ready for our next adventure.

Sail away was around 5:15 and we were up on deck on this glorious afternoon with temperatures in the 70’s. Too bad it was time for dinner before we reached the Lion’s Gate Bridge.

Dinner was at 6:15, we thought. By the time we got to the main dining room, we were told that our table is being occupied and they had to put us in another area. But starting tomorrow, we should be able to have our table #432 back at the same dining time. When we looked over there at our old spot, we did not see Richard or Oscar though. We figured that they must have been switched to another area. Very disappointing since Richard and Oscar already knew our routine. Seemed like they only do the dining schedule one segment at a time, then switch servers and tables all over again for each segment of the voyage.

Different table, different servers.

Same first day menu.

After dinner we went up to Commodore Club to see the sailing of Inside Passage. It was so calm and beautiful. We stayed for about an hour listening to beautiful music and enjoying the scenery before coming back to the cabin for the night.

For video of this day, please click here.

"For nothing is impossible with God."  -- Luke 1:37