Vancouver!

In September, I spent a week totally ensconced in the excitement and pure natural beauty of British Columbia. I took a jet plane to Seattle, and a prop plane to Victoria where we bussed into Butchart Gardens and speed boated out to watch whales. After three nights in the luxurious Inn at Laurel Point, we took a ferry over to Vancouver where other modes of transportation included: a paddle-wheel dinner cruise boat, a water taxi across False Creek, a bicycle around Stanley Park, a cable tram up to the summit of Grouse Mountain, an elevator to the Vancouver Lookout and another elevator inside the Eye of the Wind (a giant white wind turbine with glass observation deck on top) above Grouse Mountain, a high speed Zodiac sea safari, the hop-on-hop-off bus around the city, a zipline, and finally, walking across the suspension bridges and the new cantilevered Cliffwalk at Capilano. Oh, and I'll never forget the thrilling take-off and landing of our sea plane, or the beautiful smile of Tiga, the baby beluga at the Vancouver Aquarium. Poor Tiga died a week later, but he is forever in my heart. 

TourismVancouver hosted a small group of VSP VIPS (graduates of the Vancouver Specialist Program) for the week and thoroughly impressed us with their beautiful city. We toured many of the best hotels, sampled lots of local fresh cuisine, both at Granville Island Public Market and at several trendy restaurants, and learned so much about the special events, venues, and activities available in the Vancouver area. I came home with a suitcase full of local chocolates....heaven!!!! Now I have new travel agent friends from Germany, England, Australia, Canada and the US and we all agree that Vancouver is one place that we should send all of our clients - there is something for everyone.

Princess West Coast Sailings

10/11/2011

Princess Cruises Offers Diverse West Coast Sailing Schedule in 2012-13
Line to Offer More Pacific Coastal Cruises Than Ever Before, Plus Varied Sailings from Los Angeles or San Francisco

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (October 11, 2011) -- Cruisers who want to sample the Pacific Coast or sail from a West Coast port have a variety of options with Princess Cruises in 2012-13. The line will feature more Pacific coast cruises than ever before, including an enhanced seven-day California Coastal itinerary to the best of the Golden State.
The line's schedule of fall and spring season coastal voyages ranges from quick overnight cruises to week-long journeys, all designed to provide passengers with a convenient way to sample the Princess cruise experience as they explore the Pacific coastline.
New this season is a round-trip California Coastal itinerary with an added visit to Catalina and an overnight in San Francisco. Other coastal itinerary options include a wine country cruise with themed onboard presentations, plus four- and five-day samplers of Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, and shorter sailings of one to three nights. Additionally, cruisers can set sail for further-flung destinations from the West Coast ports of Los Angeles or San Francisco, heading for Hawaii, Mexico, the Panama Canal or across the ocean to explore the South Pacific.
"Coastal cruises have become increasingly popular with our passengers, so much so that we're featuring more of our new California Coast itinerary than ever before," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. "And the California ports of Los Angeles and San Francisco are great bases from which to enjoy a variety of destinations and experiences."
Princess' Coastal voyages in the 2012-13 season include:
California Coastals: Roundtrip Los Angeles -- Sapphire Princess will sail on new departures of a seven-day California Coastal itinerary cruising roundtrip from Los Angeles. Passengers can enjoy an overnight in San Francisco, plus calls in Santa Barbara, Catalina, San Diego, and Ensenada. Sailings depart on October 8 and October 13, 2012; March 30, April 6, April 13, April 27 and May 4, 2013.
Wine Country Coastal: Los Angeles to Vancouver -- A special seven-day sailing offered with wine lovers in mind, this sailing will offer the chance to explore the California wine regions of Santa Barbara and San Francisco -- as well as visit the microbreweries of Astoria, Oregon. Themed excursions will be available in many ports to enhance the local wine focus. In addition, guest experts will showcase the world of food and wine with special presentations. The cruise aboard Sapphire Princess will depart from Los Angeles on May 11, 2013, sailing to Vancouver with calls at Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Astoria, Seattle and Victoria.
British Columbia and West Coast Coastal -- This week-long voyage explores the west coast from the fall foliage of British Columbia to the shores of Southern California. The Vancouver to Los Angeles cruise calls at Nanaimo, Victoria, San Francisco and San Diego. Sapphire Princess sets sail on September 29, 2012.
Pacific Coastal: Los Angeles/Vancouver -- Passengers can choose to travel between Vancouver and Los Angeles in five or three days with two coastal itinerary options. The five-day journey between "the City of Angels" and Vancouver features calls in San Francisco and Victoria, departing on May 9, 2012 aboard Coral Princess. The three-day option features two leisurely days of cruising the Pacific Coast with a variety of sailing dates aboard Golden Princess, Coral Princess, Island Princess and Star Princess.
Pacific Coastal: San Francisco/Vancouver -- Two ships will travel between San Francisco's legendary Golden Gate and picturesque Vancouver on a two-day cruise. Island Princess departs on September 26, 2012 and Star Princess sets sail on May 13 and September 24, 2012. Pacific Coastal: Vancouver/Seattle -- For a quick getaway, overnight sailings between Vancouver and Seattle offer the perfect opportunity for a taste of Princess hospitality. Golden Princess will sail September 22, 2012 and May 11, 2013; while Star Princess sails on September 23, 2012 and May 11, 2013.
In addition to sailing along the Pacific Coast, passengers can also choose to visit a variety of destinations from the West Coast ports of Los Angeles and San Francisco.
From Los Angeles:
Mexico -- Sapphire Princess will sail "south of the border" to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas on six sailings between November 17, 2012 and April 20, 2013.
Hawaii -- Golden Princess and Sapphire Princess offer 14-day cruises, departing on Wednesdays and Saturdays, respectively, to the volcanic wonder of the Big Island (Hilo), the capital city of Honolulu on Oahu, the beautiful beaches of Maui (Lahaina) and the lush Garden Isle of Kauai (Nawiliwili). The season runs between September 26, 2012 and April 24, 2013.
Hawaii, Tahiti & Samoa -- For those looking for a longer tropical vacation, this 28-day itinerary offers the opportunity to sail not only to Hawaii, but also visit the South Pacific islands of Pago Pago, Apia, Bora Bora, Moorea, and Tahiti. These cruises sail round-trip from Los Angeles, aboard Sapphire Princess on October 20, 2012 and on Star Princess on March 26, 2013.
Panama Canal -- Coral Princess and Island Princess offer a variety of Panama Canal transit itineraries that begin or end in Los Angeles. These sailings include a full transit of one of the world's wonders of engineering plus Princess' signature 2-day experience in Panama for extra time to explore the country. Cruises also include visits to a variety of sunny Caribbean ports as well as calls in Mexico and Central America. Sailings run between September 20, 2011 and May 4, 2013.
From San Francisco:
Mexico -- Grand Princess and Star Princess each offer a sailing roundtrip from San Francisco with calls at Catalina, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas and San Diego. Star Princess sails on Sept 26, 2012 and Grand Princess departs March 31, 2013.
Hawaii -- Star Princess and Grand Princess will begin offering 15-day itinerary round-trip voyages from San Francisco, also calling at all four main islands. The ships will offer 10 departures between March 19, 2012 and April 25, 2013.
Alaska Inside Passage -- Sea Princess will once again sail roundtrip from the City by the Bay to the wonders of the 49th state, with calls at Juneau, Skagway (or Haines), Ketchikan and Victoria, plus scenic cruising in Glacier Bay National Park or Tracy Arm Fjord. Sailings depart between May 13 to August 31, 2012.
Hawaii, Tahiti & South Pacific -- Sea Princess sails from San Francisco to Sydney on a 27-day voyage across the Pacific with calls at Honolulu, Maui (Lahaina), Bora Bora, Tahiti, Pago Pago, Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin, with scenic cruising through Fiordland National Park. The sailing departs on September 20, 2012.
Panama Canal -- Island Princess will sail on a Panama Canal voyage from San Francisco to Ft. Lauderdale, featuring a full Canal transit, plus visits to Cabo San Lucas, Costa Rica (Puntarenas), a 2-day canal experience in Panama (a day in port in Fuerte Amador plus the transit through the canal locks), and stops in Cartagena and Aruba. The sailing departs on September 28, 2012.
Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent  http://www.princess.com/news/