Review Century May 5, San Diego to Vancouver

[BettyCruiser]

We took the bus driver’s advice and stopped at Lefty O’Doul’s for a drink, the food looked good too, but we weren’t hungry yet. Then we walked through Union Square and Chinatown to the next bus stop.

We rode the bus around to where we had gotten on, then walked a few blocked to the bottom of Lombard Street,

then walked through Fisherman’s Wharf on our way back to the ship.

[BettyCruiser]

We were scheduled to sail at 5:00PM; I was excited to sail under the Golden Gate Bridge again. I was back up on deck to take pictures and it was so windy I could barely keep my eyes open.

Then it turned out I got the best pictures after we had already passed under the bridge and were looking back, so next time I will wait at the Sunset Bar and avoid all that wind.

[librarylady19]

fantastic photos...can't wait to read about the rest of your cruise!

[LynnObie]

If you have any questions about the ship, please ask. This was our third time on the ship, so this trip I wasn't real focused on the ship, but I can post photos from earlier cruises on the Century.

Beth, Thanks for your review & many great pictures! We will be going to Hawaii aboard Century next February. Wondering if you can answer a couple of questions about the Main Dining Room: Is "Traditional" all on one deck & "Select" on the other? Do you know if there are tables for 2 beside the railing on deck 6? Finally, wondering if you have pictures and or drawings of the MDR on either or both decks? We are trying to scope out where the best tables for 2 are located on the Century & to decide if we want to keep our "Traditional" booking or move to "Select".:)

[BrusselsGirl07]

Beth, Thanks for your review & many great pictures! We will be going to Hawaii aboard Century next February. Wondering if you can answer a couple of questions about the Main Dining Room: Is "Traditional" all on one deck & "Select" on the other? Do you know if there are tables for 2 beside the railing on deck 6? Finally, wondering if you have pictures and or drawings of the MDR on either or both decks? We are trying to scope out where the best tables for 2 are located on the Century & to decide if we want to keep our "Traditional" booking or move to "Select".:)

 

Hi there, we were on Century twice earlier this year. While we were traditional dining (although used Murano multiple times!) most people we spoke to did not like their select dining tables, as they were quite squished up in one area of the upper dining room level. Perhaps this has changed by now. We ate with friends one night at their table for 2, and we just made it a table for 4, and it was very close to the other tables for 2. Hope that helps!

[BrusselsGirl07]

BettyCruiser- love your review and photos! I feel like I am back on her again! Also loved your photos of San Francisco, we spent a few days there before our panama canal cruise, and your photos are bringing back great memories!

[Speed Racer]

I will enjoy following along with your journey - love photo reviews. I have my eye on the 9 night wine cruise for 9/2013 Vancouver to SD so am particularly interested in your itinerary. We love visiting ballparks too!

 

We had a great trip and you will love it as well, I hope you get the same weather we had, it was just fantastic ;)

[BettyCruiser]

Beth, Thanks for your review & many great pictures! We will be going to Hawaii aboard Century next February. Wondering if you can answer a couple of questions about the Main Dining Room: Is "Traditional" all on one deck & "Select" on the other? Do you know if there are tables for 2 beside the railing on deck 6? Finally, wondering if you have pictures and or drawings of the MDR on either or both decks? We are trying to scope out where the best tables for 2 are located on the Century & to decide if we want to keep our "Traditional" booking or move to "Select".:)

 

 

All of deck 5 and the port side of deck 6 of the dining room was used for traditional dining. We had Select dining and lucked out the first night we ate in the dining room we were assigned to Constantine's section. We had such great service that we requested his section every time we went to the dining room for dinner. I'm not sure of the table configuration on the traditional side, but on the select side they have replaced many of the larger tables with two tops. The two tops are close to each other and are easily put together to make 4 tops and 6 tops. We ate with another couple most of the time, so they put two of the two tops together for us. My favorite table was along the railing overlooking deck five. I think the two top next to the railing was #61.

 

Sorry I don't have any pictures of the dining room. I hope this info helps.

 

Beth

[BettyCruiser]

BettyCruiser- love your review and photos! I feel like I am back on her again! Also loved your photos of San Francisco, we spent a few days there before our panama canal cruise, and your photos are bringing back great memories!

 

 

Hi Yvette, I'm glad you're enjoying. I loved this cruise so much that I booked one of the LA round trip itineraries for spring 2014:) I think you might be cruising with my new friend Speed Racer on the Summit this November. One of these years I'll have to try cruising out of San Juan.

 

Beth

[BettyCruiser]

Our second sea day was one wild ride. We were battling a 45 mile per hour wind and the ship was moving. It was still sunny, but very windy and chilly. We walked around the ship checking out the waves. I talked to several crew and they all said today was rougher than any day to Hawaii. I also stopped by the guest services desk for the second time to request my 20% OBC for Murano the first night. Today dabbled in the casino, it seemed like I couldn’t lose. I didn’t win big, but I always took more money out that I put in. We also stopped at the shore excursion desk to book a tour for Victoria. At some point during the day I stopped at Cova Café looking for a bit more than coffee and discovered the Aspen, it is heaven in a cup! Baily’s, Kalua, Frangelico and a bit of coffee and foam, yum. I thought tonight would have been our second formal night, but that’s not until tomorrow.

[LynnObie]

.......most people we spoke to did not like their select dining tables, as they were quite squished up in one area of the upper dining room level. Perhaps this has changed by now. We ate with friends one night at their table for 2, and we just made it a table for 4, and it was very close to the other tables for 2. Hope that helps!

 

All of deck 5 and the port side of deck 6 of the dining room was used for traditional dining. We had Select dining and lucked out the first night we ate in the dining room we were assigned to Constantine's section....... My favorite table was along the railing overlooking deck five. I think the two top next to the railing was #61.

Beth

Hi Beth & Yvette.... Thanks for your replies. I appreciate the info.:)

[c-legs]

. At some point during the day I stopped at Cova Café looking for a bit more than coffee and discovered the Aspen, it is heaven in a cup! Baily’s, Kalua, Frangelico and a bit of coffee and foam, yum. I thought tonight would have been our second formal night, but that’s not until tomorrow.

Hi,

First '' discovered'' Aspen coffee on Mercury 4 years ago. What a tremendous ''libation'' indeed. ..Ever since then, Aspen makes up a large part of our bar bill.....I even have them while in the Casino.....perhaps not a good idea :D:eek::rolleyes:

Cheers

[librarylady19]

Loved those coffees. Didn't see them on the menu at Cafe al Bacio tho....does anyone know if they will make them?

[jeanneful]

Love your review, we will be on the Century in Nov to Hawaii so the photos were a big help. We have been on the Zenith and Galaxy and are looking forward to the Century.

Your photos really made me homesick. I was born and raised in SF area!!!

[richsea]

Love your review & photos!! Your pictures of Century reminds me of how beautiful she is!

[Lois R]

Loved those coffees. Didn't see them on the menu at Cafe al Bacio tho....does anyone know if they will make them?

 

Hi Sandi, :)the Specialty Coffees are not usually on the menu of any

of the bars....but yes, you can bet they will make them. I have had

them more than once...or twice....or....well, you get the picture;)

[BettyCruiser]

Our next stop was Astoria Oregon. We dock at the edge of town which is 12 miles up the Columbia River. It was another gloriously sunny day. They were loading logs onto a cargo ship; I thought it was fun to watch.

We didn’t book a tour, but planned to visit the local brew pubs. We paid $7 each for unlimited rides on the shuttle between the ship and downtown, the trolley and the bus up to the column. We decide to start with the furthest bar and headed to Rogue first. We took the shuttle to the Maritime Museum and waited for the trolley for awhile, but then decided to walk. It was a little more than a mile and the weather was great for the walk. There is a nice walking path along the water near the trolley tracks. I guess the trolley finally made it down there a while after we already made it to Rogue.

We probably spent too much time at Rogue, but felt like sitting for awhile after the walk. We had a couple different beers here. When we decided it was time to go to the next bar we didn’t bother waiting for the trolley again. For a while I didn’t really believe there was a trolley, and then we finally saw it back at the Maritime Museum.

Our next stop was Fort George Brew Pub. We had a beer and oyster shooters here. It was starting to get late, so we made the decision to skip the next brew pub to go up to the column to check out the view.

[BettyCruiser]

We caught the last shuttle up to the column and took a bunch of pictures, and then it was time to head back to the ship.

Tonight was our second formal night. They had an ice luge for martinis in the martini bar. After dinner they had the dessert extravaganza throughout the ship. I didn’t wander around since I was full from lobster at dinner, but I know they had cotton candy at the martini bar. As you can tell we aren’t much for shows on the cruise, but we do like to check out the comedians onboard. Tonight the comedian was scheduled for an adult only show in the Crystal Lounge. So we decided to go, we got there about 20 minutes early and I really loved the band that was playing and wished I had found them sooner. I’m glad the band was good, because the comedian was not funny at all and was totally PG, definitely not adult only.

[mjwcruising]

Betty Cruiser, the pictures on post #68 are beautiful; thanks for sharing.

[Ma Bell]

Great review and photos. Thanks for posting.

[BettyCruiser]

 

Our last stop was Victoria, BC. At this port we booked a ship shore excursion to wineries and a distillery called, Great Fermentations! Wine and Distillery Tour. The tour started with a drive along the coast to our first winery. At Muse Winery we sampled several different wines along with locally produced cheese, fruit and chocolate truffles.

We had a small world moment at the Muse Winery, because of a t-shirt one of us was wearing. We discovered the owner grew up in Door County Wisconsin; we spent a week camping there last summer.

[BettyCruiser]

Our next top was De Vine Winery; it was up on a hill with a beautiful view of Mt. Baker. We had several tastes here and spent some time in the sun out on the new deck at the winery.

[BettyCruiser]

Our distillery stop was at Victoria Spirits. We learned how the still worked before we got to sample the gin and vodka. I was surprised at how small of a space in which this business as able to operate. They distributed throughout Canada and were looking to begin distribution to the US.

We drove back to the ship through town and were offered a drop off; since it was getting late we decided to go back to the ship and save exploring Victoria for our next visit. Again the weather was fabulous and clear, I spent time sitting in the comfy chairs by the Mast Bar and stared at the Olympic Mountains, while others spent time in the hit tub. After sail away we had a great view of Mt. Baker. Tonight after dinner we spent some time at the Martini Bar then we went up to the Hemisphere Lounge for the 70’s music trivia and party.

[Blue Lagoon]

 

Our last stop was Victoria, BC. At this port we booked a ship shore excursion to wineries and a distillery called, Great Fermentations! Wine and Distillery Tour. The tour started with a drive along the coast to our first winery. At Muse Winery we sampled several different wines along with locally produced cheese, fruit and chocolate truffles.

 

 

 

 

We had a small world moment at the Muse Winery, because of a t-shirt one of us was wearing. We discovered the owner grew up in Door County Wisconsin; we spent a week camping there last summer.

 

My favourite photo so far is the one of the dog.

I typically look for the resident puppy on entering a winery before I grab a tasting. I've even asked if the dog can be brought out and then of course I am distracted and have to play catch, etc.

In Napa, I haved seen a calendar featuring local winery dogs.

We have done wineries in Europe and South America however and I don't think typically there are dogs in residence. Must remind myself to check when we are doing an immersive wine cruise this fall. It is a highlight for me. :D

Thanks for the plesant reminder as I am here delaying the inevitable Saturday housecleaning and gardening!!

[BettyCruiser]

My favourite photo so far is the one of the dog.

I typically look for the resident puppy on entering a winery before I grab a tasting. I've even asked if the dog can be brought out and then of course I am distracted and have to play catch, etc.

In Napa, I haved seen a calendar featuring local winery dogs.

We have done wineries in Europe and South America however and I don't think typically there are dogs in residence. Must remind myself to check when we are doing an immersive wine cruise this fall. It is a highlight for me. :D

Thanks for the plesant reminder as I am here delaying the inevitable Saturday housecleaning and gardening!!

 

 

They also had a Victoria wineries dogs calendar. It's always nice to play with the local pets, then maybe we don't miss our own as much. The only thing I don't like about traveling is leaving my kitties at home.