Not-quite-Live < limited > cruise journal: QE (Q427) Alaska cruise: 10 night, 30 Aug – 9 Sep 2024 plus Vancouver pre & post

[*Miss G*]

2 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

Uber & Lyft price to cruise terminal as FYI

 

Taxis will take you straight underground, directly to the luggage drop-off.  Ride-shares have to drop you at street level with a bit of a walk in front of you.  Is Canada Place now accepting luggage in different drop-off areas?  Curious to know.  

[cruiseny4life]

1 hour ago, mking8288 said:

Lunch feast 😋 

Hi @cruiseny4life - posting this for CC friends like you and sweet Sugar - I know you can't find these anywhere near Rome or Utica 😁 but probably around Albany

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the luggage - I know ... 😛

Oh my gosh that bone broth soups looks absolutely amazing!! And yes, can't quite get this in Utica/Rome. Syracuse or Albany - yes. We do have a couple of decent pho places close by. Nothing like I had in East Hartford, CT when I lived there. Oh, I am definitely loving these food photos. Yum! Yum! Yum!

 

What are the tiny "canapes" in the cast iron pan? 

 

1 hour ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

 

Your red and gold ensemble will add to the bulk.

 

It'll be nylon and lycra, so as bulky as a ballerina's outfit. 

[mking8288]

All abroad, from joining the line to start  check-in, US and Canada border control and getting onto the ship, muster station - less than 1 hours. More details later - Lido & tea time 😋

 

 

 

Cheers 

Off to a excellent start 👍 

[mking8288]

SkyTrain (Waterfront) station exit/entrance just a block from Canada Place, walkable w light luggage from YVR Airport w transfer of train.

 

 

 

 

Follow the ramp next to parking entrance to check-in area, plenty of shore-based assistance. 

 

[mking8288]

Visual walk-through of the check-in steps, do have a printer Boarding Pass as it is stamped & checked, and used to get scanned by security & at the muster station.  Keycards are awaiting by your door.

 

Our luggage were dropped off after 1:30 PM and already delivered to outside hallway nearby.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mking8288]

3 hours ago, cruiseny4life said:

Oh ... I am definitely loving these food photos. Yum! Yum! Yum! What are the tiny "canapes" in the cast iron pan ?

I will get the official name and OMG it was good, tasty & crispy.  That bowl of beef pho soup w bone stock was rich & flavored, heavenly 😀 

[mking8288]

Command Station Zebra for semi-live is now up & running, tomorrow is a full sea day.

 

 

Slippers & robes, laundry bags

 

Edited August 31 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Views from our other AFT balcony, portside 

 

 

 

 

Ours on Deck 5 Mid has lifeboat below, but we are 98.5% fine with it.

 

 

It's 5:15 PM and Summit's ship horn blowing, we aren't sailing yet (17:00 scheduled)

 

Captain's update, all passengers onboard & ready, last minute checks and will follow the Summit & back out, turn around & head toward Lions Gate Bridge, just 3 meters clearance for the ship to slip thru ... 

Edited August 31 by mking8288

[mking8288]

We are now underway, leaving the North Berth at Canada Place

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nice weather ahead, calm seas and Ketchican bound for Sunday arrival.  58 deg high, clouds & occasional rain shower. 

[cruiseny4life]

Bon voyage!

[mking8288]

First impression counts and do matter, I pooled 2 of the among youngest onboard this sailing ... the 2 girls about their initial impressions.  They like it and as smiled, they are "babies" in the mid 30's but easily mistaken for just out of college & in the 20's ... or as crew members 😁 

 

We haven't seen children or teens and the average age is probably upper 50's to early 60's ... and some solo travelers. 

 

More commentary later or tomorrow ... 

 

Pictures 🖼️  Stanley Park ahead, Lions Gate Bridge ...

 

 

[mking8288]

FYI info 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mking8288]

Sailed about 75 minutes ago, 5G signal is now 4G LTE with Vancouver Island Port side in the distance. 

 

 

 

Behind the scene tour, NCL'ers ? 

 

 

More info 

 

 

 

Free WiFi 1 hour trial, I can & will go for that 😁😁😁

 

 

[mking8288]

Will be going to dinner prep mode soon, semi-live to resume, for your convenience & enjoyment again ... soon 

 

 

Sparkling wine is complimentary, bottled water & soda ... ours, in the checked luggage # cough # cough 😔 NCL

[mking8288]

Our wingman ahead, portside

 

 

 

Balcony - chairs reclined  😃 😎 👍

Edited August 31 by mking8288

[mking8288]

21:00 hour and 5G signal still possible, off & on ...

 

 

MDR menu - Day #1 (photos to follow tomorrow or later tonight)

 

 

 

Side comment for NCL's - bathroom's shower floor reminded us of Epic's design 🤔   "Mind" the showerhead's low overhang, and the curtain, right next to you.

Edited August 31 by mking8288

[vieux_carre]

Thank you for sharing the daily program.  An interesting omission is mention of Churchill’s Cigar Lounge amongst the listing of lounge hours and the lack of its mention in the smoking policy.  It is still indicated on the published deck plans.  If you pass by, can you confirm if it is still in operation?

[mking8288]

Evening turndown services, "The Way We Were" ... once upon a time on Norwegian C.L. 

 

 

[mking8288]

Daily Programme (#2 Day)  Code NCL = Freestyle Dailies

 

[cavaaller]

thank you again for takong us along. Very precious information!

[mking8288]

It's almost 23:30 or 11:30 PM now, I am still getting my 5G signal on Google Fi / T-Mobile ("Rogers" on the iPhone SE 2022 - Fi data only global Sim) using Samsung Galaxy S24 - YMMV as always.  Will check out the ship's satellite 📡 WiFi tomorrow, been a long day. 

 

Zebra Station going 10-7 onboard QE Alaska bound ... Celebrity Summit now guarding the rear (AFT) 

 

Reports from those on Deck 10 on the lookout, spotted whales playfully nearby earlier  👍

 

Edited August 31 by mking8288

[Host Hattie]

Thanks for all the photographs, I hope you have had chance to enjoy your first evening on board. 

[mking8288]

Good morning from breakfast in the Britannica Restaurant, Deck 2 as walk-in only (like NCL) and we still have 5G cellular service, but set-up for the free 1 hour Starlink WiFi trial later. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scrambled eggs w smoked salmon, yes.  I am going for 

Cunard's Signature full breakfast w options 

[Seas2mountains]

Good morning! Thank you for doing the wonderful live review! It’s interesting to see what Cunard has to offer. We are also trying other cruise lines. 
 

The breakfast hash browns look delicious. How were they?

 

The ones they serve on Celebrity are a bit too crispy for our tastes. For those not familiar with NCL, they cut the hash browns from their breakfast menu and are definitely missed by those who loved the breakfast treat. 

 

Have a wonderful cruise with your family! We will enjoy following along. 

[NE John]

27 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

Good morning from breakfast in the Britannica Restaurant,

Looks like you’re all having a very good start onboard QE. Nice! 
What are your plans for shore “experiences”? Doing Cunard’s or third party?

It’s great to see NCL pax pop in here to check out Cunard. 

Edited August 31 by NE John