Here’s Why Vancouver Is The Perfect Pre-Cruise Destination

For those who’re planning to take a cruise this yr, you’ve in all probability already been suggested to get to town the place you’re embarking a day or two early. For those who haven’t, contemplate this that recommendation. You do not wish to should chase down your cruise ship due to the flight delays or cancellations that appear to have outlined journey this summer time.

Fortunately, there are extra perks to this plan, as properly, particularly when you’re embarking in Vancouver – which you’re more likely to do when you’re cruising to Alaska.

Vancouver is a phenomenal, vibrant metropolis with a lot to see and do, you’ll be glad to have an excuse to spend some further time there. In any metropolis, I at all times suggest beginning off with a trip on the Hop On Hop Off bus to get a superb, general really feel for the place issues are and the place you’d prefer to spend extra time. For those who’ve by no means visited Vancouver earlier than, you’ll undoubtedly wish to take a look at Stanley Park, the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Granville Island.

Two of the cruises I went on this summer time embarked in Vancouver and I used to be desirous to return for the primary time for the reason that pandemic. I made a decision to do issues a little bit in another way since I’d already finished a lot there. As an alternative of working round, I used the 2 Fairmont lodges at Canada Place – the place the cruise ships dock and nearly a million passengers go to yearly – as my dwelling base and, actually, I’d have been glad even when I by no means left the lodges.

To me, Fairmont is Canada and I can’t think about visiting the nation and staying wherever else. For my first cruise, I booked Fairmont Waterfront, the place I had a view of the ship from my room. I upgraded to Fairmont Gold to have entry to their superb concierge-level lounge, which incorporates meals and drinks just about all day together with rooftop areas providing ocean views and locations to simply chill out and luxuriate in them.

As a result of I arrived early within the day, I dropped off my bag, went for my required pre-cruise COVID check (which you’ll conveniently get within the resort) and headed to Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, a brief stroll from the port, for the Categorical Lunch at Notch8. This fast, three course meal contains a Caesar salad, fish and chips and bread and butter pudding, and it’s scrumptious. Plus, the design of the foyer restaurant is impressed by the romance of Thirties rail journey and has a comfortable, welcoming really feel. As at all times, I needed to cease on the entrance desk to offer a fast pet to the canine ambassadors – one in every of my favourite issues about staying at a Fairmont resort.

After lunch, I walked over to the Vancouver Artwork Gallery to see Uninvited: Canadian Women Artists in the Modern Moment, a set of greater than 200 artistic endeavors that inform a century-old story of feminine creativity in Canada. The historical past is fascinating, the work is gorgeous and I’d have handled myself to the exhibition catalog if I had introduced a checked bag as an alternative of a carry-on. However I had simply stuffed the final little bit of remaining house with a sweater I picked up at Roots, a fantastic Canadian life-style retailer, so I opted for earrings – my go-to memento as a result of I can toss them in my pockets – from the museum gift shop, which is a treasure in itself.

On my manner again to the resort, I ended at FlyOver Canada (additionally conveniently positioned at Canada Place) to absorb their newest trip, Windborne: Name of the Canadian Rockies. I really like the FlyOver rides and this one was as exhilarating and breathtaking as the unique – which I went again to see the subsequent morning. Belief me, it is a must-do.

Since I wasn’t going to be consuming dinner for a short time, I headed to the Gold lounge on the Fairmont for complimentary appetizers, together with sushi that might simply have been my complete meal. As a result of it was so good, I ate manner an excessive amount of and determined to go gentle on dinner at ARC Restaurant, choosing the Grilled Cheese + Tomato Soup – consolation meals at its finest – from the lunch menu. Subsequent time, I’ll go there hungry so I can attempt the Olive Oil Poached Halibut and Backyard to Glass cocktails that use contemporary components from the resort’s rooftop apiary.

The following day, I had a full, included breakfast within the lounge earlier than strolling throughout the road to embark on my cruise ship. I felt like I had already had a pleasant little trip.

Once I returned to Vancouver a number of weeks later for one more cruise, I booked a room at Fairmont Pacific Rim, a Forbes Journey Information 5-Star Lodge, which is correct throughout the road from the port and Fairmont Waterfront. The Gold rooms have been utterly bought out, which was superb as a result of it gave me an excuse to seize donuts for breakfast at Tim Hortons – principally the Canadian Dunkin’ – the subsequent morning.

Between a delayed flight and lengthy strains on the airport, I ended up attending to the resort late within the afternoon and, due to foyer supervisor, Mitchell, was fortunate sufficient to attain a much-needed deep tissue therapeutic massage on the resort’s extremely acclaimed Willow Stream Spa.

The remedy was so nurturing, instantly loosening my tight shoulders and quieting my stressed-out thoughts, that I believe I could make a therapeutic massage my new post-flight journey ritual. Afterwards, I spent a while blissfully taking within the views from the out of doors terrace and indulging in a steam earlier than pulling up a seat at Botanist Bar for a lightweight however delicious dinner.

Botanist, with its modern menu depicting one of the best of the Pacific Northwest, is all about sustainability and abundance, and each dish is a murals. I ate on the bar so I might discuss to the bartenders and my fellow diners, all of whom have been enthusiastic concerning the distinctive dishes and cocktails they have been having fun with.

I had a stunning selfmade burrata salad with smoked carrots, candied beets and roasted sunchokes, accompanied by my very own private loaf of bread. I completed it off with a chocolatey concoction that despatched me off to sleep with the sweetest desires.

Subsequent time, I wish to attempt the resort’s new Omakase expertise on the sushi counter in The RawBar at The Foyer Lounge. With award-winning sushi chef Masayoshi Baba on the helm, it sounds superb. I additionally wish to spend a while shopping the cabinets of Fairmont Pacific Rim’s TASCHEN Library, consisting of greater than 275 books from the writer of “essentially the most stunning books on the planet.”

Though I don’t have any extra cruises beginning in Vancouver on my schedule, I’m considering of simply planning a visit again to do (and eat) the issues I didn’t have time for on my pre-cruise visits. I’ll pack even lighter so I can spend a day on Granville Island and help the native artists. Probably the most difficult half might be deciding which Fairmont to name dwelling for a number of days.