We have cruised Alaska before but this time wanted to see more of the State then cruise ports and wanted to experience the aurora borealis, a feat that’s high on my bucket list! They are a natural light display in the Earth’s sky that’s most commonly seen in high latitude regions. The lights are caused by collisions between electrically charged particles from the sun and air molecules in the Earth’s atmosphere, which transfer their energy into light, and so we took off to the best location to see the lights in the USA, we went North to Alaska determined to seek them out.
Our first stop on our latest adventure was Vancouver where we board our ship, the Sapphire Princess. We spent two nights pre cruise at the gorgeous Pan Pacific Vancouver Hotel which is the best location to stay in Vancouver before a cruise. The Pan Pacific Hotel in Vancouver offers guests a sophisticated retreat with unparalleled views and impeccable service. This landmark property nestled along Vancouver’s waterfront combines contemporary design with timeless sophistication, creating a captivating ambiance for travelers Located near iconic neighborhoods and shopping districts, the Pan Pacific Hotel serves as an ideal base for exploring all Vancouver has to offer. It was a perfect start for our vacation.
We got in late and the next morning we went to FlyOver Canada, an immersive flight simulation ride located right at Canada Place at the Pier. The immersive flying journey connects you with Canada’s spectacular sights, sounds and stories from a whole new perspective. Soar above the tundra of the territories, through the sails of an Atlantic schooner and into the heart of Canada and native land. It felt like I was hand gliding and it did make me feel a bit queasy at certain points of the ride. Canada is indeed a beautiful country, known for its stunning natural landscapes, including the Rocky Mountains, vast forests, picturesque lakes, and vibrant cities like Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal and traveling across Canada offers an incredible variety of experiences due to its diverse geography and cultures. A ride so wild you’ll be at the edge of your seat as you fly from coast to coast, from Newfoundland to British Columbia. Soar through 18 scenes that encapsulate the essence of Canada’s beauty, spanning major cities to glacial glory. Suspended in an interactive chair and bombarded with effects like wind, rain, and even smells, you’ll be propelled over Canada.
Our favorite part of the Pan Pacific Hotel besides it being comfortable with a great friendly welcoming staff, is it is located above the Cruise Terminal and the morning of your cruise you call down to the bell desk for them to retrieve your luggage from you room and transport it right to the ship at no charge. You then take an elevator down and walk over to the cruise terminal and after showing your ID you are ready to board your ship. It’s so nice being able to stay indoors the entire time and not have to face the inclement weather as Vancouver is known for it’s rain. We went downstairs at 11:40 and was on the ship by noon. Our bags arrived shortly after we did which we were able to keep track of with our new air tags!
