Exploring, Painting and Candy Shopping in Historic Vancouver

Day 3, 2024 Majestic Japan

Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024; Vancouver, BC, Canada

Normally cruise ships start or end their Alaska cruises in Vancouver, so unless cruisers plan to extend their trips, they don’t see much of this beautiful city. We have the full day here, so I took advantage and explored the area on foot around the Canada Place terminal.

My first destination was the Gastown district just a few blocks away, with its narrow streets and Victorian architecture. I thought the Gastown Steam Clock might be a good subject for today’s watercolor, and almost missed it, as I pictured a large tower. It is just 16 feet tall, but quite lovely with its four clock faces, etched glass sides showing the clock’s mechanism and weights, and five steam whistlers on top. Every 15 minutes they produce the Westminster chime.

I settled on a nearby bench to sketch and paint. Crowds came and went, and a few people stopped to chat for a minute. Once I had finished, I considered doing a repeat, but instead declared myself satisfied and moved on.

Chinatown was only a few blocks away, but my route took me through an area that seemed a bit dodgy. Not quite unsafe, but I decided against continuing on. Nearby was food store, and remembering that I was in Canada, I went in to look for my favorite store-bought candy –Maltesers.

Yes, I can sometimes find small packages in the states at World Market, but that’s cheating. I only treat myself in British Commonwealth countries such as Canada (or Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, even Barbados and of course the U.K.). Today I scored.

There is so much more to see in Vancouver, but I hadn’t planned for longer excursions so I headed back to the ship. My good cruising friend Jolanda, a Vancouver resident, joined the cruise today along with about 150 other people. I guessed – correctly – that I would see her sitting at a table poolside with a glass of wine, and it was another fun reunion. We already had a date for dinner tonight.

Instead of a show in the Main Stage, tonight Cruise and Travel Director Karlijn Verpalen introduced the entertainment staff. I recognized several from previous cruises (“techexpert” Bernie, Viktoriia, Pastor Dale and guest lecturer Merge). Watercolor instructor Lucia will join us in Sitka. We also have other guest lecturers, a tai chi master, bridge instructor, arts and craft teacher and sports director. We can’t complain of being bored.

Earlier this summer, the public relations staff at Holland America took an interest in the “three sisters who sail together on world cruises” and asked if they could write about us. The result was an article on the cruise company’s blog site.

That has led to a bit of media interest, particularly as two of us sold houses and furniture to cruise and travel for most of the year. I talked to a few freelance travel writers over the summer, and we’re waiting to see if anything is published.

A travel writer for an East Coast daily newspaper was on this cruise from Seattle to Vancouver to get a taste of a Holland America ship, and we had dinner last night in the Pinnacle Grill to talk about life almost full-time on a cruise ship. It’s been fun to dip my toe back into the world of public relations, where I spent my career.

The Pinnacle Grill introduced a new menu (for the first time in years to my recollection) on this cruise. It still has the steaks for which it is known, but has added a Far East section – perhaps because we are heading to Japan.

For those of us who cruise more frequently and get a complimentary meal in this specialty restaurant due to our loyalty status, it’s nice to see new options. I thoroughly enjoyed the seared halibut and scallops with Thai red curry sauce.

Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto will join us for a few days later on the cruise. Luckily, I was able to get a reservation for one of the nights he will be here.