Sunrise had been forecast for 5:00 a.m. but with last minute checking and rechecking everything ended up in our suitcases that belonged, we missed taking pictures.
Neither Mary nor I had checked what time the Lido Market would be open for breakfast, but she suggested we order in. An excellent idea. I had scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon, toast, and coffee. Mary’s choices were a fruit plate, cottage cheese, muesli, and coffee. A soft knock on the door announced breakfast’s arrival. What a feast. Food that needed to be hot did not disappoint.
The kitchen staff called, “Did you enjoy your breakfast?”
“Indeed. Excellent. Thank you.”
Later, Mary called to have our trays removed. Unlike hotels, halls on ships are narrower and likely to cause tripping hazards if anything other than luggage is left outside. Once again, someone came lickety-split.
As we waited for expedited disembarkation announcement, Mary could not find her key card, without which she could not leave the ship. She called the Reception Desk and an attendant promised a new one. While she raced to pick it up, I worried how long she may be held up. The fusspot I am, I grit my teeth and worried about missing our proper exit. Finally, she returned and we pushed and pulled our luggage out the door. Only about a dozen people stood around with us, some with carry-ons but no luggage. Within minutes, a solitary uniform pointed forward. We offered our key cards for scanning, and out we zipped. “Keep the card as your souvenir,” said the scanning lady when finished.
It’s as if everyone had already gone ashore or was this a ghost ship? No one ahead and no one behind. We scurried downward, were directed by a silent figure with a smile and a wave to proceed straight down the length of the airport building. No customs and no questions. How strange. Just us two: no crowds or foot traffic. It felt special being an expedited passenger but surreal, and I wondered why anyone exiting the cruise ship, whether to catch their flight, hop a bus or taxi to their hotel, wouldn’t get off like we had. Why go to the trouble of putting your bags outside by midnight and then wait inside the airport to claim them?
Part of our itinerary included a taxi and driver upon our return to Vancouver. No sooner had I inquired about this, three women came forward, one a trainee. Our taxi awaited. The rep handed a voucher to the driver and we sped through Vancouver traffic to the Sheraton. The weather continued overcast; smoke-colored clouds hung heavy and low, more like a dismal fall rather than past mid-May.
Within ten minutes or so, the taxi arrived at Sheraton Wall Centre. Already registered at the hotel as part of the holiday itinerary, our key cards were ready and we headed to the seventeenth floor, sans luggage. The bags arrived before we did. Impressive.
~ * ~
Next on July 6th – Vancouver Again. Now What?
© 2018 Tess @ How the Cookie Crumbles
June 29, 2018 at 8:20 pm
Lovely rooms and scenery. Those gloomy clouds–but I’d get used to them!
LikeLike
June 29, 2018 at 11:45 pm
I love that your bags beat you to the Sheraton Tess. I call that impressive. I wonder what your plans are next. Anywhere left to explore?
xxx Massive Hugs xxx
LikeLike
June 30, 2018 at 9:09 am
You certainly had a full itinerary throughout the cruise; did you enjoy it?
LikeLike
June 30, 2018 at 11:19 am
My husband would love to stay at the hotel. He uses all the pillows he can find when he sleeps.
LikeLike
June 30, 2018 at 1:00 pm
That sounds like the perfect disembark and trip to the hotel 😀
LikeLike
June 30, 2018 at 2:14 pm
Sounds like the ending was the ‘easiest’ and smoothest part of the trip!
LikeLike
July 1, 2018 at 10:50 am
Congratulations, Tess! Mary, how could you loss your Sea Pass. I’m so, ahem, diligent, I hardly let that thing out of my sight the whole cruise. Ha.
We always carry out our luggage for the expedited departure. So much easier than trying to pick your luggage out of the sea of similar suitcases in a big hall!
LikeLike
July 1, 2018 at 5:31 pm
How clever to choose the expedited departure. Even though Vancouver is often grey and overcast, I did love living there.
LikeLike