Geo: 34.0533, -118.245The worst part of cruising is getting off the boat - regardless of whether we've been on a 3-day cruise like this one or a 20 day cruise, we always have that "just a couple more days would be nice..." feeling.But our alarm goes off at 6am, we get up, shower, throw those last minute items into our suitcase and head for the Platinum disembarkation lounge. Because everyone must be out of their cabin by 8am, the ship is a madhouse with people cramming into every available seating space. We have a nice, quiet place to relax in the Platinum lounge. There is also coffee, juice and pastries. This cruise we decided to keep our suitcase with us instead of checking it to the pickup area. When our disembarkation number is called at 9:30, ... read more

Geo: 49.2605, -123.114At Sea - Day 1This is such a short little cruise that we decide to get up early to enjoy the whole day...get started early and make it a long day, you know. Un huh.We finally got out of bed about 10:30 and when we left our room I had quite the wonderful surprise. There were balloons and a Princess "Happy Anniversary" poster on our door. WOW! That Jeff! In a panic, I said, "but it isn't our anniversary, is it? It's the 25th, right??" Yes, it is the 25th but Jeff thought this was a nice way to do an early celebration. He was right.By now both of the restaurants serving breakfast had finished with that meal so we had to go up to the buffett. I was so groggy because of lack ... read more

Geo: 39.74, -104.992Jeff's alarm went off at 4:50am this morning; he hit the snooze button. My alarm went off at 5am this morning; I hit the snooze button. Ten minutes later Jeff's alarm went off again, closely follow by mine. All right already! We're up.... It's been ten days since we've had a vacation and, personally, I think it's time for another. Happily Jeff agrees - why else would we be playing battling snooze buttons at this ungodly hour? This vacation has a pretty funny backstory...Every year cruise ships that have been plying the Alaskan waters all summer are "repositioned" back down to LA or San Francisco for the winter cruises to Mexico and South. Repositioning cruises are short - there are even cruises of just one night - and repositioning cruises are much less expensive ... read more

Geo: 48.4644, -123.38Butchart Gardens, VictoriaSeptember 5th Did you know that Canada also has a Labor Day holiday? But I guess in their case it would be "Labour Day", eh? We didn't either and it is the same weekend as the holiday in the US. This weekend. Had we known we might have switched our sightseeing agendas between today and yesterday. Today we are going to Butchart Gardens, and with it being a holiday AND the last Saturday night of the Butchart Gardens fireworks show, we're sure to be in a crowd.We walk a few blocks from the hotel to catch the bus and we're on our way. The Butchart Gardens are built over a limestone quarry, and the area is still owned by the Butchart family. It is unbelievable. Imagine one of the biggest, most beautiful, ... read more

Geo: 48.4644, -123.38It is our last day on the Ibis...this morning we began with a nice breakfast of granola topped with the last of the blackberry goo. Delicious!We have a long way to go to get back to Oak Harbor in Victoria, and we get busy. The dinghy is brought around to the front of the boat, reloaded and tied down, the anchor is hauled in and off we go. John is at the helm and the sun comes out! The sea is calm....there is a nice breeze and it isn't raining! The sails are up but we are still motoring. After a long while of cruising along, Jeff relieves John. They are following the "rum" line. At least that's what I thought they've been saying all week; rum line. Of course, every time they say ... read more