It was August, and the weather was great on both coasts. After one night in Baltimore, followed by three in Seattle, it was time to make our way from Seattle to Victoria, B.C.
There were a few choices for passage. Although, a seaplane sounded interesting, I doubted Won’t Run had enough meds to ever make that trip! I’d heard that Victoria Clipper was the scenic and upscale way to go. Having researched this in detail (as I have a tendency to do), I liked the idea that it set sail from a pier in downtown Seattle (which we could walk to from our hotel) and that it sailed directly to Inner Harbor, Victoria. It sounded like the perfect choice. It was!
Our Boat!
We booked on an 8:30 am boat, and were told that boarding begins an hour earlier. We left our beloved Hotel Monaco at 7 am and arrived at Pier 67 at 7:30 am. We stood on the line to pick up/ buy the tickets. It moved quickly and orderly.
A short line with clear instructions!
The counter at Clipper Vacations
The waiting area.
We chose to take the Victoria Clipper only one way, as we were continuing on to to Vancouver after a one night stay in Victoria. Clipper Vacations offered many other interesting options, such as round-trip day or overnight sightseeing trips as well as whale-watching trips.
We took seats on the upper level. Safety and purchase announcements were made.
You could buy duty-free items, and you could buy meals and beverages on board. Only credit cards were allowed, with one exception: you could buy anti-nausea pills for 25 cents cash!
hey, that’s me!
Menu
It’s 5 o’clock somewhere!
Since we were headed to Canada, we were required to fill out custom forms (and go through Canadian Passport control and customs upon entry).
Canadian Customs Declaration Form
The day was beautiful and the three-hour ride was smooth and scenic. We pulled out of Seattle Harbor, and enjoyed a three-hour cruise through Puget Sound and into the Strait of Juan de Fuca and eventually arriving at Victoria’s Inner Harbour.
The course of the Victoria Clipper
What a perfect day. Here are some assorted photos I took along the way:
This was a special day! I highly recommend a ride on the Victoria Clipper. Next time, I’d really like to see some of the islands or go on a whale-watch!
(Disclosure: I paid a reduced media rate for this trip).
A New York frequent flyer who elegantly combines her passions for worldwide travel, running a gazillion marathons all over the globe and staying fit ... without sacrificing her fancy for good wine and food.
You were luckier than we were when we did this many years ago. The choppy water made me terribly seasick but Victoria is worth it!