The final night of a cruise is a melancholy affair. It is your final dining experience with those who shared your table. It is time to pack your bag or bags. For me, I was able to skip the process of setting my bag in the corridor by 11:00pm for the crew to pick up and store somewhere in the bowels of the ship. My carry-on only load meant I was able to depart the ship "independently" and that means skipping a bit of hassle as all the other passengers had to find and reclaim their bags on the pier.
We did, as the Captain promised, arrive on time
. Vancouver, a beautiful city, was covered by clouds after having hosted torrential rains and a severe thunderstorm the evening before. With the Amsterdam behind us, we maneuvered into position at the pier and, after I partook of a final breakfast at the Windjammer Restaurant on deck eleven, I left the ship for the final time on this cruise getting only a cursory glance from Canadian Immigration and Customs officials.
Royal Caribbean had offered a "Motorcoach Airport Transfer" for only $37 per person but I skipped it to see what was available at the port. A lovely 16 passenger coach beckoned at $15 per person. It whisked me the YVR, the Vancouver International Airport, on a thirty minute journey.
In Vancouver, travelers to the United States clear U.S. Customs and Immigration while still in Canada. My "Global Pass" credentials meant that I was able to skip the lines and scan my passport and present my fingerprints at a computer kiosk to speed my reentry into the United States of America.
No first class upgrades were available from Delta as I checked in but the flights are not nearly as lengthy returning to Kansas City because Radiance had transported me 1,850 miles closer to home over the past week. Delta 1659 from Vancouver to Minneapolis/St. Paul is just over three hours. I layover at MSP for an hour and a half and then board Delta 5725 to Kansas City for the hour and a half final leg. If all goes as planned, I will arrive at MCI at 9:18pm, recover my car from my friends at the Marriott and drive to the Plaza and home.
Homeward Bound
Friday, September 06, 2013
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Comments

2025-02-16
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Matt & Donna Clark
2013-09-08
Hey Paul, hope you enjoyed your cruise. Donna and myself are moving to Calgary and I will be travelling the states with my work. I might call on you for that beer you promised!
Take care.