One of the biggest ships at sea will cruise into Vancouver en route from Los Angeles just after spring break.
In 2018, Norwegian Cruise Line's (NCL) Norwegian Bliss carried over 4,000 passengers into Canada Place terminal, which made it the largest cruise ship to ever dock in Vancouver at the time.
While other large vessels have sailed into local waters since that time, it is still one of the few behemoths scheduled to make its way under the Lions Gate Bridge during low tide.
While the cruise departs during spring break on Sunday, March 31, it isn't slated to return until Friday, April 5. If you're bringing school-aged children in tow, they'll miss four days of classes; Monday, April 1 is a holiday for Metro Vancouver schools.
But this is one of the best ships sailing into Vancouver for families who want to have onboard activities for their children.
The Bliss boasts an impressive resume of games, sports facilities, and other amenities. For example, the ship holds the record for the "longest race track at sea" and offers other specialty activities such as laser tag and a mini-golf course.
NCL is a also favourite among cruisers who enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere on board, without sacrificing quality and style. There's no dress code or scheduled dining times but guests can still enjoy elegant dinners in specialty restaurants.
Norwegian Bliss sailing to Vancouver
The statuesque ship will depart sunny Los Angeles on Sunday, March 31 at 4 p.m., arriving in San Francisco the following day. Passengers will disembark at 2:30 p.m. and have until 9 p.m. to enjoy sightseeing in the popular city.
The ship will spend a day at sea on Tuesday, April 2 before making its way into Victoria on Wednesday, April 3. Passengers have from 1 p.m. until 11 p.m. to enjoy a full day in Victoria.
The ship will sail overnight and arrive in Vancouver on Thursday, April 4 at 11 p.m. Passengers disembark the following day at Canada Place.
| Date | Port | Arrive | Depart |
| Sunday, March 31 | Los Angeles (San Pedro), CA | 4:00 p.m. | |
| Monday, April 1 | San Francisco, CA | 2:30 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. |
| Tuesday, April 2 | At Sea | ||
| Wednesday, April 3 | Victoria, B.C., Canada | 1:00 p.m. | 11:00 p.m. |
| Thursday, April 4 | Vancouver, B.C., Canada | 11:00 p.m. | |
| Friday, April 5 | Vancouver, B.C., Canada | Disembark |
Booking the cruise to Vancouver
The five-night Pacific Coastal cruise from Los Angeles costs $2,038.28 for an interior stateroom for two people. This price works out to $1019.14 per person, which is just over $200 per diem (see slide two). The cruise is offered at 50 per cent off right now.
Not only does that cost include your transportation on a beautiful ship, but it also includes meals, entertainment, snacks, and lodging.
Prices for ocean view and balcony staterooms cost a bit more but will offer stunning views of the California coast. Seeing the Golden Gate Bridge from your private balcony offers a lavish experience at a bargain.
The cruise line is also offering four free offers for its "Free at Sea" promotion. The offer includes the unlimited open bar perk, which means you can enjoy all the spirits and cocktails, wines, draft beer, juice, and pop for all guests 21 years or older (valued at US$1,400).
The promotion also includes free meals at the specialty dining for guests one and two, as well as a WIFI package (valued at US$130). NCL also includes US$50 per excursion per stateroom.
For folks who haven't cruised, the WIFI packages can work out to be quite a bit of money. If you plan on checking emails, logging into social media, or surfing the web on board, you'll need the WIFI package. If you plan on having drinks, they are not regularly included on almost any regular cruise line and end up being quite expensive.
While you don't have to pay for the drink or specialty dining packages, you must pay for gratuities. They are already factored into this price (see slide two for price breakdown).
Booking flights from Vancouver to Los Angeles
The cruise departs at 5 p.m. and won't wait for stragglers. However, there is a one-way flight that departs from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) at 7:30 a.m. and arrives at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) at 10:30 a.m. The flight is a steal at only $94 including all taxes and fees.
A word of caution: flying into a city the day a cruise is scheduled to leave could mean you could possibly miss your cruise. If your flight is delayed, you may have to travel to San Francisco and get onto the ship there the following day. The safest option is to spend a night in LA and enjoy the world-class destination before you leave. You may even wish to spend a couple of days exploring the Hollywood Hills and soaking in the sunshine in Santa Monica.
The price of hotels in the Los Angeles area varies, ranging from just over $100 to the thousands.
