Cruise Journal

07/28/2025 05:00 AM

Our last port of call brought us to Victoria, with its gardens, waterfront, and lively streets. After so many days surrounded by Alaska’s wild beauty, it was a change of pace to stroll through a city full of color and charm. When our trip was booked, we didn't consider Victoria at all. "Why do we have to stop there?" I asked myself. But, this ended up being a fun day. It reminded me of a less tainted version of Portland, Oregon. I’ll let the photos share the highlights of our time here.

07/28/2025 05:12 AM

I'm up early just before the sun comes up over the eastern horizon. There's the Canadian coastline. Copyright © 2025 Tim under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License.

07/28/2025 06:00 AM

We set our clocks ahead one hour as we approach Victoria, British Columbia. It's back to Pacific time from Alaska time. Copyright © 2025 Internet under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License.

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As the ship approached, some groups of birds would scurry out of the way, making a very interesting sound. Copyright © 2025 Tim under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License.

07/28/2025 12:04 PM

A boring channel lineup on the TV. I never did find any baseball on ESPN and ESPN2. They only had cricket, rugby, jai alai, sports movies, and talk. Copyright © 2025 Tim under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License.

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07/28/2025 04:00 PM

Finally! Boots on the ground on Canadian soil. My wife wasn't feeling well and we had no plans, so I decided to hike into town. We'd meet downtown later. Copyright © 2025 Tim under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License.

07/28/2025 04:38 PM

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07/28/2025 04:51 PM

My phone automatically detected it was in Canada, but it didn't work very well. I couldn't call or text my wife. So I ducked into Milano Victoria Coffee Shop for a french vanilla latte and free wi-fi. Copyright © 2025 Tim under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License.

07/28/2025 05:23 PM

This was the street into downtown that I took. Up the street traffic was blocked out. Nice. Copyright © 2025 Tim under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License.

07/28/2025 05:27 PM

While sitting on a bench waiting for my wife, I took a picture of t-shirts in store windows. Copyright © 2025 Tim under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License.

07/28/2025 05:27 PM

While sitting on a bench waiting for my wife, I took a picture of t-shirts in store windows. Copyright © 2025 Tim under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License.

07/28/2025 06:13 PM

07/28/2025 06:20 PM

Fish and chips. Very good. Very huge. I ended up taking some back to the fridge in our cabin. Copyright © 2025 Tim under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License.

07/28/2025 06:20 PM

07/28/2025 06:52 PM

The world famous Mile 0 marker in Victoria, B.C. At the edge of Beacon Hill Park in Victoria, B.C., a simple stone marker declares “Mile 0”—the official western terminus of the Trans-Canada Highway, a ribbon of road that stretches nearly 8,000 km to Newfoundland. It’s a modest monument with outsized meaning: a place where adventurers pose before heading east, where a statue honors Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope that was meant to end here, and where ultrarunner Al Howie once completed a record-setting cross-country trek. Framed by ocean views, gardens, and wandering peacocks, Mile 0 is both a beginning and an end—an unassuming yet powerful symbol of journeys, dreams, and the sweep of a country. Copyright © 2025 Tim under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License.

07/28/2025 06:53 PM

The world famous Terry Fox statue in Victoria B.C. Just steps from Mile 0 in Victoria, the bronze statue of Terry Fox captures him mid-stride on his prosthetic leg, eyes fixed east toward the journey he began but could not finish. Unveiled in 2005, it stands as a powerful reminder of his Marathon of Hope and the enduring courage of a young man who ran thousands of miles to fight cancer and inspire a nation. Copyright © 2025 Tim under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License.

07/28/2025 06:56 PM

Beacon Hill Park in Victoria, B.C.—a sprawling 200-acre green space right by the waterfront where, yes, colorful peacocks actually wander the lawns, strut across paths, and sometimes even pose for photos like they own the place. It’s a mix of manicured gardens, natural meadows, ponds, and cultural landmarks (including the Mile 0 marker and Terry Fox statue), all wrapped in ocean views, making it one of Victoria’s most beloved and delightfully quirky public parks. Copyright © 2025 Tim under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License.

07/28/2025 06:57 PM

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On the gardens of Government House in Victoria, a bronze statue of Sir James Douglas—the “Father of British Columbia” and first governor of the colony—stands proudly on a rocky rise, unveiled in 2012 to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee, a lasting tribute to the man who helped shape the province’s earliest history. Copyright © 2025 Tim under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License.

07/28/2025 07:11 PM

Government House in Victoria. We were told the Governor might even be in there. I was going to go knock, but decided against. I can only perform so many high jinx per cruise. Copyright © 2025 Tim under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License.

07/28/2025 07:12 PM

07/28/2025 07:16 PM

Just a short stroll from Government House rises Craigdarroch Castle, a flamboyant Victorian-era mansion built in the 1890s by coal baron Robert Dunsmuir. With its turrets, stained-glass windows, and grand woodwork, the castle feels like a step into another world, telling stories of wealth, ambition, and family drama. Today it’s open to the public, offering sweeping views of Victoria and an intimate glimpse of life in a bygone age—equal parts architectural gem and local legend. Copyright © 2025 Tim under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License.

07/28/2025 07:17 PM

07/28/2025 07:27 PM

Perched high above the city in Saanich, Mt. Tolmie Park offers a breathtaking 360-degree view of Greater Victoria. From its rocky summit you can gaze down on downtown’s harbor, watch the cruise ships gleam at Ogden Point, trace the curves of the Saanich Peninsula, and on a clear day spot Mount Baker and the Gulf Islands beyond. Unlike the seaside strolls of Beacon Hill, Mt. Tolmie is all about the big picture—a quick drive or a short hike that rewards you with a sweeping panorama of city, sea, and mountains all at once. Copyright © 2025 Tim under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License.

07/28/2025 07:27 PM

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At the summit of Mt. Tolmie Park, a circular orientation table points the way—engraved with compass directions and arrows to distant landmarks like Mount Baker, the Gulf Islands, and the Olympic Mountains. Stand over it, line up the horizon, and suddenly the sweeping view becomes a map you can read with your own eyes, turning the panorama into both a sightseeing moment and a geography lesson. Copyright © 2025 Tim under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License.

07/28/2025 07:31 PM

At the summit of Mt. Tolmie Park, a circular orientation table points the way—engraved with compass directions and arrows to distant landmarks like Mount Baker, the Gulf Islands, and the Olympic Mountains. Stand over it, line up the horizon, and suddenly the sweeping view becomes a map you can read with your own eyes, turning the panorama into both a sightseeing moment and a geography lesson. Copyright © 2025 Tim under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License.

07/28/2025 07:32 PM

At the summit of Mt. Tolmie Park, a circular orientation table points the way—engraved with compass directions and arrows to distant landmarks like Mount Baker, the Gulf Islands, and the Olympic Mountains. Stand over it, line up the horizon, and suddenly the sweeping view becomes a map you can read with your own eyes, turning the panorama into both a sightseeing moment and a geography lesson. Copyright © 2025 Tim under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License.

07/28/2025 07:44 PM

Tucked into the heart of downtown, Victoria’s Chinatown is the oldest in Canada and second-oldest in North America, a compact maze of history, flavors, and color. Once a refuge for gold rush dreamers and railroad workers, today it’s a lively mix of markets, restaurants, and heritage buildings, anchored by the iconic Gate of Harmonious Interest. The narrow Fan Tan Alley—once notorious for gambling dens—is now packed with tiny shops and boutiques, making a stroll here feel like stepping through time, where every lantern and brick whispers stories of resilience, culture, and community. Copyright © 2025 Tim under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License.

07/28/2025 07:44 PM

Tucked into the heart of downtown, Victoria’s Chinatown is the oldest in Canada and second-oldest in North America, a compact maze of history, flavors, and color. Once a refuge for gold rush dreamers and railroad workers, today it’s a lively mix of markets, restaurants, and heritage buildings, anchored by the iconic Gate of Harmonious Interest. The narrow Fan Tan Alley—once notorious for gambling dens—is now packed with tiny shops and boutiques, making a stroll here feel like stepping through time, where every lantern and brick whispers stories of resilience, culture, and community. Copyright © 2025 Tim under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License.

07/28/2025 07:44 PM

Tucked into the heart of downtown, Victoria’s Chinatown is the oldest in Canada and second-oldest in North America, a compact maze of history, flavors, and color. Once a refuge for gold rush dreamers and railroad workers, today it’s a lively mix of markets, restaurants, and heritage buildings, anchored by the iconic Gate of Harmonious Interest. The narrow Fan Tan Alley—once notorious for gambling dens—is now packed with tiny shops and boutiques, making a stroll here feel like stepping through time, where every lantern and brick whispers stories of resilience, culture, and community. Copyright © 2025 Tim under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License.

07/28/2025 07:47 PM

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07/28/2025 09:00 PM

We had a good time in Victoria, but Tammy wasn't feeling her best. Upon return to the ship, she took a COVID test, and it was positive. Argh! She called medical and self-reported. They told her to quarantine in the cabin for 24 hours. It’s time to share a very small space and roll some dice!

Day 9 — Victoria, Canada — Port Schedule: 3:00 PM - 11:59 PM