Victoria, B.C.

[Italy52]

For those that have sailed the Alaska itinerary that includes Victoria, B.C., did you take a Princess tour in Victoria? If so, what did you take? Did you feel it was worth the money spent? Or, would you say, save your money and tour the town on your own? Ship is only in port from 7PM-12M. Thanks in advance for your replies.

[cdnguy]

How about taking a 'topless' British style two decker bus tour of the city. These originate at the harbour beside the provincial government buildings in downtown Victoria. It's an excellent tour of the city and surrounding area.

Perhaps someone fome Victoria or Vancouver can give you more details.

BTW the harbour is a 10 min walk from the pier, at least the pier we docked at.

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[Druke I]

There is a great Provincial Museum in Victoria, for those who like that kind of thing.

We'll be in Victoria Sunday 5-16-04, on Sun Princess, and I plan to go to the museum, while my wife and her sis go out to Butchart Gardens.

I don't know its hours, but friends in BC have assured me it is open on Sundays.

Michael

[mii]

Every time that we have been in Victoria there has always been a bus to take us at a stop in front of the Empress Hotel. There you are centrally located near the parliment bldg, downtown where there is a vast amount of shops and you can even take a boat ride (a little taxi boat ride) around the harbour which is right there.


Marilyn

[Beryl]

If it offered do the tour of the Butchart Gardens. They are absolutely beautiful!

Cruising! It's like being in the Garden of Eatin'!

[cruznliz]

We were there last summer on the Star. It was NOT walking distance from the pier to the downtown. There were numerous shuttle buses for $5 roundtrip (I think). It let us off in front of the Empress Hotel. We just walked around the hotel and the waterfront for a couple of hours. It was a Friday night and there was a great deal of action. Many street performers! It was great! I'd love to go back and stay there sometime. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

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[geoherb]

We stayed on the Star Princess last summer when it docked in Victoria. I did not think there was enough time to do anything on our own--plus we did not want to miss a meal. The dining room (second seating traditional) was 75 percent empty that night. We had been to Victoria a couple of years earlier and stayed for three days. If you haven't been before, I'd suggest doing one of the excursions. Butchart Gardens would be my choice, but another one might appeal more to you.

[Italy52]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, I really appreciate the feedback.

[tadjr]

We walked into town last week and it took about 20 minutes strolling and stopping along the way to enjoy the sights. I guess it depends on how well you walk and how long you have there (we had 12 hours). Thats all we did in town. Walked around and looked and then walked south thru the park and back along the water on the south side (rocks and hills) to the ship.

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[cdnguy]

cruznliz: It was NOT walking distance from the pier to the downtown..
It was for us. As tadjr said, maybe 20 minutes max.

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[pg.]

Well I live here, and I would have to agree the peir is NOT ten minutes( walking) from the inner harbour( unless you are very young and fit) .
I would take a taxi or shuttle or whatever( the pedi cabs are fun, bike pulling a rickshaw with " driver" giving a little tour on the way to town) .
Butchard Gardens are worth seeing ( even if you aren't a big "garden fan") but as pointed out the Inner Harbour is fun to wander around, the Empress is right there( go in and have a drink in the Bengal Lounge( very British India Raj theme) and check out street performers , also museum is excellant. Government street is at "top" of harbour and lots of shops to wander through, the street life is really fun, the view of the Parliment buildings is great( especially after dark when they are lit up) , there is a Totem pole park ( small) right next to museum, so really you don't need to spend a lot on a tour, just get to the inner harbour!

Exception is Butchard gardens, they are great. Just for reference admission to them is about twenty dollars Canadain, plus you would need to take a bus or taxi to get there , and it is about twenty minutes from town so a taxi would not be cheap. Tehre are the double decker ( English sytl) buses that sit in front of the Empress that do tours there , but I am not sure what they charge,taking the ships tour would probaly be easiest since the buses pick you up and deliver you back to the pier.

There is also the Tally Ho tours( horse drawn carridges that seat about 30)) they will take you along the waterfront and through Beacon Hill park, they are very popular and also run out ot the inner harbour.They are not very exspensive and worth it. And lastly there is always the horse drawn carridges( that seat two to four) they are most exspensive but you do get alot of attention and the guides are very knowlegable .

Victoria is very pretty, so what ever you decide you will most likely wish you could stay longer!

[Lynda90]

we were there two years ago on a 4-night cruise. We made our own reservation from home to have high tea at the Empress Hotel. It was much cheaper than the Empress tea tour the ship offered. It was great and I'd do it again. We walked around from there and enjoyed the area. We took a bus to and from the pier.

[S&T]

pg. - Are there street performers out in the evenings this time of year? I'm guessing there are more during the summer but I'll be in Victoria next week. Just wondering if it will be worth making the trip to the inner harbor. I visit Victoria every few years so I would be mainly interested in walking around and people watching. Thanks for any info.

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[pg.]

Absolutely, BUT, it is weather dependent, if it's rainy( which it hasn't been) forget it. We have tourist year round so yes, the street performers are out!

[tadjr]

There were street shows last week in the afternoon. Not sure how late at night they were there, but if a ship is in town, I'm sure there will be "shows". Saw an organ player, violinist, guitarist, fire eater and a couple others that we didnt bother to stop at.

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[Lony]

Hi,

We were just in Victoria a couple of weeks back. We stayed downtown (near the Empress) and biked to Butchart Gardens and back. There was a route map which I took off the internet for the directions. If biking is not your style, you can also take a bus there. There was a couple at our B+B that did so. They said the bus leaves from the Greyhound station (right downtown) and costs $4.00 each way. The entry to Butchart Gardens is $19. As always, the gardens were beautiful. If you have enough time, it's worth it to go to the Gardens AND walk around downtown. The museum is terrific as well and this summer will have an exhibit of Egyptian artifacts that sounds really interesting. There are websites for the gardens and the museum on-line to check out if you're interested.

Leona

Sun Viking Jan. '89, Westerdam Aug. '89, Star Princess Nov. '92,
Nile Romance Sept. '97, Sun Princess Apr. '01, '03

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[Beryl]

Unfortunately Italy 52 is only going to be in Victoria for a few evening hours. I think it is such a pity that more time isn't alloted to this beautiful city on Princess Alaska cruises. They are missing a true gem!

Cruising! It's like being in the Garden of Eatin'!

[Richard Stein]

I agree with Beryl: do the Butchart gardens. They can be seen at night. they have installed hundreds of colored lights and the gardens look better at night than during the day. Harder to take pictures thought. I am on the 6/13 Sapphire Princes it get in at 5 PM and leaves at midnight. Just enough time to see gardens. A shame the Diamond does not get in earlier.

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Mercury-2001, Norwegian Sky-2000, Horizon-2000, Ryndam-1999, Grand Princess-1999, Westerdam-1998, Grand Princess-1998, Oriania-1997
1985-1996-3-HAL, 1-RCCL, 2-NCL, 11-Princess, 1-Royal, 1-Cunard

[Lony]

For hours of admission - see butchartgardens.com They are not open late all season so depending when you're there they might be. Days are really long in June so it would still be light at 10 or so (it's already light until 9:30 or so). If it's only being seen by artificial light, the whole garden is not lit up so not quite as much to visit.

Leona

Sun Viking Jan. '89, Westerdam Aug. '89, Star Princess Nov. '92,
Nile Romance Sept. '97, Sun Princess Apr. '01, '03

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[srphnx]

Thanks we were wondering what to do there, I love the help you get and get-to-give on these boards.

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