Luxury Cruise & Travel Inc
  • Home
  • Cruises
    • River Cruises >
      • Comparing River Cruise Lines
      • USA River Cruise Comparison
    • Adventure Cruises >
      • Cruise line comparison >
        • Ocean Cruises >
          • Premium Ship Comparison
  • Blog
  • Travel FAQ
    • Honeymoons >
      • Destinations
  • Contact Us

Our blog

Victoria, Canada, a great addition to any Alaska Cruise

8/1/2018

0 Comments

 
If you are going on an Alaska cruise, chances are you are leaving from Vancouver,Canada, or Seattle, Washington. From either of these departure points it is easy to get to Victoria, and certainly worth a visit.
From Seattle to Victoria,  hop aboard the Black Ball Ferry Line at the cruise port.  From Victoria to Vancouver, use the BC Ferries to get to the Vancouver port.  In fact it is possible to fly in to Seattle, never rent a car & get to Victoria, and on to Vancouver  using these, and other services. From Seattle Airport there are 3 ways to get to the cruise port, a taxi around $40, a shuttle currently $22 per person, or the metro & a taxi, as the metro drops you off 5 blocks from the pier. The pier and downtown are in the same area.
This article by The Seattle Times is an excellent rundown on the transportation options between Seattle, Vancouver & Victoria.
Important to keep in mind is that Canada has a different currency than the US, and you will need to exchange funds to use in Canada.  While some Canadian stores & restaurants will take US dollars, busses and ferries usually do not, so better to be prepared.
The ferry from Seattle to Victoria is a short trip, and during high season there are up to 4 trips a day.  Downtown Victoria is a compact, walkable city.  Be prepared with a jacket, even during the summer, as it can get chilly in the evening. If you are Traveling on from Victoria on to Vancouver to board a cruise, you can even include a tour of Butchart Gardens with transportation on to Vancouver using Prince of Wales.
A public bus makes the trip to Butchart Gardens and this website tells you everything you need to know about what flowers are blooming, the cost of admission, the dining options available & of course how to get there. Admission is currently $30.20 for adults, and between $3 and $15.10 for children, plus taxes and fees, all in Canadian funds. The amazing thing about the gardens, is how widely different the flowers are from season to season.
No matter how you get there, be sure to schedule some time in to visit this beautiful gardens, it is well worth a visit.
0 Comments

2 great reasons to visit Victoria, BC

3/11/2018

1 Comment

 
​Discover the beauty of  Victoria, British Columbia at Butchart Gardens & The Fairmont
Picture
The harbor front in Victoria, BC
​Talk about amazing gardens and most people immediately think of England. I confess I did too before discovering Victoria, Canada. This charming island off the coast of Vancouver is a complete departure from Vancouver’s big city vibe.
Picture
Photo of the iconic Fairmont in Victoria, BC, from the Fairmont website
​Waiting to be discovered, the island beckons you to slow down and enjoy a while.
Stroll around the compact downtown. Boats bob on their moorings, and bees buzz around the baskets of flowers just dripping with color that hang on every light pole.  

​The iconic Fairmont Empress Hotel, built in 1904, dominates the harbor front.   A National Historic Site of Canada, this chateau style hotel was once part of the Canadian Pacific Hotels. During the summer, sip tea with scones and clotted cream in the Tea Lobby, reservations recommended two weeks in advance.
Picture
Photo of Afternoon Tea from the Fairmont Victoria website
​Not far from downtown is world famous Butchart Gardens.
http://www.butchartgardens.com Designed to be visited more than once, every season is completely different. Open at 9am, closing hours vary seasonally.
Picture
Butchart Gardens in the summer
​Once an abandoned rocks quarry, and cement factory, today the only surviving part that can be seen is a tall chimney from a long abandoned kiln. In the early 1900’s workers moved soil by horse and cart to the bottom of the quarry one load at a time. This was the beginning of the bountiful gardens we see today. Now crisscrossed by trails, and awash with blooms, rooms of color each in a different style, await your perusal.
Picture
​The tulips and hyacinths herald springs arrival. Enjoy the fragrance of thousands of flowers blooming in unison. Rhododendrons provide a backdrop for the tiny grape hyacinths, and daffodils under a canopy flowering cherries.
​Summer brings out the mesmerizing begonias. Saucer size blossoms, in pastel colors, more reminiscent of a camellias with whisper soft petals. Famous for their blue poppies, enjoy peonies, hydrangeas, delphiniums and trellis’ covered with climbing roses. Summer also brings live music to the gardens.
 
​In autumn leaves turn from green to red, and the highlights are the flaming Japanese Maples, chrysanthemums and beautiful dahlias.
​When winter holidays approach, the gardens are bedecked with thousands of twinkling lights.
​Like rooms in a house, different garden string together to form the whole of Butchart Gardens. Benches invite you to sit, while fountains gurgle and slash, in the background.
​If you are going on an Alaska cruise chances are you are leaving from Vancouver, Canada or Seattle Washington. From either of these departure points it is easy to get to Victoria, and definitely worth a visit.
​From Seattle, hop aboard the Black Ball Ferry Line www.cohoferry.com/main/
During peak season there are up to four trips a day. From Vancouver to Victoria use the BC Ferries www.bcferries.com. Bring a jacket; even in the summer evenings can get chilly. Public busses makes the trip from downtown Victoria to the gardens as well as local tours. 
Picture
Light poles have beautiful flower displays.
​No matter what your plans, take the time visit to Victoria, Canada and Butchart Gardens.
1 Comment

    Linda Carter
    ​
    ​

    Passionate about travel & sharing our experiences. We  love helping make your dream trip a reality.

    Life is Short. Take the trip!
    ​

    Archives

    May 2019
    August 2018
    March 2018

    Categories

    All
    Alaska
    Alhambra
    AmaLegros
    Arezzo
    Bali
    Barcelona
    Bruges
    Budapest
    Butchart Gardens
    Canada
    Caribbean
    Cherbourg
    Chianti
    Conflans
    Danube
    Florence
    France
    Frequent Flier Points
    Greve
    Hawaii
    Hong Kong
    Hornfluer
    Italy
    Lake Como
    Lake-garda
    Les-andelys
    Les-andelys
    Main
    Maui
    Music
    Normandy
    Oahu
    Paris
    Passau
    Passports
    Pompeii
    Rhine
    Rome
    Rouen
    Russia
    Sirmione
    Sorrento
    South America
    Spain
    Stockholm
    Thailand
    Tivoli
    Transatlantic
    Turkey
    Tuscan Village
    Varenna
    Veranna
    Verona
    Vienna
    Vina Del Mar
    Virgin Gorda
    Volterra

    RSS Feed


Florida Office:
154 Mill Creek Rd
Crawfordville, FL 32327
850-290-4058

Fl #TI56394
Picture

Texas Office:
21175 Tomball Parkway
Suite 149
Houston, TX 77070
832-390-1599

Managed by Voyager Websites
  • Home
  • Cruises
    • River Cruises >
      • Comparing River Cruise Lines
      • USA River Cruise Comparison
    • Adventure Cruises >
      • Cruise line comparison >
        • Ocean Cruises >
          • Premium Ship Comparison
  • Blog
  • Travel FAQ
    • Honeymoons >
      • Destinations
  • Contact Us

Sign up for updates!

Enter your email to get updates straight to your inbox.