one evening in victoria
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
one evening in victoria
Amazingly enough, our cruise puts us into Victoria only from 7 at night until midnight. Is it worth doing the Ghosts and Graveyards Tour, or would it just be better to book a great table at a great scenic restaurant? Any suggestions of the restaurant? And will any shops still be open on a Friday night?
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,121
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I hate to buy dinner out when they have all that great food on board. ;-)
I don't know what the Ghosts and Graveyards Tour involves. You don't mention what month this is in, but if there is enough light I would take a tour of Butchart Gardens if that is offered. (It is also nice to see the transition to darkness there, as fountains are lit up at night.)
Most stores should be open until 9:00 anyway.
I don't know what the Ghosts and Graveyards Tour involves. You don't mention what month this is in, but if there is enough light I would take a tour of Butchart Gardens if that is offered. (It is also nice to see the transition to darkness there, as fountains are lit up at night.)
Most stores should be open until 9:00 anyway.
#3
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 1,649
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
traveler wife, our local tourist board is always telling us what a great boon cruise passengers r to our local economy. sadly for u and other passengers the reality is the bulk of u r only given this 5 hour evening time slot which is not enough to enjoy the charms of Victoria except to walk around the inner harbour and downtown. you'll miss the royal bc museum, the art gallery of victoria, craigdarroch castle, our beautiful parks and lakes and bikeways. i believe april is correct in saying u could hop a tour to butchart garden where in the summer there is nightly free entertainment included in the admission price.
i hope u ( briefly) enjoy our charming city
AndrewDavid
ps the cruise dock is a 15 or 20 minute walk from downtown
i hope u ( briefly) enjoy our charming city
AndrewDavid
ps the cruise dock is a 15 or 20 minute walk from downtown
#5
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,011
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
sunbum1944, what a grand idea! I agree that 7-12 is scant time to do anything at all, but your idea would really do it. After all, the Empress is that big beautiful building that you first notice -- why not just head there and check it out?
I don't there's even enough time to rush through Buchart. From the friends I know who have done this, it's quite a rush to do anything in Victoria.
I don't there's even enough time to rush through Buchart. From the friends I know who have done this, it's quite a rush to do anything in Victoria.
#6
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,407
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The inner harbor area is all lit up at night and beautiful for walking around -
The Bengal Room also has a curry bar on the menu - if you are interested in dinner - but we usually just have drinks and appetizers and enjoy the ambiance
Enjoy- its a beautiful city
The Bengal Room also has a curry bar on the menu - if you are interested in dinner - but we usually just have drinks and appetizers and enjoy the ambiance
Enjoy- its a beautiful city
#7
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 2,087
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Travelerwife
As previous posters have said the downtown inner harbour area is great just to walk around. You will find so much to do there - rather than having a quick rushed trip to Butchart Gardens. Come back to Victoria and stay longer - once you have been here you will want to come back. Although we live here and close to the Inner Harbour we walk downtown most every evening in the summer enjoying the sights ourselves. There are buskers in the lower area of the harbour walk who are really good entertainers and fun to watch - the are horse drawn carriages (pricey though) We have Victoria's version on rickshaws - Kabuki Kabs - you can have a tour around town in one of those. I have always recommended the Bengal Room to tourists - a real feel for the Empress and the curry buffet is excellent but as April said - eat on board and spend you time seeing the city. The shops will all be open and its fun to just poke around in them as well. I guarantee you will find plenty to do and enjoy. The ships all run shuttle buses but it is only a 15 minute walk from the cruise terminal to the inner harbour and it is a nice walk - sidewalks and trees. Enjoy your time here.
As previous posters have said the downtown inner harbour area is great just to walk around. You will find so much to do there - rather than having a quick rushed trip to Butchart Gardens. Come back to Victoria and stay longer - once you have been here you will want to come back. Although we live here and close to the Inner Harbour we walk downtown most every evening in the summer enjoying the sights ourselves. There are buskers in the lower area of the harbour walk who are really good entertainers and fun to watch - the are horse drawn carriages (pricey though) We have Victoria's version on rickshaws - Kabuki Kabs - you can have a tour around town in one of those. I have always recommended the Bengal Room to tourists - a real feel for the Empress and the curry buffet is excellent but as April said - eat on board and spend you time seeing the city. The shops will all be open and its fun to just poke around in them as well. I guarantee you will find plenty to do and enjoy. The ships all run shuttle buses but it is only a 15 minute walk from the cruise terminal to the inner harbour and it is a nice walk - sidewalks and trees. Enjoy your time here.
Trending Topics
#9
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 2,087
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Sludick - We are going to be in Oliver in May. I thought of you when we crossed the border this time - we had a female (they've always been tougher) and she specifically asked if we had any fresh fruit or vegetables. I still don't know the answer as to what we are allowed to bring back to Canada but didn't want to ask her in case she decided to search the car looking for a stray apple!!! You will get a shock when you come here again. I can't believe how many orchards have been taken out this last winter and are now in vineyards. Its pretty but I hope we don't lose all of our orchards.
The cruise is coming up in early Sept. We are going to spend a few days in London and then fly to Copenhagen to board the ship. Can't wait - this is going to be a particular fun one. So - when are you coming back to BC?
The cruise is coming up in early Sept. We are going to spend a few days in London and then fly to Copenhagen to board the ship. Can't wait - this is going to be a particular fun one. So - when are you coming back to BC?
#10
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,011
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Better vineyards than houses, although you seem to be losing a lot of land to that as well.
We'll be in Vancouver only briefly at the end of May (5/25-26). Not certain if/when we'll make it to the Okanagan this year -- this fall we're heading to Sedona for a week and then flying directly to the Tetons & Yellowstone for a week (using up timeshare points). That plus the Alaska cruise will pretty much zero out my vacation time at work. Hopefully next May?
We'll be in Vancouver only briefly at the end of May (5/25-26). Not certain if/when we'll make it to the Okanagan this year -- this fall we're heading to Sedona for a week and then flying directly to the Tetons & Yellowstone for a week (using up timeshare points). That plus the Alaska cruise will pretty much zero out my vacation time at work. Hopefully next May?
#11
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 2,087
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi again Sludick - If you do the Okanagan next May we should get together. We will keep in touch but in the meantime enjoy all of your other travels. Sedona is beautiful in the fall. We usually make it a stopoff spot on our travels between here and Tucson.
#13
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,090
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I believe the reason the cruise ships stop in Victoria has to do with some crazy law that won't allow you to have gambling on a boat if it only stops in US waters. So, they throw in Victoria and voila! The cruise line can make money from gambling.
If you haven't been to Victoria, I'd hang out, eat, and enjoy the town.
If you haven't been to Victoria, I'd hang out, eat, and enjoy the town.
#14
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 2,087
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sludick - lunch sounds great. I will do my research I saw a sign for a new winery with a restaurant I think. I will definitely check it out. Right now I am going crazy trying to find tours in all of our ports. I will be wishing we had more sea days to rest up in between. In the meantime enjoy Alaska and the cruise.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Jason_G_Victoria
Cruises
6
Jul 12th, 2015 11:17 AM