Escorted by Joey English
8 days -May 9-16, 2009
from $995 + taxes, port fees
Day 1: EMBARK IN LOS ANGELES. Your journey to the “gem cities” on the Pacific coast begins this morning with complimentary transfer service from select Palm Springs and Inland Pass sites to the port of Los Angeles and your luxury ship, Princess Cruises’ Sapphire Princess.Once on board, unpack, familiarize yourself with your “floating hotel,” and enjoy lunch before reveling in the ship’s poolside bon voyage party at 4:00 p.m.
Day 2: SANTA BARBARA.7 a.m.-4 p.m. Claimed by Spain in 1542, when the first European set foot on the California coast, Santa Barbara today offers sun-drenched beaches, picturesque harbor, gourmet restaurants, shopping treasures, museums, galleries, award-winning wineries and historical sites. Little wonder the town is home to 5 Nobel Prize winners, and celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Laura Schlessinger, Dennis Miller, Jeff Bridges, and Carol Burnett.
Sapphire Princess
Day 3: SAN FRANCISCO. 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Come see why so many people end up leaving their hearts in this city by the Bay. It’s a place where little cable cars rise up steep hills to reveal magnificent vistas of the city below and where winding streets meander past candy-colored Victorian homes. With so many sights like Chinatown, North Beach, Ghirardelli Square, Fisherman’s Wharf, Nob Hill, Alcatraz and Golden Gate Park, you may not want to leave!
Day 4: AT SEA. Rich in amenities, Sapphire Princess, with more than 700 balcony rooms, offers a peaceful and elegant way to cruise the Pacific. Choose from an array of activity options, including spending slow tropical hours in her lounges, or relaxing on deck by the pool. At night, fine fare abounds in three refined dining rooms and specialty restaurants, followed by live entertainment in three state-of-the-art show lounges. A variety of pools, jogging track, shuffleboard, afternoon tea, a nine-hole putting course--there is so much to do on board. Take a personal enrichment class,do yoga, go duty-free shopping, check your emails at the Internet café, browse the art gallery, or relax at the world-class spa. The choice is yours! For a full description of the Sapphire Princes and her activities and amenities, click on www.princess.com
Day 5: ASTORIA, OREGON. 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Astoria , along the Columbia River, has great natural beauty and fun opportunities to learn about the state’s history and culture. Here you can explore Fort Clatsop, visit the Seaside Aquarium, and ride Astoria’s waterfront trolley. In nearby Portland, you can visit the Japanese Gardens and have lunch in bustling Pioneer Square, and in Eugeneare historic museums and the popular King Estate Winery.
Day 6: SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. 9:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Seattle sits on the slip of land between Puget Sound and Lake Washington, with the Olympic and Cascade Moutnains serving as dramatic backdrop for this oh-so-cosmopolitan city. Enjoy a cup of coffee along with the sights, smells, and sounds at the famed, open-air Pike Place Market. Soar up the futuristic Space Needle and experience the views atop this stunning landmark created for the 1962 World’s Fair.
Butchart Gardens
Day 7: VICTORIA, BC, CANADA. 8:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Roam the spacious lawns of stunning Butchart Gardens with its exotic flora, unusual topiary and exquisite fountains. Explore historic Bastion Square, the treasures of Chinatown and the many sights along the boardwalk of the Inner Harbor. Have tea at the world famous Empress Hotel.
Day 8: VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA.7:30 a.m. Vancouver, British Columbia, blends big-city sophistication with small-town charm. Time this morning to visit Stanley Park and the historic Gastown district. Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your flight to LAX, where you will be transferred to the desert and Inland Empire.
