British Columbia's coastal metropolis, Vancouver is a rich blend of cultures - beginning with its English founders through 20th-century westward migration of other Canadians and a post-WWII European influx, to the arrival of Chinese vacating Hong Kong before its handover. 

A moderate climate lets residents enjoy the outdoors. They roll and stroll through a cityscape of glass-walled skyscrapers on the harbor, tree-lined residential neighborhoods and quirky communities. 

Locals call Vancouver the California of Canada, not only because of its laidback pace but also because it is North America's third-largest movie-production center.

Your ship will dock at Canada Place, a landmark with its five sail-shaped towers. The city's lush jewel is Stanley Park, which includes the 60,000 animal Vancouver Aquarium. The park is about 1,000 acres of lush greenery, the setting for picnics, cycling and jogging - just right to stretch your legs after being aboard ship. North America's second-largest Chinatown is here, with a museum, night market and Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden.

Highlights
• Stanley Park Granville IslandCapilano Suspension Bridge
• Gastown (where the city was founded in the 1860s)
• Chinatown
• Museum of Anthropology (excellent history of the native people)
• Vancouver Art Gallery
• Skyride tram up Grouse Mountain

Tourism Vancouver Tourist Info Centre
200 Burrard St, Vancouver, Canada
Tel: (+1) 604 966 3260.
Website: www.tourismvancouver.com

Canada's third most-populous city has high-end stores, chains and a selection of boutiques and one-off shops focused on local designers and artists. The High Street is Robson Street; shopping stretches a couple of blocks on either side of Robson from Hornby to Bute streets. Yaletown is a hip enclave of specialty shops and cafes. Start at the corner of Davie and Hamilton streets and head north on Hamilton. Trendy Granville Island, once an industrial district, has been gentrified into eating and drinking spots, boutiques, a fresh market and artists' studio-galleries.

Artisan cheeses and baked goods are basics on Granville Island as well as in fancy restaurants around town, along with traditional cured meats, local fruits and veggies, the improving wines of British Columbia, and lots of Pacific Northwest seafood -- salmon, halibut, crab, shellfish and frog legs.

Vancouver's cruise-ship season is generally late spring through summer, with mild to warm temperatures with occasional rainsqualls. There is seldom snow in the city in the winter, but just across the Lions Gate Bridge is access to a ski slope on Grouse Mountain.

British Columbia

GMT - 8 (Pacific Standard Time); (GMT - 7 from first Sunday in April to last Sunday in October).

Canadian Dollar (C$) = 100 cents.

English and French.

Close to Canada's southwestern border with the U.S.

About 578,000 in the city, 2.3-million in the metropolitan area.

Canada is a constitutional monarchy.

Majority are Anglican, Roman Catholic and other Christian denominations.

Vancouver is a casual. Expect to shake hands upon meeting a business acquaintance. Coat and tie for men, pant suit or darker colors for women are standard business dress. Smoking is banned in all public places.

Tipping: is usually not included on a bill; 15% for wait staff is customary, $1-$3 to taxi drivers.