News & Expert Advice

Vancouver Shore Excursion: sinking ship makes a lovely evening

It’s been 100 years since the Titanic hit an iceberg and sank in the North Atlantic—killing some 1,517 passengers. Among them were several of the world’s richest men, and, of course, a boatload of passengers with far-less money in their pockets but equally interesting stories to tell.

Titanic: A New Musical, opened on Broadway in 1997. And while it’s not really “new” anymore, and you already know how the story ends, the show is being produced in Vancouver’s Stanley Park, outdoors at Theatre Under the Stars through August 17. There are generally tickets available at the door.

To me, this is the perfect shore excursion for gay cruise passengers—if you’re not terribly concerned about your ship hitting an iceberg and sinking in Alaska (it hasn’t happened yet, although a Holland America ship did hit an iceberg in 2011 with no major damage). And the cruise lines themselves have, in my experience, often had a photo backdrop of the Titanic grand staircase available.

In my opinion, Titanic, the musical, does a far superior job of telling the doomed liner’s story and shedding light on a handful of passengers than the James Cameron film did (although I’m a fan of that, too).

If you’re traveling through Vancouver before August 17 during Alaska cruise season 2012, check out Theatre Under the Stars.

Note: Titanic plays in rotation with The Music Man on alternating nights.

            Disclaimer: As is customary in the travel writing industry, the author was provided complimentary tickets to Titanic. But he liked it so much he went again, and paid his own way.