Baby Beluga in the deep blue sea,
Swim so wild and you swim so free.
Heaven above and the sea below,
And a little white whale on the go.

Despite the wonderful lyrics in the "Baby Beluga" song by Raffi, newborns aren't really white. They start out slate gray to reddish brown, and only turn white when they reach adulthood. To see for yourself, head to the Vancouver Aquarium. A three-month-old, still unnamed beluga calf was born in June and is now holding court in Canada's largest aquarium.  

A short walk from Stanley Park and the aquarium, the Renaissance Vancouver Hotel Harbourside is set along Coal Harbor and near the historic Gastown district.  Through October 31, the hotel is offering a "Sea-It-All Family Package" with rates ranging from $299-439CAD, depending on room type.  Here's what the web site says: "Boasting a complimentary trip to the famed Vancouver Aquarium, this family package provides access to one of the area's top attractions!"

But is it really a good deal for families?  Let's do the math (in Canadian dollars).  Here's what's included:

• Deluxe accommodations for up to four people (rates start at $199 for a cityview room)
• Aquarium passes for up to two adults and two children (normally $19.95/adult; $14.95/teen 13-18; $11.95/child 4-12; free for kids 3 and under. A family of four with young kids would spend $64)
• Full breakfast buffet for two adults and two children (let's say, $40)

If the elements in the package were purchased separately, the one-night stay in a cityview room + aquarium passes + breakfast would come to $323CAD ($302 US). So the package saves you $24CAD ($22 US).  But take a hard look at the marketing lies spin at work here. That "complimentary trip" to the aquarium isn't actually complimentary at all. The hotel has merely added the admission price to the room rate and passed it on to you.

The bottom line: This deal essentially gives you a break on breakfast. But even then, you might do better by skipping the buffet (often a waste, anyway, if you have little ones with little appetites) in favor of grabbing a muffin or croissant from a bakery along the Coal Harbor Seawalk, on the way to Stanley Park. Or, better yet, you could save $40CAD or more with this deal, available on weekends at Marriott hotels through December 21.

Deal or no deal?  A minnow-sized deal.