Jump to content

Vancouver answers from a Vancouverite (part 2)


Recommended Posts

If I'm parsing correctly, six of you arriving together but your parents separately?

 

For 6 you'll need two cabs (minivans cannot seat more than 5 pax) OR a limo for very little extra (CAD$70 fixed rate for 2 cabs, a 6pax SUV/limo runs CAD$80.85, both prices incl tax but not gratuity). Don't prebook - it's faster to just use the queue for limos (prebooked means for an extra $50 the driver will be inside at Arrivals with a sign, walk you outside, go get his vehicle - queue you basically just walk right up and get in next vehicle and I've never seen a wait for limos whereas cabs you may have a handful of minutes wait time).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Martin, there are actually 6 of us total including my parents all arriving together but your information is great and appreciated. We are paying $30 each for the transfers so independently would have been MUCH cheaper, even prebooking a limo. We have a short time to get to the ship and my parents hoped booking something ahead of time would be better, and i want to make them happy. Hopefully customs and immigration coming into Canada won't take too long and we'll make it with time to spare. We are the only ship leaving that day but I've read your advice about not dallying and being slow and allowing a large deplanement from Asia or elsewhere put you from a short wait to a long one. Thanks for the information. Would you say the kiosks for our passports would be a faster option than the regular line?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Martin, there are actually 6 of us total including my parents all arriving together but your information is great and appreciated. We are paying $30 each for the transfers so independently would have been MUCH cheaper, even prebooking a limo. We have a short time to get to the ship and my parents hoped booking something ahead of time would be better, and i want to make them happy. Hopefully customs and immigration coming into Canada won't take too long and we'll make it with time to spare. We are the only ship leaving that day but I've read your advice about not dallying and being slow and allowing a large deplanement from Asia or elsewhere put you from a short wait to a long one. Thanks for the information. Would you say the kiosks for our passports would be a faster option than the regular line?

Kiosks are designed to save time and do - but the first time you use any new piece of tech there's a bit of a learning curve, and if anyone isn't keen on change it may not end up saving much time compared to talking with CBSA... I'd look at the queues and join whichever is shorter (we've walked right up to the CBSA staff while there were people queuing for kiosks before).

 

In terms of keeping the parents de-stressed, you could prebook a limo - give them your flight number, have a guy waiting with a sign with your name on, the whole shebang - for six people for less than you've paid. Meet & Greet fee includes up to an hour of wait time. Being escorted to the vehicle, and having someone to help with bags, and saving money... at least ask them if that would be good enough to make them happy;-)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We will be sure to investigate the kiosks and the wait to use them. Luckily my parents are fairly tech savvy for their age, and my elementary age son will there to help! We've already paid for the transfers, guess they are reliable and go direct to ship so we should rest easy on that aspect, even if paying too much. Is there a Tim Horton's along the way from deplaning to immigration and customs and/or near baggage claim? We don't have much time, but being from the South U.S. we have Krispy Kreme and want to compare/contrast doughnuts! Going direct from airport to ship, we also won't have much time to help support the local economy with purchases. Is there a decent souvenir shop with Canadian goods in the airport along the way we'll be travelling to get to the transfer/shuttle?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

^All these Qs you can find the info on the YVR website - it's pretty useful, e.g. here's the page with terminal maps (you can choose which level and section - e.g. US Arrivals for you - and also by what kind of service you want - dining - and it shows where everything is, both pre- and post-Security).

 

For Timmies, there's one inside the secure area of the US gates (4:30am to 8pm) if you want to eat the donuts before you even collect your bags. Once you leave the secure area, you also have access to another three (two in the Domestic and one in International) that are accessible with a wee bit more walking.

 

You should probably compare TimBits to Donut Holes as the most iconic items of both chains. TimBits are better of course - if you disagree, whatever you do don't tell the CBSA guys or you can expect the full rubber-glove treatment;-)

 

Edit - sorry, re: souvenirs I can't say whether the selection or pricing is any good. There is a shop in US area - but I'm 100% positive you'd find a better selection and pricing downtown. After dropping bags, it's only ~10mins leisurely walk to go from the pier to Water Street where there are many souvenir places, some pretty big - this is where I take my family and friends who visit and want to pick up T-shirts, fridge magnets and the like. It's very common to see hordes of cruisers pootling around before boarding as it's close enough to the pier you have zero risk of missing your departure - plus the Steam Clock is down here, and it's one of the the most iconic photo opportunities for tourists.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

I've been following this thread for awhile, but now I have a question. We cruise in Sept, fly into YVR arriving mid day, have a reservation at the Days Inn airport with their shuttle. What we would like to do is drop our bags at the hotel since it will be too early to get our room, then take a bus/train/whatever to Steveston to wander around for the afternoon. We will walk to the closest Skytrain station the next morning to go to Waterfront. We are both seniors, I've read something about compass cards for the train--what is the best way to pay for our round trip to Steveston and then to Canada Place. Thank you for your help.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've been following this thread for awhile, but now I have a question. We cruise in Sept, fly into YVR arriving mid day, have a reservation at the Days Inn airport with their shuttle. What we would like to do is drop our bags at the hotel since it will be too early to get our room, then take a bus/train/whatever to Steveston to wander around for the afternoon. We will walk to the closest Skytrain station the next morning to go to Waterfront. We are both seniors, I've read something about compass cards for the train--what is the best way to pay for our round trip to Steveston and then to Canada Place. Thank you for your help.

Since it's one round trip first day, then a one-way trip second day, for a total of 3 transit tickets a Compass Card or DayPass would be poor value. Simple one-shot Tickets will be the cheapest BUT while you can pay with credit card day two at SkyTrain, buses are Exact Fare, CAD Cash Only on boarding.

 

Ask reception to break a note for you - you'll need only $1.75 each per leg to Steveston (and you can put in $3.50 and ask for 2 tickets each time, so it shouldn't be too hard to get the right change. Worst case. bung in a couple of Toonies - $2 coins - and you'll only be wasting 50cents.

 

You could take SkyTrain to the end of the line and transfer (which would mean you could use Credit Card same as on the way downtown) - you can transfer from SkyTrain to bus just fine - but on the way back you cannot transfer from Bus to SkyTrain without having to buy another ticket. Since it's actually faster to go bus the whole way, as well as cheaper, that's why I'd suggest just getting hold of some CAD coinage.

 

Simplest route is to walk down Sexsmith to Cambie and board a bus that goes direct to Steveston - Gulf of Georgia Cannery is my recommended target point as it's by far the best thing there, and free in 2017. Easy to walk along the seafront to where tourist-cultists offer up their child sacrifices to the Cthulhu's sealion avatar, or walk the streets of Storyville if you're Oncers. There are routes involving a change of bus with less walking, but it's barely half a mile on foot to the direct bus stop.

 

Edit - to get to Canada Place you'll need a Two Zone Fare (unless it's a Sat/Sun, in which case whole system is just one zone). These cost $2.75 for Seniors (buy a Concession Ticket at the machine) rather than the $1.75 for a bus. No airport AddFare if you get on at Bridgeport, the nearest station, just be sure you're on the Northbound platform - trains will say Waterfront on their fronts.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

We are flying into Vancouver and staying at the Hyatt Regency before catching our ship at Canada Place the next day. We plan on taking a cab from the airport (I think it's a $31 flat rate), or would Uber be available and a cheaper option?

 

Our ship departs at 4:30pm, a few questions:

- googlemaps shows this as a 10 minute walk, is this realistic for the area (traffic, etc.) - we will have carry-on rolled luggage and a backpack only

- what time should we be there (HAL says 3 hours before) is this reasonable?

- what is the earliest we could get on the ship, and would we be able to have lunch on the ship?

- do we go through customs at Canada Place (Alaskan cruise)

 

Thanks in advance

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No Uber or Lyft in Vancouver at this time . Yes you can comfortably do the walk. If raining I would take a cab for the short distance to stay dry. I would arrive around 10:30 - 11:00 to board. There will be uS customs clearance before boarding the ship.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No Uber or Lyft in Vancouver at this time . Yes you can comfortably do the walk. If raining I would take a cab for the short distance to stay dry. I would arrive around 10:30 - 11:00 to board. There will be uS customs clearance before boarding the ship.

Wow, kind of surprised there's no Uber or Lyft in Vancouver. Cab it is :)

 

Thanks, definitely will take a cab if it's raining, don't need to start our cruise with wet clothes

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow, kind of surprised there's no Uber or Lyft in Vancouver. Cab it is :)

 

 

 

Thanks, definitely will take a cab if it's raining, don't need to start our cruise with wet clothes

 

 

 

No Uber or Lyft up to now due to insurance , licensing and big taxi lobby in the city. Excepted to start sometime this fall in early December. The airport authority has to approve them for pickup as well , the same as taxi have be approved.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Link to comment
Share on other sites

- what time should we be there (HAL says 3 hours before) is this reasonable?

- what is the earliest we could get on the ship, and would we be able to have lunch on the ship?

I think K50 nailed all your Qs except these; 3 hours pre-departure (1:30pm) isn't terrible advice from HAL on your 2-ship Saturday June 24th. Personally I'd slide that even later though - even with just 2 ships the peak busy time could run through 2pm, especially if a lot of people follow the Princess/HAL documents which suggest boarding from 1pm or later. Leave your bags at the Hyatt, go do some sightseeing, go back for them at 2-2:30pm, walk to the pier and you should breeze through with minimal time spent in any queues.

 

If you are the kind of folks who must be on-board ASAP then K50's suggested time is the way to go - you'll definitely be able to drop bags with the longshoremen by 10:30am (on a 2 ship day you could probably slide this as early as 9:45am), and you'll beat most fellow pax to the pier (there's a big bump just after noon thanks to Amtrak arriving with same-day cruisers up from Seattle). While they probably won't start processing anyone until after 11am, so you will definitely be queuing for as long as it takes them to start processing, you should get through the various security/US CBP/check-in stages fairly quickly if you arrive early. Even if you were the very first people at the pier and were first processed at all stages, the earliest you could possibly get on board would be around 11am.

 

 

You can always get lunch on board - the buffet will be open right through - but if you want a sit-down lunch that stops early enough that if you go sightseeing and arrive at the pier any time from 1pm onward you almost certainly will not be able to get into the dining room (I'm most familiar with Princess, who lock it down at 1:30pm). We used to push for our 'paid for' lunch but then realized that our wasted time in the queues is worth way more to us than one extra meal on-board; now we show up late after getting a massage (for a fraction of the cost of the ship spa, with our regular RMT so better quality too) then lunching somewhere good downtown.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We plan on taking a cab from the airport (I think it's a $31 flat rate), or would Uber be available and a cheaper option?
Don't forget.... that's $31 CDN..... making it $24 USD. What a deal for door to door service for the carload!
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Don't forget.... that's $31 CDN..... making it $24 USD. What a deal for door to door service for the carload!

Well, we are Canadian so not as much of a deal for us. Wish our cruise price was in CAD!!! lol. The CAD hasn't been stellar lately

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think K50 nailed all your Qs except these; 3 hours pre-departure (1:30pm) isn't terrible advice from HAL on your 2-ship Saturday June 24th. Personally I'd slide that even later though - even with just 2 ships the peak busy time could run through 2pm, especially if a lot of people follow the Princess/HAL documents which suggest boarding from 1pm or later. Leave your bags at the Hyatt, go do some sightseeing, go back for them at 2-2:30pm, walk to the pier and you should breeze through with minimal time spent in any queues.

 

If you are the kind of folks who must be on-board ASAP then K50's suggested time is the way to go - you'll definitely be able to drop bags with the longshoremen by 10:30am (on a 2 ship day you could probably slide this as early as 9:45am), and you'll beat most fellow pax to the pier (there's a big bump just after noon thanks to Amtrak arriving with same-day cruisers up from Seattle). While they probably won't start processing anyone until after 11am, so you will definitely be queuing for as long as it takes them to start processing, you should get through the various security/US CBP/check-in stages fairly quickly if you arrive early. Even if you were the very first people at the pier and were first processed at all stages, the earliest you could possibly get on board would be around 11am.

 

 

You can always get lunch on board - the buffet will be open right through - but if you want a sit-down lunch that stops early enough that if you go sightseeing and arrive at the pier any time from 1pm onward you almost certainly will not be able to get into the dining room (I'm most familiar with Princess, who lock it down at 1:30pm). We used to push for our 'paid for' lunch but then realized that our wasted time in the queues is worth way more to us than one extra meal on-board; now we show up late after getting a massage (for a fraction of the cost of the ship spa, with our regular RMT so better quality too) then lunching somewhere good downtown.

 

 

Thanks,

May just enjoy a leisurely morning at the hotel (checkout isn't until noon) then take a walk around the city. Hubby isn't fond of queques. Looks like there are lots of food options in that area to pick up something light before we sail.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We are driving up from Oregon for our Sept Alaska cruise and would like some where less expensive to park than the cruise port. I saw a previous post that mentioned the Accent Inn in Burnaby but they no longer offer the parking package. They referred me to their property at the Vancouver airport and quoted me just a bit more for a hotel stay, transportation to and from the cruise port and parking for the week then I was quoted just for parking at the cruise port. My only concern is the distance from the cruise terminal, any similar deals available from hotels a bit closer to the terminal? My friend and I are both senior ladies and have mobility issues so assistance with getting luggage from hotel to terminal is a must. Thanks for any help.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Call the Hampton near Vancouver International. They have that option. Stay one night and park for 7 or 15 days for free. Their number is 1-606-232-5505.

The day of the cruise you can take their shuttle to the airport and then taxi to the port. Or taxi directly from the hotel.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We are driving up from Oregon for our Sept Alaska cruise and would like some where less expensive to park than the cruise port. I saw a previous post that mentioned the Accent Inn in Burnaby but they no longer offer the parking package. They referred me to their property at the Vancouver airport and quoted me just a bit more for a hotel stay, transportation to and from the cruise port and parking for the week then I was quoted just for parking at the cruise port. My only concern is the distance from the cruise terminal, any similar deals available from hotels a bit closer to the terminal? My friend and I are both senior ladies and have mobility issues so assistance with getting luggage from hotel to terminal is a must. Thanks for any help.

 

 

I am a bit surprised that the Burnaby Accent Inn no longer offers the package you are want but frankly having stayed at both properties a number of times we rather prefer the airport property for its quietness. Both properties have fairly large, clean and comfortable rooms. As your package includes transportation to and from the pier handling luggage will not be a issue for you.

 

Other hotels a little closer in to Canada Place offering stay, park and cruise packages would include the Hampton Inn - Downtown and the Coast Plaza Hotel in Vancouver's West End neighbourhood. The Executive Inn Vintage Park has offered the package previously however, I no longer see it listed....but you might care to give them a call. I rather suspect that at the end of the day the Accent Inn package is going to be the least expensive.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am a bit surprised that the Burnaby Accent Inn no longer offers the package you are want but frankly having stayed at both properties a number of times we rather prefer the airport property for its quietness. Both properties have fairly large, clean and comfortable rooms. As your package includes transportation to and from the pier handling luggage will not be a issue for you.

 

Other hotels a little closer in to Canada Place offering stay, park and cruise packages would include the Hampton Inn - Downtown and the Coast Plaza Hotel in Vancouver's West End neighbourhood. The Executive Inn Vintage Park has offered the package previously however, I no longer see it listed....but you might care to give them a call. I rather suspect that at the end of the day the Accent Inn package is going to be the least expensive.

 

I agree with Putterdude. From my experience most stay and cruise/fly packages seem to be out in Richmond near the airport. During cruise season there might be packages downtown as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We are driving up from Oregon for our Sept Alaska cruise and would like some where less expensive to park than the cruise port. I saw a previous post that mentioned the Accent Inn in Burnaby but they no longer offer the parking package. They referred me to their property at the Vancouver airport and quoted me just a bit more for a hotel stay, transportation to and from the cruise port and parking for the week then I was quoted just for parking at the cruise port. My only concern is the distance from the cruise terminal, any similar deals available from hotels a bit closer to the terminal? My friend and I are both senior ladies and have mobility issues so assistance with getting luggage from hotel to terminal is a must. Thanks for any help.

Very few downtown parking packages (even hotels offering free parking while you're sleeping in the hotel are very rare here due to lack of space = high parking costs).

 

I think the key point though is how much help you need with bags - I assume since you're driving up that you can load and unload them from the car yourselves, therefore carrying them onto a shuttle bus would also be OK? If so then sticking to Accent's airport location seems sensible - it may be slightly further from downtown but it's really much of a muchness, and there's probably more choices of restaurants etc. within a short cab-ride blocks than their Burnaby location. Neither is a great choice if you want to sightsee downtown (e.g. if you're coming in a few days early).

 

Any of the downtown hotels mentioned above would also work - if they fit your budget - assuming you took a cab from hotel to pier and back. That's likely to be approx CAD$10 - even less if traffic is light. Cabbies will load & unload, and there are longshoremen at the pier who can take your bags right from beside the cab if you don't feel up to getting them over to the luggage escalators yourselves.

 

The other possibility that springs to mind is to pay for parking at the airport - the cheapest official lot is ~$13 a day, about half the cost of pier parking, and they have a wee shuttle that will take you into the airport where you can use fixed-rate cabs to get to a downtown hotel (CAD$31 to almost all of them). Taking the parking out of the equation opens up many more hotel options...

Edited by martincath
dang double-spacing again!
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Or the hybrid approach - take the car to the downtown hotel (or even the pier), drop the luggage and any grumbly passengers, drive to the airport Economy parking lot, take the Canada Line back to downtown. Minimal luggage handling, whole process takes right about an hour, and when I did it, there were various prepay schemes for the cheapest YVR parking lots.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you everyone for the great input. We will be arriving the day before so dropping luggage at port and then driving back to airport won't work this time but that is a definite option for the next cruise when we will have younger family members with us who can do the driving and luggage lugging! We decided on the Accent Inn as they offered round trip shuttle service directly to the cruise port and a very reasonable price for the complete package.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...