Lyn2005

Where are you staying in Montreal? We're just starting to cope out places near the port.

Currently heading from Passau to Regensburg and we are scraping bottom.

Even vacuum bags can have the air squeezed out if you roll or sit on them.

We'll be doing this cruise in September, will be here before we know it!

Yes that does help, thanks! I can do a few steps, 8 wouldn't be a problem especially with a hand rail. I'm just slow and I hate holding people up behind me both going up and down steps. I jokingly say I do stairs like a 2 year old, one at a time :o. I would probably look into custom made brace before such a trip. I'll keep these tips in my file.

Loved your review. I was interested in your comments about mobility issues, which I have also due to knee problems. This cruise is one on our bucket list. How limited am I going to be in regards to site seeing if I am unable to do a lot of stairs etc? I can do a few steps but not many. As you indicated, the cruise is pricey so I am wondering if we should be considering it due to my limitations. Thanks!

Ok, I think I'm getting the picture. I've been to the island a number of times but never made it across to Vancouver. Thanks to both of you for the tips.

One quick question, are Tsawwassan and Departure Bay the same place?

Thanks so much! Yes I just realized that ferry is defunct, too bad.

We will be spending a few days on Vancouver Island then want to take a ferry from Nanaimo after dropping off our rental car and head to our hotel in downtown Vancouver to spend the night prior to our cruise. I am a bit confused on which ferry to take. There is a ferry terminal both north and south of Nanaimo so I wasn't sure which was the correct one.

Also found a link to Harbour Lynx which operates a passenger-only express island ferry between Nanaimo on Central Vancouver Island and Vancouver Downtown. I'm wondering if this sounds more like what we should be taking since we will won't have a vehicle.

Any help would be appreciated.

I sometimes have problems on certain sites when using my netbook. In some cases I have been able to decrease the size by changing the '100%' in the bottom right side of my screen to about 80% then scroll bars are more accessible.

Yes, that's true, I could cancel if something better comes up. Thanks again for your suggestions. I don't know how people who don't frequent these boards book their trips, I've found so much useful information over the years.

I did it! Today I booked the Best Western on Drake for $152.00. I know we probably could have got a cheaper rate at a better hotel but I am the kind of person who just wants to get it booked, confirmed, locked down etc. What was confusing me was they didn't have internet rates for June so I thought maybe it was just too early but when I looked a little further I saw that they had rates for July and beyond. I forgot to ask why that was but forgot so I emailed the girl that I dealt with. Hockey maybe?

With all your kind help I think I have it narrowed down. Emailed Best Western because their June rates aren't up yet. The reservation person has given me a rate of $143 which is less than anything I have seen outside of Hotwire and Priceline prices. But I can book it now and it's all totally cancellable etc. if things happen. I liked the amenities and the area seemed pretty good. They do have a shuttle which I'm not hung up on because they can get bogged down in which case there is always a cab. Anyway that's the way I'm leaning right now. Guess if their June rates aren't up yet there isn't a huge rush to book it but will probably do it shortly.

Best Western is coming up as not available for our date in June, I'm thinking it may be because it's too far in the future so I've emailed them. It looks good too.

Should also mention it is possible we are going to be arriving early to mid evening so are probably going to head to bed early so we don't really need a lot of amenities.

Just checked out the Blue Horizon, it has pretty good rates and the reviews were mostly favourable, maybe something to consider.

Thanks, will check that out. Just read some not so good reviews on the HoJo regarding noise.

I guess I should consider Hotwire, have never used it so am unsure about it all but have read some amazing prices people get. Guess I like the comfort of booking something and being able to cancel it if something happens to the plans.

Have looked at Days Inn too, reviews seem to be ok.

What about the Howard Johnsons Downtown? It's coming up at less than $200 taxes in. Do you know anything about it, the area it's in?

Thanks!

All this info is a great help. As you can see we already booked the cruise, now we have time to think about the details.

We are kind of leaning towards the option of renting a car from Budget at the Nanaimo airport and returning it to the Budget location that is near Departure Bay, taking the early ferry to Horsehoe Bay and taking the city bus as suggested. Would that take us near the cruise port? I guess the one concern I have is lugging luggage onto a city bus. Maybe it would be better to get a cab fro Horseshoe Bay right to the cruise ship.

If the Islandlink bus was earlier in the day it would be more of an opton.

I actually did just find Islandlinkbus.com, but all I see is a ferry from Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay so we'd still have to make our way on our own to the cruise ship. Plus it doesn't leave until 10:40 and we'd rather be on our way a little earlier. Will keep trying.

Haven't been able to find anything like that by googling. Maybe I'll call the Nanaimo ferry people to see if they can tell me. Thanks.

Thanks for all your help! We probably are better staying at the hotel at Parksville and taking the ferry the morning of the cruise because we usually get very good rates at the hotel and it has a washer and dryer in the room which would help in getting our clothes ready for the cruise. I've checked prices in Vancouver near the port and they are considerably higher and also some hotels are showing no vacancies. It may just be that it is too far away to book or there is something going on in town (hockey?) on the Saturday night.

I think we are getting closer to booking the cruise and will figure the rest out later.

Thanks again!

Wow, just found this thread and it has a wealth of information! I've done some searching for my questions but haven't found quite the right thing, I apologize if this is a duplicate.

We are in the process of booking an Alaskan cruise however we need to verify some info before we can complete it. We are going to be in Parksville for a few days prior to the cruise at a conference. Here are a couple of scenarios:

1. Flying to the island and arrive at the Nanaimo airport, renting a car at the airport. We were wondering if it would be possible to return the car to the airport and somehow get to the ferry port at Nanaimo to get across to the cruise ship terminal in Vancouver. How far is it once we get to the mainland from the ferry port to the cruise ship and how do we get there?

2. Flying into Victoria, renting a car, returning the car to the airport and take the Pacific Coast bus onto the ferry and right to the cruise ship terminal the morning of the cruise. It's a farther drive from Parksville to Victoria but maybe it would be simpler?

3. Taking a ferry from (somewhere) the night before the cruise and getting a hotel in Vancouver that offers a shuttle to the cruiseship.

Any info would be gratefully appreciated. We hope to start booking things soon, the cruise is next June.