bbttb

You will be far enough out to be in international waters so the duty free shops and Casino can be open.

I didn't think of that, but of course the cruise line wouldn't miss a chance to open up the casinos and shops! Is that 7 or 12 miles out to sea? Do you think the Jetpack would work that far from shore?

The Jet pack is allowed but the cellular service you need to make it work will be spotty along the Alaska coast. When the land based cell service is out of range they do turn on the ship's system but it is very very very very pricey to use. We were on the Millenium Vancouver to Sweard in July and the new Xcellerate wifi is a big improvement over the old system. Still far from great but at least you could work some. Unless you have some captain's club status look to pre-purchase your internet package because they usually offer a discount for pre-purchases. There were serveral times we had no cell service but there was always wifi so if you have to work, that would be the way to go.

We're sailing the Pacific Coastal Cruise from Vancouver down to San Diego then up to San Francisco. I haven't done this itinerary before, but I would think we would be pretty close to land most of the time. Do you think the Jetpack would work while docked in the US ports? Any idea how far from land it can pick up a signal?

We're in the process of checking with Verizon to see if we can expand the Jetpack's range to include Canada.

For seafood around the Lonsdale Quay where the SeaBus goes I would recommend Fishworks (however it is not open for lunch on weekends), Pier 7 which is open or lunch 7 days a week. If you would like to try something with a Japanese flair then Yohachi's is an excellent choice but it is only open for lunch on weekdays. Something with a bit of a twist is Burgoo's. For Greek look no further than Anatolli's. All of these are and easy walk from the sea bus terminal and there are a ton more close by if none of these appeal to you.

 

http://www.fishworks.ca/

 

http://pierseven.ca/

 

http://yohachi.ca/

 

http://burgoo.ca/

 

http://anatolisouvlaki.com/

Hi Putterdude,

I checked out the menus, and they all sound tempting. I think we'll definitely have to fit in a trip to Pier 7.

Thanks for your suggestions. :)

One of our favourites, though not fancy by any means is to grab lunch at the Lonsdale Quay. We really like the Donairs at George's Gyro in the Quay (Beef a little bit spicy is the way to go) and we take those outside where we can sit at a table and watch the harbour. If you aren't into Greek, there are plenty of other options in the Quay Market as well. This of course will be right near the North Shore seabus station. You could also walk up Lonsdale there are some good places to eat on Lonsdale too depending what you are after. Grouse Mountain observatory is a nice restaurant but I believe it is only open for dinner. There are some lunch places up there though if you plan to spend the day up there, but it is more of a cafeteria type setting.[/Q

 

 

Hi Trophy_23,

 

We're not fancy people, and we have enjoyed the food court area of the Londsdale Quay many times:) I don't think you can get a better view! We'll probably grab a bite there at least once during our short visit. The market at Granville Island also has a nice food court area with spectacular views.

 

Thanks for your suggestions!

Take them to a bank to exchange them for newer currency. While all discontinued notes technically remain legal tender, you can expect almost every vendor you try to hand them over to to refuse them. Almost certainly won't be accepted as valid by machines either.

 

 

Salmon & Bannock is a great place, family-run, and incredible value for the dishes offered. Best value I've found for game dishes, and unique cuisine (closest other first nations resto is in Whistler). While I've touted it a lot in the past I'm a bit annoyed they're as popular as they are on Tripadvisor now as it's much harder to just walk in!

 

You'll want to cab or transit from the Hyatt as it's the other side of False Creek on Broadway, almost 4km to walk. Ballpark $15-20 by cab, or $2.75pp bus (take 10, 14, 16 and get off at Broadway, walk east 4 blocks). No idea about the baked potato place I'm afraid. You could also try the Georgia Straight's Golden Plates awards which gives local public views of the top 3 in many categories so it's very easy to pick your preferred types of food and see what's popular. Quite a few very good local restos don't do lunch though, only opening for dinner.

 

Happy to offer reccos for other places, but I need more info - at least a ballpark budget and types of food you love/hate.

Hi Martincath,

Thanks for the info!

We'd like to keep our lunch costs under $75 US for the 2 of us without alcohol. We would prefer a place with a great view of the water or mountains, and one that we can either walk to or maybe ride the seabus or skytrain to. We enjoy seafood, Italian, Asian, west coast cuisine ...but try to avoid "heavy" foods.

Is there anyplace in Stanley Park, Grouse Mountain, on the North Shore (that we can get to by Seabus) that you would recommend? We've eaten at the place on the tip of Granville Island and at Carderos many times, and would like to try something different.

Love the seabus...it's like a mini harbor cruise right out there with the ships and barges! Is there anything on the northern end of the seabus ride that you recommend?

Many thanks to you and your fellow Vancouverites for sharing your wealth of information and recommendations!

We've sailed a few times on the Infinity and my SIL that sailed with us a couple of years ago did take a hot spot and was able to finish her online courses with only one big disconnect but that was up in Alaska. Not sure about Canadaian waters or ports, though. We've gotten decent reception while sailing along the west coast of the US, but slow ... hopefully it will be good for you as I understand all the ship's internet service has been upgraded in the last year.

 

As others have said, the 15" laptop won't fit in the safe.

 

It is iffy as to which bridge you will see. Either direction, you will see either the Golden Gate or the Bay Bridge. From my many cruises out of SF, docking has been bow first ... so on the starboard side, you should see the GG. But there should be no problem seeing either bridge if you just go up top. Not sure if you are doing an overnighter in SF, but the Bay Bridge is a sight to see at night. I believe the festivities will be spread out in either direction along the Embarcadero, whether you are docking at pier 27 or pier 35 during fleet week. Anyhow, Pier 27 is much newer and so much nicer than Pier 35 but either would be ok.

Would I need to buy the internet package, AND bring my mobile hotspot, or would the hotspot be all that I need provided we're close enough to short? I really don't understand how these things work. I'm not trying to cheat Celebrity, but not sure that their wifi provides the security and reliability that my boss demands. The boss says do not use "free" wifi, because he's concerned about the security of his proprietary software.

I don't think you can have a bad view from the SF waterfront, and we'll be thankful for whatever view we have. The Port Schedule currently shows us docking at Pier 35, maybe because the ship is overnighting in SF before we have to disembark.

Do you know if Pier 35 has a parking lot? Is there luggage storage at Pier 35 for the day?

We will be staying at the Hyatt Regency for 2 nights before boarding the Celebrity Infinity for the Pacific Coastal Cruise in 2 weeks. I was reviewing restaurants on Trip Advisor and Groupon, and came across a couple I'm curious about.

One is called Salmon 'n Bannock on Broadway. Has anyone tried them? What did you think? Is it within walking distance of the Hyatt Regency, and in a decent area of the city?

The other is a baked potato restaurant on Robson St., that sounded like it might be good for a quick lunch. Has anyone tried them? We've stayed at the Blue Horizon and at what used to be the Sheraton Landmark many times...is it near there? Worth a visit?

Any other suggestions? We would prefer to be able to either walk or ride the sky train or sea bus, rather than take a taxi.

We usually go out for one "nice" meal per day, usually at lunch time. We tend to eat very lightly at breakfast and dinner.

I came across an entry on the board, indicating that Canada no longer has paper money in denominations of less than $5, and no longer uses pennies.

Over the years, I would bring home whatever Canadian $$ I had left from a vacation and would stash it in our cruse fund. I have lots of $1 and $2 paper bills, and lots of coins, including pennies. Are the small bills and pennies still legal tender in Canada, or have we missed our chance to use them?

If they are still legal tender, would we be able to use them in the machines at the transit stations to buy day passes, or use it to pay the taxi driver?

I believe there is no way to know what side the ship will face in a particular port, because the crew does lifeboat drills and port and it has to be done from both sides of the ship...... not on the same day of course.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see. We've sailed in and out of SF several times in the past, and I remember that our balcony faced the Golden Gate. I just don't recall which way the ship was docked.

Thanks everyone for your replies!

Thanks for all your help.:)

Putterdude, I'm afraid you're right -- not enough time to revisit all of our favorite places in 2 days.

Would the Vancouver transit pass work for this bus, or would we need to buy a different ticket either in Horseshoe Bay or when we get to Gibsons? Would we need to have exact change? Do you by chance know the cost? Thanks.

Hi, how far is the closest drug store or supermarket from the Hyatt Regency? We'll be looking to buy some last minute supplies for the cruise.

Yes, I think it was the Boathouse. Thanks for posting Troll's menu too -- sounds good.

I remember a nice waterfront restaurant that was open for lunch and dinner. I don't recall the name, but it was on the cove to the left of the ferry terminal. Do you know if it's still there?

We haven't been to Horseshoe Bay since before the pier was hit by one of the ferries.

Thanks much for your helpful information and comments. I think you're right -- whether our cabin faces the Golden Gate or not, we've got a much better view than just about anyone else in the Bay Area that day.

As for the laptop and other equipment, it belongs to my employer, so I feel I need to take extra care that it doesn't get lost or stolen.

Less than 3 weeks now until we sail...:):)

Putterdude,

Thanks for those links -- very helpful!

Thank you both for the timely and very helpful information. For the small difference in cost, and the much greater convenience and comfort, I think we'll go with the tax from the airport to the hotel, and the hotel to the pier.

One of the reasons we enjoy Vancouver so much (besides the natural beauty) is that it's such a great walking city. However, I think we would both prefer to do our walking without dragging a 50 lb suitcase with us.

Horseshoe Bay is such a cute, quaint little town, and we always enjoy wandering around, having lunch, and maybe hopping a ferry for a ride out to the Sunshine Coast. It's probably been 10 years since we had a chance to go there -- has it changed much over the years?

Would a transit pass cover the bus out to Horseshoe Bay, or only transportation within Vancouver proper? Do you happen to know the daily or 2-day price?

I have some Canadian $$, but probably not enough to cover the taxi from YVR to the hotel. Would I be able to get a decent exchange rate at the airport, or would it be better to wait til we get downtown, and just pay the taxi driver in US funds? I will probably only need to exchange $200-300 US.

I want to thank you both for your time, kindness and willingness to help out visitors to your country. Whenever we visit Canada, we're struck by how kind and friendly the people are, and how willing they are to help a stranger.

Could be, but having fun doing it. Very excited to find out that we're there during fleet week.

Hi phoenix dream,

Thanks for the welcome. I'm looking forward to being back on the Infinity...it's been a long time. She was a beautiful ship the last time we were on her.

I will need to do some research to figure out how to join the roll call.

Do you happen to know which side of the ship will be facing the Golden Gate Bridge when we're in SF? Hoping to have a good view of the fleet week activities from our balcony. We're on the "right hand" side of the ship.

Hi Philob,

I was actually hoping for Pier 27, but at least for now the port schedule is showing the Infinity at Pier 37. There's another ship docked at Pier 27.

Sounds like I outsmarted myself. We were originally booked on the left side of the ship, but I had us switched thinking we would have a better view from the right side. Now the ship is just about full.

Host Jazzbeau, thanks for the information. Neverbeenhere, thank you too, but you're scaring me! Hope I don't miss out on most of the cruise because my nose is stuck in the laptop!

Hi everyone,

We will be on the Celebrity Infinity in just a few weeks, doing the Pacific Coastal Cruise. Our ship will be docked in San Francisco overnight, during fleetweek. I chose a cabin on the righthand side of the ship, thinking that would be the side facing the Golden Gate and the fleet week festivities. Is that right? Do ships always pull in to the dock nose first? I believe we will be docking at Pier 35 rather than Pier 27.

Thanks in advance if you can offer information or guidance!

Hi Vancouverites,

I really appreciate your willingness to help out visitors to your beautiful country.

We will be sailing on the Celebrity Infinity Pacific Coastal cruise in a few weeks. We'll arrive in Vancouver on Friday afternoon, and embark our ship on Sunday.

On a Friday afternoon (approx. 1 p), what is the best way for a party of 2 to travel from YVR to the Hyatt Regency downtown? I've been through YVR many times, but don't recall noticing the light rail station there. How does the cost and convenience of light rail compare to taking a taxi?

What's the best way to get to Canada Place on a 3 ship day from the Hyatt Regency? It's a 12 day cruise, so we will probably each have a large suitcase and a carryon. I believe the royal couple will also be in town that day, which could cause some travel issues if they are going to be in that area.

If we go by taxi, where would we ask the taxi driver to drop us off, so that we are right where the porters will take our luggage?

Is there a city bus from downtown or from Lonsdale Quay area that will take us to and from Horseshoe Bay? If yes, about how long would that take by bus? We don't want to deal with a rental car since we have so little time to enjoy your beautiful city on this trip.

We're hoping to visit Granville Island, English Bay, Stanley Park, Gastown, Lonsdale Quay and Grouse Mountain as weather permits.

Thanks much for any information / guidance that you can offer.:)

Hi Celebrity Cruisers,

We recently booked a "last minute" cruise for a Pacific Coastal cruise on the Infinity in a few weeks. We sailed on her maiden voyage to Alaska many years ago, and are looking forward to seeing her again.

I have many questions, and offer apologies in advance if I should be looking elsewhere for this information.

Can I bring my work Jetpack (a mobile hotspot) on the ship, without having it confiscated? If so, will it work while in the Canadian ports? While sailing in Canadian waters? In US ports (I live in the US). In US waters while sailing? Will I need to purchase an internet package from the cruise line to use along with my Jetpack? (My employer doesn't offer vacation time, so to take this cruise, I have to continue to do my work while I'm gone. In the "old days", I wouldn't even think of turning on any devices!;)

Is the internet on the Infinity reliable and fast?

Is the Aqua Spa Café open to all passengers, or only those in certain types of cabins?

What size is the safe in the room? Will it hold a 15" laptop? If not, is there a safe place where I can store it while not in use?

Do cruise ships dock with the front end closest to the pier? The reason I ask is that we will be in SF during fleet week, and would love to be facing the action. Our cabin is on the right hand side of the ship.

I thank you in advance for any information / help that you can provide.:)