I posted this on a different thread but thought I would repost here as well.
“I am an avid cruiser and work at the Vancouver Cruise Ship Terminal as part of my post-retirement life. Sundays are the busiest day of the week at the terminal because of the number of ships in port. Throughout the year there are other 3 ship days which can be equally busy especially if the ships are larger.
Be prepared for lots of people but if you follow the signs, as us for directions and tune out the noise(if you can!) it is a very organized process. If your priority is to get on the ship as early as possible then arrive at the terminal at 9:30 - 10 am but be aware that the bag drop area may not yet be open because the staff are still busy getting the bags off the ships. So you will need to wait but the line at this time will be short! Absolutely print your tags and attach them to your bags before you arrive. Most hotel front desks have staplers. I highly recommend you use theirs to attach your tags.
The lines at security and US Customs get longer during late morning-early afternoon so if your priority is not to be one of the first on the ship then enjoy the day in Vancouver and come after 2 pm but be forewarned there may still be line ups. You can drop your bags and check in first then come back later.
One of the biggest complaints I hear is that when guests arrive at the terminal and see an extremely crowded and noisy environment that looks chaotic they assume it is but there is order in the chaos (at least most of the time lol).
The entire journey from bag drop to walking on the ship requires a lot of walking which many guests are unprepared for. This coupled with the line ups can be very challenging for many. So if you do have mobility issues request a wheelchair. As stated earlier you may have to wait for one but your check in journey will be more comfortable and shorter.
Pack your patience, a water bottle and snack if you do encounter line ups and have a wonderful cruise.”
Additional comment: When debarking in Vancouver the line for taxis can also be very long. If you heading to the airport and are able to wheel your luggage for a few blocks taking the Canada Line train may be significantly faster and cheaper.