Firstladies

I also would highly recommend bringing your own Rollator or wheelchair. Overheard a lady say she waited 2 hours for a wheelchair attendant to help her board. Just got off the boat this morning and was easy and fast. Even with the marathon in Vancouver. Transit, cabs and buses were no problem.

The process was: luggage drop, check in, customs and then boarding. There were 9000 people in Hall C checking in. 3 ships, 3 lines. The staff at check in said they were not looking at the check in times. Too many people, and no where to send them. The boarding area after all the other lines was empty, you just walk on the boat. Maybe they will make changes as the season comes.

Update on our departure day! We sailed on April 30 from Vancouver, Noordam. Arrived at Canada Place at 1130. My mom is in a walker so we did get through some expedited lines. There was our boat and 2 huge Princess ships 3 leaving that day. Thousands of people in many lines, all marked by cruise ship name, and lots of staff directing people. These lines snake around outside of pier and into a large conference center. Hall C is the name for cruise departures. This is where you can drop your luggage per boat. After many more lines per boat for check in. Next you go downstairs to proceed to USA customs, which was the shortest line. I believe they are holding people in the upper area. This entire process on a busy boat day will take 2 1/2 hours. Staff said they were not checking your slotted boarding time, so you could arrive whenever you wanted. Check in staff also told me at 930 the lines were very small and very quick to get through. Maybe you then sit in a waiting area after check in and customs before boat opens at 11:30? Don’t know what would happen, just letting those interested what I was told. Boat was delayed departure 30 mins guests were still boarding. The lines were long!! But the moment you are on boat all is forgotten.

I am new to cruising! My email for the Noordam April 30 shows 11:30 for deck 6. But I am confused about the difference between cruise check in, boarding and going through security/customs. Do I show up at Canada Place at 11:30 for security? Or do I go earlier to get through security and customs, so that I can check in at 11:30? Advice will be appreciated!