FrodoSwaggins

Hi Ksmetamaid, I can share our experience boarding the Konigsdam from Vancouver this May ('24). Note that we are both able to carry our luggage and walk distances, and we're very comfortable with public transit, so this strategy may/may not work for you depending. We took the Skytrain to our not quite budget hotel a few blocks from Canada Place (Delta Hotels Vancouver - with AAA the rate was decent). It's a few blocks from both Canada Place and the terminus of the Skytrain, although there is a bit of an incline from the station to the hotel. We had one full size suitcase and a backpack each and it was no trouble, though this could be difficult depending on ability and baggage weight. The Skytrain is easy to navigate and very convenient - if you have a tap to pay credit card, you can tap this at the gates instead of a metro pass when you board and exit, and it will charge accordingly (note, you must have separate cards for each member or your party). It was about $9 each at peak times. Canada Place is also the terminus so there's no worries about missing your station. The station is about a block(ish)? from Canada Place and relatively flat, so I definitely think it could be an option if you were staying in an airport hotel, although I am not familiar with hotel options near the airport. The next day, we took our bags down to the bag drop in the parking garage at Canada Place around 11am - and wanting to avoid the cluster upstairs - got coffee and lunch nearby and walked along the seawall until about 1:30. It took us about half an hour from the time we entered Canada Place to the time we got to our room. We did have the biometrics a previous poster mentioned, though at the time it was only running for US and Canadian passengers. We overheard a few Aussies and Brits saying it took them 2-3 hours to get through customs. Perhaps that will have changed when you go next year? We also lucked out and had only one other ship with us in port that day. I hope this helps with your planning!