Victoria on our own -- Can we do tea at Empress and Butchart?

[marelind]

We are going to have a day (8 am to 4 pm) in Victoria. We are interested in seeing the Butchart Gardens and having tea at the Empress Hotel. Do you think that would be doable on our own? Do you know if wheelchairs are available at Butchart Gardens? Thanks for any information.

[melody-s]

You can absolutely have tea at the Empress Hotel on your own. You will need reservations and you can make them from the hotel website. If mobility is an issue you may want to take a taxi from the pier.

 

You will need transportation to Butchart Gardens. I think some tours leave from the inner harbor area or you can take a taxi. I don't know about wheelchairs.

[Butchart Gardens]

You'll find this page helpful: http://www.butchartgardens.com/planning-your-visit/where-are-the-gardens/victoria-cruise-ship-passengers.html

 

There is a limited number of wheelchairs available, free of charge (but requiring a $10 refundable deposit), on a first-come, first-served basis. The refundable deposit may be paid with cash, debit or credit card. We do not take reservations at any time of the year, nor can we provide an escort/assistant to help push the chair. Only motorized or standard wheelchairs are permitted.

[marelind]

Thank you so much for the answers. I found the Butchart Gardens website, which is very helpful, thank you! I also wanted a personal experience posting. So thank you to you both. From the Butchart Gardens website it appears there are shuttle buses that run between the ship and gardens for $7 RT as well as regular tours.

 

As for the Empress, I am still too early to book the reservations through Open Table. I'll check back with any further information I find out in case anyone else checks this thread.

[scottbee]

Thank you so much for the answers. I found the Butchart Gardens website, which is very helpful, thank you! I also wanted a personal experience posting. So thank you to you both. From the Butchart Gardens website it appears there are shuttle buses that run between the ship and gardens for $7 RT as well as regular tours.

 

As for the Empress, I am still too early to book the reservations through Open Table. I'll check back with any further information I find out in case anyone else checks this thread.

 

The shuttle bus for $7 is from the cruise terminal to downtown; and a bit off a ripoff; given a taxi is under $10 for 2-4 people; it's a 15 minute walk; or the city bus is $2.25

 

To get to the gardens, there are charter buses that run from downtown in front of the Empress hotel, but they're in the $15 range, or the city bus works, but is slow, and you need to change buses once (at Royal Oak), but it's only $2.25 from the cruise terminal

[CanWeGoYet?]

It's been several years since I've been to Butchart Gardens, not sure if accessing all of it will be possible in a standard wheelchair. I do recall some of the paths having quite a grade. Here is a link with info on accessibility.

 

http://www.travability.travel/Canada/butchart_gardens.html

[geomarc]

To get to the gardens, there are charter buses that run from downtown in front of the Empress hotel, but they're in the $15 range, or the city bus works, but is slow, and you need to change buses once (at Royal Oak), but it's only $2.25 from the cruise terminal

 

Did I read somewhere that the city bus takes 90 minutes to get to the gardens?

 

Is that $15. for charter buses one way or round trip?

[Putterdude]

CVS Cruise Victoria's rate during the summer is $50 which includes the admission charge to the gardens which is $29.

 

http://www.cvscruisevictoria.com/schedules_butchart.html

[geomarc]

CVS Cruise Victoria's rate during the summer is $50 which includes the admission charge to the gardens which is $29.

 

http://www.cvscruisevictoria.com/schedules_butchart.html

 

I saw that. We were thinking of taking the bus on our own ($4.50 rnd trip) and weren't sure how long it would take.

[Putterdude]

I saw that. We were thinking of taking the bus on our own ($4.50 rnd trip) and weren't sure how long it would take.

 

What time of the day are you thinking of, as the transit schedules change in the evenings?

http://www.transitbc.com/regions/vic/

[geomarc]

What time of the day are you thinking of, as the transit schedules change in the evenings?

 

http://www.transitbc.com/regions/vic/

 

We dock @ 7:00 am so I thought we'd get to the garden when it opens at 9:00 am.

[Putterdude]

Then you will have lots of time to take transit out to the Gardens and back. Exit the Ogden Point cruise terminal gates, turn left and you will see a bus stop. You can take the #30 or 31 bus to the Royal Oak Exchange and transfer to the # 75 bus. Just tell your driver where you want to go and they will be glad to help you. Your fare each way will be $2.50 or $1.65 if you are over 65. The travel time will be a little over an hour depending on time of day and you may encounter a wait at Royal Oak, it would likely be an idea to print the schedules from the transit link that I provided.

[edeco]

I usually find looking online and booking my own transportation works well. However, after researching the ships excursion to the gardens including tea is not a bad deal at $99 pp. On our own we need to get downtown, take a shuttle, pay admission and for tea. Once you add it all up not a bad deal.

 

Going on a pacific coastal cruise on the Island Princess in May.

[scottbee]

I usually find looking online and booking my own transportation works well. However, after researching the ships excursion to the gardens including tea is not a bad deal at $99 pp. On our own we need to get downtown, take a shuttle, pay admission and for tea. Once you add it all up not a bad deal.

 

Going on a pacific coastal cruise on the Island Princess in May.

 

#30 or #31 bus from Cruise ship terminal -> Royal Oak Exchange; transfer to #75 bus to Butchart. $2.50

entrance to Butchart gardens $32.50 (w/tax)

afternoon tea at Butchart $30.00 (I think pricey)

#75 bus to Royal Oak, #30/31 back to Odgen Point: $2.50

 

 

you can still save yourself about $30/ea by doing it yourself; and to be honest I think tea at Murchies in downtown Victoria is more fun.

[Putterdude]

I usually find looking online and booking my own transportation works well. However, after researching the ships excursion to the gardens including tea is not a bad deal at $99 pp. On our own we need to get downtown, take a shuttle, pay admission and for tea. Once you add it all up not a bad deal.

 

Going on a pacific coastal cruise on the Island Princess in May.

 

That strikes me as being a pretty good deal plus you do not have to worry about the ship leaving without you. Like you we generally book independent excursions however having done a few of the these Pacific Coastal repositionings with Princess in May, you can never be sure when you will arrive in Victoria...so if you are comfortable with the price then I would go for it and if you are late you will get some money back for whatever you don't get to do.

[edeco]

I also think the savings in time is worth the extra $30. With only one day in vicotria this should give us more time to shop and walk around the harbor!

[geomarc]

Like you we generally book independent excursions however having done a few of the these Pacific Coastal repositionings with Princess in May, you can never be sure when you will arrive in Victoria....

 

Is this a problem with Princess, the weather, ?? or ??

[Putterdude]

Is this a problem with Princess, the weather, ?? or ??

 

The ships can get some real weather coming up the coast in May that makes them late into Victoria. Also, Victoria in the shoulder seasons can get some winds that make it impossible to dock at the Ogden Point terminal...this is not a common occurrence but it does happen a few times each cruise season.

[geomarc]

The ships can get some real weather coming up the coast in May that makes them late into Victoria. Also, Victoria in the shoulder seasons can get some winds that make it impossible to dock at the Ogden Point terminal...this is not a common occurrence but it does happen a few times each cruise season.

 

WOW, that's good to know and keep in mind when making excursion plans. Thanks. :)

[Sunny AZ Girl]

Is this a problem with Princess, the weather, ?? or ??

When we were on Carnival Spirit last July we were two hours late arriving in Victoria. We were told it was because of currents/tides. Since we were only there for a short 'Jones Act' obligatory stop I was glad we did not book an expensive excursion and have it cut short. We had about three hours to disembark and walk around the inner Harbor before we had to head back to the ship.

 

Next May we are scheduled to be in Victoria for a long day (8 AM - midnight), so I hope to have the opportunity to see the gardens and more.:)

[geomarc]

When we were on Carnival Spirit last July we were two hours late arriving in Victoria. We were told it was because of currents/tides. Since we were only there for a short 'Jones Act' obligatory stop I was glad we did not book an expensive excursion and have it cut short.

 

Thanks. :) We decided not to pre-book anything just in case. :rolleyes:

 

Marcia

[Sunny AZ Girl]

Thanks. :) We decided not to pre-book anything just in case. :rolleyes:

 

Marcia

I don't know how long you are scheduled to be in Victoria, but if it is a long day I would go ahead and book something rather than miss out. However, booking through the ship would be a worthwhile consideration in this instance. We were only scheduled to be there from 7 PM - midnight, but we actually were able to leave the ship closer to 9 PM. The people who had booked Butchart Gardens still went on the tour, but their time was cut short. I would not have been happy. We just walked off the ship and took the shuttle to the Inner Harbor area, ate fish & chips and took pictures of all the lights, street musicians, etc.

 

Since we have a longer time in Victoria this time I will pre-book something (possibly a couple of things), but I may end up going through the ship, unless the tour companies will offer a full refund in the event the ship does not make port.

[geomarc]

I don't know how long you are scheduled to be in Victoria, but if it is a long day I would go ahead and book something rather than miss out. However, booking through the ship would be a worthwhile consideration in this instance.

 

There are supposed to be buses (not city) at the Empress Hotel to the garden. We're planning on doing that.

 

We tried contacting a tour company that would pick us up at the ship and take us directly to the garden if we could guarantee 20 passengers. After one reply, we never heard from them again. I have written them numerous times asking for more details and how we could make payment and still have not gotten a reply. So, we decided to do it alone and just get a bus at the hotel. I know that the city bus is cheaper, but it does take longer and we’d rather not waste time on the bus.

[Sunny AZ Girl]

 

There are supposed to be buses (not city) at the Empress Hotel to the garden. We're planning on doing that.

 

We tried contacting a tour company that would pick us up at the ship and take us directly to the garden if we could guarantee 20 passengers. After one reply, we never heard from them again. I have written them numerous times asking for more details and how we could make payment and still have not gotten a reply. So, we decided to do it alone and just get a bus at the hotel. I know that the city bus is cheaper, but it does take longer and we’d rather not waste time on the bus.

I agree about the city bus. For me, price is not the only consideration. With a limited amount of time I try to maximize my port time.

 

When you return please come back to this thread and let us know how it worked for you!

[Putterdude]

I agree about the city bus. For me, price is not the only consideration. With a limited amount of time I try to maximize my port time.

 

!

 

I quite agree and that is why I avoid recommending transit when people have very limited hours in Victoria.