AndyB Posted June 16, 2013 #1 Share Posted June 16, 2013 We're sailing out of Vancouver in July, and our docs say embarkation is from 11 am to 3 pm. I know we'll have to pass through US Customs & Immigration, and wondering if we should arrive at Canada Place before 11 am to get through that process. Does anyone know whether Customs/Immigration opens prior to the cruise lines' embarkation? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottbee Posted June 16, 2013 #2 Share Posted June 16, 2013 We're sailing out of Vancouver in July, and our docs say embarkation is from 11 am to 3 pm. I know we'll have to pass through US Customs & Immigration, and wondering if we should arrive at Canada Place before 11 am to get through that process. Does anyone know whether Customs/Immigration opens prior to the cruise lines' embarkation? Thanks! You check in with the cruise line 1st, and go through US Customs & Immigration on your way to the ship, just prior to boarding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arusha Posted June 16, 2013 #3 Share Posted June 16, 2013 Depends on how many ships/passengers are disembarking that day. My experience last month was 3 ships still disembarking while lots of folks were coming in to embark at about 10 AM. There's not a good separation in the Canada Place terminal between the hordes who are still leaving the ships and those who are arriving early. Porters were not ready at 10 AM to accept incoming luggage - they were still dealing with the folks leaving. Security was not ready until after 10 AM. You go through (1) security and (2) customs in a common area with all the other embarking passengers for all other ships before you get to the specific area for your (3) cruise line's check-in. US Customs for US citizens took only a couple of minutes. After a few hundred of us went through steps 1 and 2, they put us in a waiting area with folding seats in rows. When the cruise lines were ready for check-in, the port personnel let us leave the waiting area one row at a time. You can see how many other ships are disembarking/embarking the same day as yours on this schedule: http://www.portmetrovancouver.com/en/about/cruiseandtourism/cruiselineschedules.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottbee Posted June 16, 2013 #4 Share Posted June 16, 2013 Depends on how many ships/passengers are disembarking that day. My experience last month was 3 ships still disembarking while lots of folks were coming in to embark at about 10 AM. There's not a good separation in the Canada Place terminal between the hordes who are still leaving the ships and those who are arriving early. Porters were not ready at 10 AM to accept incoming luggage - they were still dealing with the folks leaving. Security was not ready until after 10 AM. You go through (1) security and (2) customs in a common area with all the other embarking passengers for all other ships before you get to the specific area for your (3) cruise line's check-in. US Customs for US citizens took only a couple of minutes. After a few hundred of us went through steps 1 and 2, they put us in a waiting area with folding seats in rows. When the cruise lines were ready for check-in, the port personnel let us leave the waiting area one row at a time. You can see how many other ships are disembarking/embarking the same day as yours on this schedule: http://www.portmetrovancouver.com/en/about/cruiseandtourism/cruiselineschedules.aspx They've switched the order back and forth a couple of times now. Thanks for the most recent update. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyB Posted June 16, 2013 Author #5 Share Posted June 16, 2013 Thanks for the info! Guess there is no sense in arriving early. We always seem to take a while going through immigration - they love to linger over DH's passport, and it's nearly made us miss a flight back to the US from Montreal, when we were unprepared for the US C&I on the Canadian side. We know better now. Thanks again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Putterdude Posted June 20, 2013 #6 Share Posted June 20, 2013 While it is unlikely that Customs will begin processing anyone much before 1030, you can drop your luggage off with the porters shortly after 0930 and then go for a walk into Gastown or other attractions close by Canada Place. You likely know that Celebrity boards people between 1100 and noon but no one is allowed to go to their cabin until all cabins have been made up which tends to be between 12:30 and 1:00. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rayandshirl Posted June 20, 2013 #7 Share Posted June 20, 2013 Two weeks ago arrived at Canada Place at 1:30 pm Island Princess and Disney Wonder were side by side. There was a sea of people but it was very controlled and we were in our cabin in an hour.:o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted June 21, 2013 #8 Share Posted June 21, 2013 I would arrive around 10:30 AM to get on line. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeattleCruiselover Posted June 27, 2013 #9 Share Posted June 27, 2013 While it is unlikely that Customs will begin processing anyone much before 1030, you can drop your luggage off with the porters shortly after 0930 and then go for a walk into Gastown or other attractions close by Canada Place. You likely know that Celebrity boards people between 1100 and noon but no one is allowed to go to their cabin until all cabins have been made up which tends to be between 12:30 and 1:00. We're staying out by the airport, so we're coming in at about 1000, then will go for a "walk" (read roll) for about half an hour, then try to get to the front of the priority boarding line no later than 1100. I waited in line for nearly three hours last May (2012, and I was there before noon). Don't wanna do that again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Putterdude Posted June 28, 2013 #10 Share Posted June 28, 2013 I can't make any promises particularly as I suspect you are on a repositioning cruise and you know what that is like as well as I do. I don't know how they treat people in scooters compared with folks in wheelchairs but in DW's case we normally get thru in an expedited line pretty quickly. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagalpat Posted July 5, 2013 #11 Share Posted July 5, 2013 We have booked a city highlight tour with drop off at the cruise port at 2 pm. Boarding time for the Radiance is 11am to 3pm. Will this work? Appreciate all thoughts on this. Thank you. :eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare martincath Posted July 5, 2013 #12 Share Posted July 5, 2013 You'll be fine - the later you arrive, the shorter the queue... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagalpat Posted July 6, 2013 #13 Share Posted July 6, 2013 Thank You.:) We really wanted to see a little of the city as we are only there over night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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