Rare CanadianBurger Posted May 20, 2016 #1 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Hi All! This will probably end up being somewhat similar to my "Live from the Ruby" from two weeks ago, but read on if you're interested... Day 0: AZO-ORD-BUF-ORD-SEA... Yeah, it sounds a little crazy, but I had the Buffalo-Seattle (via O'Hare) flight for the cruise booked months ago, and it turns out I had to work in southern Michigan this past week. So the easiest thing to do was to fly from Kalamazoo to Buffalo (via O'Hare) to finish my work week, then turn around and come out west for the cruise. Turns out the ORD-BUF and BUF-ORD segments were the same plane and same crew, and I was in the same (upgraded) seat. I basically walked off the plane and got right into the line to board. The flight attendants thought I was nuts! Touched down at Sea-Tac at around 6:30, and was in my rental car by 7pm for the drive to Vancouver. Traffic through Seattle in the rain was miserable on I-5, but I still managed to make it to the Vancouver Airport Hampton in under 3 hours. There was zero wait at the border. Two weeks ago I arrived at the port around 10am, and it was just getting busy, so with THREE ships in port tomorrow morning, and the email from Princess advising an early arrival, I'm going to aim for 9am to get through customs easily. Although I used my Global Entry/Nexus with the officer last time, I didn't notice a separate line, but this time I will be on the lookout and ask. That about does it for tonight; the pics will start in the morning! Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Woobstr112G Posted May 20, 2016 #2 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Enjoy your time onboard.....:):):) Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idahospud Posted May 20, 2016 #3 Share Posted May 20, 2016 I'll be interested in comparing notes. I enjoyed your last 1-day live and this time I'm on the ship with you. We're in transit so hopefully no long customs lines for us. We'll see! Excited to see what you highlight this time around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BabsinTX Posted May 20, 2016 #4 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Please keep posting about getting through Vancouver security. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare CanadianBurger Posted May 20, 2016 Author #5 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Change in order of events for boarding!! Two weeks ago it was Security, then Customs, then check-in. Today check-in is first, in Hall C, upstairs from the terminal. If you're in the terminal where security is, turn around, go through the yellow doors marked escalator, and go one flight up to Hall C. That's where I'm sitting now. I was so excited to be back cruising that I woke up early and couldn't get back to sleep. I left the hotel a few minutes before 8am, and was at the port by 8:30. A clarification on the taxi lane I mentioned last time. The right lane splits into two, so you can be to the left of the line of taxis, but then make sure you stay to the right of the cones to turn into the garage. The car rental return was painless. I headed to the security gate as I did two weeks ago, but was told to head up to Hall C to check-in first. I questioned the security guy repeatedly and asked if this had changed in the last two weeks. He said yes, because of the delays in boarding, they were switching things around. Since I was so early, I'm the 3rd person sitting in the huge waiting area. I'm told check-in will begin at 10am. Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare CanadianBurger Posted May 20, 2016 Author #6 Share Posted May 20, 2016 There is water available in Hall C. Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare CanadianBurger Posted May 20, 2016 Author #7 Share Posted May 20, 2016 They've set up the queues for check-in. There's both a regular and a preferred. [emoji2] When you enter the hall, you're given a Group # card. I think they're on Group 3 at 9:40am. Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JF - retired RRT Posted May 20, 2016 #8 Share Posted May 20, 2016 That picture of the waiting area was one EMPTY room!!:eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
croaziera Posted May 20, 2016 #9 Share Posted May 20, 2016 My flight lands in Vancouver at 11:30 am, and I hope to be at Canada place by 1 pm and on the ship by 2 pm. Save some food and drinks for me as I will be hungry and thirsty by then. Robert Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare CanadianBurger Posted May 20, 2016 Author #10 Share Posted May 20, 2016 (edited) 10:05. Haven't started check-in yet. Room is filling up. Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Edited May 20, 2016 by CanadianBurger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare CanadianBurger Posted May 20, 2016 Author #11 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Check-in has begun! Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare CanadianBurger Posted May 20, 2016 Author #12 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Check-in was a breeze. It wasn't clear, but after check-in, leave Hall C and go back down the escalator to Security. I was the first one through security and the first one through customs. When you get to customs, if you show your Nexus or GE card, you can go up the middle instead of winding through the queue. Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare CanadianBurger Posted May 20, 2016 Author #13 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Ship not cleared yet, so we're in a temporary area after customs and before the embarkation lounge. Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare CanadianBurger Posted May 20, 2016 Author #14 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Oh - was handed a walk-off group card during check-in. I guess people weren't reading their disembarkation notice in their cabin. Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare CanadianBurger Posted May 20, 2016 Author #15 Share Posted May 20, 2016 They're re-boarding the in-transit passengers now. Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare CanadianBurger Posted May 20, 2016 Author #16 Share Posted May 20, 2016 I have a feeling there's no embarkation lounge with snacks like for the Ruby. Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idahospud Posted May 20, 2016 #17 Share Posted May 20, 2016 In transits back on board! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idahospud Posted May 20, 2016 #18 Share Posted May 20, 2016 I have a feeling there's no embarkation lounge with snacks like for the Ruby. Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app There is for Preferred. Platinum, Elite, Suites. When we just came through no one had been seated in there yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare CanadianBurger Posted May 20, 2016 Author #19 Share Posted May 20, 2016 I was incorrect. They opened the embarkation lounges. There's the usual coffee and snacks in the preferred lounge. Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare CanadianBurger Posted May 20, 2016 Author #20 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare CanadianBurger Posted May 20, 2016 Author #21 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Several wedding parties are boarding. We're still waiting at 11:30. Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare CanadianBurger Posted May 20, 2016 Author #22 Share Posted May 20, 2016 11:45 and on board. I've got an aft balcony on Baha this cruise. Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare CanadianBurger Posted May 20, 2016 Author #23 Share Posted May 20, 2016 My favourite bartender, Zen, was at Crooners. Had my traditional boarding martini, now to the MDR for lunch. Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare CanadianBurger Posted May 20, 2016 Author #24 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Lunch menu. Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare CanadianBurger Posted May 20, 2016 Author #25 Share Posted May 20, 2016 There's butter on the table, so not all ships are serving butter. Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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