Transportation Advice - From Vancouver Airport to Pier

[ssolomon56]

We're boarding the Mercury on Friday for an Alaskan cruise. We had planned to take a taxi from the airport to the port. The Cruise ships' transfer bus from the airport to the pier have always seemed over-priced and disorganized - so we rarely go that route.

 

However, I just read that Vancouver has a US Direct option. If you buy the transfers you can skip the 2-hour custom line. Now I'm wondering if we made the wrong chice...and if it's too late to change my mind. :o

 

Does anyone have any experience with the Vancouver airport situation in this regard. Our flight arrives at 11:16 from SFO.

[DaveFr]

We arrived in Vancouver on August 30th at about 3:15 pm. Traffic was heavy because it was the start of an extended holiday weekend. Had we gone straight to Customs, we would have gotten through Customs quickly. However, we made a restroom stop which allowed the passengers from two or three 747s to catch up with us. Even with all the extra passengers, I doubt it took more than 30 minutes to get through Canadian Customs.

 

The time you spend in line is really dependent on what other flights arrive shortly before and after your flight. Here's a link to real time arrival information for the Vancouver airport. (http://www.yvr.ca/index.asp). Take a look at the web site tomorrow morning to get an idea about other flights arriving around the time your flight arrives. Gook luck.

[ssolomon56]

We arrived in Vancouver on August 30th at about 3:15 pm. Traffic was heavy because it was the start of an extended holiday weekend. Had we gone straight to Customs, we would have gotten through Customs quickly. However, we made a restroom stop which allowed the passengers from two or three 747s to catch up with us. Even with all the extra passengers, I doubt it took more than 30 minutes to get through Canadian Customs.

 

The time you spend in line is really dependent on what other flights arrive shortly before and after your flight. Here's a link to real time arrival information for the Vancouver airport. (http://www.yvr.ca/index.asp). Take a look at the web site tomorrow morning to get an idea about other flights arriving around the time your flight arrives. Gook luck.

 

Hey Dave...thanks so much! This is EXACTLY the kind of info I was hoping for. I feel much better now!

[lola's mom]

US Direct is only $20 a piece. Cheaper than a taxi and NO customs. You get off the plane, stay on the same floor and follow the signs to US Direct. They put you on a bus and take you to the pier ... and they capture your bags for you so you meet up with them in your stateroom.

 

I doubt that it is too late. I called Celebrity, they charged by account and FAXed my passes to me.

 

Other posters have been happy as clams!

[ssolomon56]

US Direct is only $20 a piece. Cheaper than a taxi and NO customs. You get off the plane' date=' stay on the same floor and follow the signs to US Direct. They put you on a bus and take you to the pier ... and they capture your bags for you so you meet up with them in your stateroom.

 

I doubt that it is too late. I called Celebrity, they charged by account and FAXed my passes to me.

 

Other posters have been happy as clams![/quote']

 

Well...I'm just going to have to make sure I do it that way next time that my cruise STARTS out of the country. I just called Celebrity, and it's too late. We'll just have to keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best. :)

[shawn&angie]

Received our luggage tags a day or so ago for our Nov. 2nd cruise on Mercury. Was reading information on U.S. Direct and it says that you must Arrive in Vancouver prior to 2p.m day of sailing to use this service.

 

As the ship does not leave till mid night, our flight does not arrive until after 4p.m. Does anyone know if U.S. Direct would still be available to us?

[wiselindag]

We flew into Vancouver on a Saturday morning in early August.

 

Customs/Immigration was crowded, but the line moved very fast. The taxi from the airport to Canada Place was less than I expected -- with the tip around $36 (not sure of the exact amount but I remember thinking that the bus was $12 a person and we did great with the price of the taxi for the three of us). We had virtually no traffic... just a few lights in Richmond and the usual lights after we crossed the bridge into the downtown area.

 

We actually spent the night at the Pan Pacific and boarded our ship the next day (Sunday)... Canada Place is very well organized and easy.

 

On the return trip we also took a taxi to the airport. The one surprise was that at the Vancouver Airport the line to go to security was very long (this was a Tuesday morning). We had plenty of time so it was no problem.

 

This was our second Alaskan cruise and it was great. Have a wonderful time!

 

Linda