**** Vancouver FAQ Thread **** A few updates in main post!

[smeecanada]

So the quick shuttle is a bus? I was thinking it was another type of train service.

We plan on coming in a couple of days ahead to see some sights.

Yes, the shuttle is a bus.

 

[wdhinn89]

OK, I am confused,

Isn't Bellingham in Washington? If it is, the shuttle will take you over the border to Vancouver?

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

OK, I am confused,

Isn't Bellingham in Washington? If it is, the shuttle will take you over the border to Vancouver?

Yes, the bus takes you over the border if you are flying in/out of seattle or bellingham to save money.

Best bet is to go to the link I put on the first post www.quickcoach.com and take a look.
During cruise ship season they pick up at the port.

 

[BLTOH]

OK, I am confused,

Isn't Bellingham in Washington? If it is, the shuttle will take you over the border to Vancouver?

Bellingham is in the upper northwest side of washington. it is the closest airport to the border to get to vancouver. Seattle is another one but it is farther south. We are planning on flying into bellingham over seattle and vancouver only cause it is cheaper in the long run for us.

 

[HappyGrumpy]

Is Canada Place the cruise terminal? I am trying to figure out which hotel is the closest in to the ship. If we go in a couple days early I don't want to pay for transfers with DCL if I can walk across the street.

HG

 

[pillow]

It should also be noted that the price Disney is offering for pre-cruise nights at the Fairmont will possibly be higher than what you can book directly through the hotel yourself. I noticed that the Fairmont is offering a $269 per night rate for July, 2010. Who knows what prices will be in 2011, but I believe I read where Disney has already posted a price of $300+.

Jodie

 

[trimix]

oh ok was thinking you were saying from Virginia to seattle.. We are thinking same thing but was going to go into bellingham instead of seattle. although after checking prices for checked luggage price differences arent much into either airport now. if we could get a bedroom type suite on amtrak it would be way cheaper for the entire trip. good thing i have 2 yrs to plan this out

The Amtrak Cascades route does not have bedrooms, but the route between Seattle (or Bellingham) and Vancouver is so short you won't need one.

Is Canada Place the cruise terminal? I am trying to figure out which hotel is the closest in to the ship. If we go in a couple days early I don't want to pay for transfers with DCL if I can walk across the street.

Yes, the cruise terminal is at Canada Place. And, unless Disney has very convenient transportation to and from the Seattle airport (which I doubt they will do) then Disney transfers are unnecessary. From Seattle or Vancouver, take a shuttle to Canada Place or the Vancouver airport. From Vancouver airport, take the Skytrain to Canada Place.

For those asking about flying into Bellingham, if you can get a good deal I say go for it - it's a beautiful airport and small enough that the TSA is usually very fast and very easy. If the price is a bit high, Seattle is still very convenient, but plan on at least three hours after baggage claim to get to Canada Place. With traffic or border waits it can easily take five hours. Bellingham or Seattle, there is no way I would fly in the day of the cruise.

 

[pillow]

If the price is a bit high, Seattle is still very convenient, but plan on at least three hours after baggage claim to get to Canada Place. With traffic or border waits it can easily take five hours. Bellingham or Seattle, there is no way I would fly in the day of the cruise.

I'm forgetting where I've posted things, so I just want to say again that IF SOMEONE MISSES THE SHIP IN VANCOUVER, THEY WON'T BE ALLOWED TO BOARD IN ANY PORT! DCL said it has something to do with foreign port regulations. You better bet my butt will be there at least the day before!

Jodie

 

[mrsmoore]

The Amtrak Cascades route does not have bedrooms, but the route between Seattle (or Bellingham) and Vancouver is so short you won't need one.



Yes, the cruise terminal is at Canada Place. And, unless Disney has very convenient transportation to and from the Seattle airport (which I doubt they will do) then Disney transfers are unnecessary. From Seattle or Vancouver, take a shuttle to Canada Place or the Vancouver airport. From Vancouver airport, take the Skytrain to Canada Place.

For those asking about flying into Bellingham, if you can get a good deal I say go for it - it's a beautiful airport and small enough that the TSA is usually very fast and very easy. If the price is a bit high, Seattle is still very convenient, but plan on at least three hours after baggage claim to get to Canada Place. With traffic or border waits it can easily take five hours. Bellingham or Seattle, there is no way I would fly in the day of the cruise.

I would totally agree, especially if you are flying into Seattle, do NOT go day of. In the AM traffic from the airport through Seattle on a weekday morning would not be fun, and you don't want to be late. Thinking about it, the Amtrak is a morning train, you would probably want to arrive in Seattle Sunday evening, Amtrak it Monday, cruise Tuesday. That is if you are flying into Seattle.

 

[STLDisney_Freak]

I don't know if this link is posted yet, but it has some good information for cruisers going to vancouver port .

http://www.portmetrovancouver.com/about/cruiseandtourism.aspx

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

Is Canada Place the cruise terminal? I am trying to figure out which hotel is the closest in to the ship. If we go in a couple days early I don't want to pay for transfers with DCL if I can walk across the street.

HG

Please see the first main post that I am updating. It has all of this info there for everyone to avoid tons of repeat questions.
I hope to have tons and tons of info over the next few months, but these cruises are still many moons away!

 

[jilljill]

Please see the first main post that I am updating. It has all of this info there for everyone to avoid tons of repeat questions.
I hope to have tons and tons of info over the next few months, but these cruises are still many moons away!

Thank you so much for doing this.

 

[Doingitagain]

Which of the three Fairmont hotels that DCL is offering for pre-post stays do you recommend if we add a few days for touring?

 

[HappyGrumpy]

Please see the first main post that I am updating. It has all of this info there for everyone to avoid tons of repeat questions.
I hope to have tons and tons of info over the next few months, but these cruises are still many moons away!

Your a Saint for doing this! Thank You & God Bless You!!

 

[mousemom11]

It's not a fun drive through downtown Seattle from the airport headed north to Vancouver.

Ugh, I'm not sure that I would even call it a "drive". During morning and afternoon rush hours I-5 traffic from the airport through downtown and beyond is nothing more than a glorified parking lot.

Living in Bellingham, my plan would be to drive to the Vancouver airport and use long-term parking there, then take the Skytrain to Canada Place to board.

That's a great idea. It looks like it's about half the cost of parking at the port. To avoid the schlepping of mountains of luggage on the Skytrain, the driver can drop off passengers and luggage at the Port, go park at the airport, and take the Skytrain back.

And a note about SeaTac baggage claim.... its a bit slow. We have never lost a bag, but we have several family jokes about the speed at which our bags appear

To say that SeaTac baggage claim is a bit slow is like saying that childbirth is a bit painful. I swear that they hand-carry each piece of luggage from the plane to baggage claim.

I would totally agree, especially if you are flying into Seattle, do NOT go day of. In the AM traffic from the airport through Seattle on a weekday morning would not be fun, and you don't want to be late. Thinking about it, the Amtrak is a morning train, you would probably want to arrive in Seattle Sunday evening, Amtrak it Monday, cruise Tuesday. That is if you are flying into Seattle.

Currently, Amtrak runs 2 trains from Seattle - Vancouver. The first leaves downtown Seattle at 7:40 am and arrives in Vancouver at 11:35 am. The second leaves Seattle at 6:50 pm and arrives in Vancouver at 10:45 pm. So, if you time your Monday flight right, you could land in Seattle, take light rail/cab/shared van etc to the Amtrak station, and Amtrak to Vancouver all in one day. It sure would be an awfully long day, though.

For the return trip, Amtrak doesn't really look do-able in 1 day. The first train from Vancouver to Seattle leaves at 6:40 am, so that's out. The second train doesn't leave until 5:45 pm and arrives in Seattle at 10:05 pm. Looks like QuickCoach would be the better return option, as they run buses throughout the day.

 

[DisneyCruiser2008]

bump

 

[BLTOH]

Currently, Amtrak runs 2 trains from Seattle - Vancouver. The first leaves downtown Seattle at 7:40 am and arrives in Vancouver at 11:35 am. The second leaves Seattle at 6:50 pm and arrives in Vancouver at 10:45 pm. So, if you time your Monday flight right, you could land in Seattle, take light rail/cab/shared van etc to the Amtrak station, and Amtrak to Vancouver all in one day. It sure would be an awfully long day, though.

For the return trip, Amtrak doesn't really look do-able in 1 day. The first train from Vancouver to Seattle leaves at 6:40 am, so that's out. The second train doesn't leave until 5:45 pm and arrives in Seattle at 10:05 pm. Looks like QuickCoach would be the better return option, as they run buses throughout the day.

what would be a good time frame to get into bellingham or even seattle to get to the amtrak before the 7:40 one leaves? we still prefer bellingham but we are checking into seattle now as we since we will be flying to pheonix after the cruise. need to compare prices.

 

[mrsmoore]

what would be a good time frame to get into bellingham or even seattle to get to the amtrak before the 7:40 one leaves? we still prefer bellingham but we are checking into seattle now as we since we will be flying to pheonix after the cruise. need to compare prices.

To be safe, I would give myself a couple of hours, start to finish, I would rather hang in the Amtrak station a bit then get stuck in traffic. There are a couple of different ways to get from the airport to the station, so if you are in a towncar or shuttle, I would hope they would use alternatives. Also, if you have a carpool, there is a designated lane on I-5. If you choose to do light rail, I would add a bit more time, it is not done yet, so don't know how often will run.

 

[mrsmoore]

Currently, Amtrak runs 2 trains from Seattle - Vancouver. The first leaves downtown Seattle at 7:40 am and arrives in Vancouver at 11:35 am. The second leaves Seattle at 6:50 pm and arrives in Vancouver at 10:45 pm. So, if you time your Monday flight right, you could land in Seattle, take light rail/cab/shared van etc to the Amtrak station, and Amtrak to Vancouver all in one day. It sure would be an awfully long day, though.

For the return trip, Amtrak doesn't really look do-able in 1 day. The first train from Vancouver to Seattle leaves at 6:40 am, so that's out. The second train doesn't leave until 5:45 pm and arrives in Seattle at 10:05 pm. Looks like QuickCoach would be the better return option, as they run buses throughout the day.

Sorry, I did not know there was two. I would much rather wait for the 5:45 pm train, since we will get off in Everett or Edmonds, then the quick coach, I don't like the idea of having to get off and back on the bus at the border.

 

[BLTOH]

To be safe, I would give myself a couple of hours, start to finish, I would rather hang in the Amtrak station a bit then get stuck in traffic. There are a couple of different ways to get from the airport to the station, so if you are in a towncar or shuttle, I would hope they would use alternatives. Also, if you have a carpool, there is a designated lane on I-5. If you choose to do light rail, I would add a bit more time, it is not done yet, so don't know how often will run.

thinking we might be better off coming in nite before and staying in seattle or bellingham and then catching amtrak the next morning.. i have a feeling this going from east coast to west coast is going to be a rough one