Vancouver transfers

[*pixie*]

We are planning a cruise to Alaska in hopefully 2014, but if not, 2013. It will be my family of 4 plus my parents. As of now, we will fly directly into Vancouver the night before, even though it is more expensive than Seattle, just to make things easier. We are also thinking of staying at the Pan Pacific right at the port, again just to simplify things.

What would be the easiest way to transfer from the Vancouver airport to Pan Pacific or one of the hotels by the port? And, from the port back to airport? We will already be spending so much on the direct flights, that if possible, I would like the transfers to be on cheaper side.

I thought that I had over a year to plan for this, but now with the possibility that it is less than a year, I'm slightly frazzled!

 

[luv2sleep]

We are planning a cruise to Alaska in hopefully 2014, but if not, 2013. It will be my family of 4 plus my parents. As of now, we will fly directly into Vancouver the night before, even though it is more expensive than Seattle, just to make things easier. We are also thinking of staying at the Pan Pacific right at the port, again just to simplify things.

What would be the easiest way to transfer from the Vancouver airport to Pan Pacific or one of the hotels by the port? And, from the port back to airport? We will already be spending so much on the direct flights, that if possible, I would like the transfers to be on cheaper side.

I thought that I had over a year to plan for this, but now with the possibility that it is less than a year, I'm slightly frazzled!

I was planning on the Pan Pacific too for the same reason and am interested in this answer. Also will be flying into Vancouver.

 

[GrumpyBelle]

We booked a limo for the 6 of us last year for ~$100 from the airport to the Pan Pacific. Used DCL transfers to go from the ship back to the airport.

 

[MaryLou1962]

I don't know how mobile your parents are, but we always just take the Skytrain Canada Line from the airport to the waterfront, one block from the hotel. It takes less than 30 minutes and is about $8 (I think). For 6 x $8 I think a cab would be cheaper or about the same.

Something to check into.

 

[tajz90]

We stayed at the Pan Pacific and took the train. Easy and cheap Train station is right around the corner from Pan.

Great hotel. Kids loved waking up and watching ship sail in.

 

[*pixie*]

Thanks for the replies. My parents are in their 50s so mobility is not an issue, but they don't travel at all so I want to make it easy. Will our luggage be an issue with any of these suggestions? I'm guessing everyone will have a big suitcase and a carry on.

 

[OrcaPotter]

I'm thinking of booking the Pan Pacific for at least 1 night pre-cruise, but after coming in to Vancouver via the Amtrak Cascades from Seattle. As nice as it is to simply fly into Vancouver, the difference in price is significant. The ride up on the Cascades sounds like an experience in and of itself.

 

[Gilland18]

We got a car service limo at the airport (there is a desk there that will help find one for us). It was nearly the same price as a taxi, around $40, if memory is correct. We just walked around the corner at the port the day we returned and got a minivan taxi (there is a whole line of them waiting) to go to the airport. It worked very well for us. Word of warning, the porters at the airport expected a lot more than a couple of dollars a bag to move our luggage. It wasn't that far - we should have just pushed our own luggage cart.

 

[luv2sleep]

Doing your own transfers I guess means lugging your own luggage. I don't want to do that. Are there shuttles like Super Shuttle ready and waiting and available at the airport? If so how much is that? How far is the airport? Does the Pan Pacific have a shuttle from the airport?

 

[NWmom]

I also want to sugest the Fairmont Waterfront as a hotel option. It is dierectly across the street from the Pan Pacific and they offered complimentary luggage transfer to the port. Even if they did not- it is just across the street.

Having another option is always nice.

We took the Amtrak Cascades train up. There is a morning train that arrives around 1 (ours was delayed) and one that arrives at night.
Do not take the trsain the day of the cruise in case of delays, it only adds stress.

We found minivan cabs plentiful and inexpensive. Around $10 US from the train station to the port area.

Have a good trip.

 

[tajz90]

I'm thinking of booking the Pan Pacific for at least 1 night pre-cruise, but after coming in to Vancouver via the Amtrak Cascades from Seattle. As nice as it is to simply fly into Vancouver, the difference in price is significant. The ride up on the Cascades sounds like an experience in and of itself.

We flew directly into Canada, but out of Seattle and saved some. The train experience wasn't as nice as I was expecting. We kept wondering if we took the wrong route. Glad we did it, but only because I would have always wondered if we missed something.

 

[jennypenny]

The train from the airport is cheap and easy.

We stayed at the Marriott about two blocks away from the Pan Pacific and liked it. (I mention it because they sleep 5 in one room if needed)

Note: Cabs in Vancouver will only carry 4 people--NO EXCEPTIONS--so keep that in mind with your party of 5. We were two adults and three kids and ended up using the trains and busses (easy) because we couldn't use cabs.

 

[stsomewhere]

We stayed at the Pan Pacific and took the train. Easy and cheap Train station is right around the corner from Pan.

Great hotel. Kids loved waking up and watching ship sail in.

We did this,too.

We made sure that everyone could pull their own luggage.
We each had one lrge rolling suitcase with a carry on attached to it and a backpack.

 

[son3disfan]

The train from the airport is cheap and easy.

We stayed at the Marriott about two blocks away from the Pan Pacific and liked it. (I mention it because they sleep 5 in one room if needed)

Note: Cabs in Vancouver will only carry 4 people--NO EXCEPTIONS--so keep that in mind with your party of 5. We were two adults and three kids and ended up using the trains and busses (easy) because we couldn't use cabs.

I cannot find a Marriott Hotel that sleeps 5 anywhere in Vancouver. I have been searching ...believe me! Their policy / rooms must have changed.
Have been to each hotels website, as well as Marriotts main page.

 

[jennypenny]

This Marriott definitely does. Call them directly. As long as some are kids, they will do it. We used a rollaway. It was tight, but workable.

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/yvrdt-vancouver-marriott-pinnacle-downtown-hotel/

 

[luv2sleep]

We did this,too.

We made sure that everyone could pull their own luggage.
We each had one lrge rolling suitcase with a carry on attached to it and a backpack.

What are the options to get to the Pan Pacific if everyone cannot pull their own luggage?

 

[jennypenny]

There was a "limo" desk on the way out after getting your luggage. It was $60 plus tip last year.

 

[luv2sleep]

There was a "limo" desk on the way out after getting your luggage. It was $60 plus tip last year.

Oh good. That's reasonable. I live in the Los Angeles area and ground transport here is outrageous.

 

[Gigi22]

We always just grab a cab from the Vancouver airport to the port. We were able to get a limo that was between runs--he charged us the same rate as a cab, so we tipped well!

I should also put in a good word for the Fairmont Hotel at the Vancouver Airport, it is a really nice hotel--absolutely no noise from the airport.

 

[luv2sleep]

We always just grab a cab from the Vancouver airport to the port. We were able to get a limo that was between runs--he charged us the same rate as a cab, so we tipped well!

I should also put in a good word for the Fairmont Hotel at the Vancouver Airport, it is a really nice hotel--absolutely no noise from the airport.

Good to know! Why do people take limos if a can is the same price? Is the limo nicer?