B2B in Vancouver

[RweTHEREyet]

I haven't been following the sailings enough to know if there would have been an opportunity to do a B2b where the middle of the trip would be in Vancouver, but I am hoping maybe so.

If anyone has done this, sailed and then stayed on the ship in Vancouver, I would like to hear what your experience was like.

We have done a B2B out of Florida, but we didn't have to deal with customs, just last off the ship, down the escalator, and then back up the other escalator into the terminal again. I am thinking it might be a bit different in Vancouver.

 

[Disney Dreams]

I haven't been following the sailings enough to know if there would have been an opportunity to do a B2b where the middle of the trip would be in Vancouver, but I am hoping maybe so.

If anyone has done this, sailed and then stayed on the ship in Vancouver, I would like to hear what your experience was like.

We have done a B2B out of Florida, but we didn't have to deal with customs, just last off the ship, down the escalator, and then back up the other escalator into the terminal again. I am thinking it might be a bit different in Vancouver.

Where would your first cruise start and your second cruise end?

- Dreams

 

[lbgraves]

If you are talking about taking the west coast cruise from San Diego or LA to Vancouver and then do a cruise to Alaska from Vancouver, I remember people who were booked to do those as B2B last year being notified they could not do so and had to choose which cruise they wanted to take. There are custom rules involved.

 

[dolphingirl47]

We are doing the Los Angeles to Vancouver Repo and then the first Alaska cruise of the season this year. The problem last year was that the first Alaska cruise started in Vancover, but ended in Seattle. So the back to back cruisers went from one US port to another without stopping at a distant foreign port, which is not allowed.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

If you are talking about taking the west coast cruise from San Diego or LA to Vancouver and then do a cruise to Alaska from Vancouver, I remember people who were booked to do those as B2B last year being notified they could not do so and had to choose which cruise they wanted to take. There are custom rules involved.

That was only for the 2011 season. The B2B that year started in LA and ended in Seattle. And it's against the PVSA for a cruiseship to transport a passenger from one US city to a different US city without a stop in a distant foreign port. The closest distant foreign port on that itinerary is over 5 days away.

The 2013/2014 cruises will be doable. 2013 B2B LA-Van & Van-Van; 2014 B2B San Diego-Van & Van-Van.

 

[jilljill]

That was only for the 2011 season. The B2B that year started in LA and ended in Seattle. And it's against the PVSA for a cruiseship to transport a passenger from one US city to a different US city without a stop in a distant foreign port. The closest distant foreign port on that itinerary is over 5 days away.

The 2013/2014 cruises will be doable. 2013 B2B LA-Van & Van-Van; 2014 B2B San Diego-Van & Van-Van.

Actually the cruise you are mentioning was done in 2012 not 2011. The 2011 AK cruises started in Vancouver, the 2012 AK cruises started in Seattle.

Also, the last repo cruises of the '13 and '14 seasons are doable as B2B's.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Actually the cruise you are mentioning was done in 2012 not 2011. The 2011 AK cruises started in Vancouver, the 2012 AK cruises started in Seattle.

Also, the last repo cruises of the '13 and '14 seasons are doable as B2B's.

You're right It's still too early in the "new" year, I forget what year it is.

 

[clten]

We did b2b in 2011 on the LA to Van repositioning and RT Vancouver Alaska. We have done b2b w/DCL in many ports -- PC, NY, LA. Vancouver was the absolute worst. It's not DCL's fault but a matter of timing with customs. You have to be off the ship by 9ish to go through Canadian customs. You can't even begin going through (US) customs to get back on for about an hour and a half -- and there is no good place to wait as you are in Canada Place lobby and there aren't many, if any, chairs there.

We are doing the b2b again this year. I think they offered an excursion to the b2b guests last time. Hoping they do the same this year because if they do, we will certainly be taking them up on it. Much better to be out and about seeing something than standing around bored.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Where would your first cruise start and your second cruise end?

- Dreams

First cruise is 5-night San Diego to Vancouver and then
9-night Vancouver-Alaska-Vancouver

 

[RweTHEREyet]

If you are talking about taking the west coast cruise from San Diego or LA to Vancouver and then do a cruise to Alaska from Vancouver, I remember people who were booked to do those as B2B last year being notified they could not do so and had to choose which cruise they wanted to take. There are custom rules involved.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

We did b2b in 2011 on the LA to Van repositioning and RT Vancouver Alaska. We have done b2b w/DCL in many ports -- PC, NY, LA. Vancouver was the absolute worst. It's not DCL's fault but a matter of timing with customs. You have to be off the ship by 9ish to go through Canadian customs. You can't even begin going through (US) customs to get back on for about an hour and a half -- and there is no good place to wait as you are in Canada Place lobby and there aren't many, if any, chairs there.

We are doing the b2b again this year. I think they offered an excursion to the b2b guests last time. Hoping they do the same this year because if they do, we will certainly be taking them up on it. Much better to be out and about seeing something than standing around bored.

Well geesh, I might be sorry I asked. The one in Fl was so easy and seamless that it makes this one sound like a real pain the tukus.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

We did b2b in 2011 on the LA to Van repositioning and RT Vancouver Alaska. We have done b2b w/DCL in many ports -- PC, NY, LA. Vancouver was the absolute worst. It's not DCL's fault but a matter of timing with customs. You have to be off the ship by 9ish to go through Canadian customs. You can't even begin going through (US) customs to get back on for about an hour and a half -- and there is no good place to wait as you are in Canada Place lobby and there aren't many, if any, chairs there.

We are doing the b2b again this year. I think they offered an excursion to the b2b guests last time. Hoping they do the same this year because if they do, we will certainly be taking them up on it. Much better to be out and about seeing something than standing around bored.

Were you staying in the same cabin for both cruises? If so, did you get to leave everything in your cabin?

Were you able to reboard before everyone else in Vancouver or did you get lumped into the rest of the crowd?


Also wondering what all you had to take off the ship with you in Vancouver besides your passport?

 

[tink1963]

We did b2b in 2011 on the LA to Van repositioning and RT Vancouver Alaska. We have done b2b w/DCL in many ports -- PC, NY, LA. Vancouver was the absolute worst. It's not DCL's fault but a matter of timing with customs. You have to be off the ship by 9ish to go through Canadian customs. You can't even begin going through (US) customs to get back on for about an hour and a half -- and there is no good place to wait as you are in Canada Place lobby and there aren't many, if any, chairs there.

We are doing the b2b again this year. I think they offered an excursion to the b2b guests last time. Hoping they do the same this year because if they do, we will certainly be taking them up on it. Much better to be out and about seeing something than standing around bored.

I was planning on doing the hop-on/hop off bus and maybe Granville Island. Do you have to get right back on? An excursion option would be great too.

 

[tink1963]

Were you staying in the same cabin for both cruises? If so, did you get to leave everything in your cabin?

Were you able to reboard before everyone else in Vancouver or did you get lumped into the rest of the crowd?


Also wondering what all you had to take off the ship with you in Vancouver besides your passport?

I just asked a friend who has done may b2b cruise and having the same cabin, and yes you just leave everything there. She said it was "wonderful"

 

[squirrel]

Unless you are planning to see Vancouver before or after your cruise, you might as well check it out during the B2B.

Lots of things to see nearby. Stanley Park, SeaBus over to Lonsdale Quay, etc.

 

[Susiesark]

First cruise is 5-night San Diego to Vancouver and then
9-night Vancouver-Alaska-Vancouver

May '13 is LA to Vancouver. May '14 is San Diego to Vancouver.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

May '13 is LA to Vancouver. May '14 is San Diego to Vancouver.

Yes, we are May 2014, San Diego to Vancouver.

 

[Himmin]

Hey we are on this b2b cruise too!! Hope they do offer wil kind of trip if it is a nightmare!

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Hey we are on this b2b cruise too!! Hope they do offer wil kind of trip if it is a nightmare!

I know, it was your post on our Meets thread that inspired me to check it out. It will be far easier for me to fly into San Diego over the weekend and board on Monday than it will be to fly to Seattle/then get to Vancouver/to board on Saturday. That's some rationale, isn't it.

But I had images of how easy it was to do the B2B in Florida, and I don't know that this is going to be the case in Vancouver.


Updated June 30, 2014. Little did I know when I wrote this back in February that it was going to be such a pain to find a descent hotel in San Diego at a reasonable rate. I am finding either fully booked already for May 2014 (university graduations and conventions) or sticker shock prices for me.

 

[clten]

Other than the customs wait, the b2b was the same as in other ports -- you can leave your stuff in the room (same cabin on each leg is a must for us) or on the ship if you are moving cabins and have the cabin steward move it. You only have to take off your customs things, boarding paperwork and anything else you are going to need for a couple of hours.

It wasn't exactly a nightmare -- it was just not a smooth process and DCL didn't help because it was their first trip into Vancouver and the people who were leading the crowd were completely clueless. (If it was that bad, we would not be doing it again this year.)

Now as far as b2b's, these usually get quite a crowd since they are very different cruises and are great ones to combine. So we were also delayed just by the #'s of people lining up waiting for US customs to open. And we were able to get back on the ship before the new cruisers but just barely (I think it was less than 1/2 hr before the new cruisers started arriving.) So you do lose out on a lot of perks of a b2b.

That's why I am looking forward to touring around Vancouver rather than waiting around to get back on board.

For whoever asked, you always have the option when sailing b2b not to reboard right away and leaving the terminal to explore. I know if you do this on your own, you are just like the new cruisers -- have to check in and be on board by the time required. If you do a DCL excursion, I don't know if they handle the recheck in before you leave for the tour so you can just walk back on board when the excursion is done. I guess I'll find out in May -- if they offer Vancouver excursions to us b2b'ers.