Alaska Cruise.. Earliest flight to consider for coming home?

[MarriedAtDisney]

We're on an Alaskan Cruise that docks August 21st in Vancouver at 8am. What's the earliest flight we should consider to be flying back home to the east coast US.

 

[Shanti]

We're on an Alaskan Cruise that docs August 21st in Vancouver at 8am. What's the earliest flight we should consider to be flying back home to the east coast US.

DCL suggests nothing before noon, & I'd stick with that. Remember that it'll be an international flight. We're going next year & are going to spend disembarkation day in Vancouver, then fly back to Texas the next morning. It's the only way we can avoid a red-eye flight home, or else having to go all the way to Seattle to catch a flight. We booked the Vancouver Airport hotel via DCL, so we'll be able to wake up the next morning & walk down to our flight.

 

[MarriedAtDisney]

"We booked the Vancouver Airport hotel via DCL, so we'll be able to wake up the next morning & walk down to our flight."

Wow. Cool. So basically you're already thru security? Where on the DCL website can you do this? We already have our cruise booked - I assume we can add this? Did you also use the transfers? Will you be able to go do something in town that day as well? (sorry for the million questions).

 

[Shanti]

"We booked the Vancouver Airport hotel via DCL, so we'll be able to wake up the next morning & walk down to our flight."

Wow. Cool. So basically you're already thru security? Where on the DCL website can you do this? We already have our cruise booked - I assume we can add this? Did you also use the transfers? Will you be able to go do something in town that day as well? (sorry for the million questions).

No, not through security. But no having to drive to the airport. Just call DCL to book a hotel stay before and/or after. You can't do it online. Yes, definitely you can spend disembarkation day touring Vancouver highlights like the suspension bridge and fly over Canada. Have a great trip!

 

[Oh Henry]

Curious if there have been instances of ships disembarking later than expected in Vancouver?

Reading through some trip reports for the Wonder it seems delays due to fog in Galveston was a theme. Vancouver seems like a mild weathered city from my previous experiences so I don't think they'd have to worry about fog or storms etc especially over the Summer months

 

[MarriedAtDisney]

One more question then. If we decide to catch a flight the next day - and stay at the airport or within a mile. How much time should we plan on needing to be at the airport prior to our flight? i.e. we see an 8 a.m. flight. Should we plan on being at the airport by 6:30? I wasn't sure how much pre flight security/international lines we should plan for. (I'm a worst case planner). Has anyone stayed at the Marriott hotel within a mile of the airport?

Thanks again!

 

[Geomom]

One more question then. If we decide to catch a flight the next day - and stay at the airport or within a mile. How much time should we plan on needing to be at the airport prior to our flight? i.e. we see an 8 a.m. flight. Should we plan on being at the airport by 6:30? I wasn't sure how much pre flight security/international lines we should plan for. (I'm a worst case planner). Has anyone stayed at the Marriott hotel within a mile of the airport?

Thanks again!

If your flight is going to the US, you'll be hitting US customs in Vancouver. If you're changing planes in Canada (we had a change in Toronto), you'll go through customs at your final Canadian city. (We went through customs in Toronto.) So add more time if you're going through both security and customs.

I just checked AirCanada for general Canadian travel. If you're traveling to the US, you should check in 2 hrs. before your flight--the latest you can check in/check baggage is 1 hr before. If you're traveling within Canada, you should check in 1 1/2 hrs before your flight--the latest you can check in is 45 minutes before.

 

[bcwife76]

One more question then. If we decide to catch a flight the next day - and stay at the airport or within a mile. How much time should we plan on needing to be at the airport prior to our flight? i.e. we see an 8 a.m. flight. Should we plan on being at the airport by 6:30? I wasn't sure how much pre flight security/international lines we should plan for. (I'm a worst case planner). Has anyone stayed at the Marriott hotel within a mile of the airport?

Thanks again!

I live in Vancouver. We often take flights that leave between 8am and 9am for the US. For an 8am flight you want to be at the airport no later than 6am.

 

[bcwife76]

Curious if there have been instances of ships disembarking later than expected in Vancouver?

Reading through some trip reports for the Wonder it seems delays due to fog in Galveston was a theme. Vancouver seems like a mild weathered city from my previous experiences so I don't think they'd have to worry about fog or storms etc especially over the Summer months

Unlikely, unless it's due to a mechanical problem with the ship. Vancouver does not get a lot of fog and when we do, it's not during the summer months that is for sure!

 

[xlxo]

Here's a tentative timeline....

• 7am ship docks... sometimes earlier... sometimes later...
• 7:30am first walk offs are permitted after 30 minute docking procedures
• 8:25am roughly get into cab for the 35 minute trip to the airport
• 9am arrive at YVR for check-in, US customs and security searches (baggage, carry-on's, WMD's, ULU's, liquids, electronics, body, hand, and cavity). Then there's the random complimentary personal "secondary" service.
• 12pm... recommended earliest flight

 

[JaneFan619]

Given that this would likely be an international flight for many, does DCL offer the debarkation airline check-in process for Alaska sailings?