Alaska Cruise July 20, 2015 questions

[Sean'smom]

What is the Gold Level stateroom gift now?

We are taking the train from Washington to Vancouver, when do we go through customs?

We are a party of 9 (4 castaway club, 5 virgins), will we need 2 or 3 taxis?

We have a 3 year old, what is the car seat rules for taxis and trains and buses/vans?

We have a special needs adult in our group, the more we can prepare him for the process of getting from the hotel in Bellingham to lunch in Parrot Cay the smoother things will be.

Thanks for any assistance. We are very excited!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

CC Gift as I understand it is a bag and an umbrella. On cruises that travel away from Florida.

 

[ILovePixieDust]

What is the Gold Level stateroom gift now?

We are taking the train from Washington to Vancouver, when do we go through customs?

We are a party of 9 (4 castaway club, 5 virgins), will we need 2 or 3 taxis?

We have a 3 year old, what is the car seat rules for taxis and trains and buses/vans?

We have a special needs adult in our group, the more we can prepare him for the process of getting from the hotel in Bellingham to lunch in Parrot Cay the smoother things will be.

Thanks for any assistance. We are very excited!

I think you will need 3 taxis. Our family of 4 (2 adults and 2 kids) needs a minivan taxi to accommodate us AND the luggage. If you have VERY little luggage then you may be able to get away with 2 minivan taxis but I am thinking for an alaska cruise you will likely have more rather than less.

Car seats are not required legally in taxis/ taxi vans or buses. If you rent a van or car you do need a carseat for your 3 year old.
http://vancouver.ca/police/organization/operations/traffic/traffic-services/taxi-team.html
I never understood this rule as the laws of physics don't change in a taxi versus a regular car and when you look at how (many) taxi drivers drive it actually makes it even more worrisome…..

Sorry I can't answer your customs questions from the train. You will need to go through customs at the port again before getting on the boat too.

Have a great trip!

 

[disfans44041]

I believe you will go through customs on the train, I entered Canada on train and the customs officer, not Vancouver, and they came on the train at the border! Have fun lived in Alaska for 10 years and still miss it!

 

[poison ivy]

I can answer a couple;

Here is the gold CC gift



Re: cabs - we tried to hail a minivan for a pty of 5 and were told they only had seating for 4.
We didn't take the train in, but at the YVR airport we needed transportation and this limo service was waiting right outside.

Price was $65 CAD to transport 5 of us plus luggage to the Pan Pacific Hotel at Canada Place.

 

[ImNarek]

Both times we've taken the train from Seattle to Vancouver, Northbound we've gone through customs when we arrive in Vancouver. Southbound, you go through customs on the train after it crosses the border, but before the first U.S. Stop.

 

[sharksfinatic17]

Just took the train a few weeks ago. Once you get off the train, you collect your luggage, then you go to customs. We took a taxi to very close to the port (our hotel was a couple of blocks away), and it was $10. The smaller taxis take three people, and the vans take four.

 

[Sean'smom]

Thank you all for the wonderful information. It is exactly what I needed. Once again DISBOARDS is making my trip magical.