Yes, this is an old thread, but I'm glad to see that someone is using the search feature to resurrect it. I had noticed that there was a new thread on the same subject, but not being the world's greatest typist, I was resisting answering the same questions again.
Minybear - We stayed at the Pan Pacific last year. This is a wonderful hotel (and $$$$$) right above the cruise terminal HAL uses in Vancouver. It was fantastic to wake up each am to see the cruise ships sailing under the Lions Gate Bridge. It is just an elevator ride down to the terminal. I was able to use our Entertainment card to get a better rate than I found elsewhere.
Just across the (small) street is the Fairmont Hotel - EASY walk even with luggage. It is another very fine hotel and I imagine there are lovely views from many of the rooms. Under the Fairmont is a shopping area with a food court. This is also connected to the Pan Pacific/cruise pier by a tunnel. We ate some meals there as they were much less $$ than the hotel restaurants. There are also many restaurants within walking distance of both hotels.
We used a limo service from/to the Vancouver airport. There is a information booth as you leave the secure Customs and Immigration area. I just booked our round trip there. It was about $80 CDN r/t for the limo. This is about $5 more than a taxi should be - IF there aren't any traffic problems (NOT uncommon in Vancouver). The meter will be ticking away on the taxi, while the limo fee stays the same. You'll need to let them know that you want to be picked up at the Cruise Terminal, rather than at the hotel where you were dropped off.
DH was quite surprised to see an actual white stretch limo. He was expecting a shuttle van 'limo' when I said we were taking a limo to/from the pier.
By using the limo service, we were able to go to the limo area and show the dispatcher our voucher. He then called our limo up to the front. We could see the long, long, LONG line for taxis across the way. By using the offical airport limo we saved quite a bit of money. As we were waiting for our limo to pull up, another couple came by to see about a limo rather than waiting for a taxi. They were quoted $75 CDN one-way to the airport (using another limo service). We didn't have any traffic problems with our cruise, but later in the summer I was in Vancouver again (touring other cruise ships) and it took us about 2 hours just to get to the border from the pier (normally it is 2 1/2 hours all the way to Seattle).
rae519 - This is a tough call about a verandah. We have sailed HAL to Alaska the past 2 summers, both times we had our own verandahs (cat. B and a S suite). We've also sailed HAL to Alaska twice before without a verandah. The only reason we had the verandahs is because we were travelling with family (step-mom is claustrophobic) and we booked adjoining cabins. We didn't use our verandahs very much, it is a little nippy while sailing in Alaska. While in Glacier Bay we prefer the views from the Crow's Nest lounge, right above the Bridge. Look at a HAL brochure. The cabin windows (no portholes unless you are up in the bow - not a place I'd recommend anyway) are quite large and there is PLENTY of open deck space for viewing. I do prefer the layout of the outside cabins to the A or B mini-suites, but if you have the cabin made up with one bed - it is under the window in the outside cabins. With 2 beds, they are on either side of the window.
Would we get a verandah again to Alaska? I don't know. Would we be interested in a verandah in the Caribbean? Most likely.
Hope this helps.
I'm curious to hear firsthand about RSS!
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). NOt sure where you saw points for a 5th passenger.
