Car seats and Alaska transfers

[2drifters]

We have booked a cruise to Alaska leaving from Vancouver in June. We're traveling with 5 year old twins, and would rather not haul 2 car seats along. What have others done regarding the transfers to the cruise ship? Are Disney transfers via a bus where we would not be required to have car seats? What are our other options?

 

[coloradocutie]

We took the public transportation (skytrain/light rail) with our 1 and 4 year old. It was super easy. We picked it up at the airport (bought tickets there at kiosks) and took the light rail 30 min or so into the waterfront port area. We had to then walk one quick block to the Fairmont, and the terminal was across the street. The Fairmont was amazing (club level -awesome for families) and they transported our bags to the ship on the day of embarkation. You could see the Wonder from the club patio!

We found the skytrain to be very economical and very easy. Totally avoided having to bring car seats and I felt that it worked out great for our needs. If you have 5 year olds they will be able to do the short walks to the stations without any difficulty.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[Mariciram]

Have you looked into bubble bum boosters? We use them for traveling for our 4 and 6 year olds. For our 2 year old, we bring his carseat and attach go-go babyz wheels for walking through the airport terminal.

We're doing an Alaska in May and not bringing any carseats. We'll either take the skytrain or a limo (depends how many suitcases we end up bringing). Good luck!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

or a limo

Would a limo require car seats?

 

[MMR]

The car service told us car seats weren't required bc they are commercial vehicles. There may have been the option to rent them but my kids are bigger so I was ok with not having them.

 

[bcwife76]

The car service told us car seats weren't required bc they are commercial vehicles. There may have been the option to rent them but my kids are bigger so I was ok with not having them.

This is also true for taxi's in Vancouver, they also do not require car seats. We also have the bubble bums for travelling - we've used them in the US and Mexico and they are great. Ironically they are not approved for use in Canada lol so I can't use them here in Vancouver but think maybe tourists would be exempt from this rule?

 

[anricat]

This is also true for taxi's in Vancouver, they also do not require car seats. We also have the bubble bums for travelling - we've used them in the US and Mexico and they are great. Ironically they are not approved for use in Canada lol so I can't use them here in Vancouver but think maybe tourists would be exempt from this rule?

Oh, hmm. We were planning to bring our bubble bum for our DD to use in Vancouver. It's just taxi to hotel and then hotel to port. I'd rather have her in something than nothing, though. :/

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I can't use them here in Vancouver but think maybe tourists would be exempt from this rule?

Why would they be? If it's specifically stated that they are not allowed for use, it shouldn't matter whether the user is a local or a tourist.

 

[bcwife76]

Why would they be? If it's specifically stated that they are not allowed for use, it shouldn't matter whether the user is a local or a tourist.

I was thinking in terms of insurance. ICBC (the only car insurance company in BC for residents to use) would not pay out for an accident using a bubble bum to a BC resident. But if an American driving a rental car (perhaps using their own American insurance company) using a bubble bum - would they be covered under their US insurance because those seats are legal in the US.

 

[lanejudy]

There are different car seat laws in Canada vs the US with regards to acceptable seats. However, as bcwife76 indicates, I do believe that "tourists" are allowed to use the safety equipment they own (similar for Canadians coming to the U.S.). The point of the exception for tourists is so every tourist entering another country temporarily doesn't have to stop at the nearest store to buy a new car seat. Since the BubbleBum is considered an "extra" packable seat to use for travel purposes, it may or may not pass the "tourist" exception. As mentioned, if you are traveling by car into Canada with a child already sitting on it, it may be fine; bringing it for sole purpose to use in a taxi might not be allwoed.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[kuhltiffany]

We travel with Boostapaks, it's a booster and a backpack, so handy to put the kids stuff in and use in a vehicle!

 

[xlxo]

Car seats are only required for rental cars.... Subways, buses, taxi's and limo's are not required as they are considered public transportation with professional drivers.

fyi.... there's no freeways between the airport and downtown.... you don't get a chance to travel fast.... especially during rush hour.

 

[KalamityJane]

There are different car seat laws in Canada vs the US with regards to acceptable seats. However, as bcwife76 indicates, I do believe that "tourists" are allowed to use the safety equipment they own (similar for Canadians coming to the U.S.). The point of the exception for tourists is so every tourist entering another country temporarily doesn't have to stop at the nearest store to buy a new car seat. Since the BubbleBum is considered an "extra" packable seat to use for travel purposes, it may or may not pass the "tourist" exception. As mentioned, if you are traveling by car into Canada with a child already sitting on it, it may be fine; bringing it for sole purpose to use in a taxi might not be allwoed.

Enjoy your cruise!

You are still a tourist whether or not you drive in or fly in. You aren't a citizen. The US has similar laws, and people that are visiting from different countries are allowed to use their own car seats.

As far as being in a limo and using a car seat - the laws of physics don't change just because someone professional is driving. What is legal isn't always what is safe. For instance, in the state I live in, babies are legally allowed to be taken out of their car seats to be cared for while driving. Not exactly safe, and I wouldn't recommend it, but it is legal.

So yes, you are allowed to use the BubbleBum while in Canada if you want to.

 

[Muskrat191]

Technically, in the BC law, only visitors operating "a motor vehicle licensed in a jurisdiction outside Canada if the driver or operator is using an infant or child restraint system, booster seat or seat belt assembly in compliance with the laws of that jurisdiction" are exempt. A visitor driving a Canadian vehicle (such as a rental) would not legally be able to use a BubbleBum or a Boostapak. However, the odds of actually getting a ticket are extremely small. (I have brought my Canadian car seats and used them in a Florida rental even though it is technically illegal.)

Taxis are also exempt under BC law, but as a previous poster mentioned, the laws of physics still apply and it isn't safe.