Explain Like I'm 5 (ELI5): Vancouver Port Arrival and Boarding

[mrp4352]

FYI - even if you didn't book through DCL, tell them when you check in that you're cruising and they will take care of your checked bag for you.

We are staying at the Pan Pacific which has a checkout of noon.

Maybe I'll surprise the family with tickets to flyover Canada that morning.

 

[chaseg03]

Where do you get on the ship? Is it still the atrium?

 

[Geomom]

Where do you get on the ship? Is it still the atrium?

Yes, the atrium.

 

[chaseg03]

Yes, the atrium.

Still on the third floor as well? I know there are three floors to the atrium. So is it on the fourth or fifth floor? Or still the third?

 

[Geomom]

Still on the third floor as well? I know there are three floors to the atrium. So is it on the fourth or fifth floor? Or still the third?

3rd floor for Vancouver. Alaskan ports will vary due to tides, could be on deck 1 or deck 3.

 

[Corfam]

This post is awesome. He truly walks you thru the process and it was perfect when we went.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/embarkation-time-for-alaska.3509801/#post-55754801

Look at post #4.

We went thru the screening with all the passengers like he did but then we went upstairs which he doesn't seem to have listed here. So maybe that was new in 2016.

The process did change sometime in 2016 and is a "permanent" change according to information gleened from other articles. I also found a set of Youtube videos from another Disney cruiser that essentially walks you through the newer, current process...with music, no less.

Part #1:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5l5QrQxUQVA&feature=youtu.be&t=44s

Part #2:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvEZG58wYMI&feature=youtu.be&t=4s

Part 2 picks up directly after part #1 ends and finishes the boarding process. Beyond that, part 2 follows a Whitepass train trip in Skagway, Alaska.

The videos are a great way to easily understand how to navigate Canada Place terminal in Vancouver.

Many thanks to the original videographer if he reads these boards.

 

[tnshsms]

Yes, they rerouted passengers up to the Ground Level mid-season in 2016. Not sure if they only do this on multi-ship days.

We were actually the first sailing in 2016 so maybe it does have something to do with multi ship days.

 

[TestingH2O]

The process did change sometime in 2016 and is a "permanent" change according to information gleened from other articles. I also found a set of Youtube videos from another Disney cruiser that essentially walks you through the newer, current process...with music, no less.

Thanks for sharing these. That's A LOT of walking. I think we will really try to minimize our carry ons. Especially for DD.

 

[Gisclair Disney]

It looks like there will be a total of 3 ships the day I depart so I'll try for a bit later. We are staying at the Pan Pacific which has a checkout of noon.

Maybe I'll surprise the family with tickets to flyover Canada that morning.

How did you learn there will be 3 ships on the day you depart?

 

[Gisclair Disney]

Can anyone recommend a hotel for a pre and post night stay in Vancouver? I know the Fairmont is the Disney pick, but those (Waterfront and Airport) are pricey!

 

[FrequentlyAskedDB]

We did Fairmont Waterfront. It was a bit pricey, but it was directly across the street from the cruise terminal. It was also in a great part of Vancouver and made for easy site seeing the day before our cruise to Alaska. Booking through Disney with transportation ended up making out trip a lot less stressful then it might have been. You can read about out decision process for picking the hotel in http://frequentlyaskeddisneyblog.com/disney-cruise-alaska-part-4/
and we start out adventure at the hotel here http://frequentlyaskeddisneyblog.com/disney-cruise-alaska-part-17/ .

 

[TestingH2O]

How did you learn there will be 3 ships on the day you depart?

I used this site.

http://www.cruisetimetables.com/

 

[Geomom]

Can anyone recommend a hotel for a pre and post night stay in Vancouver? I know the Fairmont is the Disney pick, but those (Waterfront and Airport) are pricey!

If you're doing 3 nights in a row AND can get the 'pay your birth year' rate, I'd recommend Westin Bayshore. With that promo, you pay the rack rate on night 1, and the last 2 digits of your birth year for nights 2 and 3. With the exchange rate, we ended up paying under $600USD for the 3 nights. It is an easy walk to Stanley park, easy walk to downtown without luggage. Taxi to port is less than $10CAD.

 

[xlxo]

Can anyone recommend a hotel for a pre and post night stay in Vancouver? I know the Fairmont is the Disney pick, but those (Waterfront and Airport) are pricey!

To clarify.... which nights do you need a room?

 

[Dug720]

Can anyone recommend a hotel for a pre and post night stay in Vancouver? I know the Fairmont is the Disney pick, but those (Waterfront and Airport) are pricey!

I stayed a night at the Blue Horizon and loved it!! FANTASTIC views!!