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

[emilystelzer]

I'm a first time cruiser who is headed to Alaska with my family this summer. I need someone to explain the port arrival/boarding process at Vancouver to me like I'm five years old, pretty please. Most of the information I've found on this board relates to Port Canaveral - it may also relate to Vancouver, but I'm not sure...

We'll be arriving to Canada Place via foot/public transportation. I'm a first time cruiser.

This is what I think I've learned so far:

• Because I'm a newbie, 75 days from the start of my cruise I will go online to check-in, select a Port Arrival Time (PAT), print some forms, pick excursions/dining/etc.
• Before my cruise, DCL will send me some thing useful (What exactly do they send? - are the luggage tags just for people transferring from a Disney resort in FL - or do they apply to AK cruises too? Are there boarding passes or something included?)
• I should bring my printed documents, luggage tags, passport, and other forms they send me with me for boarding the cruise
• The day of my cruise, I arrive at Canada Place (by foot/taxi/subway). Do I arrive at the PAT? Or before the PAT? (like how you're expected to arrive 1 1/2 hours before your flight at the airport...)
• I go through customs because we'll be leaving the country on the cruise. This will include normal custom processes. Will it also include scanning of both carry-on and "checked" baggage? Have I handed my luggage off at this point?
• I will then proceed to the DCL area/desk, where I will check into my cruise.
• I will give DCL my "checked bags," which will arrive at my door on the Wonder by 5:30pm.
• DCL will assign me a boarding group.
• I will wait for my boarding group to be called (in the meantime, I can register for the oceaneer's club/lab)
• When called, I will board the ship with my carry-on luggage (including all of my important documents, swimming suit, and 2 bottles of wine
• After boarding, I will first go to the desk to try to adjust any needed reservations, dining rotations, etc.
• Then, I will go directly to Cabana's (if I prefer a zoo-like ambiance with crab legs) or Triton's (if I prefer a more subdued ambiance but less exciting food)
• Then, we'll explore until the sail away party.

Am I close?

 

[mrp4352]

Here goes! I can't help with all your questions, but I'll do the best I can! You're going to have such a fun trip!

• Because I'm a newbie, 75 days from the start of my cruise I will go online to check-in, select a Port Arrival Time (PAT), print some forms, pick excursions/dining/etc. Yes!
• Before my cruise, DCL will send me some thing useful (What exactly do they send? - are the luggage tags just for people transferring from a Disney resort in FL - or do they apply to AK cruises too? Are there boarding passes or something included?) You'll get luggage tags for sure. I think anything else you need, you'll print out from the website.
• I should bring my printed documents, luggage tags, passport, and other forms they send me with me for boarding the cruise Yes!
• The day of my cruise, I arrive at Canada Place (by foot/taxi/subway). Do I arrive at the PAT? Or before the PAT? (like how you're expected to arrive 1 1/2 hours before your flight at the airport...) Arrive at your PAT (although, they don't really verify it when you arrive. If you get there early, they'll still let you in once the port is open for passengers)
• I go through customs because we'll be leaving the country on the cruise. This will include normal custom processes. Will it also include scanning of both carry-on and "checked" baggage? Have I handed my luggage off at this point? I know they'll scan your carry-on. I believe the porters will have already taken your checked bags, but if someone could verify that for me, that would be great. (I've used the luggage delivery service from staying at hotels right by the port in the past, so I'm afraid I don't know for use).
• I will then proceed to the DCL area/desk, where I will check into my cruise. Yes
• I will give DCL my "checked bags," which will arrive at my door on the Wonder by 5:30pm.
• DCL will assign me a boarding group. I believe your checked bags go to the porters first thing upon arrival.
• I will wait for my boarding group to be called (in the meantime, I can register for the oceaneer's club/lab) Yes.
• When called, I will board the ship with my carry-on luggage (including all of my important documents, swimming suit, and 2 bottles of wine Yes
• After boarding, I will first go to the desk to try to adjust any needed reservations, dining rotations, etc. Yes, although check your Navigator for the locations
• Then, I will go directly to Cabana's (if I prefer a zoo-like ambiance with crab legs) or Triton's (if I prefer a more subdued ambiance but less exciting food) My preference is that if I have a bags I've carried on, I'll go to Triton's. I'm not smart enough to balance carry on bags and a tray of food!
• Then, we'll explore until the sail away party.

Am I close?

 

[lklgoodman]

Don't let the terminals and lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng lines scare you away from future cruises. We went on an Alaska cruise 2 yrs ago. There were 3 ship sailing out at the same time as us. Everyone from all 3 ships had to wait in a never lasting line in a HUGE building, It took us over an hour to get through just the first line, we were so happy to get through it to only be directed to yet another super long line and then another. We had previously sailed with Disney out of PC and never had to wait more than 20 mins to get on the ship. Just wanted to warn you that you may be spending a long time in lines, so if you have small kids have something to entertain them. Again our cruise was 2 yrs ago, so maybe they've changed how they do it so it doesn't take so long.

 

[saxmangeoff]

• Then, we'll explore until the sail away party.

Am I close?

Yep, but the muster drill will be between exploring and the sail away party. Don't worry too much about it. You will be given plenty of instruction in what to do and where to go.

 

[Geomom]

1. Put luggage tags on bags. Get to port, drop bags off with porters
2. follow the directions of all the nice people--lots of people that will direct you as you go up and down
3. security AND US customs--your carry on bags go through x-ray machine, you go through metal detector, don't remember much about US customs, other than having to show our passports
4. more nice people directing you to the Disney area--check in, get boarding numbers, have your pic taken, get key cards, 1st navigator, etc.
5. While waiting for boarding # to be called, get a picture taken with a character,
6. board ship (using hand sanitizer on the way on), also voluntary to have pics taken of your group before you board
7. have lunch in Triton's (menu) or Cabana's (buffet)
8. Rooms should be ready at 1:30PM--drop off any bags you want there, check your desk for tickets to things you've booked, and confirmation of any OBC you have. then go explore ship
9. 3:30-4PM: Muster Drill
10. 4:30PM? Sail Away Party
11. Luggage at rooms by 5:30PM--our was at our room around 2:30PM.

 

[TestingH2O]

Is there a port arrival sweet spot like at PC? Or are there just looooong lines all day?

 

[emilystelzer]

Given that the customs lines take an hour or so to get through, should we arrive earlier than our PAT?

Thanks all for your responses. Very helpful!

 

[amberwc]

Given that the customs lines take an hour or so to get through, should we arrive earlier than our PAT?

Thanks all for your responses. Very helpful!

When we left, the Wonder was the only ship there - so there were NO long lines. I don't know where you're staying, but if you can scout the situation and make a plan that morning. Relax, have fun, we can't wait to do it again!

 

[bcwife76]

Is there a port arrival sweet spot like at PC? Or are there just looooong lines all day?

Probably later, like noon or so. When we cruised out of Vancouver two years ago (Van to San Diego) we had a PAT of 11-11:30 but didn't end up arriving til 11:45, we had no long lines to contend with (except to register our kids at the kids club) and walked right on the ship. That day only one other ship was sailing out with us (HAL).

When we sail to Alaska I'm planning on arriving around the same time, will probably do a 11:30-12noon PAT, something like that. And if the lines are long for the kids club we will skip it and get the bands on board the ship.

 

[TestingH2O]

That day only one other ship was sailing out with us (HAL).

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.

 

[bcwife76]

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.

In that case then definitely get the noon check out, enjoy your room at the Pan for as long as you have it We find Fly Over too pricey so we haven't done it, wish they had a BC residents rate.

 

[TestingH2O]

In that case then definitely get the noon check out, enjoy your room at the Pan for as long as you have it We find Fly Over too pricey so we haven't done it, wish they had a BC residents rate.

Yeah, I figure I'll use the exchange rate to my advantage while I can. Also, we are tourists, so, you know, we do touristy things.

 

[xlxo]

@emilystelzer: What sailing are you on? What hotel are you coming from? We can provide additional detail suggestions to avoid congestion.

In general... peak cruise terminal time is between 11am and 1:30pm. Arriving before 11am will have shorter lines, but you may need to wait post security in the lobby until your boarding time. Don't forget your bonus character photo opportunity in the terminal waiting area. If arriving by cab around the lunch chaos.... consider asking the cab driver to let you off at one of the nearby hotels to walk in. It's depressing watching the meter tick by stuck in a 20 minute line.

Checked luggage is dropped off in the baggage area and then you join a line for security, then you meet US customs, then you check in with DCL.... then the long wait for your boarding time if you show up too early.

 

[tnshsms]

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.

 

[tnshsms]

I don't know when that diser went but I do have one edit to his post. 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. Upstairs both DCL and NCL were doing their check in process. We got our KTW cards and checked in to the kids club (because the line was short) and then went downstairs for customs. After customs we went to what looks like in his pictures, the old check in area. But when we went it was just a holding area waiting to get on the ship. Pics with Mickey and Minnie were setup there like FL but that was it. It was a pretty boring area.

 

[st0nehedge]

That's what we call "breaking it down Barney style" in the army. So aaaaanyone can understand!

Thanks for posting this too! We are going to Alaska in may!

 

[bcwife76]

Yeah, I figure I'll use the exchange rate to my advantage while I can. Also, we are tourists, so, you know, we do touristy things.

Oh I don't blame you one bit, do as much as you can while you are here!

And funnily enough, my husband mentioned tonight about the Vancouver Auto Show, which is on now until Sunday (just down the street from Canada Place). He wants us to go on Saturday and said to me "might as well do Fly Over Canada while we are downtown." I about near fell off the couch when he said that as he's always been the one to poo-poo the idea

 

[xlxo]

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

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

 

[emilystelzer]

When we left, the Wonder was the only ship there - so there were NO long lines. I don't know where you're staying, but if you can scout the situation and make a plan that morning. Relax, have fun, we can't wait to do it again!

We're staying at the Marriott Pinnacle. It's a couple of blocks from Canada Place, so we plan to walk there that morning. We should be able to swing by early to see how crowded it is getting.

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.

This is amazing! Thank you for posting.

@emilystelzer: What sailing are you on? What hotel are you coming from? We can provide additional detail suggestions to avoid congestion.

We're on one of the sailings in August. It looks like we're the only ship in port that day, so hopefully it won't be too crazy.

 

[kiford]

Given that the customs lines take an hour or so to get through, should we arrive earlier than our PAT?

I've never sailed from Vancouver, but in general, the PAT is something that's tied to your boarding time. You don't have to arrive at your PAT. You can arrive before, but then will have to wait to board or you can arrive after and just board as soon as you've checked in. It's in place to help smooth out the crowds especially when the maximum occupancies in port terminals (due to fire regulations) are smaller than the number of people who will be boarding. There's no need to time it to how long you may wait in customs.