Getting from Seattle to Vancouver

[lovesny]

You people know everything, so I thought I would ask!

We are in the planning stages for a cruise to Alaska leaving from either Seattle or Vancouver.

I have Southwest rewards points for flying into Seattle . Could anyone tell me the best way to get to the Vancouver port from the Seattle airport. And, how far is it.

 

[ssawka]

You just follow I-5 North. I forget what the route is once you enter Canada, but it remains a highway and takes you right to Vancouver.

 

[ToodlesRN]

Allow for extra time on I5 near bellingham (depending on when your cruise is) as a bridge collapsed and they are in the process of rebuilding it.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

I am taking amtrak.

 

[lovesny]

We will be flying into Seattle..... I was thinking more along the lines of a bus / shuttle to get me to Vancouver pier.

Anyone know about a shuttle or is this something I should just plain forget about.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Could anyone tell me the best way to get to the Vancouver port from the Seattle airport. And, how far is it.

Why not check out mapquest or Google maps? Or a printed map?

 

[Freesia123]

It's about three and a half hours. As a previous poster said there was bridge collapse do it could be longer. The border can be between 10-120 mi items. I suggest the train. You'll be about a $15 can ride to the terminal. Feel free to MSG me as I grew up in Vancouver and visit three to four times a year.

 

[TLuvsD]

Go to CruiseCritic.com and look for detailed information. CruiseCritic has a great information about anything and everything cruise related.

 

[Generica91]

We did an Alaskan Cruise. Arrived in Vancouver and needed to get to Seattle. Talk to the cruiseline and ask them about a transfer to SEATAC or the PORT. They should have cruise transfers. Easiest and cheapest way to get from one place to the other. We were on Princess Cruise and I think it cost us $30/person and we rode the Princess bus down. If I remember correctly, they took care of getting our luggage on the bus too! Because they were a charter bus, they got through the border pretty easy and quickly. I couldn't figure out why this service wasn't advertised very well!!

 

[tasha99]

We did an Alaskan Cruise. Arrived in Vancouver and needed to get to Seattle. Talk to the cruiseline and ask them about a transfer to SEATAC or the PORT. They should have cruise transfers. Easiest and cheapest way to get from one place to the other. We were on Princess Cruise and I think it cost us $30/person and we rode the Princess bus down. If I remember correctly, they took care of getting our luggage on the bus too! Because they were a charter bus, they got through the border pretty easy and quickly. I couldn't figure out why this service wasn't advertised very well!!

Maybe Princess doesn't overprice these like other cruise lines, but they are often very expensive. We just took a HAL southbound cruise, and the Vancouver to Seattle transfers were like $65 per person. We took the Amtrak instead. Similarly, the train from Anchorage to Seward was about $120 pp, and we used a coupon and got ours town to $40 each.

I recommend the Northern Lights coupon book if you will be taking the train in Alaska, as it has BOGO coupons. However, if you want to go first class, it doesn't include the "Gold Star Service" with the dome tops. You do have to get your tickets several days (a week?) in advance, though.

 

[bumbershoot]

It's about three and a half hours. As a previous poster said there was bridge collapse do it could be longer. The border can be between 10-120 mi items. I suggest the train. You'll be about a $15 can ride to the terminal. Feel free to MSG me as I grew up in Vancouver and visit three to four times a year.

$15 from Vancouver amtrak to Canada Place.

But significantly more to get from Seatac to Amtrak in Seattle, and the timing of the trains is such that you really need to stay overnight in the Seattle area and/or in the Vancouver area.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the train, but it's not always a time or money saving thing, when you add it all together.


The cruise board HERE has lots of Vancouver info as well, and of course cruisecritic.

The newish Bolt Bus has options to Vancouver from Seattle, but I think it might pick up IN Seattle, not 15-20 miles away in Seatac.

 

[wannagoback]

I was just at Seatac airport last weekend and talked with a nice couple that had just returned from an Alaska cruise and were on their way home. They took a bus from Vancouver to Seattle but I don't know any details. I would imagine that it's a common route during cruise season so it shouldn't be too difficult to get information about a few different options!

 

[chris31997]

Your options: Amtrack(either train or bus), QuickShuttle runs from Seattle to Vancouver, or rent a car and schedule a time to park it like at PC.

There is a thread on the Cruise forum with FAQ on Vancouver.

 

[Judique]

You people know everything, so I thought I would ask!

We are in the planning stages for a cruise to Alaska leaving from either Seattle or Vancouver.

I have Southwest rewards points for flying into Seattle . Could anyone tell me the best way to get to the Vancouver port from the Seattle airport. And, how far is it.

An option not mentioned is taking the ferries. You would have to take the ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria, and then another to Vancouver. Butchart Gardens are in Victoria - a nice side trip.

 

[mrp4352]

We did the Amtrak Cascades train and LOVED it! It was about a 3 1/2 hour trip, super easy and gorgeous view. If you'd like, click the Alaska trip report link below - it's at the beginning.

 

[LauraR]

Why not check out mapquest or Google maps? Or a printed map?

'Cause mapquest, Google maps and printed maps don't give you the wonderful feedback fellow disers do! (Including recent bridge collapses, and nice scenic routes)

 

[aleask]

Geez, I didn't realize I got my news from the boards also. My parents live very close to where that bridge collapse and this is where I read about it, lol.

 

[karana]

We did the Amtrak Cascades train and LOVED it! It was about a 3 1/2 hour trip, super easy and gorgeous view. If you'd like, click the Alaska trip report link below - it's at the beginning.

We used Southwest points to book our trip to SEattle for our Alaskan cruise on the Wonder this July. The Cascades train cost us all of $200 round trip for 3 ppl (all adults). Book in advance as the price does increase as the date approaches. We booked in March for a July cruise. You can cancel pretty much up to the days before the trip for a full refund( website gives you the exact number of days--14 days I believe).

 

[wannagoback]

'Cause mapquest, Google maps and printed maps don't give you the wonderful feedback fellow disers do! (Including recent bridge collapses, and nice scenic routes)

Actually, Google Maps had the collapsed bridge update within hours. Crazy! And there's now a temporary structure in place.

Lots of beauty in these parts. You will love the cruise. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and I was still able to appreciate all of the beauty on our Alaskan Cruise.

Have fun!!