How much time in Vancouver on embarkation day

[Masonmj84]

If staying downtown, will we have enough time to bike around the sea wall in Stanley Park before getting on the ship?

(note: we would also like to be able to catch the lunch buffet as soon as we board)

 

[anricat]

Stanley park is really big, but if you get an early start, you could probably do it in a morning, though it would be tight depending on what you actually want to see. The hop on hop off trolly took an hour to make a full loop of the park and while it's stopping for a few minutes at each stop, it's moving around 30 mph or so while it's driving. You'll be biking much more slowly. Looking at the Navigator from our sailing a couple weeks ago, the lunch buffet closed at 2:30. It took us around 45 minutes to get through check in, customs and passport control so factor that in, plus returning the bikes and making your way over to Canada Place (plus, I assume retrieving your luggage from your hotel unless you're staying at the Pan).

 

[xavier2001]

Our shuttle driver told us that Canada Place is a madhouse before noon, we opted to show up a little later and while it was crowded we walked through all the lines without waiting and right onto the ship. We may not have been first on board but we didn't have to wait in a crowded terminal at all. We arrived around 12:15 and were eating lunch in Parrot Cay by 1.

 

[abdgeek]

If staying downtown, will we have enough time to bike around the sea wall in Stanley Park before getting on the ship?

(note: we would also like to be able to catch the lunch buffet as soon as we board)

I biked Stanley Park in 2011 when I did the DCL Alaskan cruise(not on embarkation day) and it took me about an hour to go half way around the park. I'm pretty sure I cheated because I had trouble reading the map to keep all the way around(which was my original intention), but was fine with what I had seen by that point(totem poles, water statue, tea house). The scenery is fabulous! If the bike rental place is still there, you go down the steps from the Fairmont Pacific Rim near the Olympic Torch, turn left and walk a little ways. You can't miss the bike rental place. I don't remember what time they open, but you would want to make sure they are open early enough so that you don't have to rush. The ship is only about a 2-4 block walk from there. I actually purchased a DCL transfer from the Fairmont Pacific Rim and was surprised when the guide just walked us down the street to the ship. Maybe check out the map of Stanley Park. As OP have said, the park is huge. Have fun.

 

[xlxo]

Thoughts.....

• typically takes me to do a round trip on the seawall non stop.
• google maps recommends 7 minutes to ride from the Pan Pacific to the entrance of Stanley Park one way
• I recommend budgeting 2 hours for a ride around the seawall that includes bike rental and getting there from the cruise terminal.
• where do you plan to rent your bike? Budget time to get there.

 

[Masonmj84]

Thoughts.....

• typically takes me to do a round trip on the seawall non stop.
• google maps recommends 7 minutes to ride from the Pan Pacific to the entrance of Stanley Park one way
• I recommend budgeting 2 hours for a ride around the seawall that includes bike rental and getting there from the cruise terminal.
• where do you plan to rent your bike? Budget time to get there.

We'll probably stay at the Fairmont Pacific Rim, which I understand has free bike rentals for Fairmont President's Club members. We'd probably aim to have breakfast around 8 am, pick up the bikes around 9 am, and then have the bikes back by around 11 am. Immediately thereafter, we would check out of our hotel and head over to the cruise terminal.

My main worry with this plan was whether it would still give us adequate time to get through customs, check in, and get on the ship while still making it to the lunch buffet before it closes.

FWIW, we've biked around Stanley Park before and I recall it taking about 1 hour to do it once (if you don't stop much). But on that trip, we were staying at a hotel that was only a few blocks from the park. So the recommendation for 7 minutes each way from the cruise terminal area is very helpful information.

 

[xlxo]

Yep... it takes me about an hour to go around the seawall once without stopping for the scenery.

 

[khsu]

You should have plenty of time. We just returned from the 8/15 sailing. The Fairmont Pacific Rim is very close to the cruise terminal. I am amazed that there are 2 Fairmont hotels (Waterfront and Pacific Rim) basically next to each other. We had a PAT of 11-11:30. We showed up for check-in around 11:15. Done with check-in and customs by 11:45. Boarding didn't start until about 11:55. Beach Blanket Buffet (deck 9) was open from noon to 3:15 pm on embarkation day. Parrot Cay was open until 2:30 pm.

 

[bumbershoot]

I am amazed that there are 2 Fairmont hotels (Waterfront and Pacific Rim) basically next to each other.

And then a third just a few blocks up.

 

[xlxo]

Yep... need to be clear about which Fairmont.

• Fairmont Waterfront
• Fairmont Pacific Rim
• Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
• Fairmont Vancouver Airport

Cruise ships have kept these hotels very busy.