Question about Alaska Cruises

[Certifiable WDW Nut]

We are cruising out of Vancouver next summer. It looks like I can get frequent flier tickets into Seattle, but not Vancouver. Has anyone rented a car in Seattle and driven to Vancouver? If so, how long is it? Is it a big hassle? Did you do two one-way rentals and was it expensive? I would build a travel day on each end to accomodate it, but I'm hesitant to do it if it is a big hassle. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

[eritouma]

It is not too long. From Seatac to Downtown Vancouver it took us 3 hours last night. That was late at night, but generally it is not too bad. As for a hassle, most rental companies have offices downtown here in Vancouver. If you have any other questions just PM me, we live in Vancouver right now....

 

[travellady]

3 hours or so is the norm between Seattle and Vancouver. But, depending on the day and on holidays, the wait at the border can be an hour or so. I always plan on 4 - 4.5 hours just in case.

 

[georgina]

We took Amtrak from Seattle to Vancouver, then rented a car for the return trip. The Amtrak was a very nice trip, the kids had never been on a train trip before and the scenery was pretty. A full size rental from Vancouver to Seattle for 24 hours was $50 Canadian. There are several rental agencies in downtown hotels close to the Canada Place cruise ship terminal, however, we were at the other (Ballantine, I think) terminal, so we had to take a slightly longer cab ride there. We had a Monday AM flight, so we used the car Sunday to explore Vancouver, and drove back to Seattle Sunday night. The border wait wasn't bad at that time of day.

 

[eritouma]

If you do cross the border, regardless of what time of day or year, the Truck crossing is always quicker. It says Truck crossing, but cars are always accepted. Take exit 275, I believe, and it takes you right to it. After you go across the border, just follow the signs back to the main highway, take a left at the first lights, then exit right about a mile or so after that and you'll be right back on track and probably save yourself about 30 minutes or better...

 

[HumanCookie]

Certifiable WDW Nut,

What airline are you booked at?

 

[BeeSkip]

Hey,

Just some notes about the car rental----We did a one way rental from Vancouver to Seattle at the end of our cruise. We were staying extra nights in Seattle and thereby flying out of Seattle.

There IS a ONE WAY drop off charge and you will have to book your car rental directly with the company or a travel agent... no internet res. You will alos need to get a "yellow" card from your insurance company to prove you have auto insurance (if you decline the rental co. insurance)

We used Budget...They had an office 3 blocks from the cruis e terminal and had pick up service at the cruise terminal.

By the way,
When are you going to Alaska, and which cruise line and itiniery?

Alaska was fantastic...When you are there, you realize that you are in a place only a handfull of peope actually ever visit. Beautiful, pristine, vast, wild, amazing!!!

We did the 12 night cruisetour package on RCCL vision of the seas. The kids, 17 and 12, were worried about the vacation because it wasn't Disney. We had a fabulous time and are soo glad we didn't wait until Disney got a ship up in Alaska. Disney is still tops in our book but RCCL was equally good and next year we are tentatively planning a Mediterrean cruise with RCCL.
If you'd like to know more about the Alaskan cruise, feel free to ask!!!

Bee

 

[BeeSkip]

Forgot to add this as well,

Do allow time to cross the border. We went thru on a Friday early afternoon, and the wait was about 45 minutes. The northbound crossing seemed to be equally as long. Just plan this time into your plans. The drive is easily 2.5 to 3 hours without crossing delays. The traffic into Vancouver can be busy as well. The cruise terminals are in the middle of the city and you have alot of business districts to go through.

Bee

 

[Shebbieal]

Bee,,

So glad to hear you had such a good time on RCCL and Vision of the Seas. We are booked next summer on the 13 day cruisetour and southbound cruise. It is 3 of us, me DH, and 13 y/o son. Any secrets or tidbits? What excursions? We are doing the helicopter/dog mushing.

What kind of cabin did you have? We got a junior suite for the extra room. We are soooo excited!!!!!!!!!!!

Sherry

 

[Certifiable WDW Nut]

Thanks for the info everyone. Sorry for the delay in responding. I spent yesterday actually earning some more frequent flier miles. (It actually takes a whole day to travel from Nacogdoches, TX to Washington Dulles!!!) To answer some questions - we are sailing on RCCL Sovereign of the Seas on July 10, 2005. If I use frequent flier miles it would be on United. Right now the plan is to fly in (somewhere) on Friday, sail and return on Sunday, then fly back on Monday, maybe Tuesday. We would be flying from Washington Dulles.

Can someone provide some more info on the one-way charges for the rental cars? I thought I had seen somewhere that there are not one way charges between Seattle and Vancouver but I could be wrong.

 

[Certifiable WDW Nut]

Sorry - it is the Seranade of the Seas. HumanCookie, I see you took that cruise last month. How was it? Any tips? Thanks.

 

[georgina]

I did not have a one way drop off charge with Hertz, and i did book it online. I was not asked for a yellow card from my insurance company either. I had looked into National, Hertz, and Avis, and I don't recall any of them having one way charges between Seattle and Vancouver

We were on the Serenade of the Seas this July. It was beautiful, the weather was fantastic. We really enjoyed our meal at Chops. DH and DS went salmon fishing (highlight of their trip!) in Ketchikan. The whalewatching in Juneau was great too. Neither of these was booked through RCCL though, they were booked independently.

We flew to Seattle on Friday, spent Saturday in Seattle, took Amtrak to Vancouver Sunday AM, rented the car on Sunday after the cruise to look around Vancouver, drove back to Seattle and stayed near the airport, flew out Monday morning.

 

[HumanCookie]

Certifiable WDW Nut,

My wife and I took a Northwest flight from BWI to Detroit and then to Vancouver, BC about 5.5 hours flight. Booked it ourselves. We flew in the day before the cruise (Saturday).

RCCL took care of our Hotel acco. prior (Sheraton Wall Centre) to cruising. Bus took (25 minute ride) us to Port Vancouver (Ballantyne) where Serenade of the Seas is docked.

Checked in at around 12:30 pass thru US Immigration/Custom.

1:30 PM Lunch at Deck 11 (Windjammer - AFT)
4:30 PM Mandatory Ship drill with a life vest - Deck 5.
5:00 PM Deck 11 or 12 for sail away.
6:00 PM (First Seating) - Reflections.
9:00 PM - First Seating Theater show.

Dress code:
2 Formal nights rest is smart casual to casual.

2 Midnight buffets:
Grand Midnight Buffet (2nd day at Sea/Hubbard Glacier day)
Chocolate buffet (Friday night at Windjammer)

Activities on board:

Rockclimbing, Putput golf, Basketball, 3 pool, Shuffle board, Casino, Lots of bars, Fitness center, Spas/massages.

Itinerary:

Day 1 - at Sea
Day 2 - at Sea heading towards Glacier Bay (Hubbard Glacier)
Day 3 - Skagway - Shore excursion - 3.5 hour White Pass Train Tour
Day 4 - Juneau - Shore excursion - 2.5 hour Helicopter ride to Mendellhall Glacier
Day 5 - Ketchikan - Shopping
Day 6 - At Sea - Misty Fjord
Day 7 - Back to Vancouver

We stayed in Vancouver for 4 day (Best Western - Chateau Granville). 1st day, took a city tour; 2nd day took a 13.5 hour tour of Victoria. 3rd day just vegged out, 4th day head home.

While we were in Vancouver, we took taxis and public buses.

FYI,

Check out Serenade of the Seas docked at the pier tomorrow.

http://www.portvancouver.com/the_port/web_cams.html

Camera 6 and 7

 

[KathyTX]

In June 2002, we flew into Seatac one evening and rented a car from Hertz. We drove to Vancouver (very easy drive, quick border crossing), and checked in to the Renaissance hotel in downtown Vancouver.

The Renaissance has a rental car desk with pickup/dropoff right in their parking garage, so we just turned the car in and walked right into the hotel.

Got a great night's sleep, and a gorgeous view of the harbor. The port was a really cheap cab ride away- you could see it from the hotel.

Easy, quick, and I don't recall the rate being too bad...

We flew home out of Anchorage, so I don't know how coming back would work out.

 

[jlmarr]

Someone mentioned using Amtrak. I just checked and there is a route served by trains and Amtrak buses, so that seems like a viable option if you don't want to drive.

Amtrak Cascades route