**** Vancouver FAQ Thread **** A few updates in main post!

[ktsmama]

I have to say how much I loved, loved Vancouver! We stayed at the coal coast harbour hotel pre cruise and it was in a fantastic location! Walking distance to everything! The people are super friendly every where! The people are also so good looking too! We took ferries and busses and trains. Super easy to get around and navigate.

I did find food pricey. And cabs are not easy if you are a family of 5 or larger. They can only accommodate up to 4. And they and mostly all priuses.

We took the taxi from Amtrak (2 of them) to the city and with tip aBout $10 each. My husband took the taxi with all our luggage, to he airport and it was about $35.00. No highway just side streets. I took the kids in the train and it was so super easy and only cost us less than $10.00. Great view on the train. And puts you out across the street from the terminal.

We rented a car and went to whistler which was amazing!! We went to grouse mountain and zip lined. We also did the 2 day big bus toyr for pre and post cruise. It is good for two weeks. We also went to the Lynn suspension bridge because its free.

I wish I had more time. I would have taken the ferry to one of the island about 2.5 hours away. I guess I will have to return!!!

Post cruise we stayed at the Renaissance but the people were friendlier at the coast coal harbour.

So you have a family of 5? I am having such a hard time finding a hotel to accommodate our family of 5 that doesn't break the bank. We only need it for one night!

 

[TwingleMomFl]

So you have a family of 5? I am having such a hard time finding a hotel to accommodate our family of 5 that doesn't break the bank. We only need it for one night!

Yes , we are. I booked a room with Hotwire. Ended up at the coast Harbour hotel. Beautiful. But I booked and only put 4 on the reservation. They do have these corner rooms that have a king and pull out sofa. We usually make a bed out of blankets and someone has to sleep on the floor. For one night my kids will survive.

There was a Marriott and Renaissance across the street. My friend stayed at the Hyatt and likes that too. She got that one on Hotwire.

Good luck!

 

[GrtWtNorth]

Avis (757 Hornby St, Vancouver) question. Can someone tell me if they know if there are shuttles or a rough idea how much a taxi ride would be from the terminal to the Avis to pick up our rental?

Avis would be foolish not to offer a shuttle to cruise ship guests. But I would suggest calling the Hornby Street office to confirm this. 604-606-286

It would be a very short cab ride, probably $5-6. Without luggage, you could walk the 5-6 blocks (1/2 mile) just as fast as a cab could navigate the downtown traffic. But with luggage and family, a cab would be better for your sanity. There is a taxi stand at the port, and they are efficient at cycling through the cabs.

 

[GrtWtNorth]

Well we are going to do Stanley Park, Grouse Mtn, Cap Bridge. Some have mentioned Whistler trip. A lot have talked about aquarium. We live near Sea World and wonder if it would be wise to spend time at an aquarium? I've read that we should get Canadian money... How much would be enough? Hop on hop off bus/trolley is one better than the other. Should we prepurchase tickets on line or just wait and buy once in Vancouver? Just really looking to add to the thread

The Vancouver Aquarium is nice for people who don't have a good local aquarium. It's probably the best in Canada, but would pale compared to Sea World or the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It is very conservation focused and their shows are primarily to emphasize natural behaviors, not do tricks to entertain the public.

Regarding Canadian $, how much you get depends on what you need. All of the tourist places you listed will take US$ or credit cards. Most (but not all) taxis will take credit cards. You might be better off using your credit cards and paying the 2.5-3% exchange (check the fine print of your card-holder agreement). The rate isn't that much different from what you would pay to get cash, and you won't find yourself getting more than you need.
Where you might find cash more handy is for impulse purchases where credit card machines are not common, such getting on a trolley bus (if you haven't pre-purchased a ticket) or purchasing items from street vendors or the farmers market on Granville Island. Prices are likely to be similar to the snack carts and souvenir stands around Disney World, if that helps you budget.
FYI, most vendors, taxis, and restaurants will take US$. Most will likely take US$ at par, but some restaurants will post the daily exchange rate at their till (1.08 lately). But in both cases, you will only get CAN$ for change, so use small bills.
While you can use debit cards, I would suggest avoiding it if possible. The fee structure for those is different than the fees for using credit cards. When I use my Canadian debit card in the US, I pay $3 to $5 in transaction fees above and beyond the 2.5-3% exchange rate fees that apply to both debit card and credit card transactions. I would expect most US banks to have similar fees for their customers to use Canadian bank machines and in-store debit card terminals.

As for trolley bus recommendations, there were at least two companies that operated in Vancouver when I lived there (up to 2010). One company operated up to 3x more frequently than the other, but I can't remember the name. I would suggest taking a few minutes to watch the buses pass by, and selecting the one that operates most frequently. The price difference isn't much (10%?). Your hotel concierge may have helpful tips or discounts. There isn't much savings by booking in advance before arrival compared to buying in a hotel or gift shop near a pick-up location.

 

[GrtWtNorth]

Where is the best place to watch The Wonder come into port in the morning? Is there an observation deck that overlooks the harbor? TIA

While this is impressive to watch, it is early in the morning. Click here to check the dock schedule on your specific date. It will be just you and the morning joggers, so you can find a spot just about anywhere along the waterfront.

The Harbour Centre has a lookout over the harbour, but it only opens at 8:30 am during the summer. The cruise ships will likely be berthed by then.

Canada Place has a public boardwalk down +80% of length of the cruise ship terminal. You could just walk out there.

When I lived in Vancouver, I loved to go to Stanley Park and watch the cruise ships pass under the Lions Gate Bridge in the afternoon, with the mountains of North Vancouver behind. Click here for a PDF map. The sea wall near the parking lot near the north end of Pipeline Road offers good shore-level viewing, with the ship, bridge and mountains above you. The view points near parking lots west of the bridge are up on a high point -- you would look down on the bridge and ship. If you and your family like early mornings, I think Stanley Park would offer the best vantage point.

 

[pjstevens]

A fellow cruiser had a question about going through customs when flying into Vancouver. About how long does this typically take? She's trying to decide what time flight to book (flying in the morning of the cruise). I'm sure it's really varies but having only gone though customs after a cruise, I've no insight for her.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

A fellow cruiser had a question about going through customs when flying into Vancouver. About how long does this typically take? She's trying to decide what time flight to book (flying in the morning of the cruise). I'm sure it's really varies but having only gone though customs after a cruise, I've no insight for her.

Into Canada at airport 5 minutes for us.

On to ship at Canada place 40 mins.

White pass railway Canada side 5 mins. USA on train.

Canada place Canadian side, no one there. Walked out.

Vancouver airport USA border control just over an hour.

 

[pjstevens]

Into Canada at airport 5 minutes for us.

On to ship at Canada place 40 mins.

White pass railway Canada side 5 mins. USA on train.

Canada place Canadian side, no one there. Walked out.

Vancouver airport USA border control just over an hour.

Thanks for the speedy reply.

 

[GrtWtNorth]

A fellow cruiser had a question about going through customs when flying into Vancouver. About how long does this typically take?

While it can be quick, it can also be painfully slow. YVR is a major hub for flights coming from Asia, so while your flight from the US would likely be processed quickly, if you land a few minutes after a +500 passenger flight from Manila or Beijing, you could expect to wait up to an hour to be processed. These flights tend to be "red eye" flights landing in Vancouver in the morning.

 

[Tenkawa]

Followon from that, the big asia flights tend to arrive around 9am, 1pm, and 7pm roughtly. It can get spread out, but that is the main stuff.

source: Worked at the airport for a few months.

YVR, like most airports, is shut down overnight. The last flight arrival is the 2am KLM flight inbound, with flights starting again around 6am. Before the KLM flight there is a 1am, but the rest end around midnight.

 

[Mickdeb]

Our plan at this time......fly into Seattle day before our Alaskan cruise, 7:40 Amtrak to Vancouver morning of our cruise.
We plan to fly home from Vancouver the morning our cruise returns....
My questions for those of you who have done this before:

1. Where did you stay overnight in Seattle/ near the airport or near Amtrak station? Any hotel suggestions close to the Amtrak station, preferably accessible by light rail.

2. What is the earliest return flight we can book? How far is the Vancouver airport from Canada Place? What is the best and cost effective way to get to the airport?
Thank you for reading.
Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[pjstevens]

Our plan at this time......fly into Seattle day before our Alaskan cruise, 7:40 Amtrak to Vancouver morning of our cruise.
We plan to fly home from Vancouver the morning our cruise returns....
My questions for those of you who have done this before:

I read somewhere within all this info that taking Amtrak the morning of isn't recommended as there are often delays (it's a freight line). I'd like to hear more from anyone who has done this (both good and bad) as this was our original plan.

 

[TwingleMomFl]

I agree taking the Amtrak on the morning of is risky. My friend and I and our families flew into Seattle and took the train up but left on different days. We has two different experiences.

My train left on time and was smooth ride all the way to Vancouver . It's a very early morning train ride. And the train is about 30 mins from the port.

My friend took it the next day, and there was a derailment that delayed her train and they had to take an alternate route to Vancouver.

We stayed at the Marriott Waterfront, and it was a 10 min taxi ride to the amtrak station in Seattle.

We flew home out of Vancouver and I believe the recommended time to schedule your flight is after 12:30.

It was a beautiful scenic ride along the coast. I recommend going for the first class tickets. First to board, first to get off , better seats and less crowded cars.

Remember in The city if Vancouver only 4 max in a taxi. Most are Prius's and there are some mini vans but they still only allow 4 only in the car/taxi.

Very easy to get from Canada place to the airport , either taxi, cruise transfer or train.

 

[Mickdeb]

Thank you for the replies...we are a family of 3 so taxis should not be a problem. We will likely only need one to/ from both Amtrak stations. We will take the skyline/ canadaline from the port to the airport for our flight home. Still trying to figure out where we can stay in Seattle near the Amtrak station. Oops, I see you mentioned you stayed at the Marriott, thank you.

 

[pjstevens]

I agree taking the Amtrak on the morning of is risky. My friend and I and our families flew into Seattle and took the train up but left on different days. We has two different experiences.

My train left on time and was smooth ride all the way to Vancouver . It's a very early morning train ride. And the train is about 30 mins from the port.

My friend took it the next day, and there was a derailment that delayed her train and they had to take an alternate route to Vancouver.

Can I ask how delayed your friends train was. We are sailing out on a Monday and were thinking of taking that same 7:40 train from Seattle to Vancouver. Read a few that said don't do it due to delays. I have a car reserved but the train is 1/2 the price (and this is a very budget tight trip).

 

[peachygreen]

How early in the morning in June do you think it would be safe to run by yourself from Pan Pacific to Stanley Park - around the park and back? It looks like an 8-9 mile run which would be perfect for many reasons.
I'd like to start early in the morning to be back in time for breakfast with the family. Sunrise is around 5am. Would 5:30 or 6am be relatively safe?

 

[bumbershoot]

Thank you for the replies...we are a family of 3 so taxis should not be a problem. We will likely only need one to/ from both Amtrak stations. We will take the skyline/ canadaline from the port to the airport for our flight home. Still trying to figure out where we can stay in Seattle near the Amtrak station. Oops, I see you mentioned you stayed at the Marriott, thank you.

There's a Silver Cloud pretty close by. Other than that there's not much right around, and the ones around tend to be pretty spendy.

The problem with the whole area is that Seatac is a solid 30 minutes away from downtown Seattle (without worrying about traffic). The airport hotels are right near the airport. The Amtrak station is in downtown, in what used to be a pretty dodgy area and they just didn't have many hotels down there. Now there is the lovely Mariners baseball field and the rugged and insanely loud Seahawks stadium, so they had to bring in something (Silver Cloud). But most everything else is up in the business core area of downtown.

And the big huge problem with Amtrak that morning is that Amtrak doesn't own the rails. They are at total and complete mercy of the freight trains. If freight needs the rails, the Amtrak gets to wait. If there's a problem with a freight train, Amtrak has to wait.

And there can also be landslides across the tracks. If there's such a slide, the rails will be closed for a number of hours that basically translates into 3 days. If such a thing happens while you're ON the train, you get to wait to be taken from the train and put onto a bus and then be driven.

If it happens inside that 3 day window, you get to take a bus. The bus takes longer. There's no food. There's no water. There are no awesome views of the water and bald eagles and everything. I'm assuming it's the same going TO Canada...coming home to the US we got to stop at the border, get off the bus with carryons, go through security there including xray machines for bags etc. Took quite awhile on the way back to the US. Not sure if it's the same going up.

Now...how often does that happen? I have absolutely no idea. But if it happens it's very very annoying and I would be a nervous wreck.

And this is why I don't find myself suggesting the train to people anymore who are concerned about COST. Because not only do you want to get to Seattle the day before the train, but I know that I really want to catch the train the day before my cruise. So that's a day in the Seatac/Seattle area AND a day in Vancouver. The savings of not flying straight to YVR start getting eaten away with all of that.

Do you have insurance on your cruise?

How early in the morning in June do you think it would be safe to run by yourself from Pan Pacific to Stanley Park - around the park and back? It looks like an 8-9 mile run which would be perfect for many reasons.
I'd like to start early in the morning to be back in time for breakfast with the family. Sunrise is around 5am. Would 5:30 or 6am be relatively safe?

Apart from locals answering you, I would also email or phone the Running Room. They have all sorts of running groups leaving out of there, and if you call the one right near Stanley Park they should be able to tell you info like that.

 

[Tenkawa]

I live in Vancouver and have taken the train up and down many times.

TLDNR:

Do NOT take the train the morning of the cruise, do NOT take a coach bus the morning of the cruise. Rent a car.

Longer post:

Train: It is about a 4 hour train trip, which means at best, you are arriving at 11:30am, after arrival you have to go through customs, which can take anywhere from 15min-1hr depending on the number of people. Since there is only one rail line, if anything happens (freight train taking too long, landslide, etc) it can add delays, which are a minimum of 30min.

It is on time about 90% of the time, but 10% is still a fair amount.

Coach bus:

Problem with these is that they are at the mercy of the border. Everyone gets off the bus and goes through customs. If anyone has a problem, EVERYONE gets delayed. So these take about 4-5 hours from Seattle once you factor the border in.


Both are great ways to get from one to the other, but can experience delays that could be problematic for you.

 

[mellers]

Can I ask how delayed your friends train was. We are sailing out on a Monday and were thinking of taking that same 7:40 train from Seattle to Vancouver. Read a few that said don't do it due to delays. I have a car reserved but the train is 1/2 the price (and this is a very budget tight trip).

If you're on a tight budget, stay at the Best Western Executive Inn and take the Quick Shuttle up to the cruise terminal--it is more reliable than the train. If you stay at the Best Western, the Quick Shuttle picks you up right there and drops you off right at the cruise terminal. I'd still recommend going up the night before, if you can afford it, but the Quick Shuttle's a safer option, and generally cheaper than the train. The 7:15 should get you there by about 11:45, and even if you're an hour late, you won't miss the boat:

http://www.quickcoach.com/schedule.htm

You also might want to consider taking the QuickShuttle from the Seattle airport to the Vancouver Airport, and stay at the La Quinta Vancouver Airport. It is usually pretty inexpensive, and has a breakfast and an indoor pool, and it has a free shuttle from the airport. You can take the hotel shuttle to the SkyTrain and SkyTrain it over to the port, or cab it.

 

[GrtWtNorth]

How early in the morning in June do you think it would be safe to run by yourself from Pan Pacific to Stanley Park - around the park and back? It looks like an 8-9 mile run which would be perfect for many reasons.
I'd like to start early in the morning to be back in time for breakfast with the family. Sunrise is around 5am. Would 5:30 or 6am be relatively safe?

Based on my experiences living in Vancouver, the waterfront areas are very safe during daylight hours in the summer. There are a number of early risers who would be making laps around Stanley Park at the same time as you.