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

[msnoble]

Yes!! We rented bikes. On a nice day, its a great thing to do. There are several rental places near the entrance to the park. One of the biggest seems to be Spokes. If you google spokes vancouver, I'm sure you'll pull up their website.

Thanks for this--we will be there this weekend, and are hoping that it will be nice enough on Sunday to explore the park that way.

 

[mgibson301]

Melissa, are you doing this pre cruise? We will be doing the trolley in Stanley park on 8/28 after we do the aquarium in the morning.

Yep! We are getting in super early on the 29th, like 7am. I've been meaning to ask you when you all are flying. I think we may do the same as you...aquarium and trolley. DH has been working hard and really wants a laid back vacation. We are staying in an out of the way area...by Metrotown mall at the Hilton (using points for a free night). Getting excited it's around the corner!!

 

[mgibson301]

Yes!! We rented bikes. On a nice day, its a great thing to do. There are several rental places near the entrance to the park. One of the biggest seems to be Spokes. If you google spokes vancouver, I'm sure you'll pull up their website.

Super! DH likes to be active so we will see. I think I'll see how the weather is when we go to decide between that or the trolley. Thanks for the info on the website!!!

 

[lbgraves]

THANK FOR THE INFO. We only have the day of the cruise to go to Grouse. I am very excited to go. We are going to take a taxi over at 8:30 in the morning and play there until 1:45. Thinking this is worth our time since it looks like the cruise is sold out. No port upgrades. Love the info about the bears nap. LOL We are hoping to paraglide in morning. Any more info or advice would be great. What time did the BBQ place open for lunch?

You need to be careful about your timing when leaving here. We were on the last free shuttle of the day back to Canada Place, but it left at 5:20 and it took us nearly an hour to get back. It had been a much shorter time to drive there that morning. This was on a Sunday. It also took us around 45 minutes once we got in the line for the tram to get to the bottom. You need to be on the ship no later than 4 pm. If you will have to go to the hotel, get your luggage the trek to Canada Place, I wouldn't plan on staying up there past. You would need to get in the line to go down by then. We were there from 9:30 until we got in line at 4:20. We ate lunch in the lodge, but I don't know what time it opened.

Did anyone rent bikes at Stanley Park? I was thinking we may do that OR do the trolley. We only have one day in Vancouver and we really just want to take it easy.

We rented bikes on the waterfront, just on the other side of the cauldron...think 2 city blocks. That is just down the street from Canada Place [we stayed at the Pan]. It was $8 hour for adults and $4 for kids. It takes about 90 minutes to ride the bikes to Stanley Park from there and then ride all the way around the park. There is a place with sprinklers for kids and a beach area. You can rent locks with the bikes if you want to stop. You will pass by the totems also.

Yep! We are getting in super early on the 29th, like 7am. I've been meaning to ask you when you all are flying. I think we may do the same as you...aquarium and trolley. DH has been working hard and really wants a laid back vacation. We are staying in an out of the way area...by Metrotown mall at the Hilton (using points for a free night). Getting excited it's around the corner!!

If I had it to do over, we would have skipped the aquarium. I was not impressed with it.

 

[joycsk]

If I had it to do over, we would have skipped the aquarium. I was not impressed with it.[/QUOTE]

I understand Lisa's comment, but feel the need to add clarification. I'm from near Philadelphia. I have been to the NJ State Aquarium (now Adventure Aquarium) and the National Aquarium in Baltimore, MD. If you have been to either of there, or possibly the Atlanta Aquarium, you will find the Vancouver Aquarium to be extremely small in comparison. However, I was entranced by the Beluga whales, which were worth the price of admission for me. I think the ticket is knowing that the aquarium is _small_.

 

[joycsk]

They are both about the same but I read on another board that one has a "live" commentary versus a "recorded" one. I think the trolley was the live (probably meaning the driver was also the guide or they had another person on the mike) versus the big bus (which I think means the driver is just gonna flip a switch).

We will be taking the big bus only because groupon had coupon deals. I usually prefer the "live" commentary as it is easier to as questions.

We got a "deal" on Big Bus, and it was a mistake. It stops running at 5pm. That was a horrible surprise. I also did not like the "odd" route that it took, though I'm told the other routes are similar. There is also the Pink Bus, which donates some profits to breast cancer research.

 

[joycsk]

There are sliding scales of sushi in Vancouver.

Most places sell sushi a-la-cart, and it's relatively inexpensive. $4-6 for a single roll cut into 4 pieces. $12-15 for a combo plate with several varieties. It's hard to walk a block in downton Vancouver and not come across two or three of these restaurants.

All-you-can-eat sushi restaurants are a little harder to find. I've eaten at Tanpopo (good) and Richmond Sushi (very good). The food quality isn't much better than the a-la-cart restaurants, but all-you-can-eat restaurants usually have better seating and drink options. Expect to pay $13-16 per person, plus drinks and gratuity.

The top notch sushi is prepared and sold in many fancy and expensive restaurants. If you want real 'Japanese' sushi, with a Japanese trained sushi-chef, you have to look at one of these places. I was about to recommend Yoshi Japanese Restaurant on Denman, but it appears that it has closed. Vancouver.com has a top-five sushi restaurants list here.

GreatWhiteNorth,

You've been so helpful, I wanted to share that a bus driver recommended Toyama (?) I think that was the name, but now that it's been nearly 2 weeks, I'm not positive. It wasn't the best sushi I ever ate, but we thought it was an amazing value. In our area, the only all you can eat sushi we can find is rolls, or a buffet.

Thanks!

 

[buddywesley]

We got a "deal" on Big Bus, and it was a mistake. It stops running at 5pm. That was a horrible surprise. I also did not like the "odd" route that it took, though I'm told the other routes are similar. There is also the Pink Bus, which donates some profits to breast cancer research.

I thought the routes were OK but you had to figure out where to get it so you were riding where you wanted without being on it too long (we were at Club Intrawest at Sheraton Wall Centre so there were a few places we could get on it). The biggest complaint we had about it was that one it was sunny and they had a lot of open cars running...the next day it was raining and they STILL had the open cars running. The comment we got from the tour guide (sometimes they do have LIVE guides on the bus...it's all pretty random- we had live guides 2x and the rest were taped) was "hey you'da been mad if we had the closed busses yesterday!?"...really? that was their response to the wet seats that were not even being wiped off!!!!!!
Would NOT do the Big Bus next time...I'd try the trolly...

 

[buddywesley]

If I had it to do over, we would have skipped the aquarium. I was not impressed with it.

I understand Lisa's comment, but feel the need to add clarification. I'm from near Philadelphia. I have been to the NJ State Aquarium (now Adventure Aquarium) and the National Aquarium in Baltimore, MD. If you have been to either of there, or possibly the Atlanta Aquarium, you will find the Vancouver Aquarium to be extremely small in comparison. However, I was entranced by the Beluga whales, which were worth the price of admission for me. I think the ticket is knowing that the aquarium is _small_.[/QUOTE]

I agree! The aquarium was nice and the belugas (and even the frog exhibit) were nice but to take that much out of our stanley park experience for it, not sure if it's worth it. depends on how many days you'll be there. We also have a really nice Aquarium in Southern California (Aquarium of the Pacific) and it wasn't as big as it. Although the 4D movie was included here and at our aquarium it was NOT (you pay extra for it) so that was good.

 

[lbgraves]

If I had it to do over, we would have skipped the aquarium. I was not impressed with it.

I understand Lisa's comment, but feel the need to add clarification. I'm from near Philadelphia. I have been to the NJ State Aquarium (now Adventure Aquarium) and the National Aquarium in Baltimore, MD. If you have been to either of there, or possibly the Atlanta Aquarium, you will find the Vancouver Aquarium to be extremely small in comparison. However, I was entranced by the Beluga whales, which were worth the price of admission for me. I think the ticket is knowing that the aquarium is _small_.

We live in a very small town in NC but the aquarium nearby is just as nice if not better than the one in Vancouver IMO, and charges much less for admission. We can get a yearly membership for our family of four for $50 that allows us admission to many other aquariums across the country. We have been to the one in Baltimore...MUCH nicer than the one here...so I have other places to compare it to as well. I did not feel that the Vancouver Aquarium was worth the price and was very disappointed, considering the size and the number of exhibits offered. We did enjoy the whales; however, when we left I wished that we had used the money we spent there to do something else in town. Thankfully, DH refrained from saying "told you so."

 

[tksbaskets]

We enjoyed our time at the aquarium and took advantage of the dolphin and whale shows. We don't live near any aquarium and felt it was money well spent.

We took the Trolley company bus and were very happy with it. No open bus for us.

TK

 

[LDM]

Yes there is but it's pretty expensive. I say leave your laptop home and enjoy unplugging for awhile!

thanks! I think I'll bring for picture uploading, but that's it.

 

[LDM]

Question about the Character Breakfast (on the 7 night cruise)....

Do we need to sign up for it? Or is already arranged for us?

Also, is all the food on the cruise included in the price???


Thanks!! Only two more sleeps!!!

 

[poohj80]

Question about the Character Breakfast (on the 7 night cruise)....

Do we need to sign up for it? Or is already arranged for us?

Also, is all the food on the cruise included in the price???


Thanks!! Only two more sleeps!!!

All normal food is included, but meals at Palo or snacks you might purchase before a show are not.

 

[LDM]

All normal food is included, but meals at Palo or snacks you might purchase before a show are not.

Excellent! Thank you.

Any idea on the character breakfast?

I'm so glad I found this site, you have all been more help then our Travel Agent.

 

[poohj80]

Excellent! Thank you.

Any idea on the character breakfast?

I'm so glad I found this site, you have all been more help then our Travel Agent.

I believe the character breakfast is already set based on your dining rotation, but this will be our first 7 day cruise as well so you may want someone more knowledgable to respond.

 

[tinker1bell]

I believe the character breakfast is already set based on your dining rotation, but this will be our first 7 day cruise as well so you may want someone more knowledgable to respond.

My BFF and I were on the 14 day WBTA and the Character breakfast is on a set day so I would think it would be the same on the seven day. It is based on your dining rotation. It was on a sea day.

 

[TravelinCyn]

Yes, it's assigned for you, it will say on the bottom of your dining ticket and your server will remind you (several times) the night before.

 

[CruisingSarah]

Just to say we arrived in Vancouver yesterday for our pre-cruise stay and had one night in the Delta Vancouver hotel and it was great. So if anyone has yet to book an airport hotel I recommend the Delta. All staff were extremely friendly and welcoming, the food at Pier 73 was great, there was a lovely complimentary continental breakfast with free full breakfast for kids, the room was well appointed and there is a nice heated outdoor pool with pool toys for the kids. A really great airport stopover

 

[Schachteles]

If I had it to do over, we would have skipped the aquarium. I was not impressed with it.

I understand Lisa's comment, but feel the need to add clarification. I'm from near Philadelphia. I have been to the NJ State Aquarium (now Adventure Aquarium) and the National Aquarium in Baltimore, MD. If you have been to either of there, or possibly the Atlanta Aquarium, you will find the Vancouver Aquarium to be extremely small in comparison. However, I was entranced by the Beluga whales, which were worth the price of admission for me. I think the ticket is knowing that the aquarium is _small_.[/QUOTE]

We found that it was PACKED the day we were there, you could barely move and it took a lot of the fun out of the day. It was disappointing since it was terribly expensive to get in! The kids did enjoy the beluga whales since you don't get to see those everywhere.