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

[mom_rules]

For those heading to the fireworks this weekend- CBC News article

Fireworks fans will descend on Vancouver’s West End once again Wednesday night for the second show in this year’s Celebration of Light.

A team from Spain will put on a 25-minute display entitled “Odyssey,” starting at 10 p.m.

The fireworks are launched from a barge anchored in English Bay, 300 metres offshore from the intersection of Denman Street and Beach Avenue.

The Celebration of Light, now in its 21st year, typically draws hundreds of thousands spectators to each of it events. The July 30 crowd was estimated at 300,000.

That show featured a display put on by the team from China. On Saturday night, it’s Canada’s turn in the final event.
Road closures

Traffic restrictions come into effect at Kits Point at 6:00 p.m. PT and in the West End at 7:30 p.m.

Vehicles owned by local residents and authorized commercial vehicles will still have access to the restricted areas.

City officials have issued a reminder that consumption of alcohol in city park areas is prohibited.

There were more than 600 liquor pour-outs, two dozen liquor seizures, and 10 drug seizures at last weekend's show, said Const. Lindsey Houghton of Vancouver police.

Police also confiscated 26 weapons, including three sets of brass knuckles, eight cans of pepper spray, four knives, and an ice pick.

Two people suffered minor injuries in a knife incident following the event.

 

[rsjj]

Hmmm...I kinda thought you could use the one ticket - get a transfer as long as it was within a certain amount of time?

We are planning on taking the bus to the waterfront and then taking the ferry to north vancouver and I was only planning on using one ticket one way and another ticket on the return. Based on what you are saying I will now have to use 4 tickets? Yes please, someone help!

i really wasn't stating a fact or anything...was just thinking outloud...since i honestly don't know how it all works. so yes, if anyone reading this has any info, pls help us!! thanx!

 

[mom_rules]

i really wasn't stating a fact or anything...was just thinking outloud...since i honestly don't know how it all works. so yes, if anyone reading this has any info, pls help us!! thanx!

Find a pharmacy or a convenience store that sells a 24 hour -day pass-think it's $9 per person. Good for all zones.

 

[rsjj]

Find a pharmacy or a convenience store that sells a 24 hour -day pass-think it's $9 per person. Good for all zones.

i don't think i need a day pass. since i just need a 1 zone fee (if i'm paying cash at the station) on a weekend/holiday, can i use the 1 zone ticket from the faresaver booklet? would that work on a weekend/holiday? maybe i'm not really getting this in my head...

again, thank you for all your help!

 

[LDM]

Just got off the ship yesterday....
1st formal was Wednesday Sea Day. Not everyone dressed up....
2nd formal (semi) was Sunday - Ketchikan night. And hardly anyone dressed up

we were at the dock at 1030.....Customs didn't open until 11am and we boarded right at noon. Your times you choose on the online checkin have NOTHING to do with when you can check in

Excellent! Thanks so much.

We're so excited, the kids can't stop talking about it.

Another question I have is what documents do we need to bring? We didn't receive any official tickets from the travel agent, just an invoice with all the information. We received the booklet from the cruise as well. What else is needed? (other then passports and the customs info we'll print from the website).

I contacted our Travel Agent with these questions, but she is horrible at getting back to us. Guess we won't be using her for our trip in the Spring!

 

[mom_rules]

Excellent! Thanks so much.

We're so excited, the kids can't stop talking about it.

Another question I have is what documents do we need to bring? We didn't receive any official tickets from the travel agent, just an invoice with all the information. We received the booklet from the cruise as well. What else is needed? (other then passports and the customs info we'll print from the website).

I contacted our Travel Agent with these questions, but she is horrible at getting back to us. Guess we won't be using her for our trip in the Spring!

Sent you a PM

 

[ariel39]

Excellent! Thanks so much.

We're so excited, the kids can't stop talking about it.

Another question I have is what documents do we need to bring? We didn't receive any official tickets from the travel agent, just an invoice with all the information. We received the booklet from the cruise as well. What else is needed? (other then passports and the customs info we'll print from the website).

I contacted our Travel Agent with these questions, but she is horrible at getting back to us. Guess we won't be using her for our trip in the Spring!

if you checked in online, then you would need to print your signature documents, passports, and credit card. If you didn't print the documents, its ok, they will have you sign them at the port.

 

[GrtWtNorth]

not sure if i read it here...or elsewhere...

but does anyone know where i can get good, fresh sushi in vancouver? there was a restaurant that i read about, but now i can't remember! (either on this thread or another one)...that served fresh sushi...and i think it was all you can eat? if this rings a bell...pls let me know. thanx!

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.

 

[HiMagicFan]

i don't think i need a day pass. since i just need a 1 zone fee (if i'm paying cash at the station) on a weekend/holiday, can i use the 1 zone ticket from the faresaver booklet? would that work on a weekend/holiday? maybe i'm not really getting this in my head...

again, thank you for all your help!

Well I hope you get your answer because I think I got mine and may be able to use the day pass (we arent buying the booklet - at least not yet)

still curious tho if someone out there can help us....

 

[mom_rules]

FareSaver Tickets are a book of ten TransLink tickets that can be used on the Bus, SeaBus or SkyTrain. They offer savings over buying single fares.

For example, buying 10 single fare tickets for 1 zone will cost you $25, while using FareSaver tickets costs only $21, saving 16%. On a daily basis, travel to and from work in one zone will cost you $5.00 per day paying with cash, or $4.20 using FareSaver tickets.

Each FareSaver lets you travel for up to 90 minutes across Metro Vancouver. You can hop off for errands and then hop back on again.

You can travel for one, two or three zones by Bus, SeaBus or SkyTrain. Tickets for the West Coast Express must be purchased separately as they are priced differently.

You can travel up to 90 minutes for each single fare or FareSaver ticket in the zone(s) purchased. You can transfer between bus, SkyTrain and SeaBus in any direction.

Fare receipts and validated FareSaver tickets also serve as transfers.

Single fare passengers travelling more than one zone should always request a transfer when boarding and keep it as proof of payment.

 

[mom_rules]

If you have bought a one-zone fare but need to travel through two or three zones, you can upgrade your ticket on the bus or at SkyTrain or SeaBus ticket vending machines with a proof of payment transfer.

 

[mgibson301]

Well I hope you get your answer because I think I got mine and may be able to use the day pass (we arent buying the booklet - at least not yet)

still curious tho if someone out there can help us....

Are you all using public transportation from the airport too? Piikea, we are getting day passes as well since we aren't staying close to the port (Hilton Metrotown..DH's free points). Someone said that it saved a surcharge to buy them from one of the convenience stores in the airport rather than the machines? Think I read $5 savings? Anyone know about this?

 

[LDM]

if you checked in online, then you would need to print your signature documents, passports, and credit card. If you didn't print the documents, its ok, they will have you sign them at the port.

 

[LDM]

Sent you a PM

Got it! Thank you!!

 

[lbgraves]

We stayed at the Sheraton Wall Center 7/23, the Pan 7/24 & 25, then the Westin at the airport on 8/2. All of them were fantastic. The room at the Westin the last night was just as nice or better than the Pan, and the bathroom was bigger too. Staff at all hotels were very helpful. The Pan was extremely convenient being right at the port. We walked everywhere, even to and from Stanley Park one morning. That was a hike!!!

I wish that we had gotten a taxi from the airport to the Sheraton the first day. We took the train. It ended up costing us over $30 with only one zone on the weekend getting the tickets at the kiosk at the station because we couldn't find the 7-11 and after traveling for over 12 hours we just wanted to get out and to our hotel. The guy at the station told us to take the train, then transfer to a bus with the same ticket. We had 3 48 pound bags and 4 carryons. Didn't think we would get on a bus so we opted to go to the Central station and walk 6 blocks. It wouldn't have been as bad if it hadn't been uphill to the hotel the last couple blocks. We also lost a wheel on one of the big bags. We took a taxi from the Pan to the Westin at the Airport and it was just under $30...and we got there in 15 minutes. IMO that was worth the little extra with two zones.

None of us liked the Spaghetti Warehouse. YUCK! We did like another Italian place on the same side of the street a bit closer to the Pan though. Big portions and good food! It was Pablo or something like that. You had to get to the entrance by taking a left between two brick buildings and it had a green awning over the door.

 

[Shanny145]

We stayed at the Sheraton Wall Center 7/23, the Pan 7/24 & 25, then the Westin at the airport on 8/2. All of them were fantastic. The room at the Westin the last night was just as nice or better than the Pan, and the bathroom was bigger too. Staff at all hotels were very helpful. The Pan was extremely convenient being right at the port. We walked everywhere, even to and from Stanley Park one morning. That was a hike!!!

I wish that we had gotten a taxi from the airport to the Sheraton the first day. We took the train. It ended up costing us over $30 with only one zone on the weekend getting the tickets at the kiosk at the station because we couldn't find the 7-11 and after traveling for over 12 hours we just wanted to get out and to our hotel. The guy at the station told us to take the train, then transfer to a bus with the same ticket. We had 3 48 pound bags and 4 carryons. Didn't think we would get on a bus so we opted to go to the Central station and walk 6 blocks. It wouldn't have been as bad if it hadn't been uphill to the hotel the last couple blocks. We also lost a wheel on one of the big bags. We took a taxi from the Pan to the Westin at the Airport and it was just under $30...and we got there in 15 minutes. IMO that was worth the little extra with two zones.

None of us liked the Spaghetti Warehouse. YUCK! We did like another Italian place on the same side of the street a bit closer to the Pan though. Big portions and good food! It was Pablo or something like that. You had to get to the entrance by taking a left between two brick buildings and it had a green awning over the door.

How was the Sheraton Wall Center? We are staying there 3 nights pre cruise.

 

[85SLE]

We had lunch in the Granville Market. Food was great and a lot of vendors to choose from. Lots of seating inside and outside the market.

Cost was around $30 for the three of us.

 

[lbgraves]

How was the Sheraton Wall Center? We are staying there 3 nights pre cruise.

It was nice and clean. We were in the South tower. If you do the train from the airport you have to either try to get on the bus with all your stuff and then walk 3 blocks or go to the Central stop and walk 8 blocks. The hotel itself was pretty nice. There was something weird with the A/C there though because I woke up the next morning with my throat burning when I swallowed. It had to be allergies though because that feeling went away after a couple hours and never returned during our trip. The hall was a bit loud during the night. I was woken up around 2 am by people having a good old time going back to their rooms. It is an 8 block hike to the waterfront area from there. We took a taxi to the Pan due to the broken wheel and it was $7.00 for two of us to go with the bags -- it was a small cab so DH & DD walked to the Pan.

 

[HiMagicFan]

Are you all using public transportation from the airport too? Piikea, we are getting day passes as well since we aren't staying close to the port (Hilton Metrotown..DH's free points). Someone said that it saved a surcharge to buy them from one of the convenience stores in the airport rather than the machines? Think I read $5 savings? Anyone know about this?

Hi there! We were thinking about it but my Mom and Dad would rather have the door to door service and hearing about the person having to walk we are pretty certain we will do a taxi from the airport.

However, we will be at the Wall for 3-1/2 days prior to the cruise and are planning to do the public transportation to get around. Mom and Dad can't really walk 8 blocks to the waterfront.

Your information is correct from what I remember from the boards. Look for the 7-11.

It feels like it is coming like a roller coaster - fast!

 

[lbgraves]

If I had bothered to research where the 7-11 was before the cruise that may have helped, but with customs and then luggage and another check I didn't see it anywhere. Like I said though, the Wall is not close to any of the train stops and you would need to transfer to a city bus [using the same ticket for the train]. There is a station around the corner from the Pan so if you are staying there just get off at the Waterfront stop and walk about 2 blocks to get to the Pan. There were a lot of people pulling luggage around on the streets each day we were there. When our friends posted asking about the train and that the 3 of them had 4 big bags, I told them to just take a taxi.