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

[trimix]

I live near the Cascades route and take it to Seattle occasionally. The only times I have had assigned seats is when business class is full or close to it, and haven't found out until i board.

 

[poohj80]

did you already get your seat assignments for the business seats?

You will still get your seat assignments the day of the train ride.

 

[Caropooh]

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[Smokey91]

The cruise we are taking is leaving out of Seattle, and debarks in
Vancouver. We would like to spend time in Seattle prior to the trip, some
time in Vancouver after the trip, and also go to Victoria on our own as
this cruise does not stop there.

We have not booked air yet, and although I would prefer to fly non-stop in to
Seattle and out of Vancouver it appears it's less expensive to do the air
round trip to/from Seattle.

My problem and questions:
1. Where to stay in Seattle that would be easy and accessible for us to
get from airport to hotel, hotel convenient to sights to see, and getting
to the port in Seattle, without renting a car.
2. Getting from port in Vancouver to hotel that is convenient to sights,
and then getting back to Seattle if we do not fly out of Vancouver, without renting a car.
3. Are we better of seeing and getting to Victoria from Seattle or
Vancouver?

I appreciate any information that you can provide to me in advance to
assist in making this process easier.

 

[trimix]

My problem and questions:
1. Where to stay in Seattle that would be easy and accessible for us to
get from airport to hotel, hotel convenient to sights to see, and getting
to the port in Seattle, without renting a car.
2. Getting from port in Vancouver to hotel that is convenient to sights,
and then getting back to Seattle if we do not fly out of Vancouver, without renting a car.
3. Are we better of seeing and getting to Victoria from Seattle or
Vancouver?

I can't help with 2, but:
1) I would suggest the airport Hilton. They will pick you up, are right across the street from the light rail station, and you could use DCL transfers or a shuttle service to get to the port. Light rail will get you downtown where walking, a bus, or the monorail will get you to the downtown attractions. The museum of flight is accessible with the light rail and a bus.

3) with your luggage, go to Seattle first and use the Victoria Clipper. The mainland ferry terminal is over 20 miles from downtown Vancouver, and the island terminal is over 20 miles from downtown Victoria.

 

[mellers]

1. Where to stay in Seattle that would be easy and accessible for us to
get from airport to hotel, hotel convenient to sights to see, and getting
to the port in Seattle, without renting a car.

Any airport hotel is good for this, or, if you want to go more upscale, the Mayflower Park Downtown is good. I would recommend, if you have more than 2 in your party, forget about DCL transfers to the cruise and hire a car. If you don't mind going for more of a "taxicab" vibe, go for http://www.eastsideforhire.com/ - they are usually cheapest. Otherwise, I've had good luck with http://www.seattlegreenlimo.com/ .

To get to downtown from the airport, just take a shuttle to the airport and hop on the light rail. If you want to go to Pike Place Market or the Space Needle, get off at Westlake Center--it's about a 1/2 mile walk to Pike Place from there, or, if you take an elevator to the top of Westlake Center, you can catch the monorail over to Seattle Center, which is where the Space Needle, Pacific Science Center, Experience Music Project, and Ride the Ducks are. Ride the Ducks also leaves from Westlake Center now, I believe.

2. Getting from port in Vancouver to hotel that is convenient to sights,
and then getting back to Seattle if we do not fly out of Vancouver, without renting a car.

Take the QuickShuttle http://www.quickcoach.com/. They have a pickup schedule with several hotels in the Vancouver area. We're planning to take a taxi from the port to the Westin Bayshore, stay at the hotel for a few days, and take the QuickShuttle back to Seattle. It goes directly to Sea-Tac.

Another possibility, depending upon what airline you like to fly, is flying out of Bellingham, WA. You can also take the QuickShuttle there, and it is closer to Vancouver than Seattle.

3. Are we better of seeing and getting to Victoria from Seattle or
Vancouver?

Either way works. You would probably want to take the Victoria Clipper ( http://www.clippervacations.com/ ) if you plan to go from Seattle.

If you plan to go from Vancouver, the Crosswater may be a good choice:

http://www.pacificcoach.com/Bus-Coach-Travel/Crosswater/Vancouver-to-Victoria

If you take the Crosswater, you can go from Vancouver to Victoria, and then take a one-way on the Clipper to Seattle, or go in the opposite direction. They do have service to-from the cruise terminal, as I recall.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[jilljill]

The cruise we are taking is leaving out of Seattle, and debarks in
Vancouver. We would like to spend time in Seattle prior to the trip, some
time in Vancouver after the trip, and also go to Victoria on our own as
this cruise does not stop there.

We have not booked air yet, and although I would prefer to fly non-stop in to
Seattle and out of Vancouver it appears it's less expensive to do the air
round trip to/from Seattle.

My problem and questions:
1. Where to stay in Seattle that would be easy and accessible for us to
get from airport to hotel, hotel convenient to sights to see, and getting
to the port in Seattle, without renting a car.
2. Getting from port in Vancouver to hotel that is convenient to sights,
and then getting back to Seattle if we do not fly out of Vancouver, without renting a car.
3. Are we better of seeing and getting to Victoria from Seattle or
Vancouver?

I appreciate any information that you can provide to me in advance to
assist in making this process easier.

Here's the link to the 'Official Seattle' thread on DIS: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2838598

We did the DCL AK cruise last summer and flew into Seattle, since it was cheaper, and then flew out of Vancouver since it was the same price as leaving from Seattle.
In Seattle we stayed at the Sheraton near the Westlake and in Vancouver we stayed at the Sheraton Wall Center. I was able to get the Vancouver hotel on Priceline for around $140 US/night for the 2 nights before our cruise. Both hotels were very convenient to the sights.

 

[RedSox68]

did you already get your seat assignments for the business seats?

They don't assign seats. I was just able to print the boarding passes so I don't have to wait until the ticket window opens (or wait in line). They don't have a ticket kiosk at either Seattle or Vancouver I was told.

As for Seattle hotels, we are staying at the Inn at the Market the one night pre-cruise (which is right across from Pike Place Market) and upon our return post-cruise, we are spending 4-nights at the Silver Cloud Inn-Lake Union. Very reasonable rates, high marks on Trip Advisor and they have a free shuttle all day to and from downtown.

 

[poohj80]

They don't assign seats. I was just able to print the boarding passes so I don't have to wait until the ticket window opens (or wait in line). They don't have a ticket kiosk at either Seattle or Vancouver I was told.

If you have printed your boarding passes, you will need to stand in line for a seat assignment in Seattle, but there's only 1 business class car so you don't have to get there super early.

 

[trimix]

If you have printed your boarding passes, you will need to stand in line for a seat assignment in Seattle, but there's only 1 business class car so you don't have to get there super early.

Actually, that is not completely accurate. If you have printed your boarding passes, you MIGHT have to stand in line for a seat assignment in Seattle, but only if business class is full.

I take the Cascades to Seattle any time I can attend a Mariners game starting in the noon or 1 PM hour, and prefer business class because coach on a train full of M's fans can get noisy. If business class is full or close to it they assign seats. Otherwise it is open seating for business class customers.

They also assign seats in coach class - on the rare occasion that coach class is full. I have seen that happen twice.

 

[poohj80]

Actually, that is not completely accurate. If you have printed your boarding passes, you MIGHT have to stand in line for a seat assignment in Seattle, but only if business class is full.

I take the Cascades to Seattle any time I can attend a Mariners game starting in the noon or 1 PM hour, and prefer business class because coach on a train full of M's fans can get noisy. If business class is full or close to it they assign seats. Otherwise it is open seating for business class customers.

They also assign seats in coach class - on the rare occasion that coach class is full. I have seen that happen twice.

Thanks for the update! I have only been on Cascades for the Alaskan cruise and business class was full of other cruisers so we did get seat assignments.

 

[queenbee99]

We are doing the train to Vancouver as well and this reminded me to make reservations...so does anyone know if there is any discount for business class? Also we were planning on doing it the day we get off the boat but it either leaves at 740 am or 640pm. We would not make the 740 but what would we do with our luggage if we did the 640pm and wanted to sight see in Seattle during the day?

 

[poohj80]

We are doing the train to Vancouver as well and this reminded me to make reservations...so does anyone know if there is any discount for business class? Also we were planning on doing it the day we get off the boat but it either leaves at 740 am or 640pm. We would not make the 740 but what would we do with our luggage if we did the 640pm and wanted to sight see in Seattle during the day?

We got a slight AAA discount, but that's all we found.

 

[RedSox68]

We are doing the train to Vancouver as well and this reminded me to make reservations...so does anyone know if there is any discount for business class? Also we were planning on doing it the day we get off the boat but it either leaves at 740 am or 640pm. We would not make the 740 but what would we do with our luggage if we did the 640pm and wanted to sight see in Seattle during the day?

We all got a nice AAA discount. However, I just went on Amtrak to see if business class opened for Seattle to Vancouver (which was sold out since January), and discovered the prices have really gone up. And still no business class for the one-way, but have it for the Vancouver to Seattle return.

 

[jilljill]

They don't assign seats. I was just able to print the boarding passes so I don't have to wait until the ticket window opens (or wait in line). They don't have a ticket kiosk at either Seattle or Vancouver I was told.

Seattle does have the ticket kiosks, I printed our's there last August.

 

[queenbee99]

Does anyone have any suggestions on what we could do either with our luggage till we leave that evening of the train or what we could do while we have our luggage with us till we leave that evening on the train? Make sense? LOL

 

[mellers]

Does anyone have any suggestions on what we could do either with our luggage till we leave that evening of the train or what we could do while we have our luggage with us till we leave that evening on the train? Make sense? LOL

You might want to eat in a hotel restaurant and ask if you could check your luggage for awhile after your meal. Then it would be safe and you wouldn't be encumbered with it.

 

[Donna3271]

Can someone recommend a hotel for 5? Me, DH, and 3 children 10, 7, and 7. I don't want to have to get 2 rooms, but I want to be close to Canada Place.

THANKS!!

 

[queenbee99]

I would love some recommendations for a moderately place to stay here as well that is close to public transportation and sight seeing. It's just 3 people here though.

 

[mellers]

I would love some recommendations for a moderately place to stay here as well that is close to public transportation and sight seeing. It's just 3 people here though.

My family and I usually stay in Richmond--it's a really interesting little city just outside Vancouver. We usually stay at the Four Points Sheraton Vancouver Airport. They have a free shuttle from the airport, and are across the street from a mall with a nice food court, a Zellers (think Target), a Toys R Us, a provincial liquor store, and a "Farm Market"--kind of a small grocery store.

The Lansdowne Shopping Centre (the name of the mall) has a Canada Line Skytrain stop, so it's pretty easy to get into downtown Vancouver, and there is a laundromat about a block away.

The Richmond area is kind of neat to explore in and of itself--it is very like Hong Kong. A lot of immigrants from Hong Kong came to BC in the 80's and 90's in advance of Hong Kong returning to the Chinese. Most of the shopping malls have signs in both English and Chinese, and you'll hear Chinese spoken everywhere.

One of my favorite places to visit in the area is the International Buddhist Temple Gardens They are a wonder, but please be respectful. There are areas in which photography is not allowed, and some people have littered in the temple area. This is an active place of worship--some of our cousins are members. This is not necessarily a place for the tour books, but I love it.

You'll probably want to hire a car or take a taxi to the ship, but that's not hard to do.