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

[disneyfaninaz]

I don't think Ballantyne and Canada Place are all that far from each other (maybe a mile?). If you like the Pan Pacific that much, why not just stay there and take a quick cab ride over to Ballantyne?

Our cruise leaves from Ballantyne and we are staying at the Pan Pacific. We are taking private transportation to the pier. It takes about 6 minutes from the hotel. There are no hotels directly at Ballantyne so you would have to stay downtown and take transportation over anyway.

 

[mraviator]

Has anyone covered Vancouver cell usage in this thread? ATT Canada plan versus SIM card swapping. I suspect the latter is the cheaper/better route, but has any posted details regarding that in Vancouver?

 

[Tenkawa]

Has anyone covered Vancouver cell usage in this thread? ATT Canada plan versus SIM card swapping. I suspect the latter is the cheaper/better route, but has any posted details regarding that in Vancouver?

Always better to have an unlocked phone and pick up a SIM card, but in case you were wondering about general costs of using your AT&T phone.

Normally around $1/minute for calls and $2/MB for data when roaming, but you can add packages to help with this, http://www.att.com/att/global/

For Pay As You Go (aka: sim card option), I think you can get that stuff at 7-11. Be sure to confirm that your phone support the spectrum you will be using.

 

[mraviator]

... and $2/MB for data when roaming

For $2/MB, I'll gladly go the SIM card swap route (I don't care about voice). Thanks for the info.

 

[pjstevens]

Has anyone covered Vancouver cell usage in this thread? ATT Canada plan versus SIM card swapping. I suspect the latter is the cheaper/better route, but has any posted details regarding that in Vancouver?

What is SIM card swapping?

 

[Tenkawa]

What is SIM card swapping?

If your phone is unlocked (by default it is not unlocked if you are from the US or Canada, some providers allow you to call and will unlock for a small fee as long as you have been on contract for X amount of time, or there are places online that sell unlock codes), it allows you to put in a SIM card (identity card) from another cell provider.

This means that when you go international, you could go into 7-11 (or whatever convenience store) and buy a pay as you go plan & SIM card for a local provider, and put it in your phone. Then you use that phone number and data.

It is much cheaper if you are using it over the long term, especially so when data is involved. But the phone number is different, so people calling you would be long distance.

One thing to be careful of: Cell phones have certain Spectrums (or Bands) that they can communicate on. Different providers use different spectrums. Make sure your phone has the right ones for where you are going, as that may limit the providers you can use a SIM card from.

Oh, 2nd thing to be careful of: Not really possible with many Verizon phones, as they use different technologies and spectrums.

 

[pjstevens]

If your phone is unlocked (by default it is not unlocked if you are from the US or Canada, some providers allow you to call and will unlock for a small fee as long as you have been on contract for X amount of time, or there are places online that sell unlock codes), it allows you to put in a SIM card (identity card) from another cell provider.

This means that when you go international, you could go into 7-11 (or whatever convenience store) and buy a pay as you go plan & SIM card for a local provider, and put it in your phone. Then you use that phone number and data.

It is much cheaper if you are using it over the long term, especially so when data is involved. But the phone number is different, so people calling you would be long distance.

One thing to be careful of: Cell phones have certain Spectrums (or Bands) that they can communicate on. Different providers use different spectrums. Make sure your phone has the right ones for where you are going, as that may limit the providers you can use a SIM card from.

Oh, 2nd thing to be careful of: Not really possible with many Verizon phones, as they use different technologies and spectrums.

Thanks for the info.

 

[goofynut41]

Canada Place... How big is the cruise terminal? If you choose to stay in it overnight before your cruise is that ok?

 

[richmo]

Canada Place... How big is the cruise terminal? If you choose to stay in it overnight before your cruise is that ok?

Wow, I haven't heard that one before. I could be mistaken, but I don't think the Canada Place passenger terminal is a 24 hour facility. Since they know when ships are coming in and out, I would imagine they close after the last ship has left overnight until shortly before the next one comes in. I don't think you're allowed to stay there (like you could at an airport)

 

[goofynut41]

Wow, I haven't heard that one before. I could be mistaken, but I don't think the Canada Place passenger terminal is a 24 hour facility. Since they know when ships are coming in and out, I would imagine they close after the last ship has left overnight until shortly before the next one comes in. I don't think you're allowed to stay there (like you could at an airport)

Oh OK I'm new to Cruising...

 

[Tenkawa]

Wow, I haven't heard that one before. I could be mistaken, but I don't think the Canada Place passenger terminal is a 24 hour facility. Since they know when ships are coming in and out, I would imagine they close after the last ship has left overnight until shortly before the next one comes in. I don't think you're allowed to stay there (like you could at an airport)

Correct. it is only open from about 10:30am-4:30pm on days that cruise ships are docking. Not possible to do an overnighter.

Keep in mind that US customs are there as well, so yeah, double no on that one.

It is in the core of downtown, and there a plenty of places which are relatively cheap if you need to stay somewhere.

 

[GrtWtNorth]

I just received the Vancouver Official Visitors' Guide with my CAA (AAA) TripTik. This guide and the associated web site (www.TourismVancouver.com) has some useful information. If you haven't requested a copy by mail, you can get one at the office in downtown Vancouver (200 Burrard St). Edit: I previously manipulated a couple of their images to help visitors landmark around the cruise ship terminal, but these were removed from my Flickr account. I recently replaced the links to my edited photos with links directly to original tourism-related sources. I can't resize them for this forum without risking having them pulled off my Flickr account again.

Coal Harbour, looking west

Note: Tourism Vancouver's office is located at 200 Burrard Street, just a block west of the cruise ship terminal. Their office also has exclusive discounts, including attractions and entertainment.

Stanley Park, looking northeast

 

[Freesia123]

It's not 24 hours. A cheap clean place to stay is the YWCA. You can get your own dorm style room with private bath for about $100.

Also check out the youth hostel. It's about a teni ute taxi or 20 minute bus ride, but it's right on the beach and awesome.

 

[Canucks]

Hi: we are coming to Vancouver for the Hawaii cruise. We live close enough to fly in that day. How do you recommend getting from the airport to the ship and then back again?

 

[disneyfaninaz]

How many people? Taxis will run about $40 to Canada Place from the airport. They mostly have Priuses but some vans are available. If you have a large party, I can recommend Aerocar Service. They provide curbside van and limo service from the airport.

 

[mellers]

I can recommend Aerocar Service. They provide curbside van and limo service from the airport.

I second Aerocar--they are not only good quality, but darn nice, too.

I was feeling a little under-the-weather when I was traveling from my hotel room to my last cruise about three weeks ago, and what I didn't know is that I had a serious kidney problem. I am usually the one who double-checks that we have all of the luggage, and unfortunately, my husband left a bag with his CPAP and his extensive (and expensive) collection of heart medications in the lobby of our hotel.

He figured this out when we reached Ballantyne, and our hotel was by the airport. The driver saw our distress, called his dispatcher, quoted us a reduced rate and took my husband all the way back to our hotel and then back to Ballantyne with the CPAP and medicines. We were VERY grateful.

http://www.aerocar.ca/

If you're going to SeaTac, and not Vancouver, go for QuickShuttle: http://www.quickcoach.com/

 

[GrtWtNorth]

Hi: we are coming to Vancouver for the Hawaii cruise. We live close enough to fly in that day. How do you recommend getting from the airport to the ship and then back again?

For sheer convenience, don't discount the Skytrain. It is a bit expensive coming from the airport ($9 per person on weekdays), but is more reasonable from the port ($4 per person on weekdays). You can pay by credit card at the machines on the station platforms.

Of course the convenience also depends on how comfortable you are handling your own luggage. Walking distances are short (minimal at the airport, and 2 blocks from Waterfront station main entrance to the port). But if you're wrangling kids and their luggage, a shuttle may be a more practical option.

 

[albumlady]

I would love some help finding a hotel for our family of 5. We live in Seattle and are coming up for the alaska cruise in August. We want to drive up Saturday morning and spend the weekend in Vancouver before the cruise. I am having trouble finding hotels that accomodate 5 in a room. Here in the states we LOVE the springhill suites for this but it doesn't appear that they operate in Vancouver. We are not opposed to staying out by the airport especially if that gives us a cheaper option for parking the car while we are cruising. Any suggestions?

 

[yukongirl123]

There are several downtown...Ramada, Sheraton Wall Centre, Best Westen Chateau Granville, Coast Plaza, Sunset inn And Suites. Near the airport, which is actually Richmond you have the a Executive Suite Hotel. There are several others also, but may not be as convenient... we have a party of 6 going in July, so had to do a little research on this very thing!

 

[whistlinmickey]

I would love some help finding a hotel for our family of 5. We live in Seattle and are coming up for the alaska cruise in August. We want to drive up Saturday morning and spend the weekend in Vancouver before the cruise. I am having trouble finding hotels that accomodate 5 in a room. Here in the states we LOVE the springhill suites for this but it doesn't appear that they operate in Vancouver. We are not opposed to staying out by the airport especially if that gives us a cheaper option for parking the car while we are cruising. Any suggestions?

We are in a similar situation. We are a family of six. We also will be driving a minivan with a hard-sided rooftop luggage carrier that won't fit into typical parking garages. So far it seems that our family's situation is not at all compatible with downtown Vancouver and its hotels. We too really like hotels like Springhill Suites. One of our other favorites is Holiday Inn Express. Comparable options in Vancouver seemed to be quite expensive.

So in order to find a room that sleeps six, doesn't have a low-clearance parking garage, and that is reasonably-priced, we found that we had to look outside of Vancouver. We will be staying in the Holiday Inn Express in Langley. During light traffic, it's about 35 minutes from Canada Place, a little longer if you wish to avoid the Port Mann Bridge Toll. It's not as convenient as a place closer to the port terminal would be. But it seemed among the best options for our needs.

Also, if you happen to choose a place to the east of Vancouver like Langley, and would like to choose the convenience of using Highway 1 and the Port Mann Bridge, you can pre-register your vehicle at the TReO web site. It can help in avoiding some of the extra fees they charge. treo.ca/tolls-and-fees/ways-to-save#AvoidFees