Vancouver transportation to airport

[Clarkson U]

Just want to give people some insight. Got off Wonder today - May 13th. Left ship at 8:35 AM. Went to pick up luggage, clear customs and walk 5 minutes to Canada Line train station entrance. Purchased tickets to airport at $3.15 CDN per person - yes this is not a typo.

Took train to airport. Checked in, dropped off bags, cleared security and US Customs and into gate area by 10:20 AM this morning.

Hope this helps others sailing on Wonder. Best way to travel and cheap too!

 

[ronandannette]

Just want to give people some insight. Got off Wonder today - May 13th. Left ship at 8:35 AM. Went to pick up luggage, clear customs and walk 5 minutes to Canada Line train station entrance. Purchased tickets to airport at $3.15 CDN per person - yes this is not a typo.

Took train to airport. Checked in, dropped off bags, cleared security and US Customs and into gate area by 10:20 AM this morning.

Hope this helps others sailing on Wonder. Best way to travel and cheap too!

We were nervous to try it the last time we sailed out of Vancouver (opposite direction - airport to cruise terminal). We took a $45 cab instead and met in line with several people that had done the train just fine! We'll definitely try it next time, if we don't have ridiculous quantities of luggage to schlep. You do have to cross the street from the train station to the cruise terminal and navigate to the porters on your own.

 

[Clarkson U]

We were nervous to try it the last time we sailed out of Vancouver (opposite direction - airport to cruise terminal). We took a $45 cab instead and met in line with several people that had done the train just fine! We'll definitely try it next time, if we don't have ridiculous quantities of luggage to schlep. You do have to cross the street from the train station to the cruise terminal and navigate to the porters on your own.

No one should worry about crossing the street. There are police there directing traffic and stopping traffic for cruise passengers with loads of luggage.

We were 4 people
And we had 7 roller bags between us and we managed just fine. It is less than a city block say like in NYC the walking to be done and it is super simple and so many people there to guide you.

No one should be scared off from using the train.

 

[auntlynne]

Did you go to assigned breakfast? Leave as express or just your assigned luggage tag? ie, were you an average disembarkation time?

 

[Clarkson U]

We went to breakfast at 8 am - second breakfast and got off ship when our luggage tag was called - white Ariel - they assigned them based on flight times is what DCL said

 

[Akck]

Be aware that there are 2 lines that leave the station. If you happen to get on the wrong one, just get off at a station and wait for the next train. Don’t ask me how I know.

 

[starry_solo]

Be aware that there are 2 lines that leave the station. If you happen to get on the wrong one, just get off at a station and wait for the next train. Don’t ask me how I know.

Leave the station to the airport? Or from the airport?

 

[Akck]

Leave the station to the airport? Or from the airport?

Only one train route leaves from the airport. Two routes leave from the waterfront station.

 

[starry_solo]

Only one train route leaves from the airport. Two routes leave from the waterfront station.

Perfect! We are going to try this (I think) when we do the DCL Alaska in the next few years... gotta start saving up for it now!

 

[lilsonicfan]

It’s easy to distinguish - one train says YVR airport and the other doesn’t. (Richmond-Brighouse) - but even if you get on that one, when you get to the Bridgeport station you’ll hear an announcement to change trains there to go to the airport.

 

[otten]

It’s easy to distinguish - one train says YVR airport and the other doesn’t. (Richmond-Brighouse) - but even if you get on that one, when you get to the Bridgeport station you’ll hear an announcement to change trains there to go to the airport.

There is also an entirely different line that also leaves from Waterfront station. It's the original skytrain line the EXPO line and it doesn't go anywhere near the airport. It's in a different part of the larger station.

If you are going to the airport you want the Canada Line station. It is the closest to the main doors to waterfront and it is next to an A&W.

 

[CarolinaBlue]

We were on the May 20-27 Alaska cruise. We took the skytrain (Canada Line) from the airport to Waterfront Station and walked to the Pan Pacific. After disembarking, we walked to the station and took the train back to the airport. Easy peasy. Just one thing, when walking from the station to the port with luggage, there is a portion that is slightly uphill.

 

[starry_solo]

We were on the May 20-27 Alaska cruise. We took the skytrain (Canada Line) from the airport to Waterfront Station and walked to the Pan Pacific. After disembarking, we walked to the station and took the train back to the airport. Easy peasy. Just one thing, when walking from the station to the port with luggage, there is a portion that is slightly uphill.

How slight? We will likely stay at the waterfront

 

[Clarkson U]

How slight? We will likely stay at the waterfront

It’s not bad at all. There are also elevators to take with lots of luggage.

 

[auntlynne]

How slight? We will likely stay at the waterfront

Unless you have mobility issues, it is very walkable. I took my out of shape body and pull- behind rolling duffle around Vancouver to use the trains.

It’s 350 m/ 0.2 miles. And there are zebra/pedestrian crossings.

 

[DisneyConvert]

I am a public transit enthusiast and my wife has complained a few times about my "money-saving shortcuts".

She had no problem with the walk-off at Vancouver (2 medium~ large roller suitcases and hand luggage), the morning walk to Canada Station was well-marked. She used her CCard for our SkyTrain tickets to YVR and negotiating the escalator and elevators along the way wasnt awful. Many other Hawaii-orginating passengers along the way.

Wife didn't complain this time.

 

[CarolinaBlue]

How slight? We will likely stay at the waterfront

Not bad. Also, the elevator wasn't working at the station when we arrived. We had to use the escalator.

 

[jtkboston]

We disembarked this morning about 7:45 (ship was cleared for Express walk-off at about 7:30am), took the train to YVR airport, checked our bag with the airline at 8:44am, and were in the gate area by around 9am. Flight departs at 13:15 so we have time to kill.

Airport wifi is free and fast.

Lots of food choices in the post-security gate areas for USA-bound flights.

 

[RichVIII]

Updating this with 2025 Disney Wonder Experience

We had booked car service to make life simple from returning from the cruise. We didn’t want to deal with taxis and Ubers. Our pre-arrival days in Vancouver gave us with pause with the insane traffic to/from the airport and in downtown Vancouver (talking 6 miles taking an hour). I had to return a car anyway so I decided to try the light rail back to our hotel (the Marriott Pinnacle - walkable to the port). So to be fair, I did a dry run and even did a video to show my wife how easy it was.

• We did express walk off around 7:45.
• Immigration was very quick, a few people in each line and we handed them our form.
• Walked to the elevators near the exit to avoid the ramp up to street level.
• Walked the two blocks (not the first subway station you see - but there are signs saying YVR is not that station).
• Elevators down and you can skip buying tickets if you just tap your credit card.
• A train was arriving (next train was 7 minutes away).
• Easy ride and it ends at the airport (so just stay on)
• We were in the US destination terminal shortly before 9.

Caveats

• We have good TravelPro luggage that rolls easy. (One large bag, one duffle that slides on handles of big bag), 3 rollerboards and 3 backpacks (which can also slide on rollerboards)
• We have a teenager who is accustomed to doing these types of things and can manage her own luggage.
• As the airport got busier I am sure so did the bag drop lines, security lines, etc.
• TSA Pre-Check has security lanes at the US Destination side (time saver), just don’t put your boarding cards in your bags to be screened (so a little different than the US).
• We also have global entry so clearing customs, at a kiosk it took photo and the customs agent asked us a quick question and we were on our way.
• By 9:15 (ish) am we were looking for food and shopping.

Again, this was first thing in the morning and all went smooth but we save ourselves some money.

 

[chamberlain]

Thank you for this update! Our Alaskan cruise is in a month and nice to have info on navigating the trains.