Vancouver...What to do with 6 hours after the cruise before our train to Seattle?

[Dizney73]

We will be getting off of the Disney Wonder on July 6 and want to do some touring outside of Vancouver. We are doing a day of touring Vancouver the day before the cruise. I looked at DCL post cruise tour that would cost us $400 for our family of 4! Our biggest problem is what to do with our luggage for the day. We rented an SUV at the port to carry our luggage and to do a bit of touring outside of the city before returning the car and taking the train to Seattle at 5:45 pm. We need to be at the train station an hour ahead of time (I prefer earlier... so definitely by 4:15 pm) . Where are some places we could tour? Capilano? Lynn Canyon? Grouse Mountain? What else? What suggestions or alternatives do you all have to offer?
Where would you go? What were your favorite places to go, to see, to eat, to experience?

 

[Quellman]

We had a nice time at Capilano. Easy hiking/walking, neat totems. Lynn Canyon was also on our list as a secondary location. We went to Grouse Mountain, looked at it and decided we didn't want to pay for the cable car. We did Stanley Park, you can rent bikes or walk around. A very neat area to visit, kind of like Central park, but bigger. Also did the aquarium and looked at the olympic flame (the olympics ended just a few months prior to our visit).

I seem to remember a driving tour that you could do as well up towards whistler if I remember. We used public transportation while we were there as it included busses, ferries, whatever. It was easy enough but I think with your time crunch and hassle of lugagge you are smart to consider a rental.

 

[WishUponAStarryNight]

We left our luggage with the porters at the Pan Pacific, as did many others. They keep it all chained together and we felt comfortable leaving even smaller bags with them.

 

[Keyframer30]

Born and raised Vancouverite here...

If you have 6 hours to kill I would check out Stanley Park. Bike or walk around the Sea Wall...if it's rainy, the Aquarium is nice (though not cheap). Shopping on Robson St and Pacific Center is not to far from the port. Yaletown has some great trendy spots to eat. Granville Island is just on the other side of the downtown core and has Granville Island Brewery, a great kids/toy mall and a great indoor market. At Granville Island, you can also jump on a Aqua Bus or False Creek Ferries (these are small water taxis) for a small fee that will tour you around False Creek, which is a small inlet around the southern part of the downtown core (there is a stop at Yaletown, Olympic Village and one that will put you across the street from the Train Station).

Make sure you leave plenty of time to return if you go to Capilano/North Shore as your train leaves during rush hour and traffic downtown and across Lion's Gate or Second Narrows bridge is awful at that time.

 

[Dizney73]

Born and raised Vancouverite here...

If you have 6 hours to kill I would check out Stanley Park. Bike or walk around the Sea Wall...if it's rainy, the Aquarium is nice (though not cheap). Shopping on Robson St and Pacific Center is not to far from the port. Yaletown has some great trendy spots to eat. Granville Island is just on the other side of the downtown core and has Granville Island Brewery, a great kids/toy mall and a great indoor market. At Granville Island, you can also jump on a Aqua Bus or False Creek Ferries (these are small water taxis) for a small fee that will tour you around False Creek, which is a small inlet around the southern part of the downtown core (there is a stop at Yaletown, Olympic Village and one that will put you across the street from the Train Station).

Make sure you leave plenty of time to return if you go to Capilano/North Shore as your train leaves during rush hour and traffic downtown and across Lion's Gate or Second Narrows bridge is awful at that time.

Thank you for the traffic details.
Since we are in Vancouver for a full day before our cruise we were going to do Stanley Park, Perhaps we should save that area for the day we have the 6 hours to explore it and get lunch before getting our train. I think I read that there is a company that will hold your bags near the car rental area. We could do this and cancel the car rental.
On our full day before the cruise we will not be under such time constraints. Perhaps it would be better to tour farther away on that day. and/or do all the places of interest that you mentioned above,,,minus Stanley Park!
Thanks so much for being my voice of reason!

 

[Dizney73]

We left our luggage with the porters at the Pan Pacific, as did many others. They keep it all chained together and we felt comfortable leaving even smaller bags with them.

Can we do this even if we are not staying there?
I read somewhere that there is a company that will hold your luggage at Canada Place for like $8 or $9 a bag. Is this it?

 

[Dizney73]

We had a nice time at Capilano. Easy hiking/walking, neat totems. Lynn Canyon was also on our list as a secondary location. We went to Grouse Mountain, looked at it and decided we didn't want to pay for the cable car. We did Stanley Park, you can rent bikes or walk around. A very neat area to visit, kind of like Central park, but bigger. Also did the aquarium and looked at the olympic flame (the olympics ended just a few months prior to our visit).

I seem to remember a driving tour that you could do as well up towards whistler if I remember. We used public transportation while we were there as it included busses, ferries, whatever. It was easy enough but I think with your time crunch and hassle of lugagge you are smart to consider a rental.

Was the cable car expensive? I haven't found a price for 2020 yet.
We have been to Capilano years ago. I don't remember it being so commercial but I see now that it is and Lynn Canyon is often recommended.

 

[Keyframer30]

Hey Dizney73,

This is of course, just my opinion, but it does sound like the better/more relaxing option to reverse your plan and do the "farther out" stuff when you don't have a time constraint. Stanley Park is in the downtown core so you should have plenty of time to explore, grab a bite to eat and easily Skytrain to Main & Terminal station (where the train station is located) if you don't have a rental car. Traffic or an accident on the Freeway while trying to get back from North Van will no longer be a factor in you making it in time to get to your train then...

 

[WishUponAStarryNight]

Can we do this even if we are not staying there?
I read somewhere that there is a company that will hold your luggage at Canada Place for like $8 or $9 a bag. Is this it?

We stayed there pre-cruise, but they didn’t ask if we were a guest when we left the luggage. A decent tip is likely all it will take. I considered using the luggage storage service, but went with the hotel. We were a group of 4 and we left 9 or 10 pieces until 6:30pm with no issues. Enjoy your cruise- it was awesome!!

 

[otten]

Hey Dizney73,

This is of course, just my opinion, but it does sound like the better/more relaxing option to reverse your plan and do the "farther out" stuff when you don't have a time constraint. Stanley Park is in the downtown core so you should have plenty of time to explore, grab a bite to eat and easily Skytrain to Main & Terminal station (where the train station is located) if you don't have a rental car. Traffic or an accident on the Freeway while trying to get back from North Van will no longer be a factor in you making it in time to get to your train then...

I would be hesitant to do North Shore stuff before a flight or train. Just takes one incident or accident on either bridge to cause hours of delay getting back.

 

[jrabbit]

I agree with many of the above: If you're going to go to Capilano or Grouse Mountain then do that the day BEFORE your cruise.

From Canada Place you can catch a free shuttle / bus to and from Capilano (we did this two years ago)

Grouse Mountain is much more than just a gondola ride up the mountain. 5 years ago ... In addition to the ride up the mountain they have free lumberjack show and a free birds of prey show and some other free activities. you can also take a ski lift higher up the mountain. For an additional charge you can go zip lining and i think there's a fee to go to the top of the wind turbine. The wind turbine is a good landmark for when you are on the Wonder (or at Canada Place) to see where you were.

Remember to bring / wear layers when going to either Capilano or Grouse Mountain (especially Grouse Mountain) - the temperature is noticeably cooler up there than in the city.

Another activity that doesn't take a lot of time - depending upon the line or if you have pre purchased a timed ticket is "Soaring over Canada" ... that's NOT its name but if you've been to DCA or EPCOT you know what the attraction is. It is right on the pier where the ships dock at Canada Place.

If you have not been to Vancouver before, close by Canada Place and maybe officially in the complex is the Olympic Flame from the Vancouver Winter Olympics medal ceremony venue. -- at least for a quick photo op.


Edited to change: "fee shuttle" to FREE shuttle - one little "r" Huge difference in Meaning!!

 

[Dizney73]

Thanks all! I can always count on you for the best planning info!

 

[jrabbit]

Thanks all! I can always count on you for the best planning info!

I just reread my post and the shuttle from Canada place is FREE not fee!!! Big spelin oops on my part. Actually, more of a typing issue than spelling.

 

[Dizney73]

I just reread my post and the shuttle from Canada place is FREE not fee!!! Big spelin oops on my part. Actually, more of a typing issue than spelling.

I do that all the time! Especially on my phone with my swipe keyboard! Thanks for all of your help! I think that shuttle is right up our alley on our FULL day in Vancouver before the cruise!

 

[xlxo]

I think I read that there is a company that will hold your bags near the car rental area. We could do this and cancel the car rental.

That company was CDS. CDS did not renew their contract in 2019 onwards. Some say the post cruise tour companies take luggage, but I read elsewhere the luggage is only taken if you are on their tours to the airport.

I do NOT recommend leaving luggage in a rental car. Most rentals do NOT have local license plates and your luggage/valuables will be targeted when parked at tourist attractions.

Best option for luggage storage is the cruise terminal area hotels (ie Pan Pacific as others mentioned).

During your stay in Vancouver, I do recommend Capilano and Grouse pre-cruise. Grouse early afternoon, and then over to Capilano AFTER 5PM when there is a 30% admission discount.

 

[Dizney73]

That company was CDS. CDS did not renew their contract in 2019 onwards. Some say the post cruise tour companies take luggage, but I read elsewhere the luggage is only taken if you are on their tours to the airport.

I do NOT recommend leaving luggage in a rental car. Most rentals do NOT have local license plates and your luggage/valuables will be targeted when parked at tourist attractions.

Best option for luggage storage is the cruise terminal area hotels (ie Pan Pacific as others mentioned).

During your stay in Vancouver, I do recommend Capilano and Grouse pre-cruise. Grouse early afternoon, and then over to Capilano AFTER 5PM when there is a 30% admission discount.

Thanks so much for the Capilano after 5 info! That is something I did not know!
Can we keep luggage at Pan Pacific for the day if we aren't staying there post cruise?

 

[Dizney73]

That company was CDS. CDS did not renew their contract in 2019 onwards. Some say the post cruise tour companies take luggage, but I read elsewhere the luggage is only taken if you are on their tours to the airport.

I had originally found CDS and contacted them. They referred me to West coast Sightseeing. I have emailed them and am awaiting a response.

 

[Quellman]

Was the cable car expensive? I haven't found a price for 2020 yet.
We have been to Capilano years ago. I don't remember it being so commercial but I see now that it is and Lynn Canyon is often recommended.

The last price i saw online was around $46 CAN for the ride up. I don't think that includes any of the activities up there. The ride is 12 minutes each direction. We weren't going to do anything at the top other than look around, so didn't feel the experience was worth it to us in 2010. And by experience I mean the view and informative lecture on the way up. To each their own and for those who do it seem to rate it highly.

 

[Iceman13]

We stayed there pre-cruise, but they didn’t ask if we were a guest when we left the luggage. A decent tip is likely all it will take. I considered using the luggage storage service, but went with the hotel. We were a group of 4 and we left 9 or 10 pieces until 6:30pm with no issues. Enjoy your cruise- it was awesome!!

WishUponAStarryNight, Thank you for this info. We are staying at Pan Pacific in June pre-cruise and were hoping that we could store luggage there post-cruise while we (also) wait for the 5:45 train to Seattle. A decent tip is not unreasonable.

We are SOOOO looking forward to this trip. We are first time cruisers.

 

[want2seepluto]

A word of warning about rental cars. We had a reservation for a minivan to pick up after the cruise so we could drive to Whistler. When we arrived at the rental car agency (in town, not at the port) there was a huge line around the block and a 2+ hour wait to pick up the car (even with a reservation). We ended up giving up and changing our plans completely and just staying in town and going to the Science Museum. With only 6 hours, you might not end up with a lot of time to actually explore by the time you get you vehicle.