Walk me through it: I get off the Amtrak train at Pacific Central Station and...

[Seamama]

We're cruising to Alaska this summer. Taking the Amtrak train the day before and staying at the Pan Pacific in Vancouver. Please walk me through the details, thanks!

When we get off the train at Pacific Central Station, we'll be heading to the Pan Pacific. From what I understand, our options are to hail a cab outside the station or cross the street to Main Station and take the Skytrain westbound to Waterfront Station.

For option 1 (Cab ride): There'll be lots of taxis outside the station, right? How long is the ride (I've heard 10 mins)? How much does it cost? Can I use a credit card or should I get Canadian cash?

For option 2 (Skytrain): I need to get tickets first, right? Can I use a credit card or do I need local cash? How much is it, and how long does it (the ride) take? When we get off at Waterfront Station, how far is the walk to Pan Pacific?

The next day, I've read we can leave our luggage w/ hotel staff to deliver to the ship (already tagged, of course). Then we take our carry-ons and literally just take an elevator downstairs to the terminal, yes? Should we aim to walk into the terminal exactly at our PAT or should we be there a little early?

On our return, we'll be taking an Amtrak bus (I assume located at the Pacific Central Station) in the afternoon. How far is it from the cruise terminal to the Station? Again, our options are cab or Skytrain, right?

For option 1 (Cab ride): How long is the ride and how much is it from the cruise terminal to the Station?

For option 2 (Skytrain): What is the nearest station to the terminal? How long is the ride and how much is it to Pacific Central Station?

Finally, how much time do we need to kill? About what time will we be disembarking? Our bus doesn't leave till 11:30am, and we're the type who likes to be places early. That being said, I've read there's nothing to do at the Station. Plus we'll be lugging around all those bags. Even if there are lockers at the Station, I'm sure they wouldn't fit our huge bags. Ideas/suggestions...?

Thanks to everyone, for your advice. I appreciate being able to plan to this level of detail!

 

[bumbershoot]

You don't even need to *hail* a cab. There's an orderly line outside the station and the cabs are all lined up. Very genteel. Very decent rates, and a quick ride. I'm 99% sure CCs are taken.

When we get off at Waterfront Station, how far is the walk to Pan Pacific?

Here is waterfront station (you exit on the other side, the water side exactly opposite from where I was standing), and beyond it you can see the "sails" on the right that are part of Canada Place, and the building is Canada Place and the Pan Pacific.

 

[Seamama]

Thanks, that is helpful! Ok so I see Skytrain to Waterfront station is a reasonable option given how close it is to the Cruise Terminal/Pan Pacific. So I guess I just need to decide whether we want to do that or get a cab. Then the other other thing I'm wondering is how far it is from the Terminal to the train station...

 

[bumbershoot]

I'd pull up your fave map site of downtown Vancouver for the distance question (or a paper map). It's truly not far at all.

I would take a cab, though.

To get to our honeymoon cruise DH and I took public transit to Amtrak in Seattle then Amtrak to Vancouver...but we took a cab to our hotel. Vancouver taxis are lovely and very reasonable.

 

[deanimal]

Both options are quite manageable, but the cab would definitely be simpler. A lot depends on how much luggage you have. The Skytrain station is on an elevated platform above the street and while there are elevators it's still a bit of a haul with luggage. I remember once getting off there with a stroller and one elevator was out of order so I had to go way down to one end of the platform and back to use the only working one. Not a deal breaker, but a bit of a hassle.

And I don't want to sound cold hearted, but I've noticed that the area between the Skytrain and the train station has become quite a gathering place for panhandlers lately. Most of them are completely harmless, of course, but last time we drove through the area there were people with obvious mental issues wandering right into traffic and tapping on car windows and stuff. It's a really sad and complex issue, but from a purely practical perspective I would probably avoid walking through that part of the city with kids. I'm really frugal and I'll usually take public transit if it's available, but with kids and luggage I think a taxi would be well worth the money for that route.

 

[Seamama]

Awesome, thanks, everyone! Yeah, we'll have a lot of luggage. And the kids to tote around, too. They're old enough to manage themselves and their own bag, but still, sounds like logistically we're better off just w/ a cab. So excited for this trip, I can barely stand it.

 

[xlxo]

Another vote for the simplicity of a cab with luggage as the deciding factor.