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That's US customs and the problem is the US has not sent enough staff to the cruise terminal. Priority access is available for... those on the Nexus or Global Entry trusted traveler program. I used it two weeks ago and my customs was done in 3 minutes not sure, but if travelers who have problems standing (ie with mobility aids) are sometimes directed to the priority lane if it's not busy.

On a sidenote in Vancouver, there's a "Breakfast with the Bears" program. Reservations required. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3861qo-x0X8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWTE9kN29EU

Sulphur is bright yellow. Potash is brown like oatmeal.

Pre-Covid, bags are generally accepted around 10am at the cruise terminal. On my cruise two weeks ago, they took my bag on P2 at 10:15am. Then up to ship check-in, security pat down, customs, and lunch in the MDR. If I were you, I would download some netflix movies or enjoy the airport wifi upon landing. Take the train or cab into the cruise terminal at 9am and start the check-in process while the congestion is low, beating the hotel room dump.

Shoom is one of my fav hole in the wall places for seafood. Somewhat hard to get to for those staying downtown. Reservations recommended as they can get busy. This is one of the places to REFUSE the VIP room.

Skagway one of the many White Pass train combo's. I've done Best of, Bennett, and Yukon. Yukon has been my fav. Vancouver... can't forget your embarkation port. Depends on how many pre-cruise days you have. Capilano Suspension Bridge Grouse Mountain Whistler for Cloudraker and Peak 2 Peak Victoria w/ Butchart Gardens Dim Sum brunch King Crab dinner Vancouver Style if there's a group of 6 to 8 of you.

To clarify... much of the vehicle traffic is restricted by the terminal entrance on Howe, creating a massive bottleneck for pedestrians and vehicles (especially for embarkation). Much of the vehicular traffic is redirected to Cordova (a block to the South). From 2019... https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/canada-day-in-downtown-vancouver-what-to-know-about-parking-road-closures-transit Street closures Sunday, June 30 (5:00 p.m.) to Tuesday, July 2 (3:00 a.m.) • 800 – 900 Canada Place Way (1/4 block west of Howe St. to Burrard St.) • North side 800 – 900 W Cordova St., from Howe St. to Burrard St • 1000 Canada Place Way (Burrard St. to Thurlow St.) • 200 Thurlow St., from W Cordova St. to Canada Place Way • 200 Howe St from W Cordova to Canada Place Way – Cruise Ship Traffic Only until 4:30 p.m. Other • Local access to hotels, parkades (999, 1038 & 1055 Canada Place and 200 Burrard St) and Canada Place cruise ship terminal will be maintained during the Canada Day at Canada Place events. It is expected access and egress could be restricted after approximately 8:00 p.m. July 1st due to crowds and safety issues. • There will be barricades and Traffic Authority officers located at Howe & Cordova, Burrard & Cordova and Thurlow & Cordova streets beginning at 5:00 p.m. on June 30.

Just got off the Koningsdam last week. I usually am there when the MDR doors open. Yes, there's always tables for 2 for me. The Club Orange has 3 tables for 2 against the window. Again, I'm there when doors open, so has not been an issue for me, but people who arrive later are just given a larger table.

Salmon 'n Bannock takes over an hour to walk there. I recommend bus/cab/uber/lyft there. For veggie Asian... friends like Po Kong and Sun Bo Kong (Kingsway near Knight) and it's another you don't want to walk there.

It's a Sulphur pile to be shipped internationally. https://www.metafilter.com/122214/Downtown-Vancouvers-Mountain-of-Sulfer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwfzlvH31cg

Nah... I prefer the MDR embarkation lunch. Early afternoon has the longest check-in delays. You likely be slotted into Group A or one the first boarding times. I recommending taking advantage of that benefit being able to board earlier to avoid the hotel crowd dump.

There seem to be a lot of tardiness on that cruise by 1/3 of the passengers... multiple requests to complete their safety video and mustard check-in were over the announcements so we could leave. many refused to complete their customs form by the Ketchikan deadline for the Prince Rupert docking the next morning. I remember cabin numbers and names were announced to go to the World Stage to complete their forms.

HAL check-in priority lane was on the left when you entered the check in hall. Big 6 foot sign to say where to line up. Customs check-in priority lane was on the right. Just yell "Nexus/GE" to wake up the people in charge of the lines. I think the first 3 stalls are reserved for Nexus/GE customs processing. HAL boarding priority seating area was by the lemonade stall. Where most wheelchairs and mobility aids can be seen parked prior to 12pm ready for the priority boarding call. Then it was like Nascar as they jockeyed into position for the gangway ramp. The photo area just provided them a mini obstacle course. There was a fellow at the boarding area directed us where to sit at 11:30am.

While arriving around 3pm to avoid the crowds sounds like a plan... what time is your hotel check out time? What are you going to do with your luggage between check out time and boarding time for those hours? Do expensive laps and loops in the taxi? you are going to miss out on the embarkation lunch that you paid for. are you going to be able to find a seat at the buffet feedings easily with a late board? Will the buffet still be open? will it feel rushed to watch the safety video and make your way to the mustard station for check-in? what if you forget something and need to go back to the car or home? Having that contingency time with an early board has been a life saver for me. Personally, I prefer to stay ahead of the crowds (ie hotel dump).

That appears to be... HAL check in on first photo => Club orange, Neptune, and 4 star mariners have express lane 2nd photo for customs => use Nexus/GE for express lane 3rd photo for security pat down? There's a 4th area post-customs for boarding by the lemonade stand. Again... Club orange, Neptune, and 4 star mariners have priority seating area. One other line that got excluded was the elevator P2 for luggage drop off and the luggage drop line. To clarify.... what time did you arrive at the terminal? Lines were much shorter for me at 10am.

Hmm.... another reason to get Club Orange? Embarkation may be a good time for masking in the near future for me.

My vote goes to early June... cheaper than the summer cheaper hotels than in the summer no summer heat all the excursions are operating. Bennet train does not start service until May 30th. Crews are trained and experienced from May travellers lots of daylight in the land of the midnight sun more flowers than May avoid the July wildfires and wildfire smoke avoid the August/September rain Late July and early August has an uptick on wildlife activity chasing the returning Salmon

Would this be July 1st by any chance when they have the port entrance closed for a major street festival? Be afraid.

If your embarkation/debarkation includes Vancouver and there's a group of 6 to 8 of you... some may choose premium Chinese Seafood restaurants for a live crab Vancouver style... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBZEm92-0Hw&t=772s Please don't ask for boil 'n butter. Ginger w/ garlic is my fav, deep friend spicy knuckles, backed Alaskan for the body? Yes, you can order other shellfish on the side if it interests you.

My fav steak destinations are Elisa and Gotham's. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=elisa+steaks+vancouver Porterhouse and Tomahawks are my fav best served shared.

11 to 12 months is the magic window. If you have a preferred hotel, give them a call and see what they are can do.

Can you share your hotel travel date? We can make better suggestions based on availability and price. Another vote for the River Rock casino if the price is right. Close to the airport. Ride the train/subway to Waterfront station for a 3 block luggage drag into the cruise terminal for $4.45 CAD the next morning.

In previous years, luggage drop was at CS level. That's now part of the taxi pickup area. I was there last week and luggage drop is now changed to the North end of P2. After luggage drop elevator up to street level to enter the Holland America check-in. This is where you wave your Club Orange benefit to be join the 4 star, Neptune suite priority line follow the signs to Walk South for the escalator to cruise ship level for security check-in, followed shortly with custom's check in. Do you have a cane with that "bum knee"? If so, make sure the security staff see's it. If the wait is long, those with mobility aids will get moved to the priority lanes. over to the passenger lobby for some great holland america lemonade walk aboard as they open the gangway check your room over to the MDR for lunch Debarkation? Club orange are purple group 1 priority debarkation taxi's are the shortest walk from the terminal exit and being group 1, it's just a few minutes for a cab to grab the first passengers off the ship I'll let others comment on luggage assistance at the terminal. I think I saw them there when I left the Kdam last Saturday.

That depends on the ship... In general, the worst of the crowds are gone by 2:45pm.

As a frequent cruiser... I find the worst terminal in my trip is where they will be doing customs. For the Northwest/California repo's, they will sometimes pull the US customs officers early in mid-September in Vancouver. Boarding in Vancouver on those trips is incredibly quick like 30 minutes! However debarkation in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, or San Diego becomes a sudden nightmare as a few officers are there to process a cruise ship load of travelers that can take hours. Vancouver looks real nice as everyone swears never to travel through those US terminals ever again.