Urban trekker

You can just buy a day pass ticket at any of the Sky train stations and certain retailers but as I have a monthly pass which I reload each month not sure which retailers currently handled them Yes they can be used on the Sea Bus. Hope you enjoy your visit.

Sunseeker20 - if my memory serves me correctly you can take a bus to the trailhead for the Butze falls/rapids trailhead. Dennis

Yes - I received an email outlining the change - but it did caution that it will be rolled out on different ships at different times. Guess I will find out when I complete my check in 21 days out. Dennis

It also may depend on whether NCL and its other brands are at Pier 66 - they own the rights to Pier 66 - if an NCL ship is in town Princess would have to use Pier 91.

Yes there is room under the beds to store suitcases - I do it all the time. In all of my NCL cruises I have never had to make a reservation to see the nightly shows but now that we are living in a whole new world perhaps that has changed. Dennis

I will add that I have stayed at the Barclay hotel several times over the past couple of years and will be staying there pre-cruise in April - it is easier for me to catch the very early morning bus from downtown to Seattle and the connection to the Coast Starlighter than from Surrey. It is definitely an older hotel but well maintained - haven't found carrying the luggage up the stairs too big of task. It's pricing is among the best in the downtown core. As MartinCath says - staying out at the Airport/Richmond would be okay but you will have the extra expenses coming and going from there to the downtown attractions. Hope this helps. Dennis

While NCL has no formal nights anymore - there will be a couple of days that they call Dress up or Not nights. If my memory serves me correctly and it is getting aged out they usually designate one of the main dining rooms for those who want to dress up to use. I will know better after my next NCL cruise in late April. Dennis

When you are researching hotels in Vancouver are you seeing the prices in US or CAD $$$$. If in US $$$ keep in mind that the CAD $$$ is worth about 30 -35% less than US ones. So a hotel showing as $400 CAD would be less than $300 in US dollars. One place often recommended on these forums is the YWCA hotel - it is located in the downtown core and is a full service hotel and not a Hostel. Hope this helps and that you enjoy you visit. You will want to stay in the downtown core as most of the tourist attractions are accessible from there.

Heidi13 - isn't there a mall just around the corner from the pier - been a few years since I was last there. Dennis

MartinCath - just in case you are not aware the YMCA is no longer in the hotel business - hasn't been since they closed the old building in 2006 and the new one has no lodging. Dennis

Another place that I have dined at a couple of times and once with a couple who are foodies and loved the place is Cardero's on the Seawall between the Convention Center and the Bayshore. Dennis

You might also want to check out the Tap and Barrell - another local chain that is located across the plaza from the Cactus Club. Dennis

And also remember that ship's time can be different from the port's time.

Here's one taken from the convention center next door to Canada Place/cruise port - the last building to the right in the picture is the Bayshore Hotel.

I am still looking - haven't found the ones I want to post but will keep looking. Dennis

MartinCath - correct me if I am wrong but I thought that when YVR opened there new food court areas a few years ago and attracted many of the big players that it was a stipulation in there lease agreements that they had to charge the same prices as their other outlets? Dennis

The Bayshore is on the water. You can see the cruise port from the hotel - it is an easy walk along a dedicated path from Canada Place to the Bayshore. It is under a mile to walk. The steam clock is the other way from your hotel - it is about five blocks from the Canada Place and once again is easily walked. I haven't stayed there as I am a local. I will go through my photos and see what I can find for you. Another local MartinCath will likely be around later with his thoughts Hope this helps. Dennis

Martincath - I too was going to suggest the North Shore as a possible choice for the day - using Sea Bus and then transit to the Cap Bridge and Grouse Mountain etc. Or perhaps head out to Horseshoe Bay and maybe fish and chips at Trolls. You could also after getting to Horseshoe Bay head over to Bowen Island - lot's of trails there close to town and a couple of places to get some good eats. My volunteering for the marathon is package pickup on the Friday and Saturday and if my health permits the bike sweep for the half marathon runners.

In addition to the cruise ships that will be berthing at Canada Place on that week the Convention Center attached to Canada Place will also be the pickup point for the runners to get their race package and there will be be an Expo as well. Over 18,000 runners will take to the streets. The Vancouver Marathon is the largest in Canada and rated one of the best in the world for scenery etc. I am a long time volunteer for this event so I should be able to answer most of your questions. The direct area around Canada Place and the Cruise terminal are not directly affected by the street closures etc. so access to the Pan Pacific shouldn't be too bad. Getting to Stanley Park will be more problematic as several of the roads used to get to the entrance will be blocked off but Georgia Street which leads into the Park will be okay. The Seawall along the harbour will be okay except of race day when there are restrictions. Tour companies etc. are well aware of the race - the hop on hop off bus will likely either not operate early or do a modify route. As you get closer to your cruise and have made some decisions on what to do I will be happy to answer any further questions. Dennis

Just a note - if you are cruising the weekend of May 6 - 7 that is the weekend of the Vancouver International Marathon - there will be close to 20,000 people in the downtown core post race. They will be in the finish area which is about 4 to 5 blocks from the cruise port. In addition you will have anywhere up to 3 ships in port. Thankfully with the current course access to Canada Place and the cruise terminal will be fine if you are coming from the airport. Anything, hotels etc. west of Burrard and north of Pender will be either blocked off or difficult to access. This will also mean that all hotels will be sold out and will be charging an outrageous rate. Dennis

Would you cruise happen to be on the Sept 8 - 10, 2023 weekend. If so there is a big bike race up to Whistler and the downtown core hotels will be packed. There are also likely to be two or three ships in port. For the big bike event which I volunteer for I usually stay at a downtown hotel as my start time is earlier than transit - the price of my regular hotel is close to double it's regular price. Dennis

As for the train and US customs and Immigration or whatever it is called these days you will be screened as your board the train in Vancouver - those in business class will be screened first and then the remainder. When the train approaches the Blaine/Peace Arch border crossing the train will stop and the border personnel will walk through the train - usually it is just a walk through unless they find something suspicious. On the few times I have taken the train we have not had any serious delay at the border. The usual time for the border is reflected in the train schedule. The trip is very scenic - it follows the coast for much of it's journey as as MartinCath stated try and get a seat on the right hand side. Hope this helps. Dennis

My memory on this one was good. Google is our friend - if you look at the attached link - you will see the layout of Pier 27 - on the first floor just after you enter the building in the lower right corner you will see where the washrooms are. https://metroevents.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Pier-27-Floor-Plan-2019.pdf Dennis

Yes there are and if my memory serves me correctly - there are some just inside the main entrance - there are more upstairs but they are behind the security area. Dennis

89 days - San Diego to Vancouver on the Jewel.