dawnvip

The Metropolitan Hotel on Howe Street is an excellent hotel and they also have an excellent restaurant (Diva at the Met).

It is abou the same distance to the port, a bit further if you want to walk along the waterfront, but closer to shopping.

Tentative agreement just announced!

It is walkable, and probably easier if you head north towards the water and then along Waterfront to the port. There are large sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, and it is a safe area. 

A wine fest is held every year in the convention centre (Canada Place), and my DH has had to carry a case of wine back to the Pinnacle on more than one occasion so luggage should be fine! 🍷

I can't comment on the hotel, but the area is great for your pre-cruise experience of Vancouver. The area is as safe as any in downtown, meaning you may see the odd beggar or homeless person, but they aren't agressive or intrusive.  You would need to venture east of Cambie street (5 or 6 blocks east of Auberge) to find any truly overt drug use and "seedyness"

Lots of great shopping along Burrard and Robson street, plenty of food options (another thread on CC speaks to MANY options in this area) and if the weather is nice, take a stroll along the waterfront, watch the float planes take off and land. 

Sage advice for almost every single departure port available! We usually fly in a few days ahead of sailing just for the peace of mind. My very first cruise, DH and I planned to arrive 1 day prior to cruise, but the flight delays and unexpected re-routing meant we arrived only hours before boarding began! So tiring and stressful!

My favorite cruise was Alaska last summer, because we departed and arrived in Vancouver (where we live) so no flights required! Now I search for re-positioning cruises that leave from Vancouver 😁 

40 minutes ago, nannygoatjunction said:

Is this only applicable to American customers?  I cant find any reference to a $1 deposit sale on the Australian site?  😞

I just googles Holland America and the $1 special came up as one of the links. Site is hollandamerica dot com/en_US

That is an interesting question! I would think you should be fine using the credit cards tied to the same account, but have never tried to do it.

DH and I also have cards tied to the same account, but the bill statements separate out which transactions are from my card and which are from the hubby's card. If yours is similar, then the skytrain system should see it as two separate transactions, not same one twice.

Thanks for the link, its an interesting read. I've been to Seattle many times (2--3 hr drive) as a tourist and could check off almost everything in that artice (no idea who the boys in the boat are!)

Also interested to read the comments, as Vancouver is struggling with many of the same homelessness and drug problems as Seattle. There are no easy answers, and blaming the situaion on Democrat or Republican policies doesn't wash (there are no dems or reps in Canada!)

A few blocks from the cruise port, up Howe street, is Pacific Centre Mall - probably the largest mall in Vancouver proper.  There are several stores of varying price ranges to buy a suitcase, incluing Holt Renfrew, the Bay, and Tumi. 

Along Water street is Herschel, also very easy walking distance from the cruise port.

12 minutes ago, POA1 said:

You'll have to look at the screen, but I think once you get to final payment you are locked in.

That is my concern. We have a cruise in November, which may be impacted by Air Canada Pilot's strike.

Final cruise payment is due in a few weeks, so the "flexibility" isn't really a consideration for this instance.

I really want to book the direct flight on Air Canada, and use some points, but am considering booking the same flight through FlightEase (without using points) and having the security of HAL getting us to the boat if the pilots really do go on strike. Air Canada is the only airline offering a direct flight, so other options are considerably longer. Does anyone have experience with FlightEase arranging alternate flights when things go wrong?

I think it is a great "gimmick". We are considering an early 2025 cruise as well, so if it is included in the sale then $1 is an easy reservation that we don't have to make a final decision on until much later. 

If I book a flexible FlightEase after the final payment date for the cruise, does the flight get ticketed automatically or can I still change?

If this is the same one, the downtown -YXX shuttle has suspended operations:

https://reliablebus.ca/yxx-shuttle

Love the Chihuly Garden and Glass! I've walked that area before on my own and never felt unsafe. 

I really like the River Rock hotel. The casino is attached and there are a few dining options on site as well.

- Rooms were well appointed, fairly new and comfortable. I've only stayed in the casino tower room, but the remote tower is across the street via an over head "skybridge" so assume it will be very similar. Maybe a bit noiser due to the skytrain?

- As far as I know, there is no airport shuttle so you can either take the skytrain (same overhead walkway to get from station to hotel) or a cab/uber from the airport

- some rooms have great views, and the suites are very spacious. Easy access to skytrain for trip to the cruiseport next morning!

26 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

I hope sooner

we fly out Sept 29th the day they can strike

Good luck

My guess is they will still be negotiating at that point, and likelihood of strike that day are small. Will be monitoring closely!

Good luck to you too! 

5 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

they still have  non stop AC  from MIA to YYZ    at least in Oct  when we  are flying  but now  waiting to see what  their pilots will be doing  then

Same concern for us. We have a cruise leaving Ft Lauderdale mid-November so hoping the pilots' contract will be sorted by then! I went so far as to check availability of United flights from Seattle but would much rather fly direct YVR - MIA

22 minutes ago, Yowman said:

 

PR gives the same food service as AC J along with similar seats to AC J, which is nice.  Also free Wi-Fi.  Downside is having to use a personal device for watching video.

 

Premium Rouge seats are closest in comparison to Premium Economy on mainline AC, for the widebody aircraft. Narrow body aircraft J and PR are pretty much the same.

For meals, closest comparison would be premium economy (better than back of the bus).

J class pod seats and meals on widebodies far surpass anything offered on Rouge 

I'm a tad worried about our upcoming AC flight to LHR, which is supposed to leave in 12 more days, especially after hearing the news of almost 2000 flights disrupted this past long weekend...

https://globalnews.ca/news/9810144/air-canada-flight-disruptions-canada-day-long-weekend/

I suppose it is good that we are flying on a Monday, not a holiday, and not at the end of the month?

1 minute ago, LHT28 said:

Upgrade for what category to ???

Upgrade from Premium economy to Business. Sorry, I was saying it in my head but forgot to actually type that part! LOL

I've stayed at the River Rock Casino - excellent hotel and amenities.  I'd choose Holiday Inn (new-ish) over the Abercorn Inn (old!). Haven't been to the Radisson Blu since it changed over from Delta River Inn, so cannot comment on whether it has been renovated (also quite old)

Great advice from SCX22 to catch the shuttle back to YVR for a taxi downtown, expecially since traffic is usually a nightmare. 

Great to hear the times for turn-around are shortening! I'll be out of country until mid-august but need a new passport for beginning of November because mine expires in December.

It really depends on how full the flight is.

DH and I were preparing to head home from Mexico, doing the advanced check-in on-line (24 hrs) and a pop-up message asked if I would like to upgrade for $100 each. YES PLEASE!

Our next flight is in 12 days, and the "bid for an upgrade" from YVR to LHR starts at $900 each, so that's a "no" at this time. Will see if another pop-up message awaits at check in 🫠

1 hour ago, ski ww said:

I heard that also about the line handlers, but what about the pilots.

There are no picket lines at the cruise port, so pilots have no reason not to do their job. 

Picket lines have gone up at the cargo ports around Vancouver this morning, but talks between parties are ongoing.